L  I  B  R_AR.Y 

OF   THL 

U  N  IVERS  ITY 

Of    ILLINOIS 


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OF  PROMINENT^  RiPRESENTATIVE  CITIZENS 

OF    THE    COUNTY 

TOGETHER  WITH-  PORTRAITS  -AND -BIOGRAPHIES-OF-ALL  ■  THE 


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CHICAGO: 

BIOGKAPIIICAL  I'UBLISHING  CO. 

1890. 


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VjHE  greatest  of  English  historians,  Macaui.ay,  and  one  of  tlie  most  brilliant  writers  ol 
the  present  cenlar}^  has  said:  "The  history'  of  acoiintrj' isbest  told  inarecord  of  the  ■ 
lives  of  its  people."  In  conformity  with  this  idea  the  Foktrait  and  Biogkapuical 
Album  of  this  county  has  been  prepare<l.     Instead  of  going  to  must}'  records,  and 
taking  therefrom  dry  statistical  matter  tliat  can  be  appreciated   by   but  few,   our 
corps  of  writers  have  gone  to  tlic  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their 
enterprise  and  industry,  brought  the  county  to  a  rank  second  to  none  among  tiiose 
corai)rising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  tlieir  life 
struggles.     No  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presented  to  an  intelli- 
gent public.     In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  many  whose  lives  are  worthy  the 
imitation  of  coming  generations.     It  tells  how  some,   commencing  life  in  poverty-,  by 
ndustry    and   econom}-  have  accumulated   wealth.     It  tells  how  others,   with   limited 
advantages  for  securing  an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women,  with  an 
influence  extending  througliout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.     It  tells  of  men  who 
have  risen  from  the  lower  walks  of  life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and  wliosc  names  have 
become  famous.     It  tells  of  those  in  every  walk  in  life  who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and 
records  how  that  success  has  usuallj-  crowned  their  efforts.     It  tells  also  of  many,  very 
manv,  who,  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the  world,  have  pursued  "the  even  tenor  of  their  way,"   content 
to  iuive  it  .said  of  them  as  Christ  said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercy — "they  have  done  v/hat 
Xtliey  could."     It  tells  how  that  many  in  the  pride  and  strengtli  of  young  manhood  left  the  plow  and  the 
^  anvil,  the  lawyer's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  country'.s 
^  call  went  forth  valiantly  "to  do  or  die,"  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was  restored   and  peace 
i  once  more  reigned  in  the  land.     In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  everj'  woman  is  a  lesson  tliat  should  not 
r  be  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

^         Coming  genei-ations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  from   the    fact 

■  -^  that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  wa^'  into  public  records,  .and  which  would  otherwise  be 

-^i inaccessible.     Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work  and  every  opportunity  possible 

J5_given  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has  been  written,  and  the  publishers  flatter  tiiem- 

>0  selves  that  thej'  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with  few  errors  of  consequence.     In  addition  tollie  biograph- 

"^^  ical  sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of  representative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biographical  sketches  of  manj',  will  be  missed  in  this  volume.     For  this  the 

publishers  are  not  to  blame.     Not  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,   some  refused  to  give  the 

information  necessary  to  compile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent.     Occasionally  some  member  of 

4  the  family  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such  opposition  the  support  of  the  interested 

'"one  would  be  withheld.     In  a  few  instances  men  could  never  be  found,  though  re|)eatcd  calls  were  made 

^-'^  their  re.siden.ce  or  place  of  business. 

Biographicai,  Plblisiiixo   Co. 
Chicago,  November,  IS'JO. 


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OF  THE 


GOVERNORS  of  ILLINOIS, 


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FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


19 


va»rS'>^i^tt^(^iai»i'^.'i  ^'i  •.'i*:^!  ;.'■  •..'i^'^ta^t^sa'^t^'^tS'a'^^'^^'^^^tSii'^'g^'^) 


J  HE  Father  of  our  Country  was 
'^w^born  in  Westmorland  Co.,  Va., 
;;^  Feb.  22,  1732.  His  parents 
'a  were  Augustine  and  Mary 
-^  (Ball)  Washington.  The  family 
to  which  he  belonged  has  not 
been  satisfactorily  traced  in 
England.  His  great-grand- 
father, John  Washington,  em- 
igrated to  Virginia  about  1(357, 
and  became  a  [)rosi)erous 
planter.  He  had  two  sons, 
Lawrence  and  John.  The 
former  married  Mildred  Warner 
and  had  tliree  children,  John, 
Augustine  and  Mildred.  Augus- 
tine, the  father  of  George,  fiist 
married  Jane  Butler,  who  bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 
maturity.  Of  si.x  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  George  was  the 
eldest,  the  others  being  Betty, 
Samuel,  Joiin  Augustine,  Charles 
and  Mildred. 
.•\ugu-.,line  Washijigton,  the  father  of  George,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
tlie  I'atomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  left  the  parental  residence.  George 
received  only  such  education  as  the  neighborhood 
schools  afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  he  left 
school,  when  he  received  private  instruction  in 
matlnjiuarcs.       His    spellinsi  v/as   rather   defective. 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  physica. 
strength  and  development  at  an  early  age.  He  wa.s 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  his  companions,  and 
was  early  noted  for  that  nobleness  of  character,  fair- 
ness and  veracity  which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

NVhen  George  was  1 4  years  old  he  had  a  desire  to  go  to 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  him, 
but  through  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandonsd.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
surveyor  to  the  immense  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  \n 
this  business  he  spent  three  years  in  a  rough  frontier 
life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards  proved  vt:ry 
essential  to  him.  Pn  175  r,  though  only  ig  years  of 
age,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  with  the  rank  of 
major  in  the  Virginia  militia,  then  being  trained  for 
active  service  against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon 
after  this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Lidies  with  his  brother 
Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore  his  health  They 
soon  returned,  and  in  the  summer  of  1752  Lawrence 
died,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter 
who  did  not  long  survive  him.  On  her  dennse  the 
estate  of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

U|)on  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddle,  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the  militia  wa? 
reorganized,  and  the  province  divided  into  four  mili- 
tary districts,  of  which  the  northern  was  assignee  to 
Washington  as  adjutant  general.  Shortly  after  this 
a  very  perilous  mission  was  assigned  him  and  ac- 
cepted, which  others  had  refused.  This  was  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie  in  North- 
western Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  between  500  and  600  miles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  by  Indians.     Tht 


GEORGE   WASHINGTON. 


trip  was  a  perilous  one,  and  several  limes  he  came  near 
losing  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and  furnished 
a  full  and  useful  report  of  his  expedition.  A  regiment 
of  300  men  was  raised  in  Virginia  and  put  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was 
then  begun  against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  most  important  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock 
ivere  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  W'ashington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says:  "I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  though  death  was  levelino  niy  companions 
on  every  side."  An  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was 
not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  had  taken 
direct  aim  at  him  seventeen  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him. 

After  having  been  five  years  in  the  military  service, 
and  vainly  sought  jjromotion  in  the  royal  army,  he 
took  advantage  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the 
expulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
CO  resign  his  commission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  took  an 
active  and  important  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (13andridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  Parke  Custis. 

When  the  British  Parliament  had  closed  the  port 
~i{  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  throughout  the  provinces 
that  "The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  us  all." 
It  was  then,  at  the  suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia,Sept.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
peaceably  if  possible.  To  this  Congress  Col.  Wash- 
ington was  sent  as  a  delegate.  On  May  10,  1775,  the 
Congress  re-assembled,  when  the  hostile  intentions  of 
England  were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of  Con- 
cord and  Lexington  had  been  fought.  Among  the 
first  acts  of  this  Congress  was  the  election  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  colonial  forces.  This  high  and 
responsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  memberof  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  lo  pay  them  and 
nothing  more.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to 
trace  the  military  acts  of  Washington,  to  whom  the 
fortunes  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country 
were  so  long  confided.  The  war  was  conducted  by 
him  under  every  possible  disadvantage,  and  while  his 
forces  often  met  with  reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion 
and  matchless  skill  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
nation  of  earth.  On  Dec.  23,  17S3,  Washington,  in 
a  parting  address  of  surpassing  beauty,  resigned  his 


commission  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  to 
to  the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Annapolis.  He 
retired  immediately  to  Mount  Vernon  and  resumed 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer  and  planter,  shunning  all 
connection  with  public  life. 

In  February,  17 89,  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  President.  In  his  presidential  career  he  was 
subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incidental  to  a  new 
government ;  trials  from  lack  of  confidence  on  the  pan 
of  other  governments ;  trials  from  want  of  harmony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own  country; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  country, 
owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the 
beginnings  of  party  strife.  He  was  no  partisan.  His 
clear  judgment  could  discern  the  golden  mean;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  government  from 
sinking  at  the  very  outset,  it  left  him  exposed  to 
attacks  from  both  sides,  which  were  often  bitter  and 
very  annoying. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  unani- 
mously re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this  term  many 
were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected,  but  he  alisolutely 
refused  a  third  nomination.  On  the  fourth  of  March, 
1797,  at  the  expiraton  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  years  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with  France 
At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was  again  urged  to 
take  command  of  the  armies.  He  chose  his  sub- 
ordinate officers  and  left  to  them  the  charge  of  mat- 
ters in  the  field,  which  he  superintended  from  his 
home.  In  accepting  the  command  he  made  the 
reservation  that  he  was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until 
it  was  necessary.  In  the  midst  of  these  preparations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  12,  he  took 
a  severe  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settling 
in  h's  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  wi'h  military  honors  to  its 
final  resting  place,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

Of  the  character  of  Washington  it  is  impossible  to 
speak  but  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  ad- 
miration. The  more  we  see  of  the  operations  of 
our  government,  and  the  more  deeply  we  feel  the 
difficulty  of  uniting  all  opinions  in  a  common  interest, 
the  more  highly  we  must  estimate  the  force  of  his  tal- 
ent and  character,  which  have  been  able  to  challenge 
the  reverence  of  all  parties,  and  principles,  and  na- 
tions, and  to  win  a  fame  as  extended  as  the  limits 
of  the  globe,  and  whidh  we  cannot  but  believe  will 
be  as  lasting  as  the  existence  of  man. 

The  jierson  of  Washington  was  nnusally  tali,  erect 
and  well  proportioned.  His  muscular  strength  was 
great.  His  features  were  of  a  beautiful  symmetrv. 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  appearance  o* 
haughtiness,  and  ever  serious  without  Vwing  dull. 


'^y-^j>^^^^^^ 


'^(^m  Jdm^. 


^ 


SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


-3 


^|«iiS£aa»^ 


.  ^o.'t^^i^l 


OHN    ADAMS,    the     second 
President  and  the   first   Vice- 
'  President  of  the  United  States, 
was   born   in   Braintree    ( now 
Quincy),Mass.,  and  about  ten 
'■^  miles    from    Boston,    Oct.    19, 
1735.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry 
Adams,   emigrated    from    England 
about  1  640,  with  a  family  of   eight 
sons,  and  settled  at  Braintree.  The 
parents    of   John    were    John    and 
Susannah  (Boylston)  Adams.     His 
father    was    a    fanner    of    limited 
means,  to  which  he  added  the  bus- 
iness of  shoemaking.      He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  John,  a  classical  educa- 
tion   at    Harvard    College.      John 
graduated  in  1755,  and   at  once  took  charge  of   the 
school  in   Worcester,  Mass.      This  he   found   but    a 
'sci-;ool    of  affliction,"  from  which  Iv;  endeavored  to 
gain  lelief  by  devoting  himself,  in   addition,  to  the 
study  of  law.     For   this  purjxjse   he   placed   himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.     He 
had   thought    seriously    of    the    clerical     profession 
but  seems  to  have  been  turned  from  this  by  what  he 
cermed  "the  frightful  engines  of  ecclesiastical   coun- 
cils, cf  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature," 
of  the  operations  of  which  he  had  been   a  witness  in 
his  native  town.       He  was   well    fitted  for  the    legal 
profession,  iwssessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being 
ready  and  fluent  of  speech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive powers.     He  gradually  gained  practice,  and  in 
1764  married  Abigail  Smith,  a  daughter  of  a  minister, 
and  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence.     Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  (17(^5),  the  attempt  of  Parliamentary  taxa- 
tion turned  him  from  law  to  politics.     He  took  inirial 
jteps  toward  holding,  a  town  meeting,  and  the  resolu- 


tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very  iwpulai 
throughout  the  Province,  and  were  adopted  word  for 
word  by  over  forty  different  towns.  He  moved  to  Bos- 
ton  in  1768,  and  became  one  of  the  most  courageous 
and  prominent  advocatesof  the  popular  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Court  (the  Leg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congreis, 
which  met  in  1774.  Here  he  distinguished  himselt 
by  his  capacity  for  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad- 
vocated the  movement  for  independence  against  the 
majority  of  the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  moved 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonies 
should  assume  the  duties  of  self-government.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  iive 
appointed  June  11,  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. This  article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but 
on  Adams  devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through 
Congress  in  a  three  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  th^ 
glow  of  excited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife 
which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have  been  dictated 
by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says,  "the 
greatest  question  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  America;  and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  wil 
be  decided  among  men.  A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenting  colony,  '  that  these  United 
States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde- 
pendent states.'  The  day  is  passed.  The  fourth  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  ejioch  in  the  history 
of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it  will  be  celebrated 
by  succeeding  generations,  as  the  great  anniversary 
festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  as  the  day  of 
deliverance  by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almighty 
God.     It  ought  to  be  solemnized  with  pomp,  shows- 


=4 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


!;;unes,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations 
irom  one  end  of  the  coniinent  to  the  other,  from  this 
time  forward  for  ever.  Vou  will  think  me  transjxjrted 
with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am  not.  I  am  well  aware  of 
the  toil,  and  blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to 
maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
the^e  States;  yet,  tlirough  all  the  gloom,  I  can  see  the 
rays  of  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  end  is 
Worth  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rue,  which  I 
hope  we  shall  not." 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  a 
delegate  to  France,  and  to  co-operate  with  Benijamin 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who  were  then  in  Paris,  in 
the  endeavor  to  obtain  assistance  in  arms  and  money 
from  the  French  Government.  This  was  a  severe  trial 
to  his  patriotism,  as  it  separated  him  from  his  home, 
compelled  him  to  cross  the  ocean  in  winter,  and  ex- 
posed him  to  great  peril  of  capture  by  tlie  British  cruis- 
ers, who  were  seeking  him.  He  left  France  June  17, 
1779.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
ciiosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  and  of  commerce 
with  Great  Britian,  as  soon  as  the  British  Cabinet 
might  be  found  willing  to  listen  to  such  pioposels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
Holland,  where  he  negotiated  important  loans  and 
formed  important  commercial  treaties 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was  signed 
Jan.  21,  1783.  The  re-action  from  the  excitement, 
toil  and  anxiety  through  which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed 
threw  him  into  a  fever.  After  suffering  from  a  con- 
tinued fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  go  to  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bath.  ^Vhile  in  England,  still  drooping  and  desiwnd- 
ing,  he  received  dispatches  from  his  own  government 
urging  the  necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to 
negotiate  another  loan.  It  was  winter,  his  health  was 
delicate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and  through 
storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot,hemade  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785,  Congress  appointed  Mr.  Adams 
envoy  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  Here  he  met  face 
to  face  the  King  of  England,  who  had  so  long  re- 
garded him  as  a  traitor.  As  England  did  not 
condescend  to  appoint  a  minister  to  the  United 
States,  and  as  Mr.  Adams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  permission  to  return  to 
his  own  country,  where  he  arrived  in  June,  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
Adams,  rendered  illustiious  by  his  signal  services  at 
home  and  abroad,  was  chosen  Vice  President.  Again 
at  the  second  election  of  Washington  as  President, 
Adams  was  chosen  Vice  President.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  President, though  not  without  much  opposition. 
Serving  in  this  office  four  years,he  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Jefferson,  his  opponent  in  politics. 

T/hile   Mr.  Adams  was  Vice  President  the   great 


French  Revolution  shook  the  continent  of  Europe, 
and  it  was  upon  this  point  which  he  was  at  issue  with 
the  majority  of  his  countr\men  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson. 
Mr.  Adams  felt  no  symjiathy  with  the  French  peo])le 
in  their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  theiv 
jx)wer  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
classof  atheist  philosophers  who-he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  the  other  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  people.  Hence  or- 
iginated the  alienation  between  these  distinguished 
men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were  thus  soon  organ- 
ized, Adams  at  the  head  of  the  one  whose  sympathies 
were  with  England  and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in 
sympathy  with  France. 

The  world  has  seldom  seen  a  spectacle  of  more 
moral  beauty  and  grandeur,  than  was  presented  by  the 
old  age  of  Mr.  Adams.  The  violence  of  party  feeling 
had  died  away,  and  he  had  begun  to  receive  that  just 
appreciation  which,  to  most  men,  is  not  accorded  till 
after  death.  No  one  could  look  upon  his  venerable 
form,  and  think  of  what  he  had  done  and  suffered, 
and  how  he  had  given  up  all  the  prime  and  strength 
of  his  life  to  the  public  good,  without  the  deepest 
emotion  of  gratitude  and  respect.  It  was  his  peculiar 
good  fortune  to  witness  the  complete  success  of  the 
institution  which  he  had  been  so  active  in  creating  and 
supporting.  In  t824,  his  cup  of  haijpiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest . 
station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1S26,  which  completed  the  half 
century  since  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, arrived,  and  there  were  but  three  of  the 
signers  of  that  immortal  instrument  left  upon  the 
earth  to  hail  its  morning  light.  And,  as  it  is 
well  known,  on  that  day  two  of  these  finished  their 
earthly  pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkable  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from 
his  bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for  the 
customar)'  celebration  of  the  day,  he  exclaimed  "  In- 
dependence FOREVER."  When  the  day  was  ushered 
in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannons, 
he  was  asked  by  one  of  his  cttendants  if  he  knew 
what  day  it  was?  He  replied,  "O  yes;  it  is  the  glor- 
ious fourih  of  July — God  bless  it — God  bless  you  all." 
In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  "It  is  a  great  and 
glorious  day."  The  last  words  he  uttered  were, 
"Jefferson  survives."  But  he  had,  at  one  o'clock,  re- 
signed his  spiiit  into  the  hands  of  his  God. 

The  personal  apjiearance  and  manners  of  Mr. 
Adams  were  not  particularly  prepossessing.  His  face, 
as  his  portrait  manifests.was  intellectual  ard  expres- 
sive, but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  his 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  uncourteous. 
He  had  neither  the  lofly  dignity  of  Washington,  nor 
the  engaging  elegance  and  gracefulness  which  marked 
the  manners  and  address  of  Jefferson. 


^fe»^r;- 


WL, 


THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


27 


HOMAS  JEFFERSON  was 
^  born  April  2,  1743,  at  Shad- 
l|5  well,  Albermavle  county,  Va. 

His  parents  were  Peter  and 
Jane  (  Randol[)h)  Jefferson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in  Lon- 
don. To  them  were  born  six 
daughters  and  two  sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When  14  years  of  age  his 
father  died.  He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,  hav- 
been  kept  diligently  at  school 
from  the  lime  he  was  five  year*  of 
age.  In  1760  he  entered  William 
and  Mary  College.  Williamsburg  was  then  the  seat 
of  the  Colonial  Court,  and  it  was  the  obodeof  fashion 
a.id  splendor.  Young  Jefferson,  who  was  then  17 
years  old,  lived  somewhat  expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  much  caressed  by  gay  society,  yet  he 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies,  and  irreproacha- 
al)le  in  his  morals.  It  is  strange,  however,  under 
such  influences,that  he  was  not  ruined.  In  the  sec- 
ond year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by  some  un- 
explained inward  impulse,  he  discarded  his  horses, 
society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin,  to  which  he  had 
previously  given  much  time.  He  often  devoted  fifteen 
hours  a  day  to  haid  study,  allowing  'himself  for  ex- 
ercise only  a  run  in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out 
of  the  city  and  back  again.  He  thus  attained  very 
high  intellectual  culture,  alike  excellence  in  philoso- 
phy and  the  languages.  The  most  difficult  Latin  and 
Greek  authors  he  read  with  facility.  A  more  finished 
scholar  has  seldom  gone  forth  from  college  halls;  and 


there  wa?not  to  be  found,  perhaps,  in  all  Virginia,  a 
more  pureminded,  upright,  gentlemanly  young  man. 

Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  he  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  the  times  called  for  greater  action. 
The  policy  of  England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of 
resistance  of  the  American  Colonies,  and  the  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained,  soon  led 
liim  into  active  political  life.  In  1769  he  was  choser 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses  hi 
1772  he  married  Mrs.  JNIartha  Skelton,  a  very  beauti- 
ful, wealthy  and  highly  accomplished  young  widov.- 

Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shadwell,  tli^re 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monticello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  for  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  ye' 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our  land. 

In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  Cclonial  Congress 
where,  though  a  silent  member,  his  abilities  as  a 
writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  become  known,  and  ho 
was  placed  upon  a  number  of  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  appointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Tiioinas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  Adams  suggested 
a  few  verbal  changes  before  it  was  submitted  to  Con- 
gress. On  June  28,  a  few  slight  changes  were  m.ade 
in  it  by  Congress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed  July 
4,  1776,     What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  that 


28 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 


man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his  breast — 
who  was  charged  with  the  preparation  of  that  Dec- 
laration, which,  while  it  made  known  the  wrongs  of 
America,  was  also  to  publish  her  to  the  world,  free, 
Boverign  and  independent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable papers  ever  written  ;  and  did  no  other  effort 
ijf  the  mind  of  its  author  exist,  that  alone  would  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

In  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor  to 
Patrick  Henry,  as  Governor  of  Virginia.  At  one  time 
the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a  secret  expedition  to 
Moniicello,  to  capture  the  Governor.  Scarcely  five 
minutes  elapsed  after  the  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson and  his  family,  ere  his  mansion  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  troops.  His  wife's  health,  never 
very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excitement,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1783. 
Two  yeirs  later  he  was  appointed  Minister  Plenipo- 
tentiary to  France.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  September,  1789,  he  became  Secretary  of  State 
in  Washington's  cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned 
Jan.  J,  1794.  In  1797,  he  was  chosen  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  four  years  later  was  elected  President  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  Vice  President.  In 
1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful  unanimity, 
and  George  Clinton,  Vice  President. 

The  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  second  adminstra- 
tion  was  disturbed  by  an  event  which  threatened  the 
tranquility  and  peace  of  the  Union;  this  was  the  con- 
spiracy of  Aaron  Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election 
to  the  Vice  Presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the  plan  of  a 
military  expedition  into  the  Spanish  territories  on  our 
southwestern  frontier,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  there 
a  new  republic.  This  has  been  generally  supposed 
was  a  mere  pretext ;  and  although  it  has  not  been 
generally  known  what  his  real  plans  were,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  of  a  far  more  dangerous 
character. 

In  1809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  term  for 
which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected,  he  determined 
to  retire  from  political  life.  For  a  period  of  nearly 
:orty  years,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
.ic,  and  all  that  time  had  been  employed  in  offices  of 
the  greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having  thus  de- 
voted the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  his 
country',  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  \vhich  his 
declining  years  required,  and  ui^on  the  organization  of 
the  new  administration,  in  March,  1809,  he  bid  fare- 
well forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  profuse  in  his  hospitality.  Whole 
families  came  in  their  coaches  with  their  horses, — 
fathers  and  mothers,  boys  and  girls,  babies  and 
nurses, — and  remained  three  and  even  six  months. 
Life  at  Monticello,  for  years,  resembled  that  at  a 
fashionable  watering-place. 

The  fourth  of  July  1826,  being  the  fiftieth  anniver- 


sary of  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence. 
great  prejiarations  were  made  in  every  part  of  the 
Union  for  its  celebration,  as  the  nation's  jubilee,  and 
the  citizens  of  Washington,  to  add  to  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion,  invited  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer, 
and  one  of  the  few  surviving  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion, to  participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  ill- 
ness, which  had  been  of  several  weeks  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled  him  to 
decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  second  of  July,  the  disease  under  which 
he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a  reduced 
state  that  his  medical _  attendants,  entertained  nc 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  next 
day,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest  wish  tha; 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  the  air  of  the  fiftieth 
anniversary.  His  prayer  was  heard — that  day,  whose 
dawn  was  hailed  with  such  rapture  through  our  land, 
burst  upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a  noble 
life !  To  die  on  that  day, — the  birthday  of  a  nation,-  - 
the  day  v/hich  his  own  name  and  his  own  _  act  had 
rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst  the  rejoicings  and 
festivities  of  a  whole  nation,  who  looked  up  to  him, 
as  the  author,  under  God,  of  their  greatest  blessings, 
was  all  that  was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  his  life. 

Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kin- 
dred spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear 
him  company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stood  forth,  the  champions  of 
freedom  ;  hand  in  hand,  during  the  dark  and  desiier- 
ate  struggle  of  the  Revolution,  they  had  cheered  and 
animated  their  desponding  countr>'nien;  for  half  a 
century  they  had  labored  together  for  the  good  of 
the  country-;  and  now  hand  in  hand  they  depart. 
In  their  lives  they  had  been  united  in  the  same  great 
cause  of  liberty,  and  in  their  deaths  they  were  not 
divided. 

In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin,  rather 
above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed;  his  eyes 
were  light,  his  hair  originally  red,  in  after  life  became 
white  and  silvery;  his  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore- 
head broad,  and  his  whole  countenance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as 
well  as  personal  courage;  and  his  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate  friends 
never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a  passion. 
His  manners,  though  dignified,  were  simple  and  un- 
affected, and  his  hospitality  was  so  unbounded  that 
all  found  at  his  house  a  ready  welcome.  In  conver- 
sarion  he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  enthusiastic;  ard 
his  language  was  remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He 
was  a  finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings  is 
discernable  the  care  with  which  he  formed  his  style 
upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 


/ CZA^'^'-^     ^cyC(_  if-^oc^f  t:-''K, 


FOURTH  PRESIDENT. 


.'PriQES  IIPDISOI].* 


AMES    IMADISON,    "Father 
of  the  Constitution,"  and  fourth 
J)"  President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  March  i6,  1757,  and 
died  at  his   home  in  Virginia, 
'j  f^'  June  28,   1S36.     The  name  of 
James  Madison  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  most  of  the  important 
events  in  that  heroic  period  of  our 
country  during  which  the  founda- 
tions of   this  great    repubhc   were 
laid.  He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of  the   Constitution   of  the    United 
States  to   lie   called    to   his    eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World, 
landing  upon  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
peake but  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
planter,  residing  uix)n  a  very  fine  es- 
tate called  "Monti)elier,"  Orange  Co., 
Va.  The  mansion  was  situated  in 
the  midst  of  scenery  highly  pictur- 
esque and  romantic,  on  the  west  side 
of  South-west  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of 
Blue  Ridge.  It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  personal  and 
political  attacliment  existed  between  these  illustrious 
men,  from  their  early  youth  until  deatii. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was  conducted 
mostly  at  home  under  a  private  tutor.  At  the  age  of 
tS  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  College,  in  New  Jersey. 
Here  lie  applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  im- 


prudent zeal;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24.  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  never  recovered  any  vigor 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  177  i,  with  a  feeble 
body,  with  a  character  of  utmost  purity,  and  with  a 
mind  higlily  disciplined  and  ricjily  stored  with  learning 
which  embellished  and  gave  proficiency  to  his  subsr  ' 
quent  career. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and  systematic  reading. 
This  educational  course,  the  spirit  of  the  times  in 
which  he  lived,  and  the  society  with  which  he  asso- 
ciated, all  combined  to  inspire  him  with  a  strong 
love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-woik  of 
a  statesman.  Being  naturally  of  a  religious  turn  of 
mind,  and  his  frail  health  leading  him  to  think  that 
his  life  was  not  to  be  long,  he  directed  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mmd 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almo.";!  uneiiualled  powers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  the  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  established  as  never  to 
be  shaken. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  26  years  of  age,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention,  to 
frame  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  next  year 
('777)1  lis  was  a  candidate  for  the  General  .Assembly. 
He  refused  to  treat  the  whisky-loving  voters,  and 
consequently  lost  his  election  ;  but  those  who  had 
witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the 
modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves  in  his  behalf, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  tlie    Executive  Council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were 
Governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison  remained 
member  of  tlie  Council ;    and  their  appreciation  of  his 


32 


/AMES  MADISON. 


intellectual,  social  and  moral  worth,  contributed  not 
a  little  to  his  subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year 
1780,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  Here  he  met  the  most  illustrious  men  in 
our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  positions  among  them. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Madison  continued  in  Con- 
gress, one  of  its  most  active  and  influential  members. 
In  the  year  1784,  his  term  having  expired,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  than  Mr.  Madison  the 
utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy,  with  no  na- 
tional government,  with  no  power  to  form  treaties 
which  would  be  binding,  or  to  enforce  law.  There 
was  not  any  State  more  prominent  than  Virginia  in 
the  declaration,  that  an  efficient  national  government 
must  be  formed.  In  January,  1786,  Mr.  Madison 
carried  a  resolution  through  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  inviting  the  other  .States  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners to  meet  in  convention  at  Annapolis  to  discuss 
this  subject.  Five  States  only  were  represented.  The 
convention,  however,  issued  another  call,  drawn  up 
by  Mr.  Madison,  urging  all  the  States  to  send  their 
delegates  to  Philadelphia,  in  May,  17 87,  to  draft 
a  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.  The  delegates  met  at 
the  time  appointed.  Every  State  but  Rhode  Island 
was  represented.  George  Washington  was  chosen 
president  of  the  convention;  and  the  present  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  was  then  and  there  formed. 
There  was,  perhaps,  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  ac- 
tive in  framing  this  immortal  document  than  the  mind 
and  the  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  vote  Si  to  79,  was 
to  be  presented  to  the  several  States  for  acceptance. 
But  grave  solicitude  was  felt.  Should  it  be  rejected 
we  should  be  left  but  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
States,  with  but  little  ixjwer  at  home  and  little  respect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  tne  conven- 
tion to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  expounding  the  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  its  adoption.  There  was  great  opposition 
to  it  at  first,  but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and 
went  into  effect  in  1789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  first  Congress,  and  soon  became  the 
avowed  leader  of  the  Republican  party.  While  in 
New  York  attending  Congress,  he  met  Mrs.  Todd,  a 
young  widow  of  remarkable  power  of  fascination, 
whom  he  married.  She  was  in  person  and  character 
queenly,  and. probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occui)ied 
so  prominent  a  position  in  the  very  peculiar  society 
wliich  has  constituted  our  republican  court  as  Mrs. 
Mndison. 

Mr.  Madison  served  as  Secretai-y  of  State  under 
Jefferson,  and  at  the  close  of  his  administration 
was  chosen  President.  At  this  time  the  encroach- 
ments of  England  had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war. 


British  orders  in  council  destioyed  our  commerce,  and 
our  flag  was  ex|)osed  to  constant  insult.  Mr.  Madison 
was  a  man  of  peace.  Scholarly  in  his  taste,  retiring 
in  his  disposition,  war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one's  blood 
boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  .American  ship  brouglit 
to,  upon  the  ocean,  by  the  guns  of  an  English  cruiser. 
A  young  lieutenant  steps  on  board  and  orders  the 
crew  to  be  paraded  before  him.  With  great  nonchal- 
ance he  selects  any  number  whom  he  may  please  to 
designate  as  British  subjects ;  orders  them  down  the 
ship's  side  into  his  boat ;  and  places  them  on  the  gun- 
deck  of  his  man-of-war,  to  fight,  by  compulsion,  the 
battles  of  England.  Tiiis  right  of  search  and  im- 
pressment, no  efforts  of  our  Government  could  induce 
the  British  cabinet  to  relinquish. 

On  the  iSth  of  June,  1S12,  President  Madison  gave 
his  appioval  to  an  act  of  Congress  dechiring  war 
against  Great  Britain.  Notwithstanding  the  bitter 
hostility  of  the  Federal  party  to  the  war,  the  country 
in  general  approved;  and  Mr.  Madison,  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1813,  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
and  entered  upon  his  second  term  of  office.  Tliis  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  various  adventuras  of 
this  war  on  the  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infan. 
navy  then  laid  the  foundations  of  its  renown  in  grap- 
pling with  the  most  formidable  power  which  ever 
swept  the  seas.  The  contest  commenced  in  earnest 
by  the  appearance  of  a  British  fleet,  early  in  Februaiy, 
1813,  in  Cliesapeake  Bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  LTnited  States  under  blockade. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services  as  me 
ditator.  America  accepted ;  England  refused.  A  Brit- 
ish force  of  five  thousand  men  landed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Patuxet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  marched  rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladens- 
burg,  upon  Washington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington  was  thrown 
into  consternation.  The  cannon  of  the  brief  conflict 
at  Bladensburg  echoed  through  the  streets  of  tlie 
metropolis.  The  whole  populaticn  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  door  to. 
await  his  speedy  return,  hurried  to  meet  the  officers 
in  a  council  of  war.  He  met  our  troops  utterly  routed, 
and  he  could  not  go  back  without  danger  of  bei^\g 
captured.  But  few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  Presidential 
Mansion,  the  Capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  on 
Feb.  13,  1815,  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Ghent. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1S17,  his  second  term  of 
ofl^ice  expired,  and  he  resigned  the  Presidential  chair 
to  his  friend,  James  Monroe.  He  retired  to  his  beau- 
tiful home  at  Montpelier,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  On  June  28,  1836,  then  at  the 
age  of  85  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi- 
son died  July  12,  1849. 


1 


7 


^^^ 


FIFTH  PRESIDENT. 


35 


)-mk 


53=^1* 


PIIQES  ll]OI]ItOE. 


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L^^ 


AMES  MONROE,  the  fiftli 
.President  of  The  United  States, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Va.,  April  28,  1758.  His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  place  of 
nativity.  Hi3  ancestors  had  for 
many  years  resided  in  the  prov- 
ince in  which  he  was  born.  When, 
at  17  years  of  age,  in  the  process 
of  completing  his  education  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial C'ongress  assertibled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  upon  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
(Ireat  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  [jromul- 
gated  the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. Had  he  been  l)orn  ten  years  before  it  is  highly 
probable  that  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  signers 
of  that  celebrated  instnimem.  At  this  time  he  left 
scliool  and  enlisted  among  the  patriots. 

He  joined  the  army  when  everything  looked  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  pouring 
in ;  and  the  tories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prospect  of  con- 
tsnding  with  an  enemy  whom  they  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  To  such  brave  spirits  as  James 
Monroe,  who  went  right  onward,  undismayed  through 
difficulty  and  danger,  the  United  States  owe  their 
political  emancipation.  The  young  cadet  joined  the 
ranks,  and  espoused  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a  firm  determination  to  live  or  die  with  her  strife 


for  liberty.  Firmly  yet  sadly  he  shared  in  the  mel- 
ancholy retreat  from  Harleam  Heights  and  White 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled 
before  its  foes  through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months 
after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the  act  of  charg- 
ing upon  the  enemy  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  ]}ro- 
moted  a  captain  of  infantry;  and,  having  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  Sterling.  During  thecam- 
l)aigns  of  1777  and  1778,  in  the  actions  of  Brandy 
wine,  (iermantown  and  Monmouth,  lie  continued 
aid-de-canip ;  but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his' 
position  in  the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collect  a 
regiment  for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  State.  Upon 
this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  at 
that  period  Governor,  and  pursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  the  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not,  however, 
entirely  lay  aside  the  knapsack  for  the  green  bag; 
but  on  the  invasions  of  the  enemy,  served  as  a  volun 
teer,  during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  1782,  he  was  elected  from  King  George  county, 
a  member  of  the  Leglislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  that 
l)ody  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in  the  E.xecutive 
Council.  He  was  thus  honored  with  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens  at  23  years  of  age  ;  and  having 
at  this  early  period  displayed  some  of  that  ability 
and  aptitude  for  legislation,  which  were  afterwards 
employed  with  unremitting  energy  for  the  public  good, 


36 


JAMES  MONROE. 


he  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen  a  member  of 
the  Congress  of  the  Uniud  States. 
Deeplyas  Mr.  Monroefsh  the  imperfectionsof  theold 
Confederacy,  he  was  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
ihinking,  with  many  others  of  'he  Republican  parly, 
that  it  gave  too  much  power  to  the  Central  Government, 
and  not  enough  to  the  individual  States.  Still  he  re- 
tained the  esteem  of  his  friends  who  were  its  warm 
supporters,  and  who,  notwithstanding  his  opposition 
secured  its  adoption.  In  1789,  lie  became  a  member 
of  the  United  States  Senate ;  which  office  he  held  for 
four  years.  Every  month  the  line  of  distinction  be- 
tween the  two  great  parties  which  divided  the  nation, 
the  Federal  and  the  Republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  prominent  iaeas  which  now  sep- 
arated them  were,  that  the  Republican  party  was  in 
sympathy  with  France,  and  also  in  favor  of  such  a 
strict  construction  of  the  Constitution  as  to  give  the 
Central  Government  as  little  power,  and  the  State 
Governments  as  much  iX3wer,  as  the  Constitution  would 
warrant.  The  Fedeialists  sympatliized  with  England, 
and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  construction  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  would  give  as  much  power  to  the 
Central  Government  as  that  document  could  possibly 
authorize. 

The  leading  Federalists  and  Republicans  were 
alike  noble  men,  consecrating  all  their  energies  to  the 
good  of  the  nation.  Two  more  honest  men  or  more 
pure  patriots  than  John  Adams  the  Federalist,  and 
James  Monroe  the  Republican,  never  breathed.  In 
building  up  this  majestic  nation,  which  is  destined 
to  eclipse  all  Grecian  and  Assyrian  greatness,  the  com- 
bination of  their  antagonism  was  needed  to  create  the 
light  equilibrium.  And  yet  each  in  his  day  was  de- 
nounced as  almost  a  demon. 

Washington  was  then  President.  England  had  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Bourbons  against  the  princi- 
ples of  the  French  Revolution.  All  Europe  was  drawn 
into  the  conflict.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
Washington  issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality  be- 
tween these  contending  jxjwers.  France  had  helped 
us  in  the  struggle  for  our  liberties.  All  the  despotisms 
of  Europe  were  now  combined  to  prevent  the  French 
from  escaping  from  a  tyranny  a  thousand-fold  worse 
than  that  which  we  had  endured  Col.  Monroe,  more 
magnanimous  than  prudent,  was  anxious  that,  at 
whatever  hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in 
their  extremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opposed  the  Pres- 
ident's proclamation  as  ungrateful  and  wanting  in 
magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a  character, 
developed  his  calm,  serene,  almost  divine  greatness, 
by  appointing  that  very  James  Monroe,  who  was  de- 
nouncing the  policy  of  the  Government,  as  the  minister 
of  that  Government  to  the  Republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  welcomed  by  tlie  National  Convention 
in  France  with  the  most  enthusiastic  demonstrations. 


Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  countrv,  Mr.  Mon- 
roe was  elected  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  held  the 
office  for  three  yeais.  He  was  again  sent  to  France  to 
co-operate  with  Chancellor  Livingston  in  obtaining 
the  vast  territor)'  then  known  as  the  Province  of 
Louisiana,  which  France  had  but  shortly  before  ob- 
tained from  Spain.  Their  united  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful. For  the  comparatively  small  sum  of  fifteen 
millions  of  dollars,  the  entire  territorj'  of  Orleans  and 
district  of  Louisiana  were  added  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  probably  tlie  largest  transfer  of  real  estate 
which  was  ever  made  in  all  the  historj-  of  the  world. 

From  France  Mr.  Monroe  went  to  England  to  ob- 
tain from  that  country  some  recognition  of  our 
rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate  against  those 
odious  impressments  of  our  seamen.  But  Eng- 
land was  unrelenting.  He  again  returned  to  Eng- 
land on  tlie  same  mission,  but  could  receive  no 
redress.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  was  again 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned 
to  accept  the  position  of  Secretary  of  State  imder 
Madison.  While  in  this  office  war  with  England  was 
declared,  the  Secretary  of  War  resigned,  and  during 
these  tr)'ing  times,  the  duties  of  the  War  Department 
were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was  truly  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  LTpon  the  return  of 
peace  he  resigned  the  Department  of  War,  but  con- 
tinued in  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  until  the  ex- 
|)in)tion  of  Mr.  Madison's  adniinstration.  At  the  elec 
tion  held  the  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  himself  had 
been  chosen  President  with  but  little  opposition,  and 
upon  March  4,  1817,  was  inaugurated.  Four  years 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  Presidency 
were  tYie  cession  of  Florida  to  the  United  States;  the 
Missouri  Compromise,  and  the    ''  Monroe  doctrine.'- 

This  famous  doctrine,  since  known  as  the  "  Monroe 
doctrine,"  was  enunciated  by  him  in  1823.  At  that 
tiaie  the  United  States  had  recognized  the  indeper.d- 
ence  of  the  South  American  states,  and  did  not  wish 
to  have  European  (lowers  longer  attempting  to  sub- 
due portions  of  the  American  Continent.  The  doctrine 
is  as  follows:  "That  we  should  consider  any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  European  jxiwers  to  extend  their  sys- 
tem to  any  portion  of  this  hemisphere  as  dangerous 
to  our  peace  and  safety,"  and  "that  we  could  not 
view  any  interposition  for  the  purjiose  of  oppressing 
or  controlling  American  governments  or  provinces  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  manifestation  bv  European 
liow'ers  of  an  unfriendly  disixisition  toward  the  United 
States."  This  doctrine  immediately  affected  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  become  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  United  States. 

hx  the  end  of  his  second  term  Mr  Monroe  retired 
to  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  until  1830, 
when  he  went  to  New  York  to  live  with  his  son-in- 
law.     In  that  city  he  died,on  the  4th  of  July,  1S31 


j,   5,  Ai 


Ciyry^ 


SIXTH  PRESIDENT. 


S? 


"  "       JOr^I]  QUI1]6Y  ^D}?nQg. 

w  '/IS 

I  It  I  ■<"^-^  ,1ft  --"'■-  -a-  -^"^  A'\'^V^  'JS^'^Y-^  »l^^^" '  wti*'^"-^  ■Tt^'^'i*^  itt.*^"^"'    '^  ■v*'^-^    If,  *vV'^^  .a.  -."t^  .a.,  -o."^  .m.  ■vMgj  ja  -o.'^^  jh.  vm>  i 


OHN  OUINCY  ADAMS,  the 
sixth  President  of  the  United 
i^SStates,  was   born  in   the   rural 
home   of  his    honored    fatiier, 
John  Adams,  m  Quincy,  Mass., 
on  the  I  I  th  cf  July,  1767.   His 
mother,  a  woman  of  exalted 
worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during   the   almost    constant    ab- 
sence of   his  father.      When    luit 
eight  years  of  age,  he   stood  with 
"'    his  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  bat- 
tle on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
upon  the  smoke  and  flames   billow- 
ing up  from    the    conflagration    of 
Charlestown. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  his  mother, 
to  sail  with  his  father  for  Europe, 
through  a  fleet  ol  hostile  British  cruisers.  The  bright, 
animated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Pan's,  where 
his  father  was  associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted 
the  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  returned  to  this 
cour.try,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad  Again 
(Or.n  Quincy  accompanied  his  father.  At  Paris  he 
applied  himself  with  great  diligence,  for  si.\  months, 
to  .-.tudy;  then  accompained  his  father  to  Holland, 
where  he  entered,  first  a  school  in  .Amsterdam,  then 
the  University  at  Leyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  178 1,  when  the  manly  boy  was  but  fourteen 
yea-s  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
ister to  the  Russian  court,  as  his   private  secretary. 

In  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  enobling 
culture  he  spent  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
to  Holland  through  Sweden,  Denmark,  H.iniburg  and 
Bremen.  This  long  journey  he  took  alone,  in  the 
winter,  when  in  his  si.xteenth  year.  Again  he  resumed 
his  studies,  under  a  private  tutor,  at  Hague.   Thence, 


in  the  spring  of  i7cS2,  he  accompanied  his  father  ic 
Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and  forming  acquaintance 
with  the  most  distinguislied  men  on  the  Continent- 
examining  arcnitectural  remains,  galleries  of  paintings 
and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At  Paris  lie  again 
became  associated  with  the  most  illustrious  men  of 
all  lands  in  the  contemplations  of  the  loftiest  temporal 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  Afte" 
a  short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris,  and 
consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until  May,  1785, 
when  he  returned  to  America.  To  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  had  seen  much  of  the  world, 
and  >vlio  was  familiar  with  the  etiquette  of  courts,  a 
residence  with  his  father  in  London,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, must  have  been  extremely  attractive 
but  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  ]ire- 
ferred  to  return  to  America  to  complete  his  education 
in  an  American  college.  He  wished  then  to  study 
law,  that  with  an  honorable  profession,  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  an  independent  support. 

Upon  leaving  Harvard  College,  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
he  studied  law  for  three  years.  In  June,  1794,  be- 
ing then  but  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Washington,  resident  minister  at  the 
Netherlands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  July,  he  reached 
London  in  October,  where  lie  was  immediately  admit- 
ted  to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  I'inckney, 
assisting  fhein  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  with 
Gieat  Brilian.  After  thus  s)iending  a  fortniglit  ir, 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to  Portugal  as 
minister  pleniix)tcntiary.  On  his  way  to  Portugal, 
upon  arriving  in  London,  he  met  with  despatches 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Beiiin,  but  rc(piesling 
him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  should  receive  his 
instructions.  \\'hile  w;:iting  he  was  married  to  an 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged,— Miss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  American  consul  In  I  ondon  ; 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom- 
plishment which  eminently  fitted  her  to  move  in  t'm 
elevated  sphere  for  which  she  was  destined. 


♦o 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  November,  1797  ; 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1799,  when,  having  ful- 
filled all  the  pur[X)ses  of  iris  mission,  lie  solicited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1802,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4th  of  March,  1804.  His  reputation,  his 
ability  and  his  experience,  placed  him  immediately 
among  the  most  prominent  and  influential  members 
of  that  body.  Especially  did  he  sustain  the  Govern- 
ment in  its  measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America  more 
familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the  British  court  upon 
these  points,  and  no  one  more  resolved  to  present 
a  firm  resistance. 

In  1809,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Quincy  .A.dams  minister  to  St.  Petersburg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  College,  he  embarked 
at  Boston,  in  August,  1809. 

While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  intense  stu- 
dent. He  devoted  his  attention  to  the  language  and 
history  of  Russia;  to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the 
European  system  of  weights,  measures,  and  coins  ;  to 
the  climate  and  astronomical  observations;  while  he 
Kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  classics.  In  all  the  universities  of  Europe,  a 
more  accomplished  scholar  could  scarcely  be  found. 
All  through  life  the  Bible  constituted  an  importai'.t 
part  of  his  studies.  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five 
chapters  every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  Mr.  Monroe  took  the 
Presidential  chair,  and  immediately  appointed  Mr. 
-A-dams  Secretary  of  State.  Taking  leave  of  his  num- 
erous friends  in  public  and  private  life  in  Europe,  he 
1  sailed  in  June,  1819,  for  the  United  States.  On  the 
i8th  of  August,  he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his 
home  in  Quincy.  During  the  eight  years  of  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr,  Adams  continued  Secretary 
of  State. 

Some  time  before  the  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  office,  new  candidates  began  to  be  presented 
for  the  Presidency.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  brought 
forward  his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two  hundred  and 
sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast.  Andrew  Jackson  re- 
ceived ninety-nine;  John  Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four; 
William  H.  Crawford,  forty -one;  Henry  Clay,  thirty- 
seven.  .As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
fiuestion  went  to  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  Adams,  and 
he  was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  the  disappointed  candidates  now 
combined  in  a  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upon 
Mr.  Adams.  There  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
*i>.S  pa.'^t  history  of  our  country  than  the  abuse  which 


was  poured  in  one  uninterrupted  stream,  upon  this 
high-minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  There  never  was 
an  administration  more  pure  in  principles,  more  con- 
scientiously devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  coun- 
try, than  that  of  John  Quincy  Adams;  and  never, per- 
haps, was  there  an  administration  more  unscrupu. 
lously  and  outrageously  assailed. 

Mr.  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  degree,  ab- 
stemious and  temperate  in  his  habits;  always  rising 
early,  and  taking  much  exercise.  When  at  his  homein 
Quincy,  he  has  been  known  to  walk,  before  breakfast, 
seven  miles  to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said 
that  he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting  his 
own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in  his  library 
often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams  retired 
from  the  Presidency,  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew 
Jackson.  John  C.  Calhoun  was  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dent. The  slavery  question  now  began  to  assume 
ixjrlentous  magnitude.  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Quincy  and  to  his  studies,  which  he  pursued  with  un- 
abated zeal.  But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  re- 
main in  retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  Congress.  For  seventeen 
years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the  post  as  repre- 
sentative, towering  above  all  his  peers,  ever  ready  to 
do  brave  battle'  for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"the  old  man  eloquent."  Upon  taking  his  seat  in 
the  House,  he  announced  that  he  should  hold  him- 
self bound  to  no  party.  Probably  there  never  was  a 
member  more  devoted  to  his  duties.  He  was  usually 
the  first  in  his  place  in  the  rnorning,  and  the  last  to 
leave  his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure  could 
be  brought  forward  and  escape  his  scruuny.  '1  he 
battle  which  Mr.  Adams  fought,  almost  singly,  against 
the  proslavery  party  in  the  Government,  was  sublime 
in  Its  moral  dating  and  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury, 
with  expulsion  from  the  House,  with  assassination  • 
but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

It  has  been  said  of  President  Adams,  that  when  his 
body  was  bent  and  his  hair  silvered  by  the  lapse  of 
fourscore  years,  yielding  to  the  simple  faith  of  a  little 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  every  night,  before 
he  slept,  the  pra)er  which  his  mother  taught  him  in 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  2 1 st  of  February,  1848,  he  rose  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  to  address  the 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  by  paraly- 
sis, and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  those  around  him. 
For  a  time  he  was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to 
the  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around  and 
said  "  This  is  the  end  of  earth  ;"then  after  a  moment's 
pause  he  added,  '' I  am  content"  These  were  the 
last    words  of    the    grand    "Old    Man    Eloquent." 


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SE  VENTH  PRESIDENT. 


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NDREW  JACKSON,  the 
ith  President  of  the 
'  L'nhed  States,  was  born  in 
W'axhaw  settlement,  N.  C, 
March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
after  his  father's  death.  His 
parents  were  poor  emigrants 
from  Ireland,  and  took  up 
their  abode  in  \Va.\haw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  poverty. 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up  a  very 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.  His 
features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly; and  there  was  but  very 
little  in  his  character,  made  visible,  which  was  at- 
tractive. 

Wiien  only  thirteenyears  old  he  joined  the  voUin- 
teers  of  Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
1781,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  British  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am 
a  prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the  reply  of 
the  dauntless  boy. 

The  brute  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate 
Dlovv  at  the  head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner. 
.\ndrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes, — one  on  the  hand  and  the  other  upon  the 
head.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
with  the  same  demand.  He  also  refused,  and  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  (mite 
disabled  him,  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treatment,  and 
were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-pox.  Their 
mother  was  successful  'i-    •>'. ilaining    their   exchange, 


and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  After  a  long  illnosD 
Andrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon 
left  him  entirely  friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways,  s  i;h  as 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  general  store,  until  1784,  when  he 
entered  a  law  office  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He,  however, 
gave  more  attention  to  the  wild  amusements  of  the 
times  than  to  his  studies.  In  1788,  he  was  appointed 
solicitor  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  of 
which  Tennessee  was  then  a  part.  This  involved 
many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid  dangers  of 
every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jackson  never  knew  fear, 
and  the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a  skirmish 
with  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman  who 
supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
Great  was  the  surprise  of  both  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  the  conditionsof  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur- 
rence was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to  bring  Mr. 
Jackson  into  disfavor. 

During  these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his  profes- 
sion, and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he  killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Territory  of  Tennessee  then 
containing  nearly  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  the 
people  met  in  convention  at  Knoxville  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution. Five  were  sent  from  each  of  the  eleven 
counties.  Andrew  Jackson  was  one  of  the  delegates. 
The  new  State  was  entitled  to  but  one  niemlcr  in, 
the  National  House  of  Representatives.  Andre>v  Jack-i 
son  was  chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 
rode  to  Philedelphia,  where  Congress  then    1  eld  its 


ANDRE  \V  JACKSON. 


sjsjij.is, — a  distance  of  about  eight   hundred    miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He  admired 
iionaparte,  loved  France  and  hated  England.  As  Mr. 
Jackson  took,  his  seat,  Gjn.  Washington,  whose 
second  term  of  office  was  then  expiring,  delivered  his 
last  speech  to  Congress.  A  couuniltee  drew  up  a 
complimentary  address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  who  voted  against  it.  He  was  not  willing  to 
say  that  Gen.  Washington's  adminstration  had  been 
"  wise,  firm  and  patriotic." 

Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  .States 
Senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned  and  returned  home. 
Soon  after  he  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  his  State,  which  position  he  held  fjr  six  years. 

When  the  war  of  181 2  with  tireat  Britian  com- 
menced, Madison  occupied  the  Presidential  chair. 
Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  tlvs  President  that  there  was 
an  unknown  man  in  the  West,  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
would  do  credit  to  a  commission  if  one  were  con- 
ferred u[X)n  him.  Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson 
offered  his  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hundred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops 
were  assembled  at  Nashville. 

As  the  British  were  hourly  expected  to  make  an  at- 
tack upon  New  Orleans,  where  Gen  Wilkinson  was 
in  command,  he  was  ordered  to  descend  the  river 
with  fifteen  hundred  troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The 
expedition  reached  Natchez;  and  after  a  delay  of  sev- 
eral weeks  there,  without  accomplishing  anything, 
the  men  were  ordered  back  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  had  displayed,  and  his  entire 
devotion  to  the  comrfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opinions;  and  he  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  State.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  "Old  Hickory.' 

Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horsewhip  Col. 
Thomas  H.  Benton,  for  a  remark  that  genlleman 
made  about  his  taking  a  part  as  second  in  a  duel,  in 
which  a  younger  brother  of  Benton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  AVhile  he  was 
lingering  njxin  a  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh  from 
Florida  to  the  Lakes,  to  exterminate  the  white  set- 
tlers, were  committing  the  most  awful  ravages.  De- 
cisive action  became  necessary.  Gen.  Jackson,  with 
his  fractured  bone  just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in 
a  sling,  and  unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assis- 
tance, gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendezvous  at  Fayettesville,  .Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong  fort  on 
one  of  the  bends  of  theTallauoosa  River,  near  the  cen- 
ter of  Alabama,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  Strother. 
With  an  army  of  two  thousand  men.  Gen.  Jackson 
traversed  the  pathless  wilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven 
days.  He  reached  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or 
Horse-shoe,  on  the  27th  of  March.  1814.     The  bend 


of  the  river  enclosed  nearly  one  hundred  acres  of 
tangled  forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  formidable  brea.st- 
work  of  logs  and  brush.  Here  nine  hundred  warriors, 
with  an  ami)le  suplyof  arms  were  assembled. 

The  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight  was  utterly  des- 
perate. Not  an  Indian  would  accept  of  quarter.  AV'hcn 
bleeding  and  dying,  they  would  fight  those  who  en- 
deavored to  spare  their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing until  dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was 
awful  and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the 
river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their  heads  as 
they  swam.  Nearly  everyone  of  the  nine  hundred  war- 
rios  were  killed  A  few  probably,  in  the  night,  swam 
the  river  and  escaped.  This  ended  the  war.  The 
power  of  the  Creeks  was  broken  forever.  This  bold 
plunge  into  the  wilderness,  with  its  terriffic  slaughter, 
so  appalled  the  savages,  that  the  haggard  remnants 
of  the  bands  came  to  the  camp,  begging  for  peace. 

This  closing  of  the  Creek  war  enabled  us  to  con- 
centrate all  our  militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the 
allies  of  the  Indians  No  man  of  less  resolute  will 
than  Gen.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediately  he 
was  appointed  major-general. 

Late  in  August,  with  an  army  of  two  thousand 
men,  on  a  rushing  march,  Gen.  Jackson  came  to 
Mobile.  A  British  fleet  came  from  Pensacola,  landed 
a  force  upon  the  beach,  anchored  near  the  little  fort, 
and  from  both  ship  and  shore  commenced  a  furious 
assault  The  battle  was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length 
one  of  the  ships  was  blown  up    and  the  rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  where  he  had  taken  his  little 
army,  he  moved  his  troops  to  New  Orleans, 
And  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  which  soon  ensued, 
was  in  reality  a  very  arduous  campaign.  This  won 
for  Gen.  Jackson  an  imperishable  name.  Here  his 
troops,  which  numbered  about  four  thousand  men, 
won  a  signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  about 
nine  thousand.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  two  thousand  six   hundred. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but,  in  1824, 
he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Adams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1828,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  just  before  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  the  government,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  loved  with  a  devotion  which  has 
perha|)s  never  been  surpassed.  From  the  shock  of 
her  death  he  never  recovered. 

His  administration  was  one  of  the  most  memorable 
in  the  annals  of  our  country;  applauded  by  one  party, 
condemned  by  the  other.  No  man  had  more  bitter 
enemies  or  warmer  friends.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
two  terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage,  where 
he  died  June  8,  1845.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Jack- 
son's  life   were  that   of  a   devoted  Christian   man. 


^  7  ^/Z^^  ^^^Z^? U^L^,.z.^ 


EIGHTH  PRESIDENT. 


WW^  V^l]  MREI]. 


^^^.^ 


ARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  ihe 
eighth      President     of     the 
United  States,  was  born  at 
Kinderhooiv,  N.  Y.,  Dec.   5, 
1782.     He  died  at  the  same 
place,  July    24,    1S62.      His 
body  rests  in  the  cemetery 
at  Kinderhook.     Above  it  is 
a  plain  granite    shaft  fifteen   feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  half  way  up   on   one    face, 
w         The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered 
or  unbounded  by  shrub  or  flower. 

There  is  but  little  in  the  life  of  Martin  Van  Buren 
of  romantic  interest.  He  fought  no  battles,  engaged 
in  no  wild  adventures.  Though  his  life  was  stormy  in 
lX)litical  and  intellectual  conflicts,  and  he  gained  many 
signal  victories,  his  days  passed  uneventful  in  those 
incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His-  an- 
cestors, as  his  name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  Holhuid 
to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
residing  in  the  old  town  of  Kinderhook.  His  mother, 
also  of  Dutch  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  exemplary  piety. 

.■fe  was  decidedly  a  precocious  boy,  developing  un- 
usual activity,  vigor  and  strength  of  mind.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  had  finished  his  academic  studies 
in  his  native  village,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law.  As  he  had  not  a  collegiate  education,  seven 
years  of  study  in  a  law-office  were  required  of  liim 
before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar.  Inspired  witii 
J.  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  powers,  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  with  indefatig.ible  industry.  After 
spending  six  ye:ir<  in  an  office  in  'vj   native  vilbige. 


he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted  liis 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  height.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  from  the  beginning  a  politician.  He  had, 
perhaps,  imbibed  that  spirit  while  listeninig  to  the 
many  discussions  which  had  been  carried  on  in  his 
father's  hotel.  He  was  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and  eloquently  espoused  the 
cause  of  State  Rights  ;  though  at  that  time  the  Fed- 
eral party  held  the  supremacy  both  in  his  town 
and  State. 

His  success  and  increasing  ruputation  led  him 
after  six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson,  th, 
county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years 
constantly  gaining  strengtli  by  contending  in  the- 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mi. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  for 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  After  twelve  short 
years  she  sank  into  tiie  grave,  the  victim  of  consump- 
tion, leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons  to  weep  over 
her  loss.  For  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was 
an  earnest,  successful,  assiduous  lawyer.  The  record 
of  those  years  is  barren  in  items  of  public  interest. 
In  18 1 2,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  State  Senate,  and  gave  his  strenuous  support  to 
Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  In  1815,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Attorney-General,  and  the  next  year  moved 
to  Albany,  the  capital  of  tlie  State. 

'.V'iiile  he  was  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  most 
jjominent  leaders  of  the  Democratic   party,  he   had 


4S 


MA  R  TIN  VA  N  B  UREN. 


ihe  moral  courage  to  avow  that  true  democracy  did 
not  reiiuire  that  "  universal  suffrage"  which  admits 
the  vile,  the  degraded,  the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of 
governing  the  State.  In  true  consistency  with  his 
democratic  principles,  he  contended  that,  while  the 
path  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting  should  be  open 
to  every  man  without  distinction,  no  one  should  be 
invested  with  that  sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were 
in  some  degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of  the 
State. 

In  182  I  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  United 
States  Seriate;  and  in  the  same  year,  he  took  a  seat 
in  the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  his 
native  State.  His  course  in  this  convention  secured 
the  approval  of  men  of  all  parties.  No  one  could 
doubt  the  singleness  of  his  endeavors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  all  classes  in  the  community.  In  the 
Senate  of  tlie  United  States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a 
conspicuous  position  as  an  active  and  useful  legislator. 

In  1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  being  then  in  the 
Presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re-elected  to 
ihe  Senate.  He  had  been  from  the  beginning  a  de- 
termined opposer  of  the  Administration,  adopting  the 
'State  Rights"  view  in  opposition  to  what  was 
deemed  the  Federal  proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen  Governorof 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  accordingly  resigned  his 
seat  in  the  Senate.  Probably  no  one  in  the  United 
States  contributed  so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
Adams  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing  in  it 
Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van  Buren.  Whether 
entitled  to  the  reputation  or  not,  he  certainly  was  re- 
garded throughout  the  United  States  as  one  of  the 
most  skillful,  sagacious  and  cunning  of  politicians. 
It  was  supposed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how 
to  touch  the  secret  springs  of  action;  how  to  pull  all 
the  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion ;  and  how  to 
organize  a  political  army  which  would,  secretly  and 
Ete.-'lthily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  By 
these  powers  it  is  said  that  he  outv/itted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which 
few  thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

When  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  he 
apjxiinted  Mr.  Van  Buren  Secretary  of  State.  This 
position  he  resigned  in  1831,  and  was  immediately 
apixjinted  Minister  to  England,  where  he  went  the 
same  autumn.  The  Senate,  however,  when  it  met, 
refsed   to   ratify  the  nomination,   and  he  returned 


home,  apparently  untroubled;  was  nominated  Vice 
President  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re-election 
of  President  Jackson ;  and  with  smiles  for  all  and 
frowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place  at  tlie  head  of  that 
Senate  which  had  refused  to  confirm  his  nomination 
as  ambassador. 

His  rejection  by  the  Senate  roused  all  the  zeal  of 
President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated  favor- 
ite; and  this,  probably  more  than  any  other  cause, 
secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Chief  Execu 
tive.  On  the  20th  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  Van  Buren  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  to  succeed  Gen. 
Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the 
retiring  President.  "  Leaving  New  York  out  of  the 
canvass,"  says  Mr.  Parton,  "the  election  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  to  the  Presidency  was  as  much  the  act  of  Gen. 
Jackson  as  though  the  Constitution  had  'conferred 
upon  him  the  power  to  appoint  a  successor." 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting  events. 
The  insurrection  in  Canada,  which  threatened  to  in  • 
volve  this  country  in  war  with  England,  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  question,  and  finally  the  great  commer- 
cial jjanic  which  spread  over  the  country,  all  were 
trials  to  his  wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  at- 
tributed to  the  management  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  President  into  such  disfavor  that  he 
failed  of  re-election. 

With  the  exception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  by  the  "Free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  1848, 
Mr.  Van  Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until 
his  death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal  habits, 
and  living  within  liis  income,  had  now  fortunately  a 
competence  for  his  declining  years.  His  unblemished 
character,  his  commanding  abilities,  his  unquestioned 
patriotism,  and  the  distinguished  positions  which  he 
had  occupied  in  the  government  of  our  country,  se- 
cured to  him  not  only  the  homage  of  his  party,  but 
the  respect  ot  the  whole  community.  It  was  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1841,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwald^ 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  24th  of  July,  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he 
resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  of 
culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoyir.g  in  a  healthy  old 
age,  probably  far  more  happiness  than  he  had  before 
experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life- 


^  ;^/fe-2.^^^K^ 


NINTH  PRESIDENT. 


5' 


^^ILLIAAr    HEX 

■■^^ — f^r 


KY    HARRISfCNI. 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRI- 
SON, the  ninth    President  of 
the    United   States,  was  horn 
at  Berkeley,  Va.,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
His  father,   Benjamin   Harri- 
son, was  in  comparatively  op- 
ulent circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  his  day.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington,  was  early  elected 
a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,    and  was    conspicuous 
among  the  patriots  of  Virginia  in 
resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
British  crown.     In  the  celebrated 
Congress  of  1775,  Benjamin  Har- 
rison   and   John    Hancock    were 
both  candidates  for  the  office  of 
speaker. 

Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
was  twice  re-elected.  His  son, 
William  Henry,  of  course  enjoyed 
in  childhood  all  the  advantages  which  wealth  and 
intellectual  antl  cultivated  society  could  give.  Hav- 
i.ig  received  a  thorough  comuion-school  education,  he 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  College,  wiiere  he  graduated 
witli  honor  soon  after  the  deatli  of  his  fatliei.  He 
-hen  rejiaired  to  Philadelphia  to  study  medicine  under 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianshii)  of 
lObert  Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
ligners  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Jpon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
withstanding the  '■emonstrances  of  his  friends,  he 
ai)ar.dored  his  medical  studies  and  entered  the  army, 
-(aving  obtained  a  commission  of  Ensign  from  Presi- 


dent Washington.  He  was  then  but  19  years  old. 
From  that  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank 
until  he  became  aid  to  General  Wayne,  after  whose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was  then  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territory.  This 
Territory  .vas  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
position. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  North-western  Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  portions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embraced 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  "  The  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  portion,  which 
included  what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
\\'isconsin,  was  called  the  "Indiana  'I'erritory."  Wil . 
liam  Henry  Harrison,  then  27  years  of  age,  was  ap 
pointed  by  John  Adams,  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also  Governor  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the  globe.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  in- 
vested with  powers  nearly  dictatorial  over  the  now 
rapidly  increasing  white  population.  The  ability  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  these  responsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  appointed  to  this  office' — first  by  John  Adams, 
twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and  afterwards  by  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When  he  began  his  adminstration  there  were  but 
three  white  settlements  in  that  almost  boundless  region, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resotinding  with  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  One  of  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  Louisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Flarrisoi. 
reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.  Abou' 


U.  0.   ILL  LIB. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


the  year  1806,  two  extraordinary  men,  twin  brothers, 
of  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of 
these  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  The  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  Olliwacheca,  or  "  The  Prophet." 
Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian  warrior,  but  a  man 
of  great  sagacity,  far-reaching  foresight  and  indomit- 
able perseverance  in  any  enterprise  ni  which  he  might 
engage.  He  was  inspired  with  the  highest  enthusiasm, 
and  had  long  regarded  with  dread  and  with  hatred 
tlie  encroachment  of  the  whites  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  fathers.  His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was 
anorator,  who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree-tops  beneath  which 
I  hey  dwelt. 

liut  the  Prophet  was  not  merely  anorator:  he  was, 
i  1  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  Indians,  invested 
with  the  superhuman  dignity  of  a  medicine-man  or  a 
ni-igician.  With  an  enthusiasm  unsurpassed  by  Peter 
the  Hermit  rousing  Europe  to  the  crusades,  he  went 
frum  tribe  to  tribe,  assuming  that  he  was  specially  sent 
by  the  Great  Si)irit. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to  conciliate 
the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war  came,  and  at  Tippe- 
canoe the  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter. 
October  28,  18 12,  his  army  began  its  march.  When 
near  the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Harrison  was 
aporoaching  them  in  so  hostile  an  attitude.  After  a 
short  conference,  arrangements  were  made  for  a  meet- 
ing the  next  day,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace. 

But  Gov.  Harrison  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protes- 
tations Selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  his  night's  en- 
campment, he  took  every  precaution  against  surprise. 
His  troops  were  posted  in  a  hollow  square,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms. 

The  troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accourtrements  on,  his 
loaded  musket  by  his  side, and  his  bayonet  fixed.  The 
wakeful  Governor,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  mornint:,  had  risen,  and  was  sitting  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It 
was  a  chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain.  In 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  creiit  as"  near  as  possi- 
ble, and  just  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  passion  most 
liighly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
little  army.  The  savages  had  been  amply  provided 
with  guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompained  by  a  shower  of  bullets. 

The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extinguished,  as  the 
light  aided  the  Indians  in  their  aim.  With  hide- 
jus  yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubting  a 
speedy  and  an  entire  victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's 
troops  stood  as  immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them 
until  day  dawned ".  they  then  made  a  simultaneous 
charge  with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  every  thing  be- 
fore   them,    and    completely    routing    th^    foe. 


Gov.  Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked 
to  the  utmost.  The  British  descending  from  the  Can  - 
adas,  were  of  themselves  a  very  formidable  force  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolves  from  the 
forest,  searching  out  every  remote  farm-house,  burn- 
ing, plundering,  scalping,  torturing,  the  wide  frontier 
was  plunged  into  a  state  of  consternation  whicli  even 
the  most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  conceive. 
The  war-whoop  was  resounding  everywhere  in  the 
forest.  The  horizon  was  illuminated  with  the  conflagra- 
tion of  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  Gen  Hull  had  made 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit. 
Under  these  despairing  circumstances.  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  North-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
D..'troit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  place  a  man  in  a  situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  but 
General  Harrison  was  found  equal  to  the  position, 
and  nobly  and  triumphantly  did  he  meet  all  the  re- 
sponsibilities. 

He  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by  always  sharin? 
with  them  their  fatigue.  His  whole  baggage,  while 
,  pursuing  the  foe  up  the  Thames,  was  carried  in  a 
valise;  and  his  bedding  consisted  of  a  single  blanket 
lashed  over  his  saddle.  Thirty-five  British  officers, 
his  prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  battle. 
The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef  roasted 
before  the  fire,  without  bread  or  salt. 

In  18 1 6,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  member  ol 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  to  represent 
the  District  of  Ohio.  In  Congress  he  proved  an 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  sjwke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  power  of  eloquence,  wliich  arrested 
the  attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  1S19,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  presidential  electors 
of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

In  1S36,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison  brough!:  him 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
Van  Buren,  but  he  was  defeated.  At  the  close  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  term,  he  was  re-nomii^ated  by  his 
party,  and  Mr.  Harrison  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  the  Whigs,  with  John  Tyler  for  the  Vice  Presidency. 
The  contest  was  very  animated.  Gen.  Jackson  gave 
all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's  election  ;  but 
his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel  Webstei 
at  its  head  as  Secretary  of  State,  vvas  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  with  which  any  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  hopes  of  the  country 
more  sanguine.  In  the  midst  of  these  bright  and 
Joyous  prospects.  Gen.  Harrison  was  seized  by  a 
pleurisv-fever  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
,  ness,  died  on  the  4th  of  April ;  just  one  month  after 
his  inausuration  as  President  of  the  United  States. 


'^vn. 


TENTH  PRESIDENT. 


55 


:,,^m  JOHM  T  Y 


OHN    TYLER,     the    tenth 
Presidentof  the  United  States. 
He  was  born  in  Charles-city 
Co.,  Va.,  March  29, 1790.   He 
was  the   favored  child    of  af- 
fluence and  high    social    po- 
sition.    At  the   early  age   of 
twelve,  John  entered  William 
and   Mary  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.  After 
graduating,   he  devoted    him- 
self with    great    assiduity  to    the 
study    of    law,    partly    with     his 
father    and    p.irtly  with    Edmund 
\%i     Randolph,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  ne 
commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  was  rapid  and  aston- 
ishing. It  is  said  that  three 
months  had  not  elapsed  ere  there 
was  scarcely  a  case  on  the  dock- 
et of  the  court  in  which  he  was 
fiCt  retained.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimoi.sly  e'ected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Eagislature.  He  connected  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  warmly  advocated  the  measures  of 
Jefferson  and  Madison.  For  five  successive  years  he 
w.!s  elected  to  the  I^egislature,  receiving  nearly  the 
unanimous  vote  or  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Here  he  acted  earnestly  and 
ably  with  the  Democratic  party,  opposing  a  national 
bank,  internal  improvements  by  the  General  <<)vern- 


ment,  a  protective  tariff,  and  advocatmg  a  strict  con- 
struction of  the  Constitution,  and  the  most  careful 
vigilance  over  State  rights.  His  labors  in  Congress 
were  so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire  to  his 
estate  in  Charles-city  Co.,  to  recruit  his  health.  He, 
however,  soon  after  consented  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  his  influence  was  powerful 
in  [iromoting  public  works  of  great  utility.  With  a 
reputation  thus  canstantly  increasing,  he  was  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes.  Governor  of  his 
native  State.  His  administration  was  signally  a  suc- 
cessful one.     His  popularity  secured  his  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  A  portion  of  the  Democratic  party 
was  displeased  with  Mr.  Randolph's  wayward  course, 
and  brought  forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opponent, 
considering  him  the  only  man  in  Virginia  of  sufficient 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.     Mr.  T\ler  was  the  victor. 

In  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposi- 
tion. He  opposed  the  tariff;  he  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional ;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  ui)on  slavery,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  improvements  by  tlic  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  avowed  his  sympathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  opposition  to  the  nullifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  piinciples  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Such  was  Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  Congress, — a  record 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
Iiis  profession.     There  was  a  cplit  in  the   Democratic 


JOHN  TYLER. 


party.  His  friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
lersonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  compli- 
ments upon  him.  He  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
forty-six.  His  career  had  been  very  brilliant.  In  con- 
sequence of  his  devotion  to  public  business,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder;  and  it  was 
not  without  satisfaction  that  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  culture  of  his  plan- 
tation. Soon  after  this  he  removed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children  ;  and  he  again 
took  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
'839.  The  majority  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disappointment  of 
the  South,  who  wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  concili- 
ate the  Southern  Whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. It  was  well  known  that  he  was  not  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  Whig  party  in  the  Noith :  but  the  Vice 
President  has  but  very  little  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, his  main  and  almost  only  duty  being  to  pre- 
side over  the  meetings  of  the  Senate.  Thus  it  hap- 
(jened  that  a  Whig  President,  and,  in  reality,  a 
Democratic  Vice  President  were  chosen. 

In  1841,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  one  short  month  from 
that  time.  President  Harrison  died,  and  Mr.  Tyler 
thuj  .cund  himself,  to  his  own  surprise  and  that  of 
the  whole  Nation,  an  occupant  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  This  was  a  new  test  of  the  stability  of  our 
institutions,  as  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country  that  such  an  event  had  occured.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received  the 
unexpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  President  Harri- 
son. He  hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  6th  of 
April  was  inaugurated  to  the  high  and  responsible 
office.  He  was  placed  in  a  ix)sition  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  longlife  he  had  been 
opjxjsed  to  the  main  i)rinciples  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, hone~t  man,  with  an  unbleniLshed  record. 
Gen.  Harrison  had  selected  a  Whig  cabinet.  Should 
he  retain  them,  and  thus  suiround  himself  with  coun- 
sellors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own.'  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn  against  the  party 
which  had  elected  him  and  select  a  cabinet  in  har- 
mony with  himself,  and  which  would  oppose  all  those 
views  which  the  Whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare?  This  was  his  fearful  dilemma.  He  in- 
vited the  cabinet  which  President  Harrison  had 
^'elected  to  retain  their  seats.  He  reccommended  a 
'  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would  guide  and 
bless  us. 

The  Whigs  carried  through  Congress  a  bill  for  the 
incorporation  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the  United  States. 
The  President,  after  ten  days'  delay,  returned  it  with 
his  veto.       He   isuaaested,   however,  that  he  ^vould 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  upon  such  a  plan  as  he 
proposed.  Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  Eubrnitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his  approval. 
It  ;vas  passed  without  alteration,  and  he  sent  it  back 
with  his  veto.  Here  commenced  the  open  rupture. 
It  is  said  that  Mr.  Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  meas- 
ure by  a  published  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M. 
Botts,  a  distinguished  Virginia  Whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  President. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the  Presi- 
dent into  their  arms.  The  party  which  elected  him 
denounced  him  bitterly.  All  the  members  of  his 
cabinet,  excepting  Mr.  Webster,  resigned.  The  Whigs 
of  Congress,  both  the  Senate  and  the  House,  held  a 
meeting  and  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  proclaiming  that  all  political  alliance 
between  the  Whigs  and  President  Tyler  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  the  President  attempted  to  conciliate.  He 
appointed  a  new  cabinet  of  distinguished  Whigs  and 
Conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out  all  strong  party 
men.  Mr.  Webster  soon  found  it  necessaiy  to  resign, 
forced  out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends.  Thus 
the  four  years  of  Mr.  Tyler's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion ])assed  sadly  away.  No  one  was  satisfied.  The 
land  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  vitu])eration.  Whigs 
and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  svmpathy  with  his 
old  friends,  the  Democrats,  until  at  the  close  of  his  term, 
he  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  support  of  Mr. 
Polk,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from  the 
harassments  of  office,  tothe  regret  of  neitherparty,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  lelief.  His  first  wife, 
Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in  Washington,  in  1842; 
and  in  June,  1844,  President  Tyler  was  again  married, 
at  New  York,  to  Miss  Julia  Gardiner,  a  young  lady  of 
many  personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed  mainly 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sherwood  For- 
est, Charles  city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  information  from 
books  and  experience  in  the  world,  and  jxissessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unusual  attractions.  With  sufficient 
means  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous  hospitality,  he 
might  have  enjoyed  a  serene  old  age  with  the  few 
friends  who  gathered  around  him,  were  it  not  for  the 
storms  of  civil  war  which  his  own  principles  and 
policy  had  helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  Rebellion  rose,  which  the  State- 
rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  C.  Cal- 
houn had  inaugurated,  President  Tyler  renounced  his 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erates. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  their  Congress; 
and  while  engaged  in  active  measures  to  destroy,  b" 
force  of  arms,  the  Government  over  which  he  had 
once  presided,   he   was  taken   sick   and  soon  died. 


^x 


-^ 


C'C- 


,J^ 


V7"i^><C. 


ELE VENTH  PRESIDENT. 


59 


JAMES  K.  FOILK, 


■V'«Kj 


^ 


AMES  K.  POLK,  the  eleventh 

resident  of  the  United  States, 

was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Co., 

N.  C.,Nov.  2,  1795.     His  par- 

,-^.  ents  were   Samuel   and    Jane 

(Knox)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 

of  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  who  located 

at  tiie  above  place,  as  one  of  the 

first  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  year  i3o6,  with  his  wife 
and  children,  and  soon  after  fol- 
lowed by  most  of  the  members  of 
the  Polk  famly,  Samuel  Polk  emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  farther  west,  to  the  rich  valley 
of  the  Duck  River.  Here  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry Co.,  they  reared  their  log  huts, 
and  established  their  homes.  In  the 
iiard  toil  of  a  new  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, James  K.  Polk  spent  the 
early  years  of  his  childhood  end 
youth.  His  father,  adding  the  pur- 
suit of  a  surveyor  to  that  of  a  farmer, 
'  gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 

he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.  His 
mother  was  a  superior  woman,  of  strong  common 
sense  and  earnest  piety. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a  taste  for 
reading  and  expressed  the  strongest  desire  to  obtain 
a  liberal  education.  His  mother's  training  had  made 
liiin  methodical  in  his  habits,  had  taught  him  punct- 
uality and  industry,  and  had  inspired  iiim  with  lofty 
principles  of  morality.  His  health  was  frail ;  and  his 
father,  fearing  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  endure  a 


IJ 


% 


sedentary  life,  got  a  situation  for  him  behind  the 
counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 

This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disappointment.  He 
had  no  taste  for  these  duties,  and  his  daily  tasks 
were  irksome  in  the  extreme.  He  remained  in  this 
uncongenial  occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  him,  and  made 
arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute  his  studies.  Soon 
after  he  sent  him  to  Murfreesboro  Academy.  With 
ardor  which  could  scarcely  be  surpassed,  he  pressed 
forward  in  his  studies,  and  in  less  than  two  and  a  half 
years,  in  the  autumn  of  1815,  entered  the  sopliomore 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplaiy  of 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  religious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  1818,  with  the  highest  honors,  be« 
ing  deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both  in 
mathematics  and  the  classics.  He  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Polk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  with  whicli  he 
had  prosecuted  his  studies.  After  a  short  season  of 
relaxation  he  went  to  Nashville,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Hermitage,  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nashville.  They  had  probably  been 
sligh'.ly  acquainted  before.     . 

Mr.  Polkjs  father  was  a  Jeffersonian  Republican, 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adhered  to  the  same  politi- 
cal faith.  He  was  a  popular  public  speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  upon  to  address  the  meetings  of  jiis 
party  friends.  His  skill  as  a  speaker  was  such  that 
he  was  popularly  called  the  Na|X)leon  of  the  stump. 
He  was  a  man  of  unblemished    morals,   genial  and 


6o 


/AMES  K.  POLK. 


OTurterus  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
nature  in  the  jo)  s  and  griefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 
him  troops  of  friends.  In  1823,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  Here  he  gave  his 
strong  influence  towards  the  election  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  Jackson,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss  Sarah 
Childress,  of  Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.  His  bride  was 
altogether  worthy  of  him, — a  lady  of  beauty  and  cul- 
ture. In  the  fall  of  1825,  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a 
member  of  Congress.  The  satisfaction  which  he  gave 
to  his  constituents  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was  con- 
tinuec'  in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  that  he  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tf^nnessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
meiwber,  a  frequent  and  a  popular  speaker.  He  was 
always  in  his  seat,  always  courteous ;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
ambitious  rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
Speaker  of  the  House  Strong  passions  were  roused, 
and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr.  Polk  per- 
formed his  arduous  duties  to  a  very  general  satisfac- 
tion, and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  him  was 
|)as3ed  by  the  House  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1839. 

In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvassed  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  14th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville.  In  1841, 
his  term  of  office  expired,  and  he  was  again  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  defeated. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  iS45,Mr.  Polk  was  inaugur- 
ated President  of  tlie  United  States.  The  verdict  of 
the  country  in  favor  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  exerted 
its  influence  upon  Congress  ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
3d  of  March,  approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed  Texas 
as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican  minister, 
Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his  passports  and 
left  tlie  country,  declaring  the  act  of  the  annexation 
to  be  an  act  hostile  to  Mexico. 

In  his  first  message,  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  Congress,  be  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  on  the  same  footing  with  the 
other  States.  In  the  nieantime,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 


with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  \>'as 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  wis  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was  sent  nearly 
two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  he  erected  batteries  which  commanded  the 
Mexican  city  of  Matamoras,  which  was  situated  01: 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  wa: 
was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President  Polk.  The 
war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
with  great  vigor.  Gen.  Taylor,  whose  army  was  first 
called  one  of  "observation,"  then  of  "occupation," 
then  of  "  invasion, "was  sent  forward  to  Monterey.  The 
feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter,  were  hopelessly 
and  awfully  slaughtered.  The  day  of  judgement 
alone  can  reveal  the  misery  which  this  war  caused. 
It  Vv^as  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

'  To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."  Mexico  was 
prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was  in  our  hands. 
We  now  consented  to  peace  upon  the  condition  that 
Mexico  should  surrender  to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas, 
all  of  New  Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Cal- 
ifornia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive  of 
Texas,  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  This 
was  an  extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  States  of  the 
size  of  New  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing  eighteen 
majestic  States  to  be  added  to  the  Union.  There  were 
some  Americans  who  thought  it  all  right :  there  wert; 
others  who  thought  it  all  wrong.  In  the  prosecution 
of  this  war,  we  expended  twenty  thousand  lives  and 
more  than  a  hundred  million  of  dollars.  Of  this 
money  fifteen  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
office,  having  served  one  term.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
as  his  successor.  Mr  Polk  rode  to  the  Capitol  in  the 
same  carriage  with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  even- 
ing, with  Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits, 
and  his  health  was  good.  With  an  ample  fortune, 
a  choice  library,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  domestic  ties 
of  the  dearest  nature,  it  seemed  as  though  long  years 
of  tranquility  and  happiness  were  before  him.  But  the 
cholera — that  fearful  scourge— was  then  sweeping  up 
the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he  contracted, 
and  died  on  the  isthofjune,  1S49,  in  the  fifii'-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  greatly  mourned  by  his  couiurymeu. 


'y^cx^<:::A.^:pc.-^yy^y(pcyy^ 


TWELFTH  PRESIDENT. 


63 


^^,-^r-^ 


W 


-'^"  ^^^  ACHARV  TAYLOR,  twelfth 

(^  President  of  the  United  States, 
'^  was  born  on  the  24th  of  Nov., 
.j\  1784,  in  Orange  Co.,  Va.  His 
Jo  father.  Colonel  Taylor,  was 
a  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 
tinguished patriot  and  soldier  of 
the  Revolution.  When  Zachary 
was  an  infant,  his  father  with  liis 
wife  and  two  children,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  in 
the  pathless  wilderness,  a  few 
miles  from  Louisville.  In  thisfront- 
?i\7  ier  home,  away  from  civilization  and 
I  all  its  refinements,  yjung  Zachary 
could  enjoy  but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages. When  six  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
school,  and  was  then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
rather  remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter He  was  strong,  feailess  and  self-reliant,  and 
manifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter  the  army  to  fight 
•ho  Indians  who  were  ravaging  the  frontiers.  There 
is  little  to  be-recorded  of  the  uneventful  years  of  his 
childhood  on  his  father's  large  but  lonely  plantation. 
In  1808,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in  the  United  States 
army ;  and  he  joined  the  troops  which  were  stationed 
at  New  Orleans  under  Gen.  Wilkinson.  Soon  after 
this  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a  young  lady 
■roni  one  of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, in  18 1 2,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he  had  then  been 
promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  about  fifty  miles  above 
Vincennes.  This'  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilder- 
ness by  Gen.  Harrison, on  his  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
Jcd  by  Tecumseh.     Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


company  of  infantry  numbering    fifty  men,    many  of 
whom  were  sick. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  i8i?,  the  Indians, stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  ujxin  the  fort.  Their 
approach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor 
made  every  possible  preparation  to  meet  the  antici- 
pated assault.  On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fort, 
waving  a  white  flag,  and  informed  Caj)t.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  would  come  to  have  a  talk 
with  him.  It  was  evident  that  their  object  was  merely 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt. 
Taylor,  well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a  distance. 

The  sun  went  down;  the  savages  disappeared,  the 
garrison  slept  upon  their  arms.  One  hour  before 
midnight  the  war  whoop  burst  from  a  thousand  lips 
in  the  forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every  man,  sick 
and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor- 
ture. No  pen  can  describe,  no  immagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  which  ensued.  Tiie  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block-houses- 
Until  si.x  o'clock  in  tlie  morning,  tiiis  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  tiien,  baffled  at  every  point, 
and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  tliis  gallant  defence,  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war.  Major  Ta\lur  was  placed 
in  such  situations  tiiat  he  saw  but  little  more  of  active 
service.  He  was  sent  far  away  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  F'ox  River,  which 
empties  into  Green  Bay.  Here  there  was  but  little 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  as  one 
best  could.     There  were  no  books,  no  society,  no  in- 


H 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR 


tellectual  stimulus.  Thus  with  him  the  uneventful 
years  rolled  on  Gradually  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
colonel.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  that  renowned  chieftain,  Col  Taylor 
took  a  subordinate  but  a  brave  and  eflicient  part. 

For  twenty-four  years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in 
the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  in 
employments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
oeyond  the  limits  of  his  own  immediate  acquaintance. 
In  the  year  1836,  he  was  sent  to  Florida  to  compel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire beyond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
iiac  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
he;e  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
ihe  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
tc  he  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet ;  and  soon 
after,  in  May,  1838,  was  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  United  States  troops  in  Florida. 

After  two  years  of  sucti  wearisome  employment 
amidst  the  everglades  of  the  peninsula,  Gen.  Taylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
r.nd  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
west. This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississippi, 
Alabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters 
ai  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  family 
to  a  plantation  which  he  purchased,  near  Baton  Rogue. 
Here  he  remained  for  five  years,  buried,  as  it  were, 
from  the  world,  but  faithfully  discharging  every  duty 
imposed  upon  him. 

In  1846,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the  land 
between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter  river 
being  the  boundary  of  Texas,  which  was  then  claimed 
l)y  the  United  States.  Soon  the  war  with  Me.\ico 
was  brought  on,  and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  Gen.  Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the 
Mexicans.  The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and  his  name 
Was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost  everjwhere  in 
the  Nation.  Then  came  the  battles  of  Monterey  and 
Buena  Vista  in  which  he  won  signal  victories  over 
forces  much  larger  than  he  commanded. 

His  careless  habits  of  dress  and  his  unaffected 
f-iniplicity,  secured  for  Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops, 
the  sobriquet  of  "  Old  Rough  and  Ready.' 

The  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
•pread  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the  country.  The 
name  of  Gen.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  lips.  The 
Whig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
ful po])ularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished,  un- 
lettered, honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an- 
nouncement, and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  to  it;  de- 
claring that  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for  such  an 
office.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  politics  that, 
for  forty  years,  he  had  not  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
without  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
■who  had  been  long  years  in  the  public  service  found 
•l.iir  claims  set  aside  in  behalf  of  one  whose  name 


had  never  been  heard  of,  save  in  connection  with  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista.  It  is  said  that  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  haste  re- 
marked, "  It  is  a  nomination  not  fit  to  be  made." 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker  nor  a  fine 
wrfiter  His  friends  took  possession  of  him,  and  pre- 
pared such  few  communications  as  it  was  needful 
should  be  presented  to  the  public.  The  popularity  of 
the  successful  warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  tri- 
umphantly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates, — 
Gen.  Cass  and  E.\-President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  position, 
and  was,  at  times,  sorely  perplexed  and  harassed. 
His  mental  sufferings  were  very  severe,  and  probably 
tended  to  hasten  his  death.  The  pro-slavery  party 
was  pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy ,  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba;  California  was 
pleading  for  admission  to  the  Union,  vi'hile  slavery 
stood  at  the  door  to  bar  her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found 
the  political  conflicts  in  Washington  to  be  far  more 
trjdng  to  the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles.  Gen.  Taylor, 
after  he  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair  but  little 
over  a  year,  took  cold,  and  after  a  brief  sickness  of 
but  little  over  five  days,  died  on  the  gih  of  July,  r85o. 
His  last  words  were,  "  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty."  He  died 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  An  honest,  un- 
pretending man,  he  had  been  steadily  growing  in  the 
affections  of  the  people ;  and  the  Nation  bitterly  la- 
mented his  death. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  graphic  and  truthful 
description  of  his  character: — "  With  a  good  store  of 
common  sense,  Gen.  Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  en- 
larged and  refreshed  by  reading,  or  much  converse 
with  the  world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  conse- 
quence. The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had 
been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant  for  his 
rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignorance.  His  sim- 
plicity was  child-like,  and  with  innumerable  preju- 
dices, amusing  and  incorrigible,  well  suited  to  the 
tender  age.  Thus,  if  a  man,  however  respectable, 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer  to  leave 
a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out- 
side pocket, — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offender  to  be  a  coxcomb  (perhaps  something  worse), 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft  repeated  phrase, 
'  touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs.' 

"Any  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  Dil- 
worth's  spelling-book,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  In  short 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comfortaoie,  labor- 
saving  contempt   for  learning  of  every  kind." 


Z^^-2^ 


^^C^^^^i-'-t^ixru) 


THIRTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


67 


;;S<S>S":S<S>S's^r^!S»5'-"Si^j;"5-*:J-i;iS-»?S!S-s«5!S-3>5;i,c<4»S'-^ 


^'MILLflRn  FILLMDRE. 


i-!' 


'I4- 


"iM- — ^ 


^^^ii'&-' 


4^ 


ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thir- 
teenth I'residentofthe  Lniiteii 
States,  was  born  at  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y  .,  on 
the  7th  of  January,  1800.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 
ing to  misfortune,  in  humlile  cir- 
cumstances. Of  his  mother,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Abiathar  Millard, 
^\  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it  lias  been 
said  that  she  possessed  an  intellect 
of  very  high  order,  united  with  much 
personal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
position, graceful  manners  and  ex- 
quisite sensibilities.  She  died  in 
1831 ;  having  lived  to  see  her  son  a 
young  man  of  distinguished  prom- 
ise, though  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  conseiiuence  of  the  secluded  home  and  limited 
means  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed  but  slender  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  rt-hi<  h  he  occasionally  attended  were 
very  imperfect  institutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
snd  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  u]X)n  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  farmer's  boy; 
intelligent,  good-looking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
influences  of  home  had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
and  had  laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him 
some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the  then  wilds  of 
Livingston  County,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  clothier. 
Near  the  mill  there  was  a  small  villiage,  where  some 


enterprising  man  had  commenced  the  collection  of  a 
village  library.  This  proved  an  inestimable  blessing 
to  young  Fillmore.  His  evenings  were  spent  in  read- 
ing. Soon  every  leisure  moment  was  occupied  with 
books.  His  thirst  fur  knowledge  became  insatiate 
and  the  selections  which  he  made  were  continually 
more  elevating  and  instructive.  He  read  history, 
biography,  oratory,  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something  more 
than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and  he  was  be- 
coming, almost  unknown  to  himself,  a  well-informed, 
educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  personal  appearance 
and  cf  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  happened  tha'. 
there  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence, — Judge  Walter 
Wood, — who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  ap- 
pearance of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  was  so  much  impressed  with  his  ability  and 
attainments  that  he  advised  him  to  abandon  his 
trade  and  devote  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
young  man  replied,  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own, 
r.o  friends  to  help  him  and  that  his  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  very  imperfect.  But  Judge  Wood  had 
so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he  kindly  offered  to 
take  him  into  his  own  office,  and  to  loan  him  sucli 
money  as  he  needed.  Most  gratefully  the  generous 
offer  was  accepted. 

There  is  in  many  minds  a  strange  delusion  abou'; 
a  collegiate  education.  A  young  man  is  supposed  to 
be  liberally  educated  if  he  has  graduated  at  some  col- 
lege. But  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  halls 
nnd  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  by  no  means   as 


b6 


MILLARD  FILLMORE. 


well  prepared  to  prosecute  his  legal  studies  as  was 
Millard  Fillmore  when  he  graduated  at  the  clothing- 
mill  at  the  end  of  four  years  of  manual  labor,  during 
which  every  leisure  moment  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1823,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  then 
went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law.  In  this  secluded,  peaceful  region, 
his  practice  of  course  was  limited,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  a  sudden  rise  in  fortune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  in  the  year  1S26,  he  married  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorning  any  station 
she  might  be  called  to  fill, — Miss  Abigail  Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  industry-, 
his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as  an  advocate, 
gradually  attracted  attention ;  and  he  was  invited  to 
enter  into  partnership  under  highly  advantageous 
circumstances,  with  an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in 
Buffalo.  Just  before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1829, 
he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
County.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympathies  were  with 
the  Whig  party.  The  State  was  then  Democratic, 
and  he  found  himself  in  a  helpless  minority  in  the 
Legislature  ,  still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parlies, 
Ihat  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degrt  e  the  respect  of  his  associates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Congress.  He  entered  that  troubled 
irena  in  some  of  the  most  tumultuous  hours  of  our 
national  history.  The  great  conflict  respecting  the 
national  bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  was 
then  raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed  ;  and  he  returned  to 
his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with  increasing  rep- 
utation and  success.  After  a  lapse  of  two  years 
he  again  became  a  candidate  for  Congress ;  was  re- 
elected, and  took  his  seat  in  1837.  His  past  e.xpe  • 
rience  as  a  representative  gave  hnn  stiength  and 
confidence.  The  first  term  of  service  in  Congress  to 
any  man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduction. 
He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty.  All  his  ener- 
gies were  brought  to  bear  uixsn  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1847, 
he   was   elected  Comptroller  of    the   State. 


Mr.  Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress  and  as  Comptroller,  had  given  him  very  con- 
siderable fame.  The  Whigs  were  casting  about  to 
find  suitable  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent at  the  approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough  old 
soldier,  who  had  fought  one  or  two  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his  name  to  be 
proclaimed  in  tiumpet-tones  all  over  the  land.  But 
it  was  necessary  to  associate  with  him  on  the  same 
ticket  some  man  of  l-eputation  as  a  statesman. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  the 
namesofZachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying-cry  of  the  Whigs,  as  their  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice-Peesident.  The  Whig  ticket  was 
signally  triumphant.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1849, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Millard 
Filln.ore  Vice-President,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  1850,  President  Taylor,  but 
about  one  year  and  four  months  after  his  inaugura- 
tion, was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.  By  the  Con- 
stitution. Vice-President  Fillmore  thus  became  Presi- 
dent. He  appointed  a  very  able  cabinet,  of  which 
the  illustrious  Daniel  Webster  was  Secretar)-  of  State. 

Mr.  Fillniore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to  contend 
with,  since  the  opposition  had  a  majority  in  both 
Houses.  He  did  everything  in  his  power  tocontiliate 
the  South  ;  but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  the  South  felt 
the  inadequacy  of  all  measuresof  transient  conciliation. 
The  population  of  the  free  States  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  States  that  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  power  of  the  Government  should 
soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free  States.  The 
famous  compromise  measures  were  adopted  under  Mr. 
Fillmcre's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Expedition 
was  sent  out.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Mr.  Fill- 
more, having  served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  iSIr.  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the  Pres- 
idency by  the  "  Know  Nothing  "  party,  but  was  beaten 
by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that  Mr.  Fillmore  lived  in 
retirement.  During  the  terrible  conflict  of  civil  war, 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  supposed  that 
his  sympathies  were  rather  with  those  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  overthrow  our  institutions.  President 
Fillmore  kept  aloof  from  the  conflict,  without  any 
cordial  words  of  cheer  to  the  one  party  or  the  other. 
He  was  thus  forgotten  by  both.  He  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  S,    1874, 


FOURTEENTH  PRESIDENT 


71 


^k.ij£&aj>^      ••" 

c-;o^':;r>    ^'-FRflNKLIN  PIERCE.-^     .^^|:;jpvs^^ 


RANKLIN     PIERCE,   the 
loLirteenth    President  of  the 
'  United  States,  was  born  in 
Hillsborough,    N.    H.,    Nov. 
23,  1804.     His  father  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,   who, 
with    his   own    strong    arm, 
hewed   out  a   liome   in    the 
wilderness.     He  was  a  man 
of    inflexible    integrity;     of 
strong,  though   uncultivated 
mind,  and  an  uncompromis- 
ing Democrat.      The    mother   of 
Franklin  Pierce  was  all  that  a  son 
could  desire, — an  intelligent,  pru- 
dent, affectionate,  Christian  Wom- 
an.    Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 

Franklin  was  a  very  bright  and  handsome  boy,  gen- 
erous, warm-hearted  and  brave.  He  won  alike  the 
love  of  old  and  young.  The  boys  on  the  play  ground 
loved  him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  Theneighljors 
looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection.  He  was 
by  instinct  a  gentleman;  always  speaking  kind  words, 
doing  kind  deeds,  with  a  peculiar  unstudied  tact 
which  taught  him  what  was  agreeable.  Witiiout  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar;  in  body, 
in  mind,  in  affections,  a  finely-developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1820,  he 
entered  Bovvdoin  College,  at  Brunswick,  Me  He  was 
one  of  the  most  popular  young  men  in  the  college. 
The  purity  cf  his  moral  character,  the  unvarying 
courtesy  of  his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,  and 


genial  nature,  rendered  him  a  universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning  in  his 
address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree studied:  it  was  the  simple  outgushing  of  his 
own  magnanimous  and  loving  nature. 

Upon  graduating,  in  the  year  1824,  Franklin  Pierce 
conimenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Woodbury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of 
the  State,  and  a  man  of  great  private  worth.  The 
eminent  social  qualities  of  the  young  lawyer,  his 
father's  prominence  as  a  public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  en- 
tering, all  tended  to  entice  .Mr.  Pierce  into  the  faci- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  political  life.  With  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature  he  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  Presidency.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  Here 
he  served  for  four  yeais.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a  very  large  vote. 

In  1833,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Without  taking  an  active 
part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful  and  laborious  in  duty, 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  associatad. 

In  1837,  being  then  but  thirty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States; 
taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  commenced 
his  administration.  He  was  the  youngest  member  in 
the  Senate.  In  the  year  1834,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Means  Appleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn  every 
station  with  which  her  husband  was  honoied.    Of  the 


72 


FRANKLIN  FIERCE. 


three  sons  who  were  bom  to  them,  all  now  sleep  with 
their  parents  in  the  grave. 

In  tlie  year  183S,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing  fame 
and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of  New  Hampshire. 
President  Polk,  upon  his  accession  to  office,  appointed 
Mr.  Pierce  attorney-general  of  the  United  States;  but 
the  offer  was  declined,  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He  also,  about  the 
same  time  declined  the  nomination  for  governor  by  the 
Democratic  party.  The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr. 
Pierce  in  the  army.  Receiving  the  appointment  of 
brigadier-general,  he  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1S47. 
He  took  an  important  part  in  this  war,  proving  him- 
self a  brave  and  true  soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State,  he  was  received  enthusiastically  by  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Mexican  war,  and  coldly  by  his  oppo- 
nents. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
very  frequently  taking  an  active  part  in  political  ques- 
tions, giving  his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery 
wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  compromise 
measures  met  cordially  with  his  approval ;  and  he 
strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the  infa- 
ir.ous  fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked  the  religious 
sensibilities  of  the  North.  He  thus  became  distin- 
guished as  a  "Northern  man  with  Southern  principles.'' 
The  strong  partisans  of  slavery  in  the  South  conse- 
quently regarded  him  as  a  man  whom  they  could 
safely  trust  in  office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  i2th  of  June,  1852,  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  For  four  days  they  continued  in  session, 
and  in  thirty-five  ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a 
two-thirds  vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delegation 
brought  forward  his  name.  There  were  fourteen 
more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen.  Pierce  constantly 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-niiith  ballot,  he 
received  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  votes,  and  all 
other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was 
the  Whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce  was  chosen  with 
great  unanimity.  Only  four  States — Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky  and  Tennessee  —  cast  their 
electoral  votes  against  him  Gen.  Franklin  Pieice 
was  therefore  inaugurated  President  of  the  United 
States    on    the  4th   of  March,    1853. 


His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most  stormy  our 
country  had  ever  e.xperienced.  The  controversy  be- 
tween slavery  and  freedom  was  then  approaching  its 
culminating  point  Ii  became  evident  that  there  was 
an  "irrepressible  conflict  "  between  them,  and  that 
this  Nation  could  not  long  exist  "  half  slave  and  half 
free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole  of  his  ad- 
ministration, did  every  thing  he  could  to  conciliate 
the  South  ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  conflict  every 
year  grew  more  violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  were  borne  to  the  North  on  every  South- 
ern breeze. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when  President 
Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four-years'  term 
of  office.  The  North  had  become  thoroughly  alien- 
ated from  him.  The  anti-slavery  sentiment,  goaded 
by  great  outrages,  had  been  rapidly  increasing;  all 
the  intellectual  ability  and  social  worth  of  President 
Pierce  were  forgotten  in  deep  re[)rehension  of  his  ad- 
ministrative acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  South,  also, 
unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which  he  had  advo- 
cated ti'iose  measures  of  Government  which  they  ap- 
proved, and  perhaps,  also,  feeling  that  he  had 
rendered  himself  so  unpopular  as  no  longer  to  be  • 
able  acceptably  to  serve  them,  ungratefully  dropped 
him,  and  nominated  James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President  Pierce  re- 
tired to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of  three  children,  two 
had  died,  and  his  only  surviving  child  had  been 
killed  before  his  eyes  by  a  railroad  accident ;  and  his 
wife,  one  of  the  most  estimable  and  accomplished  of 
ladies,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The 
hour  of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world,  without  wife  or  child. 

When  the  terrible  Rebellion  burst  forth,  which  di- 
vided our  country  into  two  parties,  and  two  only,  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  cherished,  and  gave  his  sympathies  to 
that  pro-slavery  party  with  which  he  had  ever  been 
allied.  He  declined  to  do  anything,  either  by  voice 
or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hand  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. He  continued  to  reside-  in  Concord  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
1869.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial  and  social  of 
men,  an  honored  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  one  of  the  kindest  of  neighbors.  Gen- 
erous to  a  fault,  he  contributed  liberally  for  the  al- 
leviation of  suffering  and  want,  and  many  of  his  towns- 
people were  often  gladencd  by  his   material   bounty. 


-(Ss 


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I'IFTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


75 


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AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fif- 
teenth-President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  a  small 
frontier  town,  at  the  foot  of  the 
eastern  ridge  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  in  Franlilin  Co.,  Penn.,  on 
i^ijSi  the  23d  of  April,  1791.  The  place 
where  the  humble  cabin  of  his 
father  stuod  was  called  Stony 
Batter.  It  was  a  wild  and  10- 
ijteM  mantic  spot  in  a  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains, with  towering  summits  rising 
grandly  all  around.  His  fatlier 
was  a  r^ative  of  the  north  of  Ireland ; 
a  poor  man,  who  had  emigrated  in 
1 7  S3,  with  little  property  save  his 
own  strong  arms.  Five  years  afterwards  he  married 
Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  farmer, 
and,  with  his  young  bride,  plunged  into  the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his  log-hut,  opened  a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  there  to  per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  the  drama  of  Hie.  In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained 
for  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantagos.  When  James  was  eight  years  of  age,  his 
father  removed  to  the  village  of  Mercersburg,  where 
his  son  was  placed  at  school,  and  commenced  a 
course  of  study  in  English,  Latin  and  Greek.  Mis 
progress  was  rapid,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
entered  Dickinson  College,  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped remarkable  taler.t,  and  took  liis  stand  among 
the  first  scholars  in  the  institution.  His  application 
to  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his  native  powers    e  1- 


abled  him  to  master  the  most  abstruse  subjects  with 
facility. 

In  the  year  1S09,  he  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class.  He  was  then  eighteen  years  of 
age;  tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  healtli,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened  with 
an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  immediately 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  tiie  bar  in  1812,  when  he  was 
but  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Very  rapidly  lie  rose 
in  his  profession,  and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  State.  When  but 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  the  State  Senate  ore  of  the 
judges  of  the  State,  who  was  tried  upon  articles  of 
impeachment.  At  the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally 
admitted  that  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar;  and 
there  was  no  lawyer  in  the  State  who  had  a  more  lu- 
crative practice. 

In  1820,  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as  a 
candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  elected,  and  for 
icn  years  he  remained  a  member  of  the  Lower  House. 
During  the  vacations  of  Congress,  he  occasionally 
tried  some  important  case.  In  1831,  he  retired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  v>rofession,  having  ac- 
quired an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  elevation  to  '.lie  Presidency, 
apjwinted  Mr.  Buchanan  minister  to  Russia.  The 
duties  of  his  mission  he  performed  with  ability,  which 
gave  satisfaction  to  all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  in 
1833,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster, 
Clay,  Wright  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated  the  meas- 
ures proposed  by  President  Jackson,  of  ni. king  repn- 


76 


MMES  BUCHANAi\. 


sais  auaiiist  France,  to  enforce  the  payment  of  our 
claims  against  that  country;  and  defended  the  course 
of  the  Presi.dent  in  his  unprecedented  and  wholesale 
removal  from  office  of  those  who  were  not  tlie  sup- 
porters of  his  administration.  Upon  this  question  he 
was  brought  into  direct  collision  with  Henry  Clay. 
He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated  expunging 
from  the  journal  of  the  Senate  tiie  vote  of  censure 
against  Gen.  Jackson  for  removing  the  deposits. 
Earnestly  he  opposed  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  and  urged  the  prohibition  of  the 
circulation  of  anti-slavery  documents  by  the  United 
States  mails. 

As  to  petitions  on  the  subject  of  slaver)',  he  advo- 
cated that  they  should  be  respectfully  received;  and 
that  the  reply  should  be  returned,  that  Congress  had 
no  power  to  legislate  upon  the  subject.  "  Congress," 
said  he,  "  might  as  well  undertake  to  interfere  with 
slavery  under  a  foreign  government  as  in  any  of  the 
States  where  it  now  exists." 

U|X)n  Mr.  Polk's  accession  to  the  Presidency,  Mr. 
Buchanan  became  Secretary  of  State,  and  as  such, 
took  his  share  of  the  resix)nsibility  in  the  conduct  of 
the  Mexican  War.  Mr.  Polk  assumed  that  crossing 
the  Nueces  by  the  American  troops  into  the  disputed 
territory  was  not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mexicans  to  cross 
the  Rio  Grande  into  that  territor)'  was  a  declaration 
of  war.  No  candid  man  can  read  with  pleasure  the 
account  of  the  course  our  Government  pursued  in  that 
movement. 

Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself  thoroughly  with 
the  party  devoted  to  the  pi^rpetuation  and  extension 
of  slavery,  and  brought  all  the  energies  of  his  mind 
to  bear  against  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his 
cordial  approval  to  the  compromise  measures  of  1S50, 
which  included  the  fugiiive-slave  law.  Mr.  Pierce, 
upon  his  election  to  the  Presidency,  honored  Mr. 
Buchanan 'with  the  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  1856,  a  national  Democratic  conven- 
tion nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  Presidency.  The 
political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  severe  in  which 
our  country  has  ever  engaged.  All  the  friends  of 
sl.avery  were  on  one  side;  all  the  advocates  of  its  re- 
striction and  final  abolition,  on  the  other.  Mr.  Fre- 
mont, the  candidate  of  the  enemies  of  slavery,  re- 
•eived  114  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Buchanan  received 
174,  and  was  elected.  The  popular  vote  stood 
r, 340,618,  for  Fremont,  t-,:24,75o  for  Buchanan.  On 
March    4th.    1857,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  inaugurated. 

Mr.  Buchanan  was  far  advanced  in  life.  Only  four 
•'ears  were  wanting  to  fill  up  his  threescore  years  and 
ten.  His  own  friends,  those  with  whom  he  had  been 
allied  in  jxjlitical  principles  and  action  for  years,  were 
seeking  the  destruction  of  the  Government,  that  they 
might  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  our  free  institutions  a 
nation  whose  corner-stone  should  be  human  slavery. 
[n  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hopelessly  be- 
wildered     He  could  not,  with  his  long-avowed  prin- 


cii)les,  consistently  oppose  the  State-rights  party  in 
their  assumptions.  As  President  of  the  United  States, 
bound  by  his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  laws 
he  could  not,  without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
unite  with  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the  repub- 
lic.    He  therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opix)nents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  as  their  standard  bearer 
in  the  next  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro-slavery 
party  declared,  that  if  he  were  elected,  and  the  con- 
trol of  the  Government  were  thus  taken  from  their 
hands,  they  would  secede  from  the  Union,  taking 
with  them,  as  they  retired,  the  National  Capitol  at 
Washington,  and  the  lion's  share  of  the  territory  of 
the  United  States. 

Mr.  Buchanan's  sympathy  with  the  pro-slavery 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to  offer  them 
far  more  than  they  had  ventured  to  claim.  All  the 
South  had  professed  to  ask  of  the  North  was  non- 
intervention upon  the  subject  of  slavery.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan had  been  ready  to  offer  them  the  active  co- 
operation of  the  Government  to  defend  and  extend 
the  institution. 

As  the  storm  increased  in  violence,  the  slaveholders 
claiming  the  right  to  secede,  and  Mr.  Buchanan  avow- 
ing that  Congress  had  no  power  to  prevent  it,  one  of 
the  most  pitiable  exhibitions  of  governmental  im- 
becility was  exhibited  the  world  has  ever  seen.  He 
declared  that  Congress  had  no  power  to  enforce  its 
laws  in  any  State  which  had  withdrawn,  or  which 
was  attempting  to  withdraw  from  the  Union.  This 
was  not  the  doctrine  of  Andrew  Jackson,  when,  with 
his  hand  uix)n  his  sword-hilt,  he  exclaimed.  "  The 
Union  must  and  shall  be  preserved!" 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  i860;  nearly 
three  months  before  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln.  i\Ir.  Buchanan  looked  on  in  listless  despair. 
The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in  Charleston  :  Fort  Sumpter 
was  besieged ;  our  forts,  navy-yards  and  =irsenals 
were  seized  ;  our  depots  of  military  stores  were  plun- 
dered ;  and  our  custom-houses  and  post-offices  were 
appropriated  by  the  rebels. 

The  energj'  of  the  rebels,  and  the  imbecility  of  our 
Executive,  were  alike  marv'elous.  The  Nation  looked 
on  in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to  glide  away, 
and  close  the  administration,  so  terrible  in  its  weak- 
ness At  length  the  long-looked-for  hour  of  deliver- 
ance came,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  to  receive  the 
scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan  was 
certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  countr)'  has  ex- 
perienced. His  best  friends  cannot  recall  it  with 
pleasure.  And  still  more  de|,lorable  it  is  for  his  fame, 
that  in  that  dreadful  conflict  which  rolled  its  billows 
of  flame  and  blood  over  our  whole  land,  no  word  came 
from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that  our  countrv's 
banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag  of  the  rebellion. 
He  died  at  his  Wheatland   retreat,   June    i,    1868. 


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SIXTEENTH  F  a  HS/VEiVT. 


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BRAHAM    LINCOLN,     the 
sixteenth     President     of     tlie 
i# United    States,    was    born     in 
Hardin    Co.,   Ky.,    Feb.     12, 
1809.     About  the  year  1780,  a 
_^.    man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
*^'    Lincohi  left  Virginia  with    his 
family  and  moved   into    the  then 
wildsof  Kentucky.  Only  two  years 
after  this  emigration,  still  a   young 
man,  while  working  one  day  in   a 
field,  was  stealtliily  approached  by 
an  Indian  and  shot  dead.  His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  poverty  with  five 
little  children,  three  boys  and    two 
girls.     Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the 
boys,  was  four  years   of  age    at  liis 
father's  death.      This    Thomas  was 
the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
'  President    of     the     United    States 

whose  name  must  henceforth  fo-^ever  be  enrolled 
with  the  most  prominent  in  tiie  annals  of  our  world. 
Of  course  no  record  has  been  kept  of  the  life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.  He  was  among 
the  poorest  of  the  poor.  His  home  was  a  wretched 
log-cabin;  his  food  the  coarsest  and  the  meanest. 
Education  he  had  none;  he  could  never  either  rend 
or  write.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  anything  for 
himself,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  ihe  cabin*of  his 
starving  mother,  and  push  out  into  the  world,  a  frieiid- 
.ess,  wandering  boy,  seeking  work.  He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thus  spent  the  whole  of  his  youth  as  a 
laborer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  buill  a  log- 
cabin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  Kentucky  emi- 
grants, who  had  also  come  from  Virginia.  Their 
second  child  was  .-Xbraham  Lincoln,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  Abraham  was  a  noble 
woman,  gentle,  loving,  jiensive,  created  to  adorn 
a  palace,  doomed  to  toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a  hovel. 
"All  that  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  exclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  "I  owe  to  my  angel-mother. 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  3ge,  his  father  sold  his 


cabin  and  small  farm,  and  moved  to  Indiana    Where 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  become  the  scribe  of  the  uneducated 
couDiuinity  aroimd  him.  He  could  not  liave  had  u 
better  school  than  this  to  teach  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader,  'i'he 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few ;  but  these  he  read 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committed  lo 
memory. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  the  lot  of  this  lowly  family 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  Thi're  were  joys  and 
griefs,  weddings  and  funerals.  Abraham's  sister 
Sarah,  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mar- 
ried when  a  child  of  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually  scattered.  Mr. 
Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  his  squatter's  claim  in  1830, 
and  emigrated  to  ALacon  Co.,  111. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
With  vigorous  hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing 
another  log-cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  this 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled,  and  their 
small  lot  of  enclosed  prairie  planted  with  corn,  when 
he  announced  to  his  father  his  intention  to  leave 
liome,  and  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  his  for- 
tune. Little  did  he  or  his  friends  imagine  how  bril- 
liant that  fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  of 
education  and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and  became 
strictly  temperate;  refusing  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor  to  pass  his  lips.  And  he  had  read  in 
God's  word,  "  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  in  vain ;"  and  a  i)rofane  expression  he 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  by  a 
single  vice. 

Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  laborer 
among  the  farmers.  Then  he  went  to  Springfield, 
where  he  was  employed  in  building  a  large  flat-boat. 
In  this  he  took  a  herd  of  swine,  floated  them  down 
the  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  l)y  the  Mis- 
sissi[)pi  to  New  Orleans,  ^^'hatever  Abraham  Lin- 
coln undertook,  he  performed  so  faithfully  as  to  give 
great  satisfacticn  to  his  employers.      In  this  advc;i- 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


tare  his  employers  were  so  well  pleased,  that   upon 
his  return  tiiey  placed  a  store  and  luill  under  his  care. 

1,1  1S32,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he 
enlisted  and  was  chosen  captain  of  a  company.  He 
returned  to  Sangamon  County,  and  although  only  23 
years  of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew 
Jackson  the  appointment  of  Postmaster  of  New  Salem, 
His  only  post-office  was  his  hat.  All  the  letters  he 
received  he  carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those 
he  chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying,  and  soon 
made  this  his  business.  In  1834  he  again  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected  Mr. 
Stuart,  of  Springfield,  advised  him  to  study  law.  He 
walked  from  New  Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of 
j\lr.  Stuart  a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and 
began  his  legal  studies.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sembled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his  back 
one  hundred  miies  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital.  In 
1836  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  Here  it 
was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1839  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  with  the  jury  was  so  great  that  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  almost  every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1854  the  great  discussion  began  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery  question. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois, 
in  1856,  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speeches  in  opposition  to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  con- 
test in  1858  for  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  form  a  most 
notable  part  of  his  history.  The  issue  was  on  the 
ilavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
.he  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  defeated  in  this  con- 
test, but  won  a  far  higher  prize. 

The  great  Republican  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
on  the  i6ih  of  June,  i860.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  the  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand.  An  immense  building  called  "The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. There  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H.  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  the  land,  was  tiie  most 
orominent.  It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
tlie  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however,  received 
the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  Little  did  he  then 
dream  of  the  weary  years  of  toil  and  care,  and  the 
bloody  death,  to  which  that  nomination  doomed  him: 
and  aslittle  did  he  dream  that  he  was  to  render  services 
to  his  country,  which  would  fix  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would  give  him 
a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  countrymen,  second 
cnly,  if  second,  to  that  of  Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  180 
electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and  was,  therefore, 
constitutionally  elected  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  tirade  of  abuse  that  was  poured  upon  this    good 


and  merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever  elected  to  this 
high  position.  In  February,  i86i,  Mr.  Lincoln  started 
for  Washington,  stopping  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was  frought 
with  much  danger.  Many  of  the  Southern  States  had 
already  seceded,  and  several  attempts  at  assassination 
were  afterwards  brought  to  light.  .A  gang  in  Balti- 
more had  arranged,  upon  his  arrival  to  "get  up  a  row," 
and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death  with 
revolvers  and  hand-grenades.  A  detective  unravelled 
the  plot.  -^  secret  and  special  train  was  provided  to 
take  him  from  HarrisL'urg,  through  Baltimore,  at  an 
unexpected  hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at 
half-past  ten  ;  and  to  prevent  any  possible  communi- 
cation on  the  part  ot  the  Secessionists  with  their  Con- 
federate gang  in  Baltimore,  as  soon  as  the  train  had 
started  the  telegraph-'wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln 
reached  Washington  in  safety  and  was  inaugurated, 
although  great  anxiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people 

In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln  gave 
to  Mr  Seward  the  Department  of  State,  and  to  other 
prominent  opponents  before  the  convention  he  gave 
important  positions. 

During  no  other  administration  have  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President  been  so  manifold,  and 
the  responsibilities  so  great,  as  those  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  President  Lincoln.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet,  and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  he 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  bo'h  personal  and  national.  Contrary  to  his 
own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the 
most  courageous  of  men.  He  went  directly  into  the 
rebel  capital  just  as  the  retreating  foe  was  leaving, 
with  no  guard  but  a  few  sailors.  From  the  time  he 
had  left  Springfield,  in  i86i,  however,  plans  had  Ijeen 
made  for  his  assassination,and  he  at  last  fell  a  victim 
to  oneof  thein.  April  14,  1865,  he,  with  Gen.  Grant, 
was  urgently  invited  to  attend  Fords'  Theater.  It 
was  announced  that  they  would  Le  present.  Gen. 
Grant,  however,  left  the  city.  President  Lincoln,  feel- 
ing, witli  his  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  be  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  box  where  the  President  and  family  were 
seated,  and  fired  a  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  deep  grief  by  the  death  of  its  ruler. 
.Strong  men  met  in  the  streets  and  wept  in  speechless 
anguish.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a  nation  was 
in  tears.  His  was  a  life  which  will  fitly  become  a 
model.  His  name  as  the  savior  of  his  country  will 
live  with  that  of  W'ashington's,  its  father;  his  co':;ntr)'- 
men  being  unable   to  decide    whiih  is   the   greater. 


'>:^^:^:^:^t5^5^r-/ 


SEVENTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


H 


NDREW  JOHNSON,  seven- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States.  The  early  life  of 
Andrew  Johnson  contains  but 
the  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 
tion and  friendlessness.  He 
^r}M  was  born  December  29,  1808, 
pjl^fl  in  Raleigh,  N.  C.  His  parents, 
/^!a«i,J  belonging  to  the  class  of  the 
"poor  whites  "  of  the  Soutii,Tvere 
in  such  circumstances,  that  tlicy 
could  not  confer  even  tne  slight- 
est advantages  of  education  upon 
tlieir  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
lost  nis  life  while  heiorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning.  Until  ten  years  of  age,  Andrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  supported  by  the 
labor  of  his  mother,  who  obtained  her  living  with 
her  own   hands. 

He  then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  liis  native  town.  A  gentleman 
ivp.s  ii-.  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to. the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  tlie  speeches  of  distinguished  British  states- 
men. Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  native  abiHty,  became  much  interested 
in  these  speeches;  his  amliition  was  roused,  and  he 
was  inspired  with  a  strong  desire  to  learn  to  read. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  tiie  alplial)ct,  and 
with  tlie  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow-workmen, 
lecirned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the  gentle- 
man to  borrow  the  book  of   speeches.      The  owner, 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  book 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letters 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  oi. 
ward  laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  houi-s 
at  work  in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreatio;~  to  devote  such  time  vs  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826,  and  located  af: 
Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady  who  p^is 
sessed  some  education.  Under  her  instructions  hf 
learned  to  write  and  cipher.  He  became  prominen': 
in  the  village  debating  society,  and  a  favorite  with 
the  students  of  Greenville  College.  In  1828,  he  or- 
ganized a  working  man's  party,  which  elected  him 
alderman,  and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years. 

He  now  began  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  political 
affairs  ;  identifying  himself  with  the  working-classes, 
to  which  he  belonged.  In  1835,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Tennes- 
see. He  was  then  just  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  legislature 
gave  his  adhesion  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
1840  "stumped  the  State,"  advocating  Martin  Van 
Buren's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  opposition  to  thos.. 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  mucli 
readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  1841,  he  was  elected  State  Senator;  in  1843,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successive 
elections,  held  that  imiwrtant  post  for  ten  years.  In 
1853,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1855.  In  all  these  resiwnsible  posi- 
tions, he  discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  abi'.- 


84 


ANDREW  JOHNSON. 


ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
ing classes.  In  1S57,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

Years  before,  in  1845,  he  had  warmly  advocated 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating  however,  as  his 
reason,  that  he  thought  this  annexation  would  prob- 
ably prove  "  to  be  the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable 
sons  of  Africa  are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom, 
and  become  merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves."  In  1850,  he  also  supported  the  com- 
promise measures,  the  two  essential  features  of  which 
were,  that  the  white  people  of  the  Territories  should 
be  permitted  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  they 
would  enslave  the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that 
the  *'ree  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
Soutli  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  neverashamedof  his  lowly  origin: 
on  the  contrary,  he  often  took  pride  in  avowing  that 
he  owed  his  distinction  to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir,'" 
said  he  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  "  I  do  not  forget 
that  I  am  a  mechanic ;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig-leaves,  and  that  our  Sav- 
ior was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston-Baltimore  convention  of  i8l-o,  iie 
was  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
Presidency.  In  186 1,  when  the  purpose  of  the  South- 
ern Democracy  became  apparent,  he  took  a  decided 
stand  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
must  be  held  subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever 
cost."  He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly 
imperiled  his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennesee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4th,  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  he 
established  the  most  stringent  military  rule.  His 
numerous  proclamations  attracted  wide  attention.    In 

1864,  he  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April  15, 

1865,  became  President.  In  a  speech  two  days  later 
he  said,  "  The  American  people  must  be  taught,  if 
they  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a  crime  and 
must  be  punished ;  that  the  Government  will  not 
always  bear  with  its  enemies ;  that  it  is  strong  not 
only  to  protect,  but  to  punish.  *  *  The  people 
must  understand  that  it  (treason)  is  the  blackest  of 
crimes,  and  will  surely  be  punished."  Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well  known, 
■was  in  utter  itwansistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


opposition  to,  the  principles  laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  general 
amnesty,  he  was  opposed  by  Congress;  and  he  char- 
acterized Congress  as  a  new  rebellion,  and  lawlessly 
defied  it,  in  everything  possible,  to  the  utmost.  In 
the  beginning  of  1868,  on  account  of  "high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which  was  the 
removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  Act,  articles  of  impeachment  were  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  the   trial   began    March   23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly  three 
months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeachment  was  at 
length  submitted  to  the  court  for  its  action.  It  was 
certain  that  as  the  court  voted  upon  that  article  so 
would  it  vote  upon  all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced 
the  President  guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced  ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding  the  great  majority  against 
him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from  the  not  guilty 
side  would  have  sustained  the  impeachment. 

The  President,  for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  was 
but  little  regarded.  He  continued,  though  impotently, 
his  conflict  with  Congress.  His  own  party  did  not 
think  it  expedient  to  renominate  him  for  the  Presi- 
dency. The  Nation  rallied,  with  enthusiasm  unpar- 
alleled since  the  days  of  Washington,  around  the  name 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Andrew  Johnson  was  forgotten. 
The  bullet  of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the 
President's  chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never  was 
there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  opportunity  to  im- 
mortalize his  name,  and  to  win  the  gratitude  of  a 
nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He  retired  to  his  home 
in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  taking  no  very  active  part  in 
politics  until  1875.  On  Jan.  26,  after  an  exciting 
struggle,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  Ten- 
nessee, United  States  Senator  in  the  forty-fourth  Con- 
gress, and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  at  the  special 
session  convened  by  President  Grgmt,  on  the  5th  of 
March.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1875,  the  ex-President 
made  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  home,  near  Carter 
Station,  Tenn.  When  he  started  on  his  journey,  he  was 
apparently  in  his  usual  vigorous  he.ilth,  but  on  reach- 
ing the  residence  of  his  child  the  following  day,  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering  him  unconscious. 
He  rallied  occasionally,  but  finally  passed  away  at 
2  A.  M.,  July  31,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  at  Geenville,  on  th^3d  of  August, 
with  every  demonstration  of  respect. 


/^^2^ 


ztr 


EIGHlJiENTH  FRESIDENT. 


^'^J^z2»sA®m^J^^^^:^^^^ 


R 


LYSSES  S.  GR.\NT,  the 
^  eighteenth  President  of  the 
I' United  States,  was  born  on 
the  29th  of  April,  1822,  of 
Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 
home,  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  Shortly  after 
his  father  moved  to  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  O.  In  this  re- 
mote frontier  hamlet,  Ulysses 
received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, in  the  year  1839,  he  entered 
■  the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  a 
ioiid,  sensible  )oung  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respectable  rank 
as  a  scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he  graduated,  about  the 
middle  in  his  class,  and  was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry to  one  of  the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.  Two  years  he  past  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasperating 
Jndians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came.  Lieut.  Grant  was 
:5eiit  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was  no  chance  here 
for  the  exhibition  of  either  skill  or  heroism,  nor  at 
Resacade  la  Paluia,  iiis  second  battle.  At  the  battle 
nf  Monterey,  his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that 
.ne  performed  a  signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  i)rigade  had  exhausted  its  am- 
munition. A  messenger  must  be  sent  for  more,  along 
a  route  ex[)osed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
-grasped  the  mane  of  his  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one 
side  of  the  anir^l,  ran  the  gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 


From  Monterey  he  was  sent,  with  the  fourth  infantry, 
to  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  In 
preparation  for  the  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  he 
was  apixjinted  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Molino  del  Rcy,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetjed  captain  at  Cha- 
pultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  Capt.  Grant  re- 
turned with  his  regiment  to  New  York,  and  was  again 
sent  to  one  of  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier.  The 
discovery  of  gold  in  California  causing  an  immense 
tide  of  emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent  with  a  battalion  to  Fort  Dallas,  in 
Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  im- 
migrants. Life  was  wearisome  in  those  wilds.  Capt. 
Grant  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  the 
States;  and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  had  but 
little  skill  as  a  farmer.  Finding  his  toil  not  re- 
munerative, he  turned  to  mercantile  life,  entering  into 
the  leather  business,  with  a  younger  brother,  at  Ga- 
lena, 111.  This  was  in  the  year  i860.  As  the  tidings 
of  the  rebels  firing  on  Fort  Sumpter  reached  the  ears 
of  Capt.  Grant  in  his  counting-room,  he  said, — 
"Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army;  tliough 
I  have  served  him  througli  one  war,  I  do  not  feel  that 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  todischarge 
my  obligations.  I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  sword 
and  see  Uncle  Sam  through  this  war  too." 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers, and  led  them  .as  their  captain  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  Tiie  Governor,  impressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightforward  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
Grant,  gave  him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the 
volunteer  organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Government.      On  the  15th  of 


88 


UL  YSSES  S.  GRA  NT. 


June,  (86i,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. His  merits  as  a  West  Point  graduate,  who 
had  served  for  15  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
ihat  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General  and  was  placed  in  command  at  Cairo.  The 
rebels  raised  their  banner  at  Paducah,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Tennessee  River.  Scarcely  had  its  folds  ap- 
peared in  the  breeze  ere  Gen.  Grant  was  there.  The 
rebels  fled.  Their  banner  fell,  and  the  star  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  in  its  stead. 

He  entered  the  service  with  great  determination 
and  immediately  began  active  duty.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning, and  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Richmond 
he  was  ever  pushing  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and 
effectiveness.  At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort  Henrj- 
won  another  victory.  Then  came  the  brilliant  fight 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation  was  electrified  by  the 
victor)',  and  the  brave  leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was 
immediately  made  a  M.-ijor-General,  and  the  militarj' 
jistrict  of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains,  Gen.  Grant  knew  well  how 
to  secure  the  results  of  victory.  He  immediately 
cashed  on  to  the  enemies'  lines.  Then  came  the 
terrible  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  with  over  thirty 
thousand  men  and  one-hundred  and  sevent)'-two  can- 
non. The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  by  far  the  most 
severe  blow  which  the  reliels  had  thus  far  encountered, 
and  opened  up  the  Mississippi  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 
Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Te.xas,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  thrown  from 
his  horse,  and  received  severe  injuries,  from  which  he 
was  laid  up  for  months.  He  then  rushed  tc  the  aid 
of  Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Tliomas  at  Chattanooga,  and 
by  a  wonderful  series  of  strategic  and  technical  meas- 
ures put  the  Union  Army  in  fighting  condition.  Then 
followed  the  bloody  battles  at  Chattanooga,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels 
were  routed  with  great  loss.  This  won  for  him  un- 
bounded praise  in  the  North.  On  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1864,  Congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant- 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen.  Grant. 
He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive  his  credentials 
and  enter  upon  \hf  duties  of  his  new  office. 


Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took  charge  of 
ihe  army  to  concentrate  the  \videly-dispersed  National 
troops  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond,  the  nominal 
capital  of  the  Rebellion,  and  endeavor  there  to  de- 
stroy the  rebel  armies  which  would  be  promptly  as- 
sembled from  all  quarters  for  its  defence.  The  whole 
conrinent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp  of  these 
majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  decisive  battle  field. 
Steamers  were  crowded  with  troops.  Railway  trains 
were  burdened  with  closely  packed  thousands.  His 
plans  were  comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  of 
campaigns,  which  were  executed  \vith  remarkable  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee,  April  g,  1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was  saved.  The 
almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  Nation  declared  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent  instrument  in  its  sal- 
vation. The  eminent  services  he  had  thus  rendered 
the  countr)'  brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidential  chair. 

At  the  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago. 
May  21,  1 868,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the 
Presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  election  received  a 
majority  of  the  popular  vote,  and  2r4  out  of  294 
electoral  votes. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June,  1872, 
placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a  second  term 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selection  was  emphati- 
cally indorsed  by  the  people  five  months  later,  292 
elector.il  votes  being   cast   for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  tenn.  Gen.  Grant 
started  upon  his  famous  trip  around  the  world.  He 
visited  almost  every  country  of  the  civilized  worid, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  such  ovations 
and  demonstrations  of  respect  and  honor,  private 
as  well  as  public  and  ofificial,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate  before  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  1S80  for  a  re- 
nomination  for  President.  He  went  to  New  York  and 
embarked  in  the  brokerage  business  under  the  firm 
nanieof  Grant  &  Ward.  The  latter  proved  a  villain, 
wrecked  Grant's  fortune,  and  for  larcenv  was  sent  to 
the  penitentiarj'.  The  General  was  attacked  with 
cancer  in  the  throat,  but  suffered  in  his  stoic-like 
manner,  never  complaining.  He  was  re-instated  as 
General  of  the  Army  and  retired  by  Congress.  The 
cancer  soon  finished  its  deadly  work,  and  July  23, 
18S5,  the  nation  went  in  mourning  over  the  death  of 
the  illustrious  General. 


s^ 


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o 


NINETEENTH  PEES/DENT. 


9> 


'^■^tia'^«^'^'^'4^tt&tiSit;ga'^t;gi'»^ui£ia:<tj,>'i,-;^  V^  -. '. ' 


•i '.  'i  ■,  'i". ".  •.  'i-.  '.•.'■■- ' 


UTHERFORD  B.  HAYES, 
the  nineteenth  President  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  O.,  Oct.  4,  1822,  al- 
most three  months  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  Rutherford 
Hayes.  His  ancestry  on  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  sides, 
was  of  the  most  honorable  char- 
acter. It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said, 
as  far  back  as  1280,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish  chief- 
tains, fighting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert 
Bruce.  Both  families  belonged  to  the 
nobility,  owned  extensive  estates, 
and  had  a  large  following.  Misfor- 
tane  ovt-f caking  the  family,  George  Hayes  left  Scot- 
land in  1680,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  His  sou 
Cleorge  wai  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  li7e.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  Ezekiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and  was  a  manufac- 
turer of  scythe-j  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  Ezekiel  aiid  grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was 
l)orn  in  New  Haven,  in  August,  1756.  He  was  a  farmer, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  utiknown  date,  settling  in  Brattleboro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford Hayes    the  father  of  President  Hayes,  was 


born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  18 13,  to  Sophia 
Biichard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors  emi- 
grated thither  from  Connecticut,  they  having  been 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  famlies  of  Norwich. 
Her  ancestry  on  the  male  side  are  traced  back  to 
1635,  to  John  Birchard,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  Norwich.  Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  industrious 
frugal  and  opened-hearted  man.  He  was  of  a  me 
chanical  turn,  and  could  mend  a  plow,  knit  a  stock- 
ing, or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  181 2,  for  reasons  inexplicable 
to  his  neighbors,  he  res'olved  to  emigrate  to   Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that  day 
when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  nor  railways, 
was  a  very  serious  affair.  A  tour  of  inspection  was 
first  made,  occupying  four  months.  Mr.  Hayes  deter 
mined  to  move  to  Delaware,  where  the  family  arrived 
in  1817.  He  died  July  22,  r822,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth  of  the 
son,  of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs.  Hayes,  in  her  sore  be- 
reavement, found  the  support  she  so  much  needed  in 
her  brother  Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
household  from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had  adopted 
some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak,  and  the 


v» 


RUTHJiKFORn  B.  HAVES: 


subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at  birth  that  he 
was  not  expected  to  Uve  beyond  a  month  or  two  at 
most.  As  the  months  went  by  he  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  so  that  the  neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  in- 
quiring from  time  to  time  '"  if  Mrs.  Hayes'  baby  died 
last  night."  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who  was  on 
familiar  terms  with  the  family,  after  alluding  to  the 
boy's  big  head,  and  the  mother's  assiduous  care  of 
nim,  said  in  a  bantering  way,  "  That's  right !  Stick  to 
him.  You  have  got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  he  would  really  come  to  something  yet." 

"  You  need  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes.  "You 
ivait  and  see.  You  can't  tell  but  I  shall  make  him 
President  of  the  United  States  yet."  The  boy  lived, 
in  spite  of  the  universal  predictions  of  his  speedy 
death;  and  when,  in  1S25,  his  older  brother  was 
drowned,  he  became,  if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  w^ent  to 
school.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  probably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
fister  as  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
•were  almost  wholly  within  doors,  his  playmates  being 
his  sister  and  her  associates.  These  circumstances 
tended,  no  doubt,  to  foster  that  gentleness  of  dispo- 
sition, and  that  delicate  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  others,  which  are  marked  traits  of  his   character. 

His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard  took  the  deepest  interest 
in  his  education ;  and  as  the  boy's  health  had  im- 
proved, and  he  was  making  good  progress  in  his 
studies,  he  proposed  to  send  him  to  college.  His  pre- 
paration commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  bat  he 
was  afterwards  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in  the 
Wesleyan  University,  in  Middletown,  Conn.  He  en- 
tered Kenyon  College  in  1838,  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  in  1842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow,  Esq., 
in  Columbus.  Finding  his  opportunities  for  study  in 
Columbus  somewhat  limited,  he  determined  to  enter 
the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

In  1845,  after  graduatmg  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorney-at-law 
with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

In  1849  he  iridved  to  ('incmnati,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  years,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  jiowerful  influence  upon  his  subse-  ' 
quent  life.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webb,  of 
Chilicolhe;  the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literary  Club,  a  body  embracing  among  its 
iiiembers  suck  men  as'^hief  Justice  Salmon  P.  Chase, 


Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F.  Noyes,  and  many 
others  hardly  less  distinguished  in  after  life.  The 
marriage  was  a  fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as 
everybody  knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our 
Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  to  reflect  honor  upon  American  woman- 
hood.  The  Literary  Cluo  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into 
constant  association  with  young  men  of  high  char- 
acter and  noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  the 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulness  and 
modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judgs  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  but  he  declined  to  ar- 
cept  the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  of 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Covincii. 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1861,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  was  ar 
the  zenith  of  his  professional  I'f ,.  His  rank  at  the 
bar  was  among  the  the  first.  But  the  news  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take  -id 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  and  illustrious.  In 
October,  1861,  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
in  August,  1862,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  79th  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however,  he 
was  made  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment.  At  the  battle 
of  South  Mountain  he  received  a  wound,  and  while 
faint  and  bleeding  displayed  courage  and  fortitude 
that  won  admiration  from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment,  after 
his  recovery,  to  act  as  Brigadier-General,  and  placed 
in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kanawha  division, 
and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  battles 
of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General.  He  was  also  brevetted 
Major-General,  "forgallant  and  distinguished  services 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864,  in  West  Virginia."  In 
the  course  of  his  arduous  services,  four  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him,  and  he  was  wounded  four  times 

In  1864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  Congress,  frcni 
the  Second  Ohio  District,  which  had  long  been  Dem- 
ocratic. He  was  not  present  during  the  campaign, 
and  after  his  election  was  importuned  to  resign  his 
commission  in  the  army;  but  he  finally  declared,  "  I 
shall  never  come  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected  in  1866. 

In  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  Governor  of  Ohio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thunnan,  a  populai  Democrat. 
In  1869  was  re-elected  over  George  H.  Pendleton. 
He  was  elected  Governor  for  the  third  term  in   T87i^. 

]n  1876  he  was  the  standard  bearer  of  the  Repub- 
lican Party  in  the  Presidential  contest,  and  after  a 
hard  long  contest  was  cliosen  President,  and  was  in 
augurated  Monday,  March  5,  1875.  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  hcwever,  with  satisfaction  to  his  party, 
but  his  administration  was  an  average  o;\  = 


TiVENTIETH  PRESIDENT. 


%><^:^ 


.'If 


AMES  A.  GARFIELD,  twen- 
tieth President  of  the  United 
States,    was    born    Nov.    19, 
1S31,  in  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O      His   par- 
ents were  Abram  and    EHza 
'^  (Ballou)    Garfield,   both  of  New 
England  ancestry  and  from  fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  that  section  of  our  coun- 
try, but  had  moved  to  the  \Vestern 
Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was 
Ijorn  was  not  unlike  the  houses  of 
poor  Ohio  farmers  of  that  day.  It 
..as about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be- 
.vi^een  the  logs  filled  with  clay.  His  father  was  a 
.iard  working  farmer,  and  he  soon  had  his  fields 
cleared,  an  orchard  planted,  and  a  log  barn  built. 
Die  household  comprised  the  father  and  mother  and 
dneir  four  children — Mehetabel,  'I'liomas,  Mary  and 
Tames.  _  In  May,  1823,  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
.racted  in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest  fire,  died.  At 
this  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months  old,  and 
Fhomas  about  ten  years  old.  No  one,  perhaps,  can 
(ell  how  much  James  was  indcMed  to  his  biother's 
tcil  and  self  sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years  suc- 
ceeding his  father's  death,  but  undoubtedly  very 
much.  He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
•'  itrs  live  in  .Solon,  O.,  near  their  birtliplace. 

The  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
them.  He  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  did  anything  that 
would  bring  in  a  few  dollars  to  aid  liis  widowed 
mother  in  he-  'Struggles  to  keep  the  little    family  to- 


gether. Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever  ashamed  of  his 
origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the  friends  of  his  strug- 
gling childhood,  youtli  and  manliood,  neither  did  they 
ever  forget  him.  When  in  the  highes,t  seats  of  honor 
the  humblest  fiiend  of  his  boyhood'  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  Tlie  poorest  laborer  was  sure  of  the 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  known  all  tlie  bitterness 
of  want  and  the  sweetness  of  bread  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  the  brow.  He  was  ever  the  simple,  ijlain, 
modest  gentleman. 

The  highest  ambition   of  young  Garfield  until  \\i 
was  about  sixteen  years  old  was  to  be  a  captain  o.f 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.     He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  which  his  mother  strongly  opposed.     She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  that  he  should  try  to  obtair 
some  other  kind  of  employment.     He  walked  all  the 
way  to  Cleveland.    This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  city 
After  making  many  applications  for  work,  and  trying 
to  get   aboard  a   lake  vessel,  and  not  meeting  with 
success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  fftr  his  cousin,  Amos 
Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Canal.     He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  he  wen" 
home,    and  attended   the   seminary   at   Chester  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  Institute,  teaching  a  few  terms  of  school  in 
the  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.     Tiiis   school 
was  started  by  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in    1850,  of 
which  church  he  was   then  a  member.     He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  help  pay  his  wav 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  jiupil.     He  soon 
"e-xhausted  Hiram  "<ind  needed  more;  hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1854,  he  entered  Williams  College,  from  whicli 
he  graduated  in  1S56,  taking  one  of  the  highest  hon- 
ors of  his  class.     Pie  afterwards  returned  to  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.     As  above  slated,  he   early 
united   with    the   Christian   or   Diciples    Church    at 
Hiram.^and  was  ever  .after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  its  pulpit  and    places  where 
he  happened  to  be.     Dr.  Noah  Porter,  President  of 
Yale  College,  says  of  him  in  reference  to  his  religion  : 


9« 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


"  President  Garfield  was  more  than  a  man  of 
strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His  whole 
history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last,  shows  that  duty  to 
man  and  to  God,  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  life  and 
faith  and  spiritual  commission  were  controlling  springs 
of  his  being,  and  to  a  more  than  usual  degree.  In 
my  judgmeni:  there  is  no  more  interesting  feature  of 
Jiis  character  than  his  loyal  allegiance  to  the  body  of 
Christians  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the  fervent 
sympathy  which  he  ever  showed  in  their  Christian 
communion.  Not  many  of  the  few  'wise  and  mighty 
and  noble  who  are  called'  show  a  similar  loyalty  to 
the  less  stately  and  cultured  Christian  comnmnions 
in  which  they  have  been  reared.  Too  often  it  is  true 
that  as  they  step  upward  in  social  and  political  sig- 
nificance they  step  upward  from  one  degree  to 
another  in  some  of  the  many  types  of  fashionable 
Christianity.  President  Garfield  adhered  to  the 
:;hurch  of  his  mother,  the  church  in  which  he  was 
trained,  and  in  which  he  served  as  a  pillar  and  an 
evangelist,  and  yet  with  the  largest  and  most  unsec- 
Varian  charity  for  all  'who  loveourLord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolph,  Nov.  1 1,  1858,  who  proved  herself 
worthy  as  the  wife  of  one  whom  all  the  world  loved  and 
mourned.  To  them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  political  speeches  in  1856, 
jn  Hiram  and  the  neighboring  villages,  and  three 
years  later  he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meet- 
ings, and  became  the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he 
was.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleveland, 
and  in  1 86 1  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  great 
Rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part  ^f  this  year, 
and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved  to  fight  as  he  had 
talked,  and  enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  Lieut. -Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Aug. 
14,  1861.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active  ser- 
vice, and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in  action, 
was  placed  in  command  of  four  regiments  of  infantr)- 
and  eight  companies  of  cavalry,  charged  with  the 
work  of  driving  out  of  his  native  State  the  officer 
(Humphrey  Marshall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  to,  1862;  and  as  "he  had 
been  the  youngest  man  in  the  Ohio  Senate  two  years 
before,  so  now^  he  was  the  youngest  General  in  the 
army."  He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloh, 
in  its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march  through 
Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Court-Martial  for  the  trial  of  Gen.  Fitz-John 
Porter.  He  was  then  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rose- 
crans,  and  was  assigned  to  the  "Chief  of  Staff." 

The  military  history  of  Gen.  Garfield  closed  with 


his  brilliant  services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  won 
the  stars  of  the  Major-General. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Gei?  Garfield  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1862  from  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Ohio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congress  for  si.xty  years 
mainly  by  two  men — Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshua 
R.  Giddings.  It  was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he 
resigned  his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  en- 
tered Congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  Therms  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  President  in  1880. 
Of  nis  labors  in  Congress  Senator  Hoar  says  :  "  Since 
the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a  question  whici. 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  i, 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  whict 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  mstruction,  the  argu- 
ment on  one  side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance 
better  than  by  anybody  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  or  on  the  hustings  by 
Mr.  Garfield." 

Uixsn  Jan.  14,  1880,  Gen.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  on  the  eighth  of  June,  of  llie 
same  year,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  President  at  the  great  Chicago  Convention- 
He  was  elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  i88r,  was  inaugurated.  Probably  no  ad- 
ministration ever  opened  its  existence  under  brighter 
auspices  than  that  of  President  Garfield,  and  every 
day  it  grew  in  favor  with  the  peojjle,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  he  had  completed  all  the  initiatory  and  pre- 
liminary work  of  his  administration  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Williams 
College.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the  depot,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  Blaine,  a  man  stepped  behind 
him,  drew  a  revolver,  and  fired  directly  at  his  back. 
The  President  tottered  and  fell,  luid  as  he  did  so  the 
assassin  fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the 
left  coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  inflicting  no  furthei 
injury.  It  has  been  very  truthfully  said  that  this  was 
"  the  shot  that  was  heard  round  the  world  "  Never 
before  in  the  historj'  of  the  Nation  had  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  peop'» 
for  the  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  brightest,  gladdest  day  of  all  his  life,  and 
was  at  the  summit  of  his  power  and  hope.  For  eighty 
days,  all  during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August, 
he  lingered  and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained 
master  of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  countrj-  and  the  world  tlie 
noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to  live  grandly  in  the 
very  clutch  of  death.  Great  in  life,  he  was  surpass- 
ingly great  in  death.  He  passed  serenely  away  Sept. 
19,  1883,  at  Elberon,  N.  J.,  on  the  very  bank  of  tlie 
ocean,  where  he  had  been  taken  shortly  ])revious.  The 
world  wept  at  his  death,  as  it  never  had  done  on  the 
death  of  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  upon  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committed  the  foul  deed. 


TWENTY-FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


99 


1^    C^iiJl^li^iLMi^J^    ^ 


HESTER      A.      ARTHUR, 

„.  twenty-first    Presi-^.^m  uf  the 

gfUnited    States,    was    born    in 

Franklin  Courty,  Vermont,  on 

Tt>T^vJP?4-Mifo    the fifthofOdobcr,  1830,  andis 

'^^i^^'s^MiK;   the  oldest   of  a    family    of  two 

sons  and    five   daughters.     His 

father  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 

Arthur,  aBaptistc' .rgyman,  who 

emigrated  to  tb'.s  counti7  from 

the  county  Antrim,   Ireland,   in 

his  i8th  year,  and  died  in  1875,  in 

Newtonville,    neai    .A.lbany,    after  a 

long  and  successful  ministr)-- 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at 
Union  College,  S(  henectady,  where 
he  excelled  in  all  his  studies.  Af- 
ter his  graduation  he  taught  school 
j  T  in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  ef  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  $500  in  his  pocket, 
and  catered  the  office  of  ex-Judge 
E.  D.  Culver  as  student.  After 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate, 
Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
in  the  West,  and  for  three  months  they  roamed  about 
in  the  Western  States  in  search  of  an  eligible  site, 
but  in  the  end  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
hung  out  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon  a  success- 
ful career  almost  from  the  start.  General  Arthur 
soon  afterward  niairpd  the  daughter  of  Lieutenant 


Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  was  lost  at 
sea.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  his  widow  in 
recognition  of  the  bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occa- 
sion. Mrs.  .Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthur's 
nomuiation  to  the  Vice  Presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal  celebrity 
in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous  Lemmon  suit, 
brought  to  recover  possession  of  eight  slaves  who  had 
been  declared  free  by  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  New  York  City.  It  was  in  1852  that  Jon, 
athan  Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas,  when 
they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The  Judge  decided 
that  they  could  not  be  held  by  the  owner  under  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law.  A  howl  of  rage  went  up  from 
the  South,  and  the  Virginia  Legislature  authorized  the 
Attorney  General  of  that  State  to  assist  in  an  appeal, 
Wni.  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  were  employed 
to  represent  the  People,  and  they  won  their  case, 
which  then  went  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  Charles  O'Conor  here  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  slave-holders,  but  he  loo  was  beaten  by  Messrs 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  emancipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by  General 
.\rthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1856.  Lizzie  Jennings, 
a  respectable  colored  woman,  was  put  off  a  Fourth 
.Avenue  car  with  violence  after  she  had  paid  her  fare. 
General  Arthur  sued  on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a 
verdict  of  $500  damages.  The  next  day  the  compa- 
ny issued  an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride 
on  their  cars,  and  the  other  car  companies  quickly 


lOO 


CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR. 


followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  colored  per- 
sons and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let  them  ride  at  all. 

General  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention 
at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  the  war  he  was  Judge-Advocate  of  the 
Second  Brigade  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  of  that  State,  appointed  him  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  his  staff.  In  1861,  he  was  made  Inspec- 
tor General,  and  soon  afterward  became  Quartermas- 
ter-General. In  each  of  these  offices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government  during  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ransom,  and  then  Mr.  Phelps,  the  District  Attorney 
of  New  York,  was  added  to  the  fimi.  The  legal  prac- 
tice of  this  well-known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive, each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  were  able 
lawyers,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local  reputation,  if 
not  indeed  one  of  national  extent. 

He  always  took  a  leading  part  in  State  and  city 
politics.  He  was  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  by  President  Grant,  Nov.  21  1872,  to  suc- 
ceed Thomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
20,  1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  t88o.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  assembled  on  the  continent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  'wading  politicians  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  all  able  men,  and  each  stood  firm  and 
fought  vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  conven- 
tion for  the  nomination.  Finally  Gen.  Garfield  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  President  and  Gen.  Arthur 
for  Vice-President.  The  campaign  which  followed 
was  one  of  the  most  animated  known  in  the  history  of 
our  countr)'.  Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 

Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's  choice 
.vas  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were  inaugurated 
March  4,  1881,  as  President  and  Vice-President. 
A  few  months  only  had  passed  ere  the  newly  chosen 
President  was  the  victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  Then 
came  terrible  weeks  of  suffering, — those  moments  of 
anxious  suspense,  when  the  hearts  of  all  civilized  na- 


tions were  throbbing  in  unison,  longing  for  the  re- 
covery of  the  noble,  the  good  President.  The  remark- 
able patience  that  he  manifested  during  those  hours 
and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of  the  most  terrible  suf- 
fering man  has  often  been  called  upon  to  endure,  was 
seemingly  more  than  human.  It  was  certainly  God- 
like. During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr, 
Arthur's  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it  said  to  his 
credit  that  his  every  action  displayed  only  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  suffering  Garfield  might  recover,  to 
serve  the  remainder  of  the  term  he  had  so  auspi- 
ciously begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the  most 
honored  position  in  the  world  was  at  any  moment 
likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President  Gar- 
field from  further  suffering,  and  the  world,  as  never 
before  in  its  histor}'  over  the  death  of  any  other 
man,  wept  at  his  bier.  Then  it  became  the  duty  of 
the  Vice  President  to  £:ssume  the  responsibilities  of 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath  in  New  York. 
Sept.  20,  1 88 1.  The  position  was  an  embarrassing 
one  to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he  would  do, 
what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and  who  he  would  se- 
lect as  advisers.  The  duties  of  the  office  had  been 
greatly  neglected  during  the  President's  long  illness, 
and  many  imjxjrtant  measures  were  to  be  immediately 
decided  by  him ;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances  he 
became  President,  and  knew  the  feelings  of  many  on 
this  point.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  President 
Arthur  took  the  reins  of  the  Government  in  his  own 
hands ;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  of 
affairs,  he  happily  surprised  the  nation,  acting  so 
wisely  that  but  few  criticised  his  administration. 
He  served  the  nation  well  and  faithfully,  until  the 
close  of  his  administration,  March  4,  1885,  and  was 
a  popular  candidate  before  his  party  for  a  second 
term.  His  name  was  ably  presented  before  the  con- 
vention at  Chicago,  and  was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would  have 
been  selected  as  the  standard-bearer  of  his  party 
for  another  campaign.  He  retired  to  private  life  car- 
rj'ing  with  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, whom  he  had  served  in  a  manner  satisfactory 
to  them  and  with  credit  to  himself 


^y7^€rL£yr 


Clc^c^/oyiy^Z^^ 


TWENTY-SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


'°3 


>^J 


^^1 


L^-c>^y^<L>-^ 


TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVE- 
LAND, the  twenty- second  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  1837,  in  the  obscure 
town  of  Caldwell,  Essex  Co., 
N.  J.,  and  in  a  little  two-and-a- 
half-story  white  house  wliich  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark 
the  humble  birth-place  of  one  of 
America's  great  men  in  striking  con- 
trast with  the  Old  World,  where  all 
men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in 
origin  and  born  m  the  cradle  of 
wealth.  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  three  years  of  age,  his 
father,  who  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  a  large  family  and  a  small  salary,  moved, 
by  way  of  the  Hudson  River  and  Erie  Canal,  to 
Fayetteville,  in  search  of  an  increased  income  and  a 
larger  field  of  work.  Fayetteville  was  then  the  most 
straggling  of  country  villages,  about  five  miles  from 
Ponipey  Hill,  where  Governor  Seymour  was  born. 

At  the  last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  com- 
menced going  to  school  in  the  "  good,  old-fashioned 
way,"  and  presumably  distinguished  himself  after  the 
manner  of  all  village  boys,  in  doing  the  things  he 
ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
all  geniuses  and  independent  thinkers.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  14  years,  he  had  outgrown  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school  and  expressed  a  most 


emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an  academy.  To  this 
his  father  decidedly  objected.  Academies  in  those 
days  cost  money;  besides,  his  father  wanted  him  to 
become  self-supporting  by  the  quickest  possible 
means,  and  this  at  that  time  in  Fayetteville  seemed 
to  be  a  position  in  a  country  store,  where  his  father 
and  the  large  family  011  his  hands  had  considerable 
influence.  Grover  was  to  be  paid  $50  for  his  services 
the  first  year,  and  if  he  proved  trustworthy  he  was  to 
receive  $100  the  second  year.  Here  the  lad  com- 
menced his  career  as  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he 
had  earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthiness 
that  his  employers  desired  to  retain  him  for  an  in- 
definite length  of  time.  Otherwise  he  did  not  ex- 
hibit as  yet  any  particular  "  flashes  of  genius  "  or 
eccentricities  of  talent.  He  was  simply  a  good  boy. 
But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firur  in  Fayette- 
ville, he  went  with  the  family  in  their  removal  to 
Clinton,  where  he  had  an  opportunity  of  attending  a 
high  school.  Here  he  industriously  pursued  his 
studies  until  the  family  removed  with  him  to  a  point 
on  Black  River  known  as  the  "  Holland  Patent,"  a 
village  of  500  or  600  people,  15  miles  north  of  Utica, 
N.  Y.  At  this  place  his  father  died,  after  preaching 
but  three  Sundays.  This  event  broke  up  the  family, 
and  Grover  set  out  for  New  York  City  to  accept,  at  a 
small  salary,  the  [)osition  of  "  under-teacher  "  in  an 
asylum  for  the  blind.  He  taught  faithfully  for  two 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  reputation  in 
this  capacity,  he  concluded  that  teaching  was  not  his 


104 


S.   GROVER   CLEVELAND. 


calling  for  life,  and,  reversing  the  traditional  order, 
ne  left  the  city  to  seek  his  fortune,  instead  of  going 
to  a  city.  He  first  thought  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as 
there  was  some  charm  in  that  name  for  him;  but 
before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to  Buffalo  to 
isk  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis  F.  Allan,  a  noted 
stock-breeder  of  that  place.  The  latter  did  not 
speak  enthusiastically.  "  What  is  it  you  want  to  do, 
my  boy  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Well,  sir,  I  want  to  study 
law,"  was  the  reply.  ''Good  gracious!"  remarked 
ihe  old  gentleman ;  "  do  you,  indeed .''  What  ever  put 
that  into  your  head  ?  How  much  money  have  you 
got.'"    "-Well,  sir,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  haven't  got 

a 

any. 

After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered  him  a 
place  temporarily  as  assistant  herd-keeper,  at  §50  a 
year,  while  he  could  "look  around."  One  day  soon 
afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo,  and  told  Ihem  what  he 
wanted.  A  number  of  young  men  were  already  en- 
gaged in  the  office,  but  Grover's  persistency  won,  and 
ne  was  finally  permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
Save  the  use  of  the  law  library,  for  the  nominal  sum 
of  $3  or  S4.  a  week.  Out  of  this  he  had  to  pay  for 
his  board  and  washing.  The  walk  to  and  from  his 
uncle's  was  a  long  and  rugged  one ;  and,  although 
the  first  ^vinte^  was  a  memorably  severe  one,  his 
shoes  were  out  of  repair  and  his  overcoat — he  had 
Done — yet  he  was  nevertheless  prompt  and  regular. 
On  the  first  day  of  his  service  here,  his  senior  em- 
ployer threw  down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him 
with  a  bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying  "That's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  titter  ran  around  the  little 
circle  of  cferks  and  students,  as  they  thought  that 
was  enough  to  scare  young  Grover  out  of  his  plans  ; 
out  indue  time  he  mastered  that  cumbersome  volume. 
Then,  as  ever  after\vard,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland 
exhibited  a  talent  for  executiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphysical 
possibiUties.  "  Let  us  quit  talking  and  go  and  do 
it,"  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
ejected  was  that  of  Sheriff  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
which  Buffalo  is  situated;  and  in  such  capacity  it  fell 
to  his  duty  to  inflict  capital  punishment  upon  two 
criminals.  In  i88i  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Buffalo,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  es- 
pecial reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 


in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs  of  that 
city.  In  this  office,  as  well  as  that  of  Sheriff,  his 
performance  of  dat)'  has  generally  been  considered 
fair,  with  possibly  a  few  exceptions  which  were  fer- 
reted out  and  magnified  during  the  last  Presidential 
campaign.  As  a  specimen  of  his  plain  language  in 
a  veto  message,  we  quote  from  one  vetoing  an  iniqui- 
tous street-cleaning  contract:  "This  is  a  time  for 
plain  speech,  and  my  objection  to  your  action  shall 
be  plainly  stated.  I  regard  it  as  the  culmination  of 
a  mos'  bare-faced,  impudent  and  shameless  scheme 
to  betray  the  interests  of  the  peopls  and  to  worse 
than  squander  the  people's  money."  The  New  York 
Sun  afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land's administration  as  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  and  there- 
upon recommended  him  for  Governor  of  the  Empire 
State.  To  the  latter  office  he  was  elected  in  1882, 
and  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  State  was 
generally  satisfactory.  The  mistakes  he  made,  if 
any,  were  made  verj'  public  throughout  the  nation 
after  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  For  this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July 
II,  18S4,  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at 
Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were  Thomas  F. 
Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  etc.:  and  he 
was  elected  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  about  a 
thousand,  over  the  brilliant  and  long-tried  Repub- 
lican statesman,  James  G.  Blaine.  President  Cleve- 
land resigned  his  office  as  Governor  of  New  York  in 
Januar)',  18S5,  in  order  to  prepare  for  his  duties  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  United  States,  in  which 
capacity  his  term  commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  of 
March,  18S5.  For  his  Cabinet  officers  he  selected 
the  following  gentlemen:  For  Secretary  of  State, 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  of  Delaware ;  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Daniel  Manning,  of  New  York ;  Secretary 
of  War,  William  C.  Endicott,  of  Massachusetts; 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  William  C.  Whitney,  of  New 
York ;  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  of 
Mississippi;  Postmaster-General,  WilHam  F.  Vilas, 
of  Wisconsin ;  Attorney-General,  A.  H.  Garland,  of 
Arkansas. 

The  silver  question  precipitated  a  controversy  be- 
tween those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  continuance  of 
silver  coinage  and  those  who  were  opposed,  Mr. 
Cleveland  answering  for  the  latter,  even  before  his 
inauguration. 


c>V^ 


iZ.y^^'---7\^'i.*^'^(^-«^ 


TWENTY-THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


lu: 


..o*o..@^<^..<>*o.. 


;  i:NJAMIN  HARRISON,  the 
Iwcnty-third  President,  is 
tlio  descendant  of  one  of  the 
historical  families  of  this 
country.  The  head  of  the 
family  was  a  Major  General 
Harrison,  one  of  Oliver 
Cromwell's  trusted  follow- 
ers and  fighters.  In  the  zenith  of  Crom- 
well's power  it  became  the  duty  of  this 
Harrison  to  participate  in  the  trial  of 
Charles  I,  and  afterward  to  sign  the 
death  warrant  of  the  king.  He  subse- 
quently paid  for  this  with  his  life,  being 
hung  Oct.  13,  IGGO.  His  descendants 
came  to  America,  and  the  next  of  the 
family  that  appears  in  history  is  Benja- 
r.:in  Harrison,  of  Virginia, great-grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
after  whom  he  .was  named.  Benjamin  Harrison 
was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  during 
the  ye.ars  i774-5-C,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  He 
was  three  times  elected  Governor  of  Virginia. 
Gen    AViiliam   Iliniy    ilnrrison,  the  son  of  the 


distinguished  patriot  of  the  Revolution,  after  a  suc- 
cessful career  as  a  soldier  during  the  War  of  1812, 
and  with -a  clean  record  as  Governor  of  the  North- 
western Territory,  was  elected  President  of  the 
United  States  in  1840.  His  career  was  cut  short 
by  death  within  one  month  after  liis  inauguration. 
President  Harrison  was  born  at  North  Bend, 
Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  r>0, 1833.  His  life  up  to 
the  time  of  his  graduation  by  the  Miami  University, 
at  O.xford,  Ohio,  was  the  uneventful  one  of  a  coun- 
try lad  of  a  family  of  small  means.  His  father  was 
able  to  give  him  a  good  education,  and  nothing 
more.  He  became  engaged  while  at  college  to  t'a^ 
daughter  of  Dr.  Scott,  Principal  of  a  female  schoo 
at  Oxford.  After  graduating  he  determined  to  en- 
ter upon  the  study  of  the  law.  He  went  to  Cin 
einnali  and  then  read  law  for  two  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  young  Harrison  receiv-il  th" 
only  inheritance  of  his  life;  his  aunt  dying  left  him 
a  lot  valued  at  $800.  He  regarded  this  legacy  as  t 
fortune,  and  decided  to  get  married  at  once,  tak3 
tliis  money  and  go  to  some  Eastern  town  ancl  'oe- 
gin  the  practice  of  law.  He  sold  his  lot,  and  with 
the  monej'  in  his  pocket,  he  started  out  wita  bis 
young  wife  to  fight  for  a  place  in  the  world,     lie 


lOS 


BKN,*AMJN  ilARRlSON. 


decitled  to  go  to  Indianapolis,  wliich  was  even  at 
that  time  a  town  of  promise.  He  met  with  slight 
encouragement  at  first,  making  scarcely  anything 
the  first  j-ear.  He  worked  diligently,  applying  him- 
self closely  to  his  calling,  built  up  an  extensive 
practice  and  took  a  leading  rank  in  the  legal  pro- 
I'ession.     He  is  the  father  of  two  children. 

In  186C  Mr.  Harrison  was  nominated  for  the 
position  of  Supreme  Court  Reporter,  and  then  be- 
gan his  experience  as  a  stump  speuke;  He  can- 
vassed the  State  thoroughlj^,  and  was  elected  by  a 
handsome  majority.  In  18G2  he  raised  the  17th 
Indiana  Infantry',  and  was  chosen  its  Colonel.  His 
regiment  was  composed  of  the  rawest  of  material, 
out  Col.  Harrison  employed  all  his  time  at  first 
mastering  military  tactics  and  drilling  his  men, 
when  he  thei'efore  came  to  move  toward  the  East 
with  Sherman  his  regiment  was  one  of  the  best 
drilled  and  organized  in  the  army.  At  Resaca  he 
especially  distinguished  himself,  and  for  his  bravery 
at  Peachtree  Creek  he  was  made  a  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral, Gen.  Hooker  speaking  of  him  in  the  most 
complimentary  terms. 

During  the  absence  of  Gen.  Harrison  in  the  field 
lie  Supreme  Court  declared  the  office  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  Reporter  vacant,  and  another  person 
was  elected  to  the  position.  From  the  time  of  leav- 
irg  Indiana  with  his  regiment  until  the  fall  of  18G4 
he  had  taken  no  leave  of  absence,  but  having  been 
nominated  that  year  for  the  same  office,  he  got  a 
thirty-day  leave  of  absence,  and  during  that  time 
made  a  brilliant  canvass  of  the  State,  and  was  elected 
for  another  terra.  He  then  started  to  rejoin  Sher- 
2:an,  but  on  the  way  was  stricken  down  with  scarlet 
:ever,  and  after  a  most  tr3nng  siege  made  his  way 
to  the  front  in  time  to  participate  in  the  closing 
incidents  of  the  war. 

In  1868  Gen.  Harrison  declined  z  re-election  as 
_-«porter,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  In  1876 
£8  was  a  candidate  for  Governor.  Although  de- 
eated,  the  brilliant  campaign  hb  made  won  for  him 
'  a  National  reputation,  and  he  was  much  sought,  es- 
pecially in  the  East,  to  make  speeches.  In  1880, 
iiS  usual,  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  campaign, 
and  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate.  Here 
be  served  six  years,  and  Tzas  known  as  one  of  the 
«blest  men,  best  lawyer--  .aid  strongest  debaters  iu 


that  body.  With  the  expiration  of  his  Senatorial 
term  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
becoming  the  head  of  one  of  the  strongest  firms  in 
the  State. 

The  political  campaign  of  1888  was  one  of  the 
most  memorable  in  the  history  of  our  countiy.  The 
convention  which  assembled  in  Chicago  in  June  and 
named  Mr.  Harrison  as  the  chief  standard  bearer 
of  the  Republican  party,  w-as  great  in  every  partic- 
ular, and  on  this  account,  and  the  attitude  it  as- 
sumed u^oa  the  vital  questions  of  the  day,  chief 
among  which  was  the  tariff,  awoke  a  deep  interest 
in  the  campaign  throughout  the  Nation.  Shortl3' 
after  the  nomination  delegations  began  to  visit  Mr. 
Harrison  at  Indianapolis,  his  home.  This  move- 
ment became  popular,  and  from  all  sections  of  the 
country  societies,  clubs  and  delegations  journeyed 
thither  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  distinguished 
statesman.  The  popularity  of  these  was  greatly 
increased  on  account  of  the  remarkable  speeches 
made  by  Mr.  Harrison.  He  spoke  daily  all  through 
the  summer  and  autumn  to  these  visiting  delega- 
tions, and  so  varied,  masterly  and  eloquent  were 
his  speeches  that  they  at  once  placed  him  in  the 
foremost  rank  of  American  orators  and  statesmen. 

On  account  of  his  eloquence  as  a  speaker  and  his 
power  as  a  debater,  he  was  called  upon  at  an  un- 
commonlj'  earl}'  age  to  take  part  in  the  discussion 
of  the  great  questions  that  then  began  to  agitate 
the  country.  He  was  an  uncompromising  anti 
sla^•erv  man,  and  was  matched  against  some  of  tl;e 
most  eminent  Democratic  speakers  of  his  State. 
No  man  who  felt  the  touch  of  his  blade  decired  to 
be  pitted  with  him  again.  With  all  his  eloq-'ence 
as  an  orator  he  never  spoke  for  oratorical,  effect, 
but  his  words  always  went  like  bullets  to  the  mark 
He  is  purclj'  American  in  his  ideas  and  is  a  siilcr 
did  tj-pe  of  the  American  statesman.  Gifted  wit'i; 
quick  perception,  a  logical  mind  and  a  ready  tongue, 
he  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  impromptu 
speakers  iu  the  Nation.  Manj"  of  these  sjieeches 
sparkled  with  the  rarest  of  eloquence  and  contained 
arguments  of  greatest  weight.  Maiij'  of  his  terse 
statements  liavc  already  become  aphorisms.  Origi- 
nal ill  tliought,  precise  iu  logic,  terse  in  statement, 
yet  withal  faultless  in  eloquence,  he  is  recognized  as 
the  sound  statesman  and  brill iauj  orator  o-  ta^  day 


ifeai 


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'"-(ii  U  * 


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i?i5i^;?sw5>  ^°''  ^:^i  A-*^^ 


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c^(-<^6^~ti:^cyA^ 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS, 


^<a$<(!li))-te>^ 


>> 

'  HADRACH 


BOND,  the  first 
Governor  of  Illinois  after  its 
organization  as  a  State,  serving 
from  1818  to  1822,  was  born  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland, 
in  the  year  1773,  and  was 
raised  a  farmer  on  his  father's 
plantation,  receiving  only  a  plain 
English  education.  He  emigrated 
to  this  State  in  1794,  when  it  was  a 
part  of  the  "Northwest  Territory," 
continuing  in  the  vocation  in  which 
he  had  been  brought  up  in  his  native 
State,  in  the  "  New  Design,"  near 
Eagle  Creek,  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
County.  He  served  several  terms  as 
a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Indiana  Territory,  after  it  was  organized  as  such, 
and  in  1812-14  he  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth  Congresses,  taking  his  seat  Dec.  3, 
181 2,  and  serving  until  Oct.  3,  1814.  These  were 
the  times,  the  reader  will  recollect,  when  this  Gov- 
ernment had  its  last  struggle  with  Great  Britain. 
Theyear  x8i2  is  also  noted  in  the  history  of  this 
State  as  that  in  which  the  first  Territorial  Legislature 
was  held.  It  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  Nov.  25,  and 
adjourned  Dec.  26,  following. 

While  serving  as  Delegate  to  Congress,  Mr.  Bond 
was  instrumental  in  procuring  the  right  of  pre-emj)- 
ton  on  the  public  domain.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
lenn  at  Washington  he  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
Public  Moneys  at  Kaskaskia,  then  the  capital  of  the 
Territory.      In    company    with   John   G.    Comyges, 


Thomas  H.  Harris,  Charles  Slade,  Michael  Jones, 
Warren  Brown,  Edward  Humphries  and  Charles  W 
Hunter,  he  became  a  proprietor  of  the  site  of  the 
initial  city  of  Cairo,  which  they  hoped,  from  its  favor- 
able location  at  the  junction  of  the  two  great 
rivers  near  the  center  of  the  Great  West,  would 
rapidly  develop  into  a  metropolis.  To  aid  tiie  enter- 
prise, they  obtained  a  special  charter  from  the  Legis- 
lature, incorporating  both  the  City  and  the  Bank  of 
Cairo. 

In  1818  Mr.  Bond  was  elected  the  first  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  being  inaugurated  Oct.  6 
that  year,  which  was  several  weeks  before  Illinois 
was  actually  admitted.  The  facts  are  these:  In 
January,  18 18,  tlie  Territorial  Legislature  sent  a  peti- 
tion to  Congress  for  the  admission  of  Illinois  as  a 
State,  Nathaniel  Pope  being  then  Delegate.  The 
petition  was  granted,  fixing  the  northern  line  of  the 
State  on  the  latitude  of  the  southern  extremity  of 
Lake  Michigan;  but  the  bill  was  afterward  so  amend- 
ed as  to  extend  this  line  to  its  present  latitude.  In 
July  a  convention  was  called  at  Kaskaskia  to  draft  a 
constitution,  which,  however,  was  not  submitted  ti 
the  people.  By  its  provisions,  supreme  judges,  pros 
ecuting  attorneys,  county  and  circuit  judges,  record- 
ers and  justices  of  the  peace  were  all  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor  or  elected  by  the  Legislature.  This 
constitution  was  accepted  by  Congress  Dec.  30.  At 
that  time  Illinois  comprised  but  eleven  counties, 
namely,  Randolph,  Madison,  Gallatin,  Johnson, 
Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond,  Union,  Washington 
and  Franklin,  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  be- 
ing mainly  in  Madison  County.  Thus  it  appears 
that  Mr.  Bond  was   honored  by   the    naming  of  a 


SHAVRACH  BOND. 


county  before  he  was  elected  Governor.  The  present 
county  of  Bond  is  of  small  Umitations,  about  60  to  80 
miles  south  of  Springfield.  For  Lieutenant  Governor 
the  people  chose  Pierre  Menard,  a  prominent  and 
worthy  Frenchman,  after  whom  a  county  in  this  State 
is  named.  In  this  election  there  were  no  opposition 
candidates,  as  the  popularity  of  these  men  had  made 
tlieir  promotion  to  the  chief  offices  of  the  S^ate,  even 
before  the  constitution  was  drafted,  a  foregone  con- 
clusion. 

The  principal  points  that  excited  the  people  in 
reference  to  political  issues  at  this  period  were  local 
or  "internal  improvements,"  as  they  were  called, 
State  banks,  location  of  the  capital,  slavery  and  the 
personal  characteristics  of  the  proposed  candidates. 
Mr.  Bond  represented  the  "Convention  party,"  for 
introducing  slavery  into  the  State,  supported  by  Elias 
Kelt  Kane,  his  Secretary  of  State,  and  John  Mc- 
Lean, while  Nathaniel  Pope  and  John  P.  Cook  led 
the  anti-slavery  element.  The  people,  however,  did 
not  become  very  much  excited  over  this  issue  until 
1820,  when  the  famous  Missouri  Compromise  was 
adopted  by  Congress,  limiting  slavery  to  the  south 
of  the  parallel  of  36°  30'  except  in  Missouri.  While 
this  nieasure  settled  the  great  slavery  controversy, 
so  far  as  the  average  public  sentiment  was  tempor- 
arily concerned,  until  1854,  when  it  was  repealed 
under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  issue 
as  considered  locally  in  this  State  was  not  decided 
until  1824,  after  a  most  furious  campaign.  (See 
sketch  of  Gov.  Coles.)  The  ticket  of  18 18  was  a 
compromise  one.  Bond  representing  (moderately)  the 
pro-slavery  sentiment  and  Menard  the  anti-slavery. 

An  awkward  element  in  the  State  government 
under  Gov.  Bond's  administration,  was  the  imperfec- 
tion of  the  State  constitution.  The  Convention 
wished  to  have  Elijah  C.  Berry  for  the  first  Auditor 
of  Public  Accounts,  but,  as  it  was  believed  that  the 
new  Governor  would  not  appoint  him  to  the  office, 
the  Convention  declared  in  a  schedule  that  "  an 
auditor  of  public  accounts,  an  attorney  general  and 
such  other  officers  of  the  State  as  may  be  necessary, 
may  be  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly."  The 
Constitution,  as  it  stood,  vested  a  very  large  appoint- 
ing power  in  the  Governor;  but  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  one  man  into  office,  a  total  change  was  made, 
and  the  power  vested  in  the  Legislature.  Of  this 
provision  the  Legislature  took  advantage,   and  de- 


clared that  State's  attorneys,  canal  commissioners, 
bank  directors,  etc.,  were  all  "  officers  of  the  State  " 
and  must  therefore  be  appointed  by  itself  independ- 
ently of  the  Governor. 

During  Gov.  Bond's  administration  a  general  law 
was  passed  for  the  incorporation  of  academies  and 
towns,  and  one  authorizing  lotteries.  The  session  of 
1822  authorized  the  Governor  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners, to  act  in  conjunction  with  like  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  State  of  Indiana,  to  report  on  the 
practicability  and  expediency  of  improving  the  navi- 
gation of  the  Wabash  River;  also  inland  navigation 
generally.  Many  improvements  were  recommended, 
some  of  which  have  been  feebly  worked  at  even  till 
the  present  day,  those  along  the  Wabash  being  of  no 
value.  Also,  during  Gov.  Bond's  term  of  office,  the 
capital  of  the  State  was  removed  from  Kaskaskia  to 
Vandalia.  In  1S20  a  law  was  passed  by  Congress 
authorizing  this  State  to  open  a  canal  through  the 
public  lands.  The  State  appointed  commissioners 
lo  explore  the  route  and  prepare  the  necessary  sur- 
veys and  estimates,  preparatory  to  its  execution; 
but,  being  unable  out  of  its  own  resources  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  undertaking,  it  was  abandoned 
until  some  time  after  Congress  made  the  grant  of 
land  for  the  purpose  of  its  construction. 

On  the  whole.  Gov.  Bond's  administration  was 
fairly  good,  not  being  open  to  severe  criticism  from 
any  party.  In  1824,  two  years  after  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office,  he  was  brought  out  as  a  candi- 
date for  Congress  against  the  formidable  John  P. 
Cook,  but  received  only  4,374  votes  to  7,460  for  the 
latter.  Gov.  Bond  was  no  orator,  but  had  made 
many  fast  friends  by  a  judicious  bestowment  of  liis 
gubernatorial  patronage,  and  these  worked  zealously 
for  him  in  the  campaign. 

In  1827  ex-Gov.  Bond  was  appointed  by  tiie  Leg- 
islature, with    Wm.    P.    McKee    and   Dr.    Gershom 
Jayne,  as  Commissioners  to  locate  a  site  for  a  peni- 
•tentiary  on  the  Mississippi  at  or  near  Alton. 

Mr.  Bond  was  of  a  benevolent  and  convivial  dis- 
position, a  man  of  shrewd  observation  and  clear  ap- 
preciation of  events.  His  person  was  erect,  stand- 
ing six  feet  in  height,  and  after  middle  life  became 
portly,  weighing  200  pounds.  His  features  were 
strongly  masculine,  complexion  dark,  hair  jet  and 
eyes  hazel ;  was  a  favorite  witli  tiie  ladies.  He  died 
April  II,  1830,  in  peace  and  contentment. 


Ld^^<"UA2)  CcrtJ^ 


GO  VERNOJiS  OF  JLLIA'OIS. 


"5 


£t)war5  Coles. 


^S 


^<s$<iiii>^^ 


DWARI'  COLES,  second 
Governor  of  Illinois,  1823- 
i.  6,  was  born  Dec.  15,  1786, 
in  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,  on 
the  old  family  estate  called 
«>^i,_3  "  Enniscorthy,"  on  the 
Green  Mountain.  His  fath- 
er, John  Coles,  was  a  Colonel  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Having  been  fit- 
ted for  college  by  private  tutors,  he 
was  sent  to  Hampden  Sidney,  where 
he  remained  until  the  autumn  of  1805, 
when  he  was  removed  to  William  and 
(^vhu'SJ  Mary  College,  at  Williamsburg,  Va. 
^5.^itS^  This  college  he  left  in  the  summer  of 
1S07,  a  short  time  before  the  final  and  graduating 
examination.  Among  his  classmates  were  Lieut. 
Gen.  Scott,  President  John  Tyler,  Wm.  S.  Archer, 
United  States  Senator  from  Virginia,  and  Justice 
Baldwin,  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  The 
President  of  the  latter  college.  Bishop  Madison,  was 
a  cousin  of  President  James  Madison,  and  that  cir- 
cumstance was  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Coles  becoming 
personally  acquainted  with  the  President  and  re- 
ceiving a  position  as  his  private  secretary,  1809-15. 
The  family  of  Coles  was  a  prominent  one  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  their  mansion  was  the  seat  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Virginian  hospitality.  It  was  visited  by 
such  rotables  as  Patrick  Henry,  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe,  the  Randolphs,  Tazewell,  Wirt,  etc.  At  the 
age  of  23,  young  Coles  found  himself  heir  to  a  plant- 
ation and  a  considerable  number  of  slaves.  Ever 
since  his  earlier  college  days  his  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  the  question  of  slavery.     He    read    every- 


thing on  the  subject  that  came  in  his  way,  and 
listened  to  lectures  on  the  rights  of  man.  The  mo'rL; 
he  reflected  upon  the  subject,  the  more  impossible 
was  it  for  him  to  reconcile  the  immortal  declaration 
"that  all  men  are  born  free  and  equal  "  with  the 
practice  of  slave-holding.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to 
free  his  slaves  the  first  opportunity,  and  even  remove 
his  residence  to  a  free  State,  One  reason  which  de- 
termined him  to  accept  the  appointment  as  private 
secretary  to  Mr.  Madison  was  because  he  believed 
that  through  the  acquaintances  he  could  make  at 
Washington  he  could  better  determine  in  what  par; 
of  the  non-slaveholding  portion  of  the  Union  he  woulc 
prefer  to  settle. 

The  relations  between  Mr.  Coles  and  President 
Madison,  as  well  as  Jefferson  and  other  distinguished 
men,  were  of  a  very  friendly  character,  arising  from 
the  similarity  of  their  views  on  the  question  of  slavery 
and  their  sympathy  for  each  other  in  holding  doc- 
trines so  much  at  variance  with  the  prevailing  senti- 
ment in  their  own  State. 

In  1857,  he  resigned  his  secretaryship  and  spent  a 
portion  of  the  following  autumn  in  exploring  the 
Northwest  Territory,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  lo- 
cation and  purchasing  lands  on  which  to  settle  his 
negroes.  He  traveled  with  a  horse  and  buggy,  with 
an  extra  man  and  horse  for  emergencies,  through 
many  parts  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
determining  finally  to  settle  in  Illinois.  At  this  time, 
however,  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  our 
Government  and  Russia,  and  Mr.  Coles  was  selected 
to  repair  to  St.  Petersburg  on  a  special  mission,  bear- 
ing important  papers  concerning  the  matter  at  issue. 
The  result  was  a  conviction  of  the   Emperor   (Alex- 


ii6 


EDWARD  COLES. 


ander)  of  the  error  comiiiitted  by  his  minister  at 
Wiishington,  and  tlie  consequent  withdrawal  of  the 
the  latter  from  the  post.  On  his  return,  Mr.  Coles 
visited  other  \)arts  of  Europe,  especially  Paris,  where 
he  was  introduced  to  Gen.  Lafayette. 

In  the  spring  of  1819,  he  removed  with  all  his 
negroes  from  Virginia  to  Edwardsville,  III,  with  the 
intention  of  giving  them  their  liberty.  He  did  not 
make  known  to  them  his  intention  until  one  beautiful 
morning  in  April,  as  they  were  descending  the  Ohio 
River.  He  lashed  all  the  boats  together  and  called 
all  the  negroes  on  deck  and  made  them  a  short  ad- 
dress, concluding  his  remarks  by  so  expressing  him- 
self that  by  a  turn  of  a  sentence  he  proclaimed  in 
the  shortest  and  fullest  manner  that  they  were  no 
longer  slaves,  but  free  as  he  was  and  were  at  liberty 
to  proceed  with  him  or  go  ashore  at  their  pleas- 
ure. A  description  of  the  effect  upon  the  negroes  is 
best  desciibed  in  his  own  language  : 

"The  effect  upon  them  was  electrical.  They  stared 
at  n-.e  and  then  at  each  other,  as  if  doubting  the  ac- 
curacy or  reality  of  what  they  heard.  In  breathless 
silence  they  stood  before  me,  unable  to  utter  a  word, 
but  with  countenances  beaming  with  expression  which 
no  words  could  convey,  and  which  no  language 
can  describe.  As  they  began  to  see  the  truth  of 
what  they  had  heard,  and  realize  their  situation,  there 
came  on  a  kind  of  hysterical,  giggling  laugh.  After 
a  pause  of  intense  and  unutterable  emotion,  bathed 
in  tears,  and  with  tremulous  voices,  they  gave  vent  to 
their  gratitude  and  implored  the  blessing  of  God 
on  me." 

Before  landmg  he  gave  them  a  general  certificate 
of  freedom,  and  afterward  conformed  more  particu- 
larly with  the  law  of  this  State  requiring  that  each 
individual  should  have  a  certificate.  This  act  of 
Mr.  Coles,  all  the  more  noble  and  heroic  considering 
the  overwhelming  pro-slavery  influences  surrounding 
him,  has  challenged  the  admiration  of  every  philan- 
thropist of  modern  times. 

March  5,  1819,  President  Monroe  appointed  Mr. 
Coles  Registrar  of  the  Land  Office  at  Edwardsvihe, 
at  that  time  one  of  the  principal  land  offices  in  the 
State.  While  acting  in  this  capacity  and  gaining 
many  friends  by  his  ixjliteness  and  general  intelli- 
gence, the  greatest  struggle  that  ever  occurred  in 
Illinois  on  the  slavery  question  culminated  in  the 
furious  contest  characterizing  the  campaigns  and 
elections  of  1822-4.  ^'i  the  summer  of  1823,  when  a 
new  Governor  was  to  be  elected  to  succeed  Mr. 
Bond,  the  pro-slavery  element  divided  into  factions, 
putting  forward  for  the  executive  office  Joseph 
Phillips,  Chief  Justice  of  the  State,  Thomas  C. 
IJrowne  and  Gen.  Junes  B.  Moore,  of  the  State  Mil- 
itia. The  anti-slavery  element  united  upon  Mr. 
Coles,  and,  after  one  of  the  most  bitter  campaigns, 
succeeded  in  electing  him  as  Governor.  His  i)lural- 
ity  over  Judge  PhiUips  was  only  59  in  a  total  vote  of 


over  8,000.  The  Lieutenant  Governor  was  elected 
by  the  slavery  men.  Mr.  Coles' inauguration  speech 
was  marked  by  calmness,  deliberation  and  such  a 
wise  expression  of  appropriate  suggestions  as  to 
elicit  the  sanction  of  all  judicious  politicians.  But 
he  compromised  not  with  evil.  In  his  message  to 
the  Legislature,  the  seat  of  Government  being  then 
at  Vandalia,  he  strongly  urged  the  abrogation  of  the 
modified  form  of  slavery  whi';h  then  existed  in  this 
State,  contrary  to  the  Ordinance  of  1787.  His  posi- 
tion on  this  subject  seems  the  more  remarkable,  when 
it  is  considered  that  he  was  a  minority  Governor,  the 
population  of  Illinois  being  at  that  lime  almost  ex- 
clusively from  slave-holding  States  and  by  a  large 
majority  in  favor  of  the  perpetuation  of  that  old  relic 
of  barbarism.  The  Legislature  itself  was,  of  course, 
a  reflex  of  the  popular  sentiment,  and  a  majority  of 
them  were  led  on  by  fiery  men  in  denunciations  of 
the  conscientious  Governor,  and  in  curses  loud  and 
deep  upon  him  and  all  his  friends.  Some  of  the 
public  men,  indeed,  went  so  far  as  to  head  a  sort  of 
mob,  or  "  shiveree  "  party,  who  visited  the  residence 
of  the  Governor  and  others  at  Vandalia  and  yelled 
and  groaned  and  spat  fire. 

The  Constitution,  not  establishing  or  permitting 
slavery  in  this  State,  was  thought  therefore  to  be 
defective  by  the  slavery  politicians,  and  they  desired 
a  State  Convention  to  be  elected,  to  devise  and  sub- 
mit a  new  Constitution;  and  the  dominant  politics 
of  the  day  was  "Convention"  and  "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both  parties  issued  addresses  to  the  people, 
Gov.  Coles  himself  being  the  author  of  the  address 
published  by  the  latter  party.  This  address  revealed 
the  schemes  of  the  conspirators  in  a  masterly  man- 
ner. It  is  difficult  for  us  at  this  distant  day  to  esti- 
mate the  critical  and  extremely  delicate  situation  in 
which  the  Governor  was  placed  at  that  time. 

Our  hero  maintained  himself  honorably  and  with 
supreme  dignity  throughout  his  administration,  and 
in  his  honor  a  county  in  this  State  is  named.  He 
was  truly  a  great  man,  and  tiiose  who  lived  in 
this  State  during  his  sojourn  here,  like  those  who 
live  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  were  too  near  to  see 
and  recognize  the  greatness  that  overshadowed  them. 

Mr.  Coles  was  married  Nov.  28,  1833,  by  Bishop 
De  Lancey,  to  Miss  Sally  Logan  Roberts,  a  daughter 
of  Hugh  Roberts,  a  descendant  of  Welsh  ancestry, 
who  cami  to  this  country  with  Wm.   Penn  in    1682. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service.  Gov. 
Coles  continued  his  residence  in  Edwardsville,  sup- 
erintending his  farm  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  fond 
of  agriculture,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  first  agri- 
cultural society  in  the  State.  On  account  of  ill 
health,  however,  and  having  no  family  to  tie  him 
down,  he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Eastern  cities. 
About  1832  he  changed  his  residence  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  died  July  7,  1S68,  and  is  buried  at 
Woodland,  near  that  city. 


'  O  <:y^-Ciyi^^^i<^ 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


^>  •  ^■• 


111,  1  a  11,  K  d w  a^f  d.K  • 


--.<^.<4#^^>.- 


INIAN  EDWARDS,  Govenioi- 
from  1827  to  1830,  was  a  son 
of  Benjamin    Edwards,  and 
was     born    in    Montgomery 
J  County,  Maryland,  in  March, 
r^  I77S-     His  domestic  train- 
■''*''       ing  was  well  fitted  to  give 
his    mind    strength,  firmness  and 
honorable    principles,    and  a  good 
foundation  was  laid  for  the  elevated 
character   to   which    he  afterwards 
attained.     His    parents   were  Bap- 
tists, and  very  strict  in  their  moral 
piinciples.     His  education  in  early 
youth  was  in  company   with    and 
partly  under  the  tuition  of  Hon.  \Vm . 
Wirt,  whom  his   father  patronized 
^^  and  who  was  more  than  two  years 

older.  An  intimacy  was  thus 
formed  between  them  which  was  lasting  for  life.  He 
was  farther  educated  at  Dickinson  College,  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.  He  ne.xt  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but 
before  completing  his  course  he  moved  to  Nelson 
County,  Ky.,  to  open  a  farm  for  his  father  and  to 
purchase  homes  and  locate  lands  for  his  brothers  and 
sisters.  Here  he  fell  in  the  company  of  dissolute 
companions,  and  for  several  years  led  the  life  of  a 
spendthrift.  He  was,  however,  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Kentucky  as  the  Representative  of  Nelson 
ilounty  before  he  was  2 1  years  of  age,  and  was  re- 
elected by  an  almost  unanimous  vote. 


^^*> 


In  1798  he  was  licensed  to  practice  law,  and  the 
following  year  was  admitted  to  the  Courts  of  Tennes- 
see. About  this  time  he  left  Nelson  County  for 
Russellville,  in  Logan  County,  broke  away  from  his 
dissolute  companions,  commenced  a  reformation  and 
devoted  himself  to  severe  and  laborious  study.  He 
then  began  to  rise  rapidly  in  his  profession,  and  soon 
became  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  inside  of  four  years 
he  filled  in  succession  the  offices  of  Presiding  Judge 
of  the  General  Court,  Circuit  Judge,  fourth  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  State, 
— all  before  he  was  32  years  of  age!  In  addition,  in 
1802,  he  received  a  commission  as  Major  of  a  battal- 
ion of  Kentucky  militia,  and  in  1804  was  chosen  a 
Presidential  Elector,  on  the  Jefferson  and  Clinton 
ticket.  In  1S06  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress, 
but  withdrew  on  being  promoted  to  the  Court  of 
Appeals. 

Illinois  was  organized  as  a  separate  Territory  in 
the  spring  of  1809,  when  Mr.  Edwards,  then  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  Kentucky,  received 
from  President  Madison  the  appointment  as  Gover- 
nor of  the  new  Territory,  his  commission  bearing  date 
April  24,  r8o9.  Edwards  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  in 
June,  and  on  the  i  itii  of  that  month  took  the  oath  of 
office.  At  the  same  time  he  was  appointed  Superior 
tendent  of  the  United  States  Saline,  this  Government 
interest  then  developing  into  considerable  proportions 
in  Southern  Illinois.  Although  during  the  first  three 
years  of  his  administration  he  had  the  power  to  make 
new  counties  and  appoint  all  the  officers,  yet  he  always 
allowed  the  people  of  each   county,  by  an   informal 


NINIAN  EDWARDS. 


vote,  to  select  their  own  officers,  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary. The  noted  John  J.  Crittenden,  afterward 
United  States  Senator  from  Kentucky,  was  appointed 
by  Gev.  Edwards  to  the  office  of  Attorney  General  of 
the  Territory,  which  office  was  accepted  for  a  short 
time  only. 

The  Indians  in  iSio  committing  sundry  depreda- 
tions in  the  Territory,  crossing  the  Mississippi  from 
the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  a  long  corresfxjndence  fol- 
lowed between  the  respective  Governors  concerning 
the  remedies,  which  ended  in  a  council  with  the  sav- 
ages at  Peoria  in  1S12,  and  a  fresh  interpretation  of 
ihe  treaties.  Peoria  was  depopulated  by  these  de- 
predations, and  was  not  re-settled  for  many  vears 
afterward. 

As  Gov.  Edwards'  term  of  office  expired  by  law  in 
1S12,  he  was  re-appointed  for  another  term  of  three 
years,  and  again  in  1815  for  a  third  term,  serving 
until  the  organization  of  the  State  in  the  fall  of  1818 
t.nd  the  inauguration  of  Gov.  Bond.  At  this  time 
ex-Gov.  Edwards  was  sent  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  his  colleague  being  Jesse  B.  Thomas.  As 
•senator,  Mr.  Edwards  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and 
acquitted  himself  honorably  in  all  the  measures  that 
came  up  in  that  body,  being  well  posted,  an  able  de- 
bater and  a  conscientious  statesman.  He  thought 
seriously  of  resigning  this  situation  in  182 1,  but  was 
persuaded  by  his  old  friend,  Wm.  Wirt,  and  others  to 
continue  in  office,  which  he  did  to  the  end  of  the 
term. 

He  was  then  appointed  Minister  to  Mexico  by 
President  Monroe.  About  this  time,  it  appears  that 
Mr.  Edwards  saw  suspicious  signs  in  the  conduct  of 
\Vm.  H.  Crawford,  Secretary  of  the  United  States 
Treasury,  and  an  ambitious  candidate  for  the  Presi- 
dency, and  being  implicated  by  the  latter  in  some  of 
his  statements,  he  resigned  his  Mexican  mission  in 
order  fully  to  investigate  the  charges.  The  result 
was  the  exculpation  of  Mr.  Edwards. 

Pro-slavery  regulations,  often  termed  "Black  Laws," 
cisgraced  the  statute  books  of  both  the  Territory  and 
he  State  of  Illinois  during  the  whole  of  his  career  in 
.his  commonwealth,  and  Mr.  Edwards  always  main- 
tained the  doctrines  of  freedom,  and  was  an  important 
;xtor  in  the  great  struggle  which  ended  in  a  victory 
for  his  party  in  1824. 

In  18267  the  Winnebago  and  other  Indians  com- 
mitted sou-e  depredations  in  the  northern  part  of  the 


State,  and  the  white  settlers,  who  desired  the  land=: 
and  wished  to  exasperate  the  savages  into  an  evacu- 
ation of  the  country,  magnified  the  misdemeanors  of 
the  aborigines  and  thereby  produced  a  hostility  be- 
tween the  races  so  great  as  to  precipitate  a  little  war, 
known  in  history  as  the  "Winnebago  War."  A  few 
chases  and  skirmishes  were  had,  when  Gen.  Atkinson 
succeeded  in  capturing  Red  Bird,  the  Indian  chief, 
and  putting  him  to  death,  thus  ending  the  contest,  at 
least  until  the  troubles  commenced  which  ended  in 
the  "  Black  Hawk  War  "  of  1832.  In  the  interpre- 
tation of  treaties  and  execution  of  their  provisions 
Gov.  Edwards  had  much  vexatious  work  to  do.  The 
Indians  kept  themselves  generally  within  the  juris- 
diction of  Michigan  Territory,  and  its  Governor, 
Lewis  Cass,  was  at  a  point  so  remote  that  ready  cor- 
respondence with  him  was  difficult  or  impossible. 
Gov.  Edwards'  administration,  however,  in  regard  to 
the  protection  of  the  Illinois  frontier,  seems  to  have 
been  very  efficient  and  satisfactory. 

For  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  after  his  re- 
moval to  Illinois,  Gov.  Edwards  resided  upon  his 
farm  near  Kaskaskia,  which  he  had  well  stocked  with 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep  from  Kentucky,  also  with 
fruit-trees,  grape-vines  and  shrubbery.  He  estab- 
lished saw  and  grist-mills,  and  engaged  extensively 
in  mercantile  business,  having  no  less  than  eight  or  ten 
stores  in  this  State  and  Missouri.  Notwithstanding 
the  arduous  duties  of  his  office,  he  nearly  always  pur- 
chased the  goods  himself  with  which  to  supply  the 
stores.  Although  not  a  regular  practitioner  of  medi- 
cine, he  studied  the  healing  art  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  took  great  pleasure  in  prescribing  for,  and 
taking  care  of,  the  sick,  generally  without  charge. 
He  w.is  also  liberal  to  the  poor,  several  widows  and 
ministers  of  the  gospel  becoming  indebted  to  hmi 
even  for  their  homes. 

He  married  Miss  Elvira  Lane,  of  Maryland,  in 
1803,  and  they  became  the  affectionate  parents  of 
several  children,  one  of  whom,  especially,  is  weli' 
known  to  the  people  of  the  "  Prairie  State,"  namely, 
Ninian  Wirt  Edwards,  once  the  Superintendent  c' 
Public  Instruction  and  still  a  resident  of  Springfield 
Gov.  Edwards  resided  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Kas- 
kaskia from  1809  to  1S18;  in  Edwardsville  (named 
after  him)  from  that  time  to  1824;  and  fro;n  the  lat- 
ter date  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  County,  until  his 
death,  July  20,  1833,  of  Asiatic  ciiolera.  Edwards 
County  is  also  named  in  his  honor. 


GO  VERNGRS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


OHN  REYNOLDS, Governor  1831- 
l  ^  4,  was  born  in  Montgomery  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  Feb.  26,  1788. 
His  father,  Robert  Reynolds  and 
his  mother,  nee  Margaret  Moore, 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  from 
which  country  they  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1785,  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia.  The  senior 
Reynolds  entertained  an  undying 
hostility  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment. When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  about  six  months  old, 
his  parents  emigrated  with  him  to 
Tennessee,  where  many  of  their 
relatives  had  already  located,  at  the  base  of  the 
Copper  Ridge  Mountain,  about  14  miles  northeast  of 
the  present  city  of  Knoxville.  There  they  were  ex- 
Dosed  to  Indian  depredations,  and  were  much  molest- 
ed by  them.  In  1794  they  moved  into  the  interior 
of  the  State.  They  were  poor,  and  brought  up  their 
children  to  habits  of  manual  industry. 

In  1800  the  family  removed  to  Kaskaskia,  111.,  with 
eight  horses  and  two  wagons,  encountering  many 
'  Hardships  on  the  way.  Here  young  Reynolds  passed 
the  most  of  his  childhood,  while  his  character  began 
to  develop,  the  most  prominent  traits  of  which  were 
ambition  and  energy.  He  also  adopted  the  principle 
and  practice  of  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating 
liquors.     In  1807  the  family  made  another  removal, 


this  time  to  the  "  Goshen  Settlement,"  at  the  foot  of 
the  Mississippi  bluffs  three  or  four  miles  southwest 
of  Edwardsville. 

On  arriving  at  his  20th  year,  Mr.  Reynolds,  seeing 
that  he  must  look  about  for  his  own  livelihood  and 
not  yet  having  determined  what  calling  to  pursue, 
concluded  first  to  attend  college,  and  he  accordingly 
went  to  such  an  institution  of  learning,  near  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  where  he  had  relatives.  Imagine  his 
diffidence,  when,  after  passing  the  first  20  years  of 
his  life  without  ever  having  seen  a  carpet,  a  papered 
wall  or  a  Windsor  chair,  and  never  having  lived  in  a 
shingle-roofed  house,  he  suddenly  ushered  himself 
into  the  society  of  the  wealthy  in  the  vicinity  of 
Knoxville !  He  attended  college  nearly  two  years, 
going  through  the  principal  Latin  authors;  but  it 
seems  that  he,  like  the  rest  of  the  world  in  modern 
times,  had  but  very  little  use  for  his  Latin  in  after 
life.  He  always  failed,  indeed,  to  exhibit  any  good 
degree  of  literary  discipline.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  Knoxville,  but  a  pulmonary  trouble 
came  on  and  compelled  him  to  change  his  mode 
of  life.  Accordinjjly  he  returned  home  and  re- 
cuperated, and  in  1812  resumed  his  college  and 
law  studies  at  Knoxville.  In  the  fall  of  1812  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Kaskaskia.  About  this  time 
he  also  learned  the  French  language,  which  he 
practiced  with  pleasure  in  conversation  with  his 
family  for  many  years.  He  regarded  this  language 
as  being  superior  to  all  others  for  social   intercourse 


124 


JOHN  REYNOLDS. 


From  his  services  in  the  West,  in  the  war  oi  1812, 
he  obtained  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Old  Ranger."  He 
was  Orderly  Sergeant,  then  Judge  Advocate. 

Mr.  Reynolds  opened  his  first  law  office  in  the 
winter  and  spring  of  1814,  in  the  French  village  of 
Cahokia,  then  the  capital  of  St.  Clair  County. 

In  the  fall  of  181S  he  was  elected  an  Associate 
Justice  upon  the  Supreme  Bench  by  the  General 
Assembly.  In  1825  he  entered  more  earnestly  than 
ever  into  the  practice  of  law,  and  the  very  next  year 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  where  he 
acted  independently  of  all  cliques  and  private  inter- 
ests. In  1828  the  Whigs  and  Democrats  were  for 
the  first  time  distinctively  organized  as  such  in  Illi- 
nois, and  the  usual  party  bitterness  grew  up  and 
raged  on  all  sides,  while  Mr.  Reynolds  preserved  a 
iudicial  calmness  and  moderation.  The  real  animus 
if  the  campaign  was  "  Jackson  "  and  "  anti-Jackson," 
'he  former  party  carrying  the  State. 

In  August,  1830,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  elected  Gov- 
ernor, amid  great  e.xcitement.  Installed  in  office,  he 
did  all  within  his  power  to  advance  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, internal  improvements,  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal,  the  harbor  at  Chicago,  settling  the  coun- 
try, etc.;  also  reccmmended  the  winding  up  of  the 
State  Bank,  as  its  affairs  had  become  dangerously 
complicated.  In  his  national  politics,  he  was  a 
moderate  supporter  of  General  Jackson.  But  the 
most  celebrated  event  of  his  gubernatcrial  admin- 
istration was  the  Black  Hawk  War,  which  occurred 
in  1832.  He  called  out  the  militia  and  prosecuted 
the  contest  with  commendable  diligence,  appearing 
in  ijerson  on  the  battle-grounds  during  the  most 
critical  periods.  He  was  recognized  by  the  President 
as  Major-General,  and  authorized  by  him  to  make 
treaties  with  the  Indians.  By  the  assistance  of  the 
genf.ral  Government  the  war  was  terminated  witliout 
much  bloodshed,  but  after  many  serious  fights.  This 
war,  as  well  as  everything  else,  was  materially  re- 
tarded by  the  occurrence  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  the 
West.  This  was  its  first  appearance  here,  and  was 
the  next  event  in  prominence  during  Gov.  Reynolds' 
term. 

South  Carolina  nullification  corning  up  at  this  time, 
t  was  heartily  condemned  by  both  President  Jackson 
^.nd  Gov.  Reynolds,  who  took  precisely  the  same 
grounds  as  the  Unionists  in  the  last  war. 

On  the  termination  of  his  gubernatorial  term  in 
.834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress, still  coi:sidering  himself  a  backwoodsman,  as 
'  e  had  scarcely  been  outside  of  the  Slate  since  he 
became  of  age,  and  had  spent  nearly  all  his  youthful 
iays  in  the  wildest  region  of  the  frontier.  His  first 
move  in  Congress  was  to  adopt  a  resolution  that  in 
all  elections  made  by  the  House  for  officers  the  votes 
should  be  given  viva  voce,  each  member  in  his  place 
naming  aloud  the  person  for  whom  he  votes.  This 
created  considerable  heated  discussion,  but  was  es- 


sentially adopted,  and  remained  the  controlling  prin- 
ciple for  many  years.  The  ex-Governor  was  scarcely 
absent  from  his  seat  a  single  day,  during  eight  ses- 
sions of  Congress,  covering  a  period  of  seven  year-., 
and  he  never  vacillated  in  a  party  vote;  but  he  failed 
to  get  the  Democratic  party  to  foster  his  "  National 
Road"  scheme.  He  says,  in  "My  Own  Times"  (a 
large  autobiography  he  published),  that  it  was  only 
by  rigid  economy  that  he  avoided  insolvency  while  in 
Washington.  During  his  sojourn  in  that  city  he  was 
married,  to  a  lidy  of  the  place. 

In  1837,  while  out  of  Congress,  and  in  company 
with  a  few  others,  he  built  the  first  railroad  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  namely,  one  about  six  miles  long, 
leading  from  his  coal  mine  in  the  Mississippi  bluft'to 
the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  St.  Louis.  Having  not 
the  means  to  purchase  a  locomotive,  they  operated  it 
by  horse-power.  The  next  spring,  however,  the  com- 
pany sold  out,  at  great  sacrifice. 

In  1839  the  ex-Governor  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Canal  Commissioners,  and  authorized  to  borrow 
money  to  prosecute  the  enterprise.  Accord'ngly,  he 
repaired  to  Philadelphia  and  succeeding  in  obtaining 
a  million  dollars,  which,  however,  was  only  a  fourth 
of  what  was  wanted.  The  same  year  he  and  his 
wife  made  at  our  of  Europe.  This  year,  also,  ^Ir. 
Reynolds  had  the  rather  awkward  little  responsibility 
of  introducing  to  President  Van  Buren  the  noted 
Mormon  Prophet,  Joseph  Smith,  as  a  "  Latter-Day 
Saint !  " 

In  1846  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  St.  Clair  County,  more  particu- 
larly for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  feasible  charter 
for  a  macadamized  road  from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis, 
a  distance  of  nearly  14  miles.  This  was  immediately 
built,  and  was  the  first  road  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 
He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1852,  when 
he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House.  In  i86o,  aged 
and  infirm,  he  attended  the  National  Democratic 
Convention  at  Chadeston,  S.  C,  as  an  anti-Douglas 
Delegate,  where  he  received  more  attention  from  the 
Southern  Delegates  than  any  other  member.  He 
supiwrted  Breckenridge  for  the  Presidency.  After 
the  October  elections  foreshadowed  the  success  of 
Lincoln,  he  published  an  address  urging  the  Demo- 
crats to  rally  to  the  support  of  Douglas.  Immedi- 
ately preceding  and  during  the  late  war,  his  corre- 
spondence evinced  a  clear  sympathy  for  the  Southern 
secession,  and  about  the  first  of  March,  i86r,  he 
urged  upon  the  Buchanan  officials  tlie  seizure  of  the 
treasure  and  arms  in  the  custom-house  and  arsenal 
at  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  a  rather  talkative 
man,  and  apt  in  all  the  Western  phrases  and  catch- 
words that  ever  gained  currency,  besides  many  cun- 
ning and  odd  ones  of  his  own  manufacture. 

He  was  married  twice,  but  had  no  children.  He 
died  in  Belleville,  in  May,  1865,  just  after  the  close 
of  the  war. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


127 


/;w~tT''^^^^^ I LLI AM  LEE  D.  EWING, 
("^  Governor  of  Illinois  Nov.  3 
":  to  17,  1834,  was  a  native 
uf  Kentucky,  and  probably 
of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  had 
a  fine  education,  was  a  gentle- 
man of  polished  manners  and 
refined  sentiment.  In  1830  John  Rey- 
nolds was  elected  Governor  of  the  State, 
and  Zadok  Casey  Lieutenant  Governor, 
and  for  the  principal  events  that  followed, 
and  the  characteristics  of  the  times,  see 
sketch  of  Gov.  Reynolds.  The  first  we 
see  in  history  concerning  Mr.  Ewing,  in- 
forms us  that  he  was  a  Receiver  of  Pul)lic 
Moneys  at  Vandalia  soon  after  the  organization  of 
tftib  State,  and  that  the  public  moneys  in  his  hands 
v.-ere  deposited  in  various  banks,  as  they  are  usually 
.'•'•thv  ^Tesent  day.  In  1823  the  State  Bank  was 
obbed,  by  which  disaster  Mr.  Ewing  lost  a  thousand- 
dollar  deposit. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  a  commission  as 
(olonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  in  emergencies 
he  acted  also  as  Major.  In  the  summer  of  1832, 
'■"/hen  '.-was  rumored  among  the  whites  that  Black 
Hawk  and  his  men  had  encamped  somewhere  on 
Rock  Rive;-,  Gen.  Henry  was  sent  on  a  tour  of 
reconnoisance,  and  with  orders  to  drive  the  Indians 
from  the  State.  After  some  opposition  from  his 
rubordinate  officers,  Henry  resolved  to  proceed  up 
Rock  River  in  search  of  the  enemy.  On  the  19th  of 
July,   early  in  the    morning,    five   baggage    wagons. 


-»  ■?■<- 


camp  equipage  and  all  heavy  and  cumbersome  arti- 
cles were  piled  up  and  left,  so  that  the  army  migh; 
make  speedy  and  forced  marches.  For  some  miles 
the  travel  was  exceedingly  bad,  crossing  swamjis 
and  the  worst  thickets;  but  the  large,  fresh  trail 
give  life  and  animation  to  the  Americans.  Gen. 
Dodge  and  Col.  Ewing  were  both  actmg  as  Majors, 
and  composed  the  "  spy  corps  "  or  vanguard  of  the 
army.  It  is  supposed  the  army  marched  nearly  50 
miles  this  day,  and  the  Indian  trail  they  followed 
became  fresher,  and  was  strewed  with  much  property 
and  trinkets  of  the  red-skins  that  they  had  lost  or 
thrown  away  to  hasten  their  march.  During  the 
following  night  there  was  a  terrific  thunder-storm,  and 
the  soldiery,  with  all  their  appurtenances,  were  thor- 
oughly drenched. 

On  approaching  nearer  the  Indians  the  next  day. 
Gen.  Dodge  and  Major  Ewing,  each  commanding  a 
battalion  of  men,  were  placed  in  front  to  bring  on  the 
l)attle,  but  the  savages  were  not  overtaken  this  day 
Forced  marches  were  continued  until  they  reached. 
Wisconsin  River,  where  a  veritable  battle  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  about  68  of  Black  Hawk's 
men.  The  next  day  they  continued  the  chase,  and 
as  soon  as  he  discovered  the  trail  of  the  Indians 
leading  toward  the  Mississippi,  Maj.  Ewing  formed 
liis  battalion  in  order  of  battle  and  awaited  the  order 
of  Gen.  Henry.  The  latter  soon  appeared  on  the 
ground  and  ordered  a  charge,  which  directly  resulted 
in  chasing  the  red  warriors  across  the  great  riven 
Maj,  Ewing  and  his  command  proved  particularly 
efficient  in  war,  as  it  seems  they  were  the  chief  actors 
in  driving  the  main  body  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  in- 


128 


WILLIAM  L.  D.  EWING. 


eluding  Black  Hawk  himself,  across  the  Mississippi, 
while  Gen.  Atkinson,  commander-in-chief  of  the  ex- 
pedition, with  a  body  of  the  army,  was  hunting  for 
them  in  another  direction. 

In  the  above  affair  Maj.  Ewmg  is  often  referred  to 
as  a  "General,"  wh.ich  title  he  had  derived  from  his 
connection  with  the  militia. 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  (1832) 
that  Lieutenant  Governor  Casey  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress and  Gen.  Ewing,  who  had  been  elected  to  the 
Senate,  was  cliosen  to  preside  over  that  body.  At 
the  August  election  of  1S34,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  also 
elected  to  Congress,  more  than  a  year  ahead  of  the 
time  at  which  he  could  actually  take  his  seat,  as  was 
then  the  law.  His  predecessor,  Charles  Slade,  had 
just  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  soon  after  the  elec- 
tion, and  Gov.  Reynolds  was  chosen  to  serve  out  his 
unexpired  term.  Accordingly  he  set  out  for  Wash- 
ington in  November  of  that  year  to  take  his  seat  in 
Congress,  and  Gen.  Ewing,  by  virtue  of  his  office  as 
President  of  the  Senate,  became  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  his  term  covering  only  a  period  of 
15  days,  namely,  from  the  3d  to  the  17th  days,  in- 
clusive, of  November.  On  the  17th  the  Legislature 
met,  and  Gov.  Ewing  transmitted  to  that  body  his 
message,  giving  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the 
affairs  of  the  State  at  that  time,  and  urging  a  contin- 
uance of  the  policy  adopted  by  his  predecessor;  and 
on  the  same  day  Governor  elect  Joseph  Duncan 
was  sworn  into  office,  thus  relieving  Mr.  Ewing  from 


the  responsible  situation.  This  is  the  only  time  that 
such  a  juncture  has  happened  in  the  history  of  Illi- 
nois. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1835,  Gen.  Ewing  was 
elected  a  United  States  Senator  to  serve  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  Elias  Kent  Kane,  deceased.  The 
latter  gentleman  was  a  very  prominent  figure  in  the 
eariy  politics  of  Illinois,  and  a  county  in  this  State  is 
named  in  his  honor.  The  election  of  Gen.  Ewing  to 
the  Senate  was  a  protracted  struggle.  His  competi- 
tors were  James  Semple,  who  afterwards  held  several 
important  offices  in  this  State,  and  Richard  M. 
Young,  afterward  a  United  States  Senator  and  a 
Supreme  Judge  and  a  man  of  vast  influence.  On 
the  first  ballot  Mr.  Semple  had  25  votes.  Young  19 
and  Ewing  18.  On  the  eighth  ballot  Young  was 
dropped  ;  the  ninth  and  tenth  stood  a  tie  ;  but  on 
the  1 2th  Ewing  received  40,  to  Semple  37,  and  was 
accordingly  declared  elected.  In  1837  Mr.  Ewing 
received  some  votes  for  a  continuance  of  his  term  in 
Congress,  when  Mr.  Young,  just  referred  to,  was 
elected.  In  1842  Mr.  Ewing  was  elected  State 
Audit-^r  on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Ford. 

Gen.  Ewing  was  a  gentleman  of  culture,  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  and  was  much  in  public  life.  In  person 
he  was  above  medium  height  and  of  heavy  build, 
with  auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  large-sized  head  and 
short  face.  He  was  genial,  social,  friendly  and 
affable,  with  fair  talent,  though  of  no  high  degree  of 
originality.    He  died  March  25,  1846. 


> 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


«3« 


s^^^^^s^m^Sk 


<^i,(li  -v£j2££;©^«irw5.o  '^«<tDiifi^|gtrH 


OSEPH  DUNCAN,  Governor 
1834-8,  was  born  at  Paris, 
Ky.,  Feb.  23,  1794.  At  the 
tender  age  of  19  years  he  en- 
listed in  the  war  against  Great 
Britain,  and  as  a  soldier  he 
acquitted  himself  with  credit.  He 
was  an  Ensign  under  the  daunt- 
less Croghan  at  Lower  Sanduhky, 
or  Fort  Stephenson.  In  Illinois 
he  first  appeared  in  a  public  capa- 
city as  Major-Geneval  of  the  ]\Iilitia, 
position  which  his  military  fame 
had  procured  him.  Subsequently 
he  became  a  State  Senator  from 
Jackson  County,  and  is  honorably 
mentioned  for  introducing  the  first  bill  providing  for 
a  free-school  system.  In  1826,  when  the  redoubt- 
able John  P.  Cook,  who  had  previously  beaten  such 
men  as  John  McLean,  Elias  Kent  Kane  and  ex- 
Gov.  Bond,  came  up  for  the  fourth  time  for  Congress, 
Mr.  Duncan  was  brought  forward  against  him  by  his 
friends,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  politicians. 
As  yet  he  was  but  little  known  in  the  State.  He  was 
an  original  Jackson  man  at  that  time,  being  attached 
to  his  political  fortune  in  admiration  of  the  glory  of 
his  militaty  achievements.  His  chances  of  success 
against  Cook  were  generally  regarded  as  hopeless, 
but  he  entered  upon  the  campaign  undaunted.  His 
speeches,  though  short  and  devoid  of  ornament,  were 
full  of  good  sense.  He  made  a  diligent  canvass  of 
the  State,  Mr.  Cook  being  hindered  by  the  condition  of 
his  health.  The  most  that  was  expected  of  Mr. 
Duncan,  under  the  circumstances,  was  that  he  would 


obtain  a  respectable  vote,  but  without  defeating  Mr, 
Cook.  The  result  of  the  campaign,  however,  was  a 
source  of  surprise  and  amazement  to  both  friends 
and  foes,  as  Mr.  Duncan  came  out  641  votes  ahead! 
He  received  6,321  votes,  and  Mr.  Cook  5,680.  Un- 
til this  denotiemcnt,  the  violence  of  party  feeling 
smoldering  in  the  breasts  of  the  people  on  account 
of  the  defeat  of  Jackson,  was  not  duly  appreciated. 
Aside  from  the  great  convention  struggle  of  1824,  no 
other  than  mere  local  and  pergonal  considerations 
had  ever  before  controlled  an  election  in  Illinois. 

From  the  above  date  Mr.  Duncan  retained  his 
seat  in  Congress  until  his  election  as  Governor  in 
.August,  1834.  The  first  and  bloodless  year  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds to  the  position  of  Brigadier-General  of  the 
volunteers,  and  he  conducted  his  brigade  to  Rock 
Island.  But  he  was  absent  from  the  State,  in  Wash- 
ington, during  the  gubernatorial  campaign,  and  did 
not  personally  participate  in  it,  but  addressed  circu- 
lars to  his  constituents.  His  election  was,  indeed, 
attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  his  absence,  be- 
cause his  estrangement  from  Jackson,  formerly  his 
political  idol,  and  also  from  the  Democracy,  largely 
in  ascendency  in  the  State,  was  complete ;  but  while 
his  defection  was  well  known  to  his  Whig  friends, 
and  even  to  the  leading  Jackson  men  of  this  State, 
the  latter  were  unable  to  carry  conviction  of  that  fact 
to  the  masses,  as  mail  and  newspaper  facilities  at 
that  day  were  far  inferior  to  those  of  the  present 
time.  Of  course  the  Governor  was  much  abused 
afterward  by  the  fossilized  Jackson  men  who  re- 
garded party  ties  and  affiliations  as  above  all 
other  issues  that  could  arise;  but  he  was  doubtless 


132 


JOSEPH  DUNCAN. 


Eincere  in  his  opposition  to  the  old  hero,  as  the  latter 
iiad  vetoed  several  important  western  measures 
which  were  dear  to  Mr.  Duncan.  In  his  inaugural 
message  he  threw  off  the  mask  and  took  a  bold  stand 
rgain St  the  course  of  the  President.  The  measures 
'.e  recommended  in  his  message,  however,  were  so 
desirable  that  the  Legislature,  although  by  a  large 
majority  consisting  of  Jackson  men,  could  not  refrain 
from  endorsing  them.  These  measures  related 
ruainly  to  banks  and  internal  improvements. 

It  was  while  Mr.  Duncan  was  Governor  that  the 
people  of  Illinois  went  whirling  on  with  bank  and  in- 
ternal improvement  schemes  that  well  nigh  bank- 
nipted  the  State.  The  hard  times  of  1837  came  on, 
and  the  disasters  that  attended  the  inauguration  of 
diese  plans  and  the  operation  of  the  banks  were  mu- 
tually charged  upon  the  two  political  parties.  Had 
any  cr-e  man  autocratic  power  to  introduce  and 
carry  on  any  one  of  these  measures,  he  would  proba- 
bly have  succeeded  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public ; 
r.ut  as  many  jealous  men  had  hold  of  the  same  plow 
nandle,  no  success  followed  and  each  blamed  the  other 
for  the  failure.  In  this  great  vortex  Gov.  Duncan 
was  carried  along,  suffering  the  like  derogation  of 
character  with  his  fellow  citizens. 

At  the  height  of  the  excitement  the  Legislature 
"  provided  for  "  railroads  from  Galena  to  Cairo,  Alton 
to  Shawneetown,  Alton  to  Mount  Carmel,  Alton  to  tlie 
eastern  boundary  of  the  State  in  the  direction  of 
Terre  Haute,  Quincy  via  Springfield  to  the  Wabasli, 
Bloon-.ington  to  Pekin,  and  Peoria  to  Warsaw, — in  all 
about  r, 300  miles  of  road.  It  also  provided  for  the 
improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Kaskaskia. 
Illinois,  Great  and  Little  Wabash  and  Rock  Rivers  ; 
also  as  a  placebo,  $200,000  in  money  were  to  be  dis- 
tributed to  the  various  counties  wherein  no  improve- 
ments were  ordered  .  to  be  made  as  above.  The 
estimate  for  the  expenses  for  all  these  projects  was 
;laced  at  a  little  over  $10,000,000,  which  was  not 
more  inan  half  enough!  That  would  now  be  equal  to 
saddling  upon  the  State  a  debt  of  $225,000,000!  It 
was  sufficient  to  bankrupt  the  State  several  times 
over,   even  counting  all  the  possible  benefits. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  events  that  ever  occurred 
ba.  this  fair  State  was  the  murder  of  Elijah  P.  Love- 
ioy  in  the  fall  of  r837,  at  Alton,  during  Mr.  Duncan's 
term  as  Governor.  Lovejoy  was  an  "  Abolitionist," 
editing  the  Observer  at  that  place,  and  the  pro- 
slavery  slums  there  formed  themselves  into  a  mob, 


and  after  destroying  successively  three  presses  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Lovejoy,  surrounded  the  warehouse 
where  the  fourth  press  was  stored  away,  endeavoring 
to  destroy  it,  and  where  Lovejoy  and  his  friends 
were  entrenching  thernselves,  and  shot  and  killed  the 
brave  reformer! 

About  this  time,  also,  the  question  of  removing  the 
State  capital  again  came  up,  as  the  20  years'  limit  for 
its  existence  at  Vandalia  was  drawing  to  a  close. 
There  was,  of  course,  considerable  excitement  over 
the  matter,  the  two  main  points  competing  for  it  be- 
ing Springfield  and  Peoria.  The  jealousy  of  the  lat- 
ter place  is  not  even  yet,  45  years  afterward,  fully 
allayed. 

Gov.  Duncan's  term  expired  in  1838.  In  1842 
he  was  again  proposed  as  a  candidate  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  this  time  by  the  Whig  party,  against  Adam 
W.  Snyder,  of  St.  Clair  County,  the  nominee  of  the 
Democrats.  Charles  W.  Hunter  was  a  third  candi- 
date for  the  same  position.  Mr.  Snyder,  however,  died 
before  the  campaign  had  advanced  very  far,  and  his 
party  substituted  Thomas  Ford,  who  was  elected, 
receiving  46,9or  votes,  to  38,584  for  Duncan,  and 
909  for  Hunter.  The  cause  of  Democratic  success 
at  this  time  is  mainly  attributed  to  the  temporary 
support  of  the  Mormons  which  they  enjoyed,  and  the 
want  of  any  knowledge,  on  the  part  of  the  masses, 
that  Mr.  Ford  was  opposed  to  any  given  [xjlicy  en- 
tertained in  the  respective  localities. 

Gov.  Duncan  was  a  man  of  rather  limited  educa- 
tion, but  with  naturally  fine  abilities  he  profited 
greatly  by  his  various  public  services,  and  gathered 
a  store  of  knowledge  regarding  public  affairs  which 
served  him  a  ready  purpose.  He  possessed  a  clear 
judgment,  decision,  confidence  in  himself  and  moral 
courage  to  carry  out  his  convictions  of  light.  In  his 
deportment  he  was  well  adapted  to  gain  the  admira- 
tion of  the  people.  His  intercourse  with  them  was 
both  affable  and  dignified.  His  portrait  at  the  Gov- 
ernor's mansion,  from  which  the  accompanying  was 
made,  represents  him  as  having  a  swarthy  complex- 
ion, high  cheek  bones,  broad  forehead,  piercing  black 
eyes  and  straight  black  hair. 

He  was  a  liberal  patron  of  the  Illinois  College  at 
Jacksonville,  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
died,  after  a  short  illness,  Jan.  15,  1S44,  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Ciiurch,  leaving  a  wife 
but  no  children.  Two  children,  born  to  them,  had 
died  in  infancy. 


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GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


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^nHOMAS  CARLIN,  the  sixth 
^  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  serving  from  1S38 
to  1S42,  was  also  a  Ken- 
tuckian,  being  born  near 
Frankfort,  that  State,  July 
iS,  1789,  of  Irish  paternity. 
The  opportunities  for  an  education 
being  very  meager  in  his  native 
place,  he,  on  approaching  years  of 
judgment  and  maturity,  applied 
himself  to  those  branches  of  learn- 
ing that  seemed  most  important, 
and  thus  became  a  self-made  man  ; 
and  his  taste  for  reading  and 
study  remained  with  hini  through 
In  1803  his  father  removed 
10  Missouri,  then  a  part  of  "  New  Spain,"  where  he 
died  in  iSio. 

In  18 1 2  young  Carlin  came  to  Illinois  and 'partici- 
pated in  all  the  "ranging"  service  incident  to  the 
war  of  that  period,  proving  himself  a  soldier  of  un- 
daunted bravery.  In  1814  he  married  Rebecca 
Huitt,  and  lived  for  four  years  on  the  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
souri, where  he  followed  farming,  and  then  removed 
to  Greene  County.  He  located  the  town  site  of  Car- 
n>'tor.,in  that  county,  and  in  1825  made  a  liberal 
donation  of  land  for  county  building  purposes.  He 
was  the  first  Sherifif  of  that  county  after  its  separate 
organization,  and  afterward  was  twice  elected,  as  a 
Jackson  Democrat,  to  the  Illinois  Senate.  In  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  commanded  a  spy  battalion,  a 
post  of  considerable  danger.  In  1834  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Jackson  to  the  position  of 
Receiver  of  Public  Moneys,  and  to  fulfill   the  office 


more  conveniently  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Quincy. 

While,  in  1838,  the  unwieldy  internal  improvement 
system  of  the  State  was  in  full  operation,  with  all  its 
expensive  machinery,  amidst  bank  suspensions 
throughout  the  United  States,  a  great  stringency  in 
the  money  market  everywhere,  and  Illinois  bonds 
forced  to  sale  at  a  heavy  discount,  and  the  "  hardest 
times  "existing  that  the  people  of  the  Prairie  State 
ever  saw,  the  general  election  of  Stale  officers  was 
approaching.  Discreet  men  who  had  cherished  the 
hope  of  a  speedy  subsidence  of  the  public  infatua- 
tion, met  with  disappointment.  A  Governor  and 
Legislature  were  to  be  elected,  and  these  were  now 
looked  forward  to  for  a  repeal  of  the  ruinous  Stale 
policy.  But  the  grand  scheme  had  not  yet  lost  its 
dazzling  influence  upon  the  minds  of  the  people. 
Time  and  experience  had  not  yet  fully  demonstrated 
its  alter  absurdity.  Hence  the  question  of  arresting 
its  career  of  profligate  expenditures  did  not  become 
a  leading  one  with  the  dominant  party  during  the 
camp.iign,  and  most  of  the  old  members  of  the  Leg- 
islature were  returned  at  this  election. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  Democrats,  in  State 
Convention  assembled,  nominated  Mr.  Carlin  for  the 
office  of  Governor,  and  S.  H.  Anderson  for  Lieuten- 
ant Governor,  while  the  Whigs  nominated  Cyrus  Ed- 
wards, brother  of  Ninian  Edwards,  formeriy  Governor, 
and  W.  H.  Davidson.  Edwards  came  out  strongly 
for  a  continuance  of  the  State  policy,  while  Carli; 
remained  non-committal.  This  was  the  first  tunc 
that  the  two  main  [wliiical  parties  in  this  Slate  were 
unembarrassed  by  any  third  party  in  ihe  field.  The 
result  of  the  election  was:  Carlin,  35,573 ;  Ander- 
son, 30,335  ;  Edwards,  29,629  ;  and  Davidson,  28,- 

7I.S- 

Upon  the  meeting  of  the  subsequent  Legislature 
(1839),  the  retiring  Governor  CDuncan)  in    his  mcs- 


t36 


THOMAS  CARLTN. 


sage  spoke  in  emphatic  terms  of  the  impolicy  of  the 
internal  improvement  system,  presaging  the  evils 
threatened,  and  uiged  that  body  to  do  their  utmost 
to  correct  the  great  error ;  yet,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Legislature  not  only  decided  to  continue  the  policy 
but  also  added  to  its  burden  by  voting  more  appro- 
priations and  ordering  more  improvements.  Although 
the  money  market  was  still  stringent,  a  further  loan 
of  $4,000,000  was  ordered  for  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal  alone.  Cn'cago  at  that  time  began  to 
loom  up  and  promise  to  be  an  important  city,  even 
the  great  emporium  of  the  West,  as  it  has  since  in- 
deed came  to  be.  Ex-Gov.  Reynolds,  an  incompe- 
tent financier,  was  commissioned  to  effect  the  loan, 
and  accordingly  hastened  to  the  East  on  this  respons- 
ible errand,  and  negotiated  the  loans,  at  considera- 
ble sacrifice  to  the  State.  Besides  this  embarrassment 
to  Carlin's  administration,  the  Legislature  also  de- 
clared that  he  had  no  authority  to  appoint  a  Secretary 
of  State  until  a  vacancy  existed,  and  A.  P.  Field,  a 
Whig,  who  had  already  held  the  post  by  appointment 
through  three  administrations,  was  determined  to 
keep  the  place  a  while  longer,  in  spite  of  Gov.  Car- 
lin's preferences.  The  course  of  the  Legislature  in 
this  regard,  however,  was  finally  sustained  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  in  a  quo  warranto  case  brought  up 
before  it  by  John  A.  McClernand,  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor had  nominated  for  the  office.  Thereupon  that 
dignified  body  was  denounced  as  a  "Whig  Court!" 
endeavoring  to  establish  the  principle  of  life-tenure 
of  office. 

A  new  law  was  adopted  re-organizing  the  Judici- 
ary, and  under  it  five  additional  Supreme  Judges 
were  elected  by  the  Legislature,  namely,  Thomas 
Ford  (afterward  Governor),  Sidney  Breese,  Walter  B. 
Scates,  Samuel  H.  Treat  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas — 
all  Democrats. 

It  was  daring  Cov.  Carlin's  administration  that  the 
noisy  campaign  of  '"Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too  "  oc- 
curred, resulting  in  a  Whig  victory.  This,  however, 
did  net  affect  Illinois  politics  very  seriously. 

Another  prominent  event  in  the  West  during  Gov. 
Carlin's  term  of  office  was  the  excitement  caused  by 
the  Mcrmons  and  their  removal  from  Independence, 
Mo.,  to  Nauvoo,  111.,  in  1840.  At  the  same  time 
they  began  to  figure  somewhat  in  State  politics.  On 
account  of  tlieir  believing — as  they  thought,  accord- 
ing to  the  New  Testament — that    they   should    have 


"  all  things  common,"  and  that  consequently  "  all 
the  earth  "  and  all  that  is  upon  it  were  the"  Lord's  " 
and  therefore  the  property  of  his  "  saints,"  they 
were  suspected,  and  correctly,  too,  of  committing 
many  of  the  deeds  of  larceny,  robbery,  etc.,  that 
were  so  rife  throughout  this  country  in  those  days. 
Hence  a  feeling  of  violence  grew  up  between  the 
Mormons  and  "anti-Mormons."  In  the  State  of 
Missouri  the  Mormons  always  supported  the  Dem- 
ocracy until  they  were  driven  out  by  the  Democratic 
government,  when  they  turned  their  support  to  the 
Whigs.  They  were  becoming  numerous,  and  in  the 
Legislature  of  1840-r,  therefore,  it  became  a  matter 
of  great  interest  with  both  parties  to  conciliate  these 
people.  Through  the  agency  of  one  John  C.  Ben- 
nett, a  scamp,  the  Mormons  succeeded  in  rushing 
through  the  Legislature  (both  parties  not  daring  to 
oppose)  a  charter  for  the  city  of  Nauvoo  which  vir- 
tually erected  a  hierarchy  co-ordinate  with  the  Fed- 
eral Government  itself.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the 
Governor  of  Missouri  made  a  demand  upon  Gov. 
Carlin  for  the  body  of  Joe  Smith,  the  ^lormon  leader, 
as  a  fugitive  from  justice.  Gov.  Carlin  issued  the 
writ,  but  for  some  reason  it  was  returned  unserved. 
It  was  again  issued  in  1842,  and  Smith  was  arrested, 
but  was  either  rescued  by  his  followers  or  discharged 
by  the  municipal  court  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus. 

In  December,  1841,  the  Democratic  Convention 
nominated  .\dam  W.  Snyder,  of  Belleville,  for  Gov- 
ernor. As  he  had  been,  as  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, rather  friendly  to  the  Mormons,  the  latter 
naturally  turned  their  support  to  the  Democratic 
party.  The  next  spring  the  Whigs  nominated  Ex- 
Gov.  Duncan  for  the  same  office.  In  the  meantime 
the  Mormons  began  to  grow  more  odious  to  the 
masses  of  the  people,  and  the  comparative  prospects 
of  the  respective  parties  for  success  became  very 
problematical.  Mr.  Snyder  died  in  May,  and 
Thomas  Ford,  a  Supreme  Judge,  was  substituted  as 
a  candidate,  and  was  elected. 

At  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term,  Mr.  Carlin 
removed  back  to  his  old  home  at  Carrollton,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  as  before  his  ele- 
vation to  office,  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1S49 
he  served  out  the  unexpired  term  of  J.  D.  Fry  in  the 
Illinois  House  of  Representatives,  and  died  Feb.  4. 
1852,  at  his  residence  at  Carrollton,  leaving  a  wife 
and  seven  children. 


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■'^A-t^t^t^^Ck^ 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


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3H0MAS  FORD,  Governor 
from  1842  to  1846,  and  au- 
thor of  a  very  interesting 
history  of  Illinois,  was  born 
at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  in  the 
year  1 800.  His  mother,  after 
the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band (Mr.  Forquer),  married  Rob- 
ert Ford,  who  was  killed  in  1802, 
by  the  Indians  in  the  mountains 
of  Pennsylvania.  She  was  conse- 
quently left  in  indigent  circum- 
stances, with  a  large  family,  mostly 
gids.  With  a  view  to  better  her 
condition,  she,  in  1804,  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  it  had  been  cus- 
tomary by  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment to  give  land  to  actual  settlers;  but  upon  her 
arrival  at  St.  Louis  she  found  the  country  ceded  to 
the  United  States,  and  the  liberal  policy  toward  set- 
tlers changed  by  the  new  ownership.  After  some 
sickness  to  herself  and  family,  she  finally  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  some  three  miles  south  of  Water- 
loo, but  the  following  year  moved  nearer  the  Missis- 
sippi   bluffs.      Here    young    Ford    received    his   first    i 


schooling,  under  the  instructions  of  a  Mr.  Humphrey, 
for  which  he  had  to  walk  three  miles.  His  mother, 
though  lacking  a  thorough  education,  was  a  woman 
of  superior  mental  endowments,  joined  to  energy 
and  determination  of  character.  She  inculcated  in 
her  children  those  high-toned  principles  which  dis- 
tinguished her  sons  in  ^^ublic  life.  She  exercised  a 
rigid  economy  to  provide  her  children  an  education ; 
but  (ieorge  Forquer,  her  oldest  son  (six  years  older 
than  Thomas  Ford),  at  an  early  age  had  to  quit 
school  to  aid  by  his  labor  in  the  support  of  the  family. 
He  afterward  became  an  eminent  man  in  Illinois 
affairs,  and  but  for  his  early  death  would  probably 
have  been  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

Young  Ford,  with  somewhat  better  opportunities, 
received  a  better  education,  though  limited  to  the 
curriculum  of  the  common  school  of  those  pioneer 
times.  His  mind  gave  early  promise  of  superior  en- 
dowments, with  an  inclination  fur  mathematics.  His 
proficiency  attracted  the  attention  of  Hon.  Daniel  P. 
Cook,  who  became  his  efficient  patron  and  friend. 
The  latter  gentleman  was  an  eminent  Illinois  states- 
man who,  as  a  Member  of  Congress,  obtained  a  grant 
of  300,000  acres  of  land  to  aid  in  completing  the 
Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal,  and  after  whom  the 
county  of  Cook  was  named.     Through  the  advice  of 


I4e 


THOMAS  I^RD. 


this  j^entleinaii,  Mr.  Ford  turned  his  attention  to  the 
study  of  hxw;  but  Forquer,  then  merchandising,  re- 
s^-irdini.;  liis  education  defective,  sent  him  to  Transyl- 
vania University,  wliere,  however,  he  remained  but 
one  term,  owing  to  Forquer's  failure  in  business.  On 
his  return  he  alternated  his  law  reading  with  teach- 
ing school  for  support. 

In  1829  Gov.  Edwards  appointed  him  Prosecuting 
Attorney,  and  in  1831  he  was  re-appointed  by  Gov. 
Reynolds,  and  after  that  he  was  four  times  elected  a 
Judge  by  the  Legislature,  without  opposition,  twice  a 
Circuit  Judge,  once  a  Judge  of  Chicago,  and  as  As- 
sociate Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  when,  in  1841, 
the  latter  tribunal  was  re-organized  by  the  addition 
of  five  Judges,  all  Democrats.  Ford  was  assigned  to 
the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit,  and  while  in  this  capacity 
he  was  holding  Court  in  Ogle  County  he  received  a 
notice  of  his  nomination  by  the  Democratic  Conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  Governor.  He  immediately  re- 
signed his  place  and  entered  upon  the  canvass.  In 
August,  1842,  he  was  elected,  and  on  the  8th  of  De- 
cember following  he  was  inaugurated. 

All  the  offices  which  he  had  held  were  unsolicited 
by  him.  He  received  them  upon  the  true  Jefferson- 
ian  principle, — Never  to  ask  and  never  to  refuse 
office.  Both  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  Judge  he  stood 
deservedly  high,  but  his  cast  of  intellect  fitted  him 
rather  for  a  writer  upon  law  than  a  practicing  advo- 
cate in  the  courts.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  was  void 
of  the  moving  power  of  eloquence,  so  necessary  to 
success  with  juries.  As  a  Judge  his  opinions  were 
"ound,  lucid  and  able  expositions  of  the  law.  In 
practice,  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  tact,  skill  and  in- 
sinuating address  of  the  politician,  but  he  saw  through 
ihe  arts  of  demagogues  as  well  as  any  man.  He  was 
()lain  in  his  demeanor,  so  i^iuch  so,  indeed,  that  at 
one  time  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
during  a  session  of  the  Legislature,  he  was  taken  by 
a  stranger  to  be  a  seeker  for  the  position  of  door- 
keeper, and  was  waited  upon  at  his  hotel  near  mid- 
night by  a  knot  of  small  office-seekers  with  t!ie  view 
of  effecting  a  "  combination  !  " 

Mr.  Ford  had  not  the  "  brass  "  of  the  ordinary 
politician,  nor  that  impetuosity  which  characterizes  a 
political  leader.  He  cared  little  for  money,  and 
hardly  enough  for  a  decent  support.  In  person  he 
was  of  small  stature,  slender,  of  dark  complexion, 
with  black  hair,  sharp  features,  deep-set  eyes,  a 
pointed,  aquiline  nose  having  a  decided  twist  to  one 
side,  and  a  small  mouth. 

The  three  most  important  events  in  Gov.  Ford's 
administration  were  the  establishment  of  the  high 
iinancial  credit  of  the  State,  the  "  Mormon  War  "and 
.he  Mexican  War. 

In  the  first  of  these  the  Governor  proved  himself 
*.c  be  en;inentlv  wise.  On  coming  into  office  he  found 
►he  State  iiadly  paralyzed  by  the  ruinous  efiTects  of 
the    notorious  "internal   improvement"    schemes    of 


the  preceding  decade,  with  scarcely  anything  to 
show  by  way  of  "improvement."  The  enterprise 
that  seemed  to  be  getting  ahead  more  than  all  the 
rest  was  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  As  this 
promised  to  be  the  most  important  thoroughfare, 
feasible  to  the  people,  it  was  well  under  headway  in 
its  construction.  Therefore  the  State  policy  was 
almost  concentrated  upon  it,  in  order  to  rush  it  onto 
completion.  The  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  State 
was  growing  so  large  as  to  frighten  the  people,  and 
they  were  about  ready  to  entertain  a  proposition  for 
repudiation.  But  the  Governor  had  the  foresight  to 
recommend  such  measures  as  would  maintain  the 
public  credit,  for  which  every  citizen  to-day  feels 
thankful. 

But  perhaps  the  Governor  is  remembered  more  for 
his  connection  with  the  Mormon  troubles  than  for 
anything  else;  for  it  was  during  his  term  of  office 
that  the  "  Latter-Day  Saints  "  became  so  strong  at 
Nauvoo,  built  their  temple  there,  increased  their  num- 
bers throughout  the  country,  committed  misdemean- 
ors, taught  dangerous  doctrines,  suffered  the  loss  of 
theirleader,  Jo  Smith,  by  a  violent  death,  were  driven 
out  of  Nauvoo  to  the  far  West,  etc.  Having  been  a 
Judge  for  so  many  years  previously,  Mr.  Ford  of 
course  was  non-committal  concerning  Mormon  affairs, 
and  was  therefore  claimed  by  both  parties  and  also 
accused  by  each  of  sympathizing  too  greatly  with  the 
other  side.  Mormonism  claiming  to  be  a  system  of 
religion,  the  Governor  no  doubt  was  "between  two 
fires,"  and  felt  compelled  to  touch  the  matter  rather 
"  gingerly,"  and  doubtless  felt  greatly  relieved  when 
that  pestilential  people  left  the  State.  Such  compli- 
cated matters,  especially  when  religion  is  mixed  up 
with  them,  expose  every  person  participating  in 
them  to  criticism  from  all  parties. 

The  Mexican  War  was  begun  in  the  spring  of 
1845,  and  was  continued  into  the  gubernatorial  term 
of  Mr.  Ford's  su;cessor.  The  Governor's  connection 
with  this  war,  however,  was  not  conspicuous,  as  it 
was  only  administrative,  commissioning  officers,  etc. 

Ford's  "  History  of  Illinois  "  is  a  very  readable  and 
entertaining  work,  of  450  small  octavo  pages,  and  is 
destined  to  increase  in  value  with  the  lapse  of  time. 
It  exhibits  a  natural  flow  of  compact  and  forcible 
thought,  never  failing  to  convey  the  nicest  sense.  In 
tracing  with  his  trenchant  pen  the  devious  operations 
of  the  professional  politician,  in  which  he  is  inimit- 
able, his  account  is  open,  perhaps,  to  the  objection 
that  all  his  contemporaries  are  treated  as  mere  place- 
seekers,  while  many  of  them  have  since  been  judged 
by  the  people  to  be  worthy  statesmen.  His  writings 
seem  slightly  open  to  the  criticism  that  they  exhibit 
a  little  splenetic  partiality  against  those  of  his  con- 
temporaries who  were  prominent  during  Iiis  term  of 
office  as  Governor. 

The  death  of  Gov.  Ford  took  place  at  Peoria,  111., 
Nov.  2,  1S50. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


*43 


j^m^Y  />.^y7^^ 


Augustus  €.  French. 


^?e<vx^/Xi:f 


{^ 


^ 


4^ 

Augustus  c.  French, 

Governor  of  Illinois  from 
1S46   to   1852,  was  born  in 
the    town  of  Hill,  in    the 
State  of  New  Hampshire, 
Aug.  2,  1808.     He  was  a 
descendant   in    the  fourth 
generation  of  Nathaniel 
French,  who  emigrated  from  England 
in  1687  and  settled  in  Saybury,  Mass. 
In  early  life  young  French  lost  his 
father,    but  continued   to   receive   in- 
struction   from    an     exemplary     and 
Christian  mother  until  he  was  19  years 
old,  when  she  also  died,  confiding  to 
his  care  and  trust  four  younger  broth- 
ers and  one  sister.     He  discharged   his  trust  with 
parental  devotion.     His  education  in  early  life  was 
such  mainly  as  a  common  school   afforded.     For  a 
brief  period    he   attended    Dartmouth   College,   but 
from   pecuniary  causes  and  the  care  of  his  brothers 
and  sister,  he  did  not  graduate.     He  subsequently 
read  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in   1831,  and 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  first  at 
Albion,  Edwards  County,  where  he  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  law.     The   following  year  he 
removed  to  Paris,  Edgar  County.     Here  he  attained 
eminence  in  his  profession,  and  entered  public  life 
by  representing  that  county  in  the  Legislature.     A 
strong  attachment  sprang  up  between  him  and  Ste- 
plien  A.  Douglas. 

In  1839,  Mr.  French  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Palestine,  Craw- 
ford County,  at  which  place  he  was  a  resident  when 


elevated  to  the  gubernatorial  chair.  In  1844  he  was 
a  Presidential  Elector,  and  as  such  he  voted  for 
James  K.  Polk. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  of  1846,  meet- 
ing at  Springfield  Feb.  10,  nominated  Mr.  French 
for  Governor.  Other  Democratic  candidates  were 
Lyman  Trumbull,  John  Calhoun  (subsequently  of 
Lecompton  Constitution  notoriety),  V\' alter  B.  Scates. 
Richard  M.  Young  and  A.  W.  Cavarly,— an  array  of 
very  able  and  prominent  names.  Trumbull  was  per- 
haps defeated  in  the  Convention  by  the  tumor  that 
he  was  opposed  to  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal, 
as  he  had  been  a  year  previously.  For  Lieutenant 
Governor  J.  B.  Wells  was  chosen,  while  other  candi- 
dates were  Lewis  Ross,  Wm.  McMurtry,  Newton 
Cloud,  J.  B.  Hamilton  and  W.  W.  Thompson.  The 
resolutions  declared  strongly  against  the  resuscita- 
tion of  the  old  State  Banks. 

The  Whigs,  who  were  in  a  hopeless  minority,  held 
their  convention  June  8,  at  Peoria,  and  selected 
Thomas  M.  Kilpatrick,  of  Scott  County,  for  Governor, 
and  Gen.  Nathaniel  G.  Wilco.x,  of  Schuyler,  for 
Lieutenant  Governor. 

In  the  campaign  the  latter  exposed  Mr.  French's 
record  and  connection  with  the  passage  of  the  in- 
ternal improvement  system,  urging  it  against  his 
election;  l)ut  in  the  me-intime  the  war  with  Mexico 
broke  out,  regarding  which  the  Whig  record  was  un- 
popular in  this  State.  The  war  was  the  absorbing 
and  dominating  question  of  the  period,  svveeping 
every  other  political  issue  in  its  course.  Tlie  elec- 
tion in  August  gave  Mr.  French  58,700  votes,  and 
Kilpatrick  only  36,775.  Richard  Eells,  Abolitionist 
candidate  for  the  same  office,  received  5,152   vot^s 


144 


AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH. 


By  the  new  Constitution  of  184S,  a  new  election  for 
State  officers  was  ordered  in  November  of  that  year, 
before  Gov.  French's  term  was  half  out,  and  he  was 
re-elected  for  the  term  of  four  years.  He  was  there- 
fore the  incumbent  for  six  consecutive  years,  the 
only  Governor  of  this  State  who  has  ever  served  in 
that  capacity  so  long  at  one  time.  As  there  was  no 
organized  opposition  to  his  election,  he  received  67,- 
453  votes,  to  S>639  fo""  Pierre  Menard  (son  of  the 
first  Lieutenant  Governor),  4,748  for  Charles  V. 
Dyer,  3,834  for  W.  L.  D.  Morrison,  and  1,361  for 
James  L.  D.  Morrison.  But  VVm.  McMurtry,  of 
Knox  County,  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  in 
place  of  Joseph  B.  Wells,  who  was  before  elected 
and  did  not  run  again. 

Governor  French  was  inaugurated  into  ofiice  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Mexican  War,  which  closed 
during  the  summer  of  1847,  although  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo  was  not  made  until  Feb.  2, 
1848.  The  policy  of  Gov.  French's  party  was  com- 
mitted to  that  war,  but  in  connection  with  that  affair 
he  was,  of  course,  only  an  administrative  officer. 
During  his  term  of  office,  Feb.  19,  1847.  the  Legisla- 
ture, by  special  permission  of  Congress,  declared  that 
all  Government  lands  sold  to  settlers  should  be  im- 
mediately subject  to  State  taxation ;  before  this  they 
were  exempt  for  five  years  after  sale.  By  this  ar- 
rangem.ent  the  revenue  was  materially  increased. 
About  the  same  time,  the  distribution  of  Government 
land  warrants  among  the  Me.xican  soldiers  as  bounty 
threw  upon  the  market  a  great  quantity  of  good 
lands,  and  this  enhanced  the  settlement  of  the  State. 
The  same  Legislature  authorized,  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Governor,  the  sale  of  the  Northern 
Cross  Railroad  (from  Springfield  to  Meredosia,  the 
first  in  the  State  and  now  a  section  of  the  Wabash, 
St.  Louis  &  Pacific)  It  sold  for  $100,000  in  bonds, 
although  it  had  cost  the  State  not  less  than  a  million. 
The  salt  wells  and  canal  lands  in  the  Saline  reserve 
in  Gallatin  County,  granted  by  the  general  Govern- 
ment to  the  State,  were  also  authorized  by  the 
Governor  to  be  sold,  to  apply  on  the  State  debt.  In 
1850,  for  the  first  time  since  1839,  the  accruing  State 
revenue,  exclusive  of  specific  appropriations,  was 
sufficient  to  meet  the  current  demands  upon  the 
treasur)'.  The  aggregate  taxable  property  of  the 
State  at  this  time  was  over  $100,000,000,  and  the 
population  851,470. 


In  1849  the  Legiaiature  adopted  the  township  or- 
ganization law,  which,  however,  proved  defective, 
and  was  properly  amended  in  1 851.  At  its  session 
in  the  latter  year,  the  General  Assembly  also  passed 
a  law  to  exempt  homesteads  from  sale  on  executions 
This  beneficent  measure  had  been  repeatedly  atge<3 
upon  that  body  by  Gov.  French. 

In  1850  some  business  men  in  St.  Louis  con\- 
menced  to  build  a  dike  opposite  the  lower  part  of 
their  city  on  the  Illinois  side,  to  keep  the  Mississippi 
in  its  channel  near  St.  Louis,  instead  of  breaking 
away  from  them  as  it  sometimes  threatened  to  do. 
This  they  undertook  without  permission  from  the 
Legislature  or  Executive  authority  of  this  State  ;  and 
as  many  of  the  inhabitants  then*  complained  that 
the  scheme  would  inundate  and  ruin  much  valuable 
land,  there  was  a  slight  conflict  of  jurisdictions,  re- 
sulting in  favor  of  the  St.  Louis  project;  and  since 
then  a  good  site  has  existed  there  for  a  city  (East  St. 
Louis),  and  now  a  score  of  railroads  center  there. 

It  was  in  September,  1850,  that  Congress  granted 
to  this  State  nearly  3,000,000  acres  of  land  in  aid  of 
the  completion  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
which  constituted  the  most  important  epoch  in  the 
railroad — we  might  say,  internal  improvement — his- 
tory of  the  State.  The  road  was  rushed  on  to  com- 
pletion, which  accelerated  the  settlement  of  the  in- 
terior of  the  State  by  a  good  class  of  industrious  citi- 
zens, and  by  the  charter  a  good  income  to  the  State 
Treasury  is  paid  in  from  the  earnings  of  the  road. 

In  1 85  I  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing 
free  stock  banks,  v/hich  was  the  source  of  much  leg- 
islative discussion  for  a  number  of  years. 

But  we  have  not  space  further  to  particularize 
concerning  legislation.  Gov.  French's  administra- 
tion was  not  marked  by  any  feature  to  be  criticised, 
while  the  country  was  settling  up  as  never  before. 

In  stature.  Gov.  French  was  of  medium  height, 
squarely  built,  light  complexioned,  with  ruddy  face 
and  pleasant  countenance.  In  manners  he  was 
plain  and  agreeable.  By  nature  he  was  somewhat 
diffident,  but  he  was  often  very  outspoken  in  his  con- 
victions of  duty.  In  public  speech  he  was  not  an 
orator,  but  was  chaste,  earnest  and  persuasive.  In 
business  he  was  accurate  and  methodical,  and  in  his 
administration  he  kept  up  the  credit  of  the  State. 

He  died  in  1865,  at  his  home  in  Lebanon,  St 
Glair  Co.,  111. 


\    u 


GO  VEKNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'47 


^^\  ^.  J^Initeson. 


-■«■  :=^<^-<M>-$s>$ 


'-      ^^    V)EL    A.    MATTESON,    Governor 
^j,#**  1853-6,  was  born  Aug.  8,   1808, 
*^' ■■''■'■■        in  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
to  which  place  his  father  had  re- 
moved from  Vermont  three  years 
before.     His  father  was  a  farmer 
in  fair  circumstances,  but  a  com- 
mon English   education  was  all 
that  his  only  son  received.  Young 
Joel   first  tempted  fortune  as  a 
small    tradesman     in     Prescott, 
Canada,  before   he   was  of  age. 
He  returned  from  that  place  to 
his  home,  entered   an  academy, 
taught  school,  visited    the  prin- 
cipal Eastern  cities,  improved  a  farm  Iiis  father  hail 
given  him,  made  a  tour  in  tiie  South,  worked  tlierc 
in  building  railroads,  experienced  a  storm  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  visited  the  gold  diggings  of  Northern 
Georgia,  and  returned  via  Nashville  to  St.  Louis  and 
through  Illinois  to  his  father's  home,  when  he  mar- 
ried.    In   1833,  having  sold   his  farm,  he  removed, 
vvith  his  wife  and  one  child,  to  Illinois,  and  entered 
a  claim  on  Government  land  near  the  head  of  An 
Sable  River,  in  what  is  now  Kendall  County.     At 
ihat  time  there  were  not  more  tlian  two  neighbors 
within  a  range  of  ten   miles  of  his  place,  and  only 
'hree  or  four  houses  between  Iiim  and  Chicago.     He 
opened  a  large  farm.     His  family   was  boarded   12 


miles  away  while  he  erected  a  house  on  his  claim, 
sleeping,  during  this  time,  under  a  rude  pole  shed. 
Here  his  life  was  once  placed  in  imminent  peril  by 
a  huge  prairie  rattlesnake  sharing  his  bed. 

In  183s  he  bought  largely  at  the  Government  land 
sales.  During  the  speculative  real-estate  mania  whicli 
broke  out  in  Chicago  in  1836  and  spread  over  the  State, 
he  sold  his  lands  under  the  inflation  of  that  period 
and  removed  to  Joliet.  In  1S38  he  became  a  heavy 
contractor  on  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  Upon 
the  completion  of  his  job  in  i84r,  when  hard  limes 
prevailed,  business  at  a  stand,  contracts  paid  in  State 
scrip;  when  all  the  public  works  except  the  canal 
were  abandoned,  the  State  offered  for  sale  700  tons 
of  railroad  iron,  which  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Mat- 
teson  at  a  bargain.  This  he  accepted,  shipped  and 
sold  at  Detroit,  realizing  a  very  handsome  profit, 
enough  to  pay  off  all  jiis  canal  debts  and  leave  him  a 
surplus  of  several  thousand  dollars.  His  enterprise 
ne.xt  prompted  him  to  start  a  woolen  mill  at  Joliet, 
m  which  he  prospered,  and  which,  after  successive 
enlargements,  became  an  enormous  establishment. 

In  1S42  he  was  first  elected  a  State  Senator,  but, 
by  a  bungling  apiiortionment,  John  Pearson,  a  Senator 
holdiiig  over,  was  found  to  be  in  the  same  district, 
and  decided  to  be  entitled  to  represent  it.  Mat- 
teson's  seat  was  declared  vacant.  Pearson,  however 
with  a  nobleness  difficult  to  appreciate  in  this  day  of 


r48 


JOEL  A.  MATTESON. 


greed  for  office,  unwilling  to  represent  his  district 
under  the  circumstances,  immediately  resigned  his 
unexpired  term  of  two  years.  A  bill  was  passed  in  a 
few  hours  ordering  a  new  election,  and  in  ten  days' 
time  Mr.  Matteson  was  returned  re-elected  and  took 
his  seat  as  Senator.  From  his  well-known  capacity 
as  a  business  man,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance,  a  position  he  held  during 
this  half  and  two  full  succeeding  Senatorial  terms, 
discharging  its  important  duties  with  ability  and  faith- 
fulness. Besides  his  extensive  woolen-mill  interest, 
when  work  was  resumed  on  the  canal  under  the  new 
loan  of  $[,600,000  he  again  became  a  heavy  con- 
tractor, and  also  subsequently  operated  largely  in 
building  railroads.  Thus  he  showed  himself  a  most 
energetic  and  thorough  business  man. 

He  was  nominated  for  Governor  by  the  Demo- 
cratic State  Convention  which  met  at  Springfield 
April  20,  1852.  Other  candidates  before  the  Con- 
vention were  D.  L.  Gregg  and  F.  C.  Sherman,  of 
Cook ;  John  Dement,  of  Lee  ;  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of 
Menard;  Lewis  W.  Ross,  of  Fulton  ;  and  D.  P.  Bush, 
of  Pike.  Gustavus  Koerner,  of  St.  Clair,  was  nom- 
inated for  Lieutenant  Governor.  For  the  same  offices 
the  Whigs  nominated  Edwin  B.  Webb  and  Dexter  A. 
Kiiowlton.  Mr.  Matteson  received  80,645  votes  at 
the  election,  while  Mr.  Webb  received  64,408.  Mat- 
teson's  forte  was  not  on  the  stump;  he  had  not  cul- 
tivated the  art  of  oily  flattery,  or  the  faculty  of  being 
all  things  to  all  men.  His  intellectual  qualities  took 
rather  the  direction  of  efficient  executive  ability.  His 
turn  consisted  not  so  much  in  the  adroit  manage- 
ment of  party,  or  the  powerful  advocacy  of  great  gov- 
ernmental principles,  as  in  those  more  solid  and 
enduring  operations  which  cause  the  physical  devel- 
opment and  advancement  of  a  State, — of  commerce 
and  business  enterprise,  into  which  he  labored  with 
success  to  lead  the  people.  As  a  politician  he  was 
just  and  liberal  in  his  views,  and  both  in  official  and 
private  life  he  then  stood  untainted  and  free  from 
blemish.  As  a  man,  in  active  benevolence,  social 
I'irtues  and  all  the  amiable  qualities  of  neighbor  or 
citizen,  he  had  few  su])eriors.  His  messages  present 
a  perspicuous  array  of  facts  as  to  the  condition  of  the 
State,  and  are  often  couched  in  forcible  and  elegant 
diction. 

The  greatest  excitement  during  his  term  of  office 
was  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  by  Con- 


gress, under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
1854,  when  the  bill  was  passed  organizing  the  Terri- 
tory of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  A  large  portion  of 
the  Whig  party  of  the  North,  through  their  bitter  op- 
position to  the  Democratic  party,  naturally  drifted 
into  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  and  thus  led  to  what 
was  temporarily  called  the  "Anti-Nebraska"  party, 
while  the  followers  of  Douglas  were  known  as  "  Ne- 
braska or  Douglas  Democrats."  It  was  during  this 
embryo  stage  of  the  Republican  party  that  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  brought  forward  as  the  "Anti-Nebraska" 
candidate  for  the  United  States  Senatorship,  while 
Gen.  James  Shields,  the  incumbent,  was  re-nom- 
inated by  the  Democrats.  But  after  a  fewballotings 
in  the  Legislature  (1855),  these  men  were  dropped, 
and  Lyman  Trumbull,  an  Anti-Nebraska  Democrat, 
was  brought  up  by  the  former,  and  Mr.  Matteson, 
then  Governor,  by  the  latter.  Qn  the  nth  ballot 
Mr.  Trumbull  obtained  one  majority,  and  was  ac- 
cordingly declared  elected.  Before  Gov.  Matteson's 
term  expired,  the  Republicans  were  fully  organized 
as  a  national  party,  and  in  1S56  put  into  the  field  a 
full  national  and  State  ticket,  carrying  the  State,  but 
not  the  nation. 

The  Legislature  of  1S55  passed  two  very  import- 
ant measures, — the  present  free-school  system  and  a 
submission  of  the  Maine  liquor  law  to  a  vote  of  the 
people.  The  latter  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority 
of  the  popular  vote. 

During  the  four  years  of  Gov.  Matteson's  admin- 
istration the  taxable  wealth  of  the  State  was  about 
trebled,  from  $t37,8t8,o79  to  $349,95r,272 ;  the  pub- 
lic debt  was  reduced  from  $17,398,985  to  $12,843,- 
144;  taxation  was  at  the  same  time  reduced,  and  llie 
State  resumed  paying  interest  on  its  debt  in  New 
York  as  fast  as  it  fell  due ;  railroads  were  increased 
in  their  mileage  from  something  less  than  400  to 
about  3,000 ;  and  the  population  of  Chicago  was 
nearly  doubled,  and  its  commerce  more  than  quad- 
rupled. 

Before  closing  this  account,  we  regret  that  we  have 
to  say  that  Mr.  Matteson,  in  all  other  respects  an 
upright  man  and  a  good  Governor,  was  implicated 
in  a  false  re-issue  of  redeemed  canal  scrio,  amount- 
ing to  $224,t82.66.  By  a  suit  in  the  Sangamon  Cir- 
cuit Court  the  State  recovered  the  principal  and  all 
the  interest  excepting  $27,500. 

He  died  in    the  winter  of  1872-3,  at  Chicago. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


151 


m^ 


m 


iL. 


(i^ii 


'^«§§>'^':^'^«ga^'S•^^'^l^if^'^'t.^^^^^'>a'^:^^a»'i^t^a'r'^Jl•^^>'|igi'^^  1 1 1 


[LLIAM  H.  BISSELL,  Gov- 
ernor 1857-60,  was  born 
B(S  April  25,  iSii,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  near 
Painted  Post,  Yates  County. 
His  parents  were  obscure, 
honest.  God-fearing  people, 
uiio  reared  their  children  under  the  daily 
example  of  industry  and  frugality,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  that  class  of  Eastern 
society.  Mr.  Bissell  received  a  respecta- 
l)le  but  not  thorough  academical  education. 
By  assiduous  application  he  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  in  his  early 
manhood  came  West  and  located  in  Mon- 
roe County,  this  State,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  that  profession.  But  he  was  not  enam- 
ored of  his  calling:  he  was  swayed  by  a  broader 
ambition,  to  such  an  extent  that  the  mysteries  of  the 
healing  art  and  its  arduous  duties  failed  to  yield  him 
further  any  charms.  In  a  few  years  he  discovered 
his  choice  of  a  profession  to  be  a  mistake,  and  when 
lie  approached  the  age  of  30  he  sought  to  begin 
anew.  Dr.  Bissell,  no  doubt  unexpectedly  to  him- 
self, discovered  a  singular  facility  and  charm  of 
speech,  the  exercise  of  which  acquired  for  him  a 
ready  local   notoriety.     It  soon  came  to  be   under- 


stood that  he  desired  to  abandon  his  profession  and 
take  up  that  of  the  law.  During  terms  of  Court  he 
would  spend  his  time  at  the  county  seat  among  the 
members  of  the  Bar,  who  extended  to  him  a  ready 
welcome. 

It  was  not  strange,  therefore,  that  he  should  drift 
into  public  life.  In  1840  he  was  elected  as  a  Dem- 
ocrat to  the  Legislature  from  Monroe  County,  and 
was  an  efficient  member  of  that  body.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  qualified  himself  for  admission  to  the 
Bar  and  speedily  rose  to  the  front  rank  as  an  advo- 
cate. His  powers  of  oratory  were  captivating.  With  a 
pure  diction,  charming  and  inimitable  gestures, 
clearness  of  statement,  and  a  remarkable  vein  of  sly 
humor,  his  efforts  before  a  jury  told  with  irresistible 
effect.  Hfe  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  Prosecut- 
ing Attorney  for  tiie  Circuit  in  which  he  lived,  and 
in  that  position  he  fully  discharged  his  duty  to  the 
State,  gained  the  esteem  of  the  Bar,  and  seldom 
failed  to  convict  the  offender  of  the  law. 

In  stature  he  was  somewhat  tall  and  slender,  and 
with  a  straight,  military  bearing,  he  presented  a  dis- 
tinguished appearance.  His  complexion  was  dark, 
his  head  well  poised,  though  not  large,  his  address 
pleasant  and  manner  winning.  He  was  exemplary 
in  his  habits,  a  devoted  husband  and  kind  parent. 
He  was  twice  married,  the  first  time  to  Miss  James, 


'5  = 


WILLIAM  H.  BlSSELl. 


of  Monroe  County,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
both  daughters.  She  died  soon  after  the  year  1840, 
and  Mr.  B.  married  for  his  second  wife  a  daughter 
of  Elias  K.  Kane,  previously  a  United  States  Senator 
from  this  State.  She  survived  him  but  a  short  time, 
and  died  without  issue. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  was  declared  in  1846, 
Mr.  Bissell  enlisted  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  his 
regiment,  over  Hon.  Don  Morrison,  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote, — 807  to  6.  Considering  the  limited 
opportunities  he  had  had,  he  evinced  a  high  order  of 
military  talent.  On  the  bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista 
he  acquitted  himself  with  intrepid  and  distinguished 
ability,  contributing  with  his  regiment,  the  Second 
Illinois,  in  no  small  degree  toward  saving  the  waver- 
ing fortunes  of  our  arms  during  that  long  and  fiercely 
contested  battle. 

After  his  return  home,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  elected  to  Congress,  his  opponents  being  the 
Hons.  P.  B.  Fouke  and  Joseph  Gillespie.  He  served 
two  terms  in  Congress.  He  was  an  ardent  politician. 
During  the  great  contest  of  1850  he  voted  in  favor 
of  the  adjustment  measures;  but  in  1S54  he  opposed 
the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  act  and 
therefore  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  of  Douglas,  and 
thus  became  identified  with  the  nascent  Republican 
party. 

During  his  first  Congressional  term,  while  the 
Southern  members  were  following  their  old  practice 
of  intimidating  the  North  by  bullying  language, 
and  claiming  most  of  the  credit  for  victories  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  Jefferson  Davis  claiming  for  the 
Mississippi  troops  all  the  credit  for  success  at  Buena 
Vista,  Mr.  Bissell  bravely  defended  the  Northern 
troops ;  whereupon  Davis  challenged  Bissell  to  a  duel, 
which  was  accepted.  This  matter  was  brought  ujj 
against  Bissell  when  he  was  candidate  for  Governor 
and  during  his  term  of  office,  as  the  Constitution  of 
this  State  forbade  any  duelist  from  holding  a  State 
office. 

In  1856,  when  the  Republican  party  first  put  forth 
a  candidate,  John  C.  Fremont,  for  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  same  party  nominated  Mr.  Bissell 
for  Governor  of  Illinois,  and  John  Wood,  of  Quincy, 
for  Lieutenant  Governor,  while  the  Democrats  nomi- 
nated Hon.  W.  A.  Richardson,  of  Adams  County, 
for  Governor,  and  Col.  R.  J.  Hamilton,  of  Cook 
County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.     The  result  of  the 


election  was  a  plurality  of  4,729  votes  over  Richard- 
son. The  American,  or  Know-Nothing,  party  had  a 
ticket  in  the  field.  The  Legislature  was  nearly  bal- 
anced, but  was  politically  opposed  to  the  Governor. 
His  message  to  the  Legislature  was  short  and  rather 
ordinary,  and  was  criticised  for  expressing  the  sup- 
posed obligations  of  the  people  to  the  incorporators 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  and  for  re- 
opening the  slavery  question  by  allusions  to  the 
Kansas  troubles.  Late  in  the  session  an  apportion- 
ment'bill,  based  upon  the  State  census  of  1855,  was 
passed,  amid  much  partisan  strife.  The  Governor 
at  first  signed  the  bill  and  then  vetoed  it.  A  furious 
debate  followed,  and  the  question  whether  the  Gov- 
ernor had  tlie  authority  to  recall  a  signature  was 
referred  to  the  Courts,  that  of  last  resort  deciding  in 
favor  of  the  Governor.  Two  years  afterward  another 
outrageous  attempt  was  made  for  a  re-apportionment 
and  to  gerrymander  the  State,  but  the  Legislature 
failed  to  pass  the  bill  over  the  veto  of  the  Governor. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Bissell's  administration  that 
the  notorious  canal  scrip  fraud  was  brought  to  light, 
'mplicating  ex-Gov.  Matteson  and  other  prominent 
State  officials.  The  principal  and  interest,  aggregat- 
ing $255,500,  was  all  recovered  by  the  State  except- 
ing ,$27,500.     (See  sketch  of  Gov.  Matteson.) 

In  1S59  an  attempt  was  discovered  to  fraudu- 
lently refund  the  Macalister  and  Stebbins  bonds  and 
thus  rob  the  State  Treasury  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars.  The  State  Government  was  impli- 
cated in  this  aff"air,  and  to  this  day  remains  unex- 
plained or  unaloned  for.  For  the  above,  and  other 
matters  previously  mentioned.  Gov.  Bissell  has  been 
severely  criticised,  and  he  has  also  been  most  shame- 
fully libelled  and  slandered. 

On  account  of  exposure  in  the  army,  the  remote 
cause  of  a  nervous  form  of  disease  gained  entrance 
into  his  system  and  eventually  developed  paraplegia, 
affecting  his  lower  extremities,  which,  while  it  left 
his  body  in  comparative  health,  deprived  him  of  loco- 
motion except  by  the  aid  of  crutches.  While  he  was 
generally  hopeful  of  ultimate  recovery,  this  myste- 
rious disease  pursued  him,  without  once  rela.xing  its 
stealthy  hold,  to  the  close  of  his  life,  March  18, 
i860,  over  nine  months  before  the  expiration  of  hia 
gubernatorial  term,  at  the  early  age  of  48  years.  He 
died  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  0/ 
which  he  harx  been  a  member  since  1S54. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'55 


l0lra  lil00ll. 


*«♦ 


;( )HN  WOOD,  Governor  1860-1,  and 
^^^*»  the  first  settler  of  Quincy,  111., 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Sempro- 
nius  (now  Moravia),  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  1798.  He  was 
the  second  child  and  only  son  of 
Dr.  Daniel  Wood.  His  mother, 
nee  Catherine  Craiise,  was  of 
German  parentage,  and  died 
while  he  was  an  infant.  Dr. 
Wood  was  a  learned  and  skillful 
physician,  of  classical  attain- 
ments and  proficient  in  several 
modern  lai.guages,  who,  after 
serving  throughout  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  as  a  Surgeon,  settled  on  the  land  granted 
him  by  the  Government,  and  resided  there  a  re- 
spected and  leading  influence  in  his  section  until  his 
death,  at  the  ripe  age  of  92  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  impelled  by  the  spirit 
of  Western  adventure  then  pervading  everywhere, 
left  his  home,  Nov.  2,  181S,  and  passed  the  succeed- 
ing winter  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  following  sum- 
mer he  pushed  on  to  Illinois,  landing  at  Shawneetown. 
and  spent  the  fall  and  following  winter  in  Calhoun 
County.  In  1820,  in  company  with  Willard  Keyes, 
he  settled  in  Pike  County,  about  30  miles  southeast 
of  Quincy,  where  for  the  next  two  years  he  pursued 
farming.  In  1S21  he  visited  "the  Bluffs"  (as  the 
present  site  of  Quincy  was  called,  then  uninhabited) 
and,  pleased  with  its  prospects,  soon  after  purchased 
a  quarter-section  of  land  near  by,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing fall  (1822)  erected  near  the  river  a  small  cabin. 


18  X  20  feet,  the  first  building  in  Quincy,  of  which 
he  then  became  the  first  and  for  some  months  tiie 
only  occupant. 

About  this  time  he  visited  his  old  friends  in  YW". 
County,  chief  of  whom  was  William  Ross,  the  lead- 
ing man  in  building  up  the  village  of  Atlas,  of  that 
county,  which  was  thought  then  to  be  the  possible 
commencement  of  a  city.  One  day  they  and  others 
were  traveling  together  over  the  country  between  the 
two  points  named,  making  observations  on  the  com- 
parative merits  of  the  respective  localities.  On  ap- 
proaching the  Mississippi  near  i\Ir.  Wood's  place, 
the  latter  told  his  companions  to  follow  him  and  he 
would  show  them  where  he  was  going  to  build  a  city. 
They  went  about  a  mile  off  the  main  trail,  to  a  high 
point,  from  which  the  view  in  every  direction  was 
most  magnificent,  as  it  had  been  for  ages  and  as  yet 
untouched  by  the  hand  of  man.  Before  them  swept 
by  the  majestic  Father  of  Waters,  yet  unburdened  by 
navigation.  After  Mr.  Wood  had  expatiated  at 
length  on  the  advantages  of  the  situation,  Mr.  Ross 
replied,  "  But  it's  too  near  Atlas  ever  to  amount  to 
anything!" 

Atlas  is  still  a  cultivated  farm,  and  Quincy  is  a 
city  of  over  30,000  population. 

In  1824  Mr.  Wood  gave  a  newspaper  notice, 
as  the  law  then  prescribed,  of  his  intention  to  apply 
to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  formation  of  a  new 
county.  This  was  done  the  following  winter,  result- 
ing m  the  establishment  of  the  present  Adams 
County.  During  the  next  summer  Quincy  was  se- 
lected as  the  county  seat,  it  and  the  vicinity  then 
containing  but   four  adult  male   residents   and   halt' 


'SO 


JOHN  WOOD. 


that  number  of  females.  Since  that  period  Mr. 
Wood  resided  at  the  place  of  his  early  adoption  un- 
til his  death,  and  far  more  than  any  other  man  was 
he  identified  with  every  measure  of  its  progress  and 
history,  and  almost  continuously  kept  in  public  jiosi- 
tions. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  town  Trustees,  and  after 
the  place  became  a  city  he  was  often  a  member  of 
the  City  Council,  many  times  elected  Mayor,  in  the 
face  of  a  constant  large  opposition  political  majority. 
In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  In  1856, 
on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
chosen  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State,  on  the 
ticket  with  Wm.  H.  Bissell  for  Governor,  and  on  the 
death  of  the  latter,  March  18,  i860,  he  succeeded  to 
the  Chief  Executive  chair,  which  he  occupied  until 
Gov.  Yates  was  inaugurated  nearly  ten  months  after- 
ward. 

Nothing  very  marked  characterized  the  adminis- 
tration of  Gov.  Wood.  The  great  anti-slavery  cam- 
paign of  i860,  resulting  in  the  election  of  the  honest 
Illinoisan,  Abraham  Lincoln,  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States,  occurred  during  the  short  period 
while  Mr.  Wood  was  Governor,  and  the  excitement 
and  issues  of  that  struggle  dominated  over  every 
other  consideration, — indeed,  supplanted  them  in  a 
great  measure.  The  people  of  Illinois,  during  all 
that  time,  were  passing  the  comparatively  petty  strifes 
under  Bissell's  administration  to  the  overwhelming 
issue  of  preserving  the  whole  nation  from  destruction. 

In  1861  ex-Gov.  Wood  was  one  of  the  five  Dele- 
gates from  Illinois  to  the  "  Peace  Convention  "  at 
VVashingtoii,  and  in  April  of  the  same  year,  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the    Rebellion,   he    was    appointed 


Quartermaster-General  of  the  State,  which  position 
he  held  tliroughout  the  war.  In  1864  he  took  com- 
mand as  Colonel  of  the  137th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  with 
whom  he  served  until  the  period  of  enlistment  ex- 
pired. 

Politically,  Gov.  Wood  was  always  actively  identi- 
fied witli  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties.  Few 
men  have  in  personal  experience  comprehended  so 
many  surprising  and  advancing  local  changes  as 
vested  in  the  more  than  half  century  recollections  of 
Gov.  Wood.  Sixty-four  years  ago  a  solitary  settler 
on  the  "Bluffs,"  with  no  family,  and  no  neighbor 
within  a  score  of  miles,  the  world  of  civilization  away 
beliind  him,  and  the  strolling  red-m.an  almost  his 
only  visitant,  he  lived  to  see  growing  around  him, 
and  under  his  auspices  and  aid,  overspreading  the 
wild  hills  and  scraggy  forest  a  teaming  city,  second 
only  in  size  in  the  State,  and  surpassed  nowhere  in 
beauty,  prosperity  and  promise ;  whose  people  recog- 
nize as  with  a  single  voice  the  proverbial  honor  and 
liberality  that  attach  to  the  name  and  lengthened 
life  of  their  pioneer  settler,  "the  old  Governor." 

Gov.  Wood  was  twice  married, — first  in  January, 
1826,  to  Ann  M.  Streeter,  daughter  of  Joshua  Streeter, 
formerly  of  Salem,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had 
eight  children.  Mrs.  W.  died  Oct.  8,  186;^,  and  in 
June,  1S65,  Gov.  Wood  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  widow 
of  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Holmes.  Gov.  Wood  died  June  4, 
1880,  at  his  residence  in  Quincy.  Four  of  his  eight 
children  are  now  living,  namely:  Ann  E.,  wife  of 
Gen.  John  Tillson;  Daniel  C,  who  married  Marv  J. 
Abernethy ;  John,  Jr.,  who  married  Josephine  Skinner, 
and  Joshua  S.,  who  married  Annie  Bradley.  The 
last  mentioned  now  resides  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  and 
all  the  rest  are  still  at  Quincy. 


'wPl 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'59 


ESblA;CTPTV^^^^7v:\r-v;. \. v\ .v,\  v A^^-vCv-yf. v^.A,v.<t,.i^YV 


ll^.i©l\ard    ITalfef^. 


'^Si*- 


t^ICHARD  YATES,  the  "War 
^"^  Governor,"  1 86 1-4,  was  born 
i>»  Jan.  18,  18 18,  on  the  banks  of 
J,  the  Ohio  River,  at  Warsaw, 
■^  Gallatin  Co.,  Ky.  His  father 
^  moved  in  1831  to  Illinois,  and 
after  stopping  for  a  time  in 
Springfield,  settled  at  Island 
Grove,  Sangamon  County.  Here, 
after  attending  school,  Richard  joined 
the  family.  Subsequently  he  entered 
Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville, 
where,  in  1S37,  he  graduated  with 
first  honors.  He  chose  for  his  pro- 
fession the  law,  the  Hon.  J.  J.  Har- 
din being  his  instructor.  After  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar  he  soon  rose  to  distinction  as  an 
advocate. 

Gifted  witli  a  fluent  and  ready  oratory,  he  noon 
appeared  in  the  political  hustings,  and,  being  a 
passionate  admirer  of  the  great  Whig  leader  of  the 
West.  Henry  Clay,  he  joined  his  political  fortunes  to 
■he  party  of  his  idol.  In  1840  he  engaged  with  great 
=rdor  in  the  exciting  "  hard  cider  "  campaign  for 
riarrison.  Two  years  later  he  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  from  Morgan  County,  a  Democratic 
stronghold.  He  served  three  or  four  terms  in  the 
Legislature,  and  such  was  the  fascination  of  his  ora- 
f^ry  that  by  1850  his  large  Congressional  District, 
extending  from  Morgan  and  Sangamon  Counties 
1  orth  to  include  LaSalle,  unanimously  tendered  him 
fne  Whig  nomination  for  Congress.  His  Democratic 
opponent  was  Maj.  Thomas  L.  Harris,  a  very  pop- 
v,lar  man  who  had  won  distinction  at  the  battle  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  who  had 
ijcaten  Hon.  Stephen  T.  Logan  for  the  same  position, 


two  years  before,  by  a  large  majority.  Yates  wa." 
elected.  Two  years  later  he  was  re-elected,  over 
John  Calhoun. 

It  was  during  Yates  second  term  in  Congress  tiuit 
the  great  question  of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Coin- 
l)romise  was  agitated,  and  the  bars  laid  down  for  re- 
opening the  dreaded  anti-slavery  question.  He  toi)lc 
strong  grounds  against  the  repeal,  and  thus  became 
identified  with  the  rising  Republican  party.  Conse- 
quently he  fell  into  the  minority  in  his  district,  which 
was  pro-slavery.  Even  then,  in  a  third  contest,  lie 
fell  behind  Major  Harris  only  200  votes,  after  the 
district  had  two  years  before  given  Pierce  2,000 
majority  for  President. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  of  r86o  met  at 
Decatur  May  g,  and  nominated  for  the  office  of  Gov- 
ernor Mr.  Yates,  in  preference  to  Hon.  Norman  B. 
Judd,  of  Chicago,  and  Leonard  Swett,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  two  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  State,  wlio  were 
also  candidates  before  the  Convention.  Francis  A. 
Hoffman,  of  DuPage  County,  was  nominated  for 
Lieutenant  Governor.  This  was  the  year  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  a  candidate  for  President,  a  period  re- 
meijibered  as  characterized  by  the  great  whidpool 
which  precipitated  the  bloody  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
The  Douglas  Democrats  nominated  J.  C.  Allen  of 
Crawford  County,  for  Governor,  and  Lewis  W.  Ro-s, 
of  Fulton  County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The 
Breckenridge  Democrats  and  the  Bell-Everett  party 
had  also  full  tickets  in  the  field.  After  a  most  fear- 
ful campaign,  the  result  of  the  election  gave  Mr. 
Yates  172,196  votes,  and  Mr.  Allen  159,253.  Mr. 
Yates  received  over  a  thousand  more  votes  than  did 
Mr.  Lincoln  himself. 

Gov.  Yates  occupied  the  chair  of  State  during  the 


i6o 


RICHARD    YATES. 


most  critical  period  of  our  country- 's  history.  In  the 
fate  of  the  nation  was  involved  that  of  each  State. 
The  life  struggle  of  the  former  derived  its  sustenance 
from  the  loyalt)'  of  the  latter;  and  Gov.  Yates 
seemed  to  realize  the  situation,  and  proved  himself 
both  loyal  and  wise  in  upholding  the  Government. 
He  had  a  deep  hold  upon  the  affections  of  the 
people,  won  by  his  moving  eloquence  and  genial 
manners.  Erect  and  symmetrical  in  person,  of  pre- 
possessing appearance,  with  a  winning  address  and  a 
magnetic  power,  few  men  possessed  more  of  the  ele- 
ments of  jwpularity.  His  oratory  was  scholarly  and 
captivating,  his  hearers  hardly  knowing  why  they 
were  transjxjrted.  He  was  social  and  convivial.  In 
the  latter  respect  he  was  ultimately  carried  too  far. 

The  very  creditable  military  efforts  of  this  State 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  putting  into  the 
field  the  enormous  number  of  about  200,000  soldiers, 
were  ever  promptly  and  ably  seconded  by  his  excel- 
lency ;  and  the  was  ambitious  to  deserve  the  title  of 
"the  soldier's  friend."  Immediately  after  the  battle  of 
Shiloh  he  repaired  to  the  field  of  carnage  to  look 
after  the  wounded,  and  his  appeals  for  aid  were 
promptly  responded  to  by  the  people.  His  procla- 
mations calling  for  volunteers  were  impassionate 
appeals,  urging  uixju  the  people  the  duties  and  re- 
quirements of  patriotism ;  and  his  special  message 
in  1863  to  the  Democratic  Legislature  of  this  State 
pleading  for  material  aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  of  Illinois  regiments,  breathes  a  deep  fervor 
of  noble  sentiment  and  feeling  rarely  equaled  i.i 
beauty  or  felicity  of  expression.  Generally  his  mes- 
sages on  jxjlitical  and  civil  affairs  were  able  and  com- 
prehensive. During  his  administration,  however, 
there  were  no  civil  events  of  an  engrossing  character, 
although  two  years  of  his  time  were  replete  with 
partisan  quarrels  of  great  bitterness.  Military  ar- 
rests, Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  riot  in  Fulton 
County,  attempted  suppression  of  the  Chicago  Times 
and  the  usurping  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1S62,  were  the  chief  local  topics  that  were  exciting 
during  the  Governor's  term.  This  Convention  assem- 
bled Jan.  7,  and  at  once  took  the  high  iX)sition  that 
' he  law  calling  it  was  no  longer  binding,  and  that  it 
:  ad  supreme  power;  that  it  represented  a  virtual 
assemblage  of  the  whole  people  of  the  State,  and  was 
sovereign  in  the  exercise  of  all  power  necessary  to 
effect  a  peaceable  revolution  of  the  State  Government 


and  to  the  re-establishment  of  one  for  the  "happiness., 
prosperity  and  freedom  of  the  citizens,"  limited  only 
by  the  Federal  Constitution.  Notwithstanding  the 
law  calling  the  Convention  required  its  members  to 
take  an  oath  to  supix)rt  the  Constitution  of  the  State 
as  well  as  that  of  the  general  Government,  they 
utterly  refused  to  take  such  oath.  They  also  as- 
sumed legislative  powers  and  passed  several  imjx)rt- 
ant  "laws!"  Interfering  with  the  (then)  present 
executive  duties,  Gov.  Yates  was  provoked  to  tell 
them  plainly  that  "  he  did  not  acknowledge  the  right 
of  the  Convention  to  instruct  him  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty." 

In  1863  the  Governor  astonished  the  Democrats 
by  "  proroguing  "  their  Legislature.  This  body,  after 
a  recess,  met  June  2,  that  year,  and  soon  began  to 
waste  time  upon  various  partisan  resolutions ;  and, 
while  the  two  houses  were  disagreeing  u[X)n  the 
question  of  adjourning  ««*  die,  the  Governor,  having 
the  authority,  in  such  cases,  surprised  them  all  by 
adjourning  them  "  to  the  Saturday  next  preceding  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  1865  !  "  This  led  to  great 
excitement  and  confusion,  and  to  a  reference  of  the 
Governor's  act  to  the  Supreme  Court,  who  decided  in 
his  favor.  Then  it  was  the  Court's  turn  to  receive 
abuse  for  weeks  and  months  afterward. 

During  the  autumn  of  1864  a  conspiracy  was  de- 
tected at  Chicago  which  had  for  its  object  the  liber- 
ation of  the  prisoners  of  war  at  Camp  Douglas,  the 
burning  of  the  city  and  the  inauguration  of  rebellion 
in  the  North.  Gen.  Sweet,  who  had  charge  of  the 
camp  at  the  time,  first  had  his  suspicions  of  danger 
aroused  by  a  number  of  enigmatically  worded  letters 
which  passed  through  the  Camp  postoffice.  A  de- 
tective afterward  discovered  that  the  rebel  Gen. 
Marmaduke  was  in  the  city,  under  an  assumed 
name,  and  he,  with  other  rebel  officers — Grenfell, 
Morgan,  Cantrell,  Buckner  Morris,  and  Charles 
Walsh — was  arrested,  most  of  whom  were  convicted 
by  a  court-martial  at  Cincinnati  and  sentenced  to 
imprisonment, — Grenfell  to  be  hung.  The  sentence 
of  the  latter  was  afterward  commuted  to  imprison- 
ment for  life,  and  all  the  others,  after  nine  months' 
imprisonment,  were  pardoned. 

In  March,  1873,  Gov.  Yates  was  appointed  a  Gov- 
ernment Director  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  in 
which  office  he  continued  until  his  decease,  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  on  the  27th  of  November  following. 


^ 


GGVERA'ORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


163 


Michard  J.  Oqlesby 
% 


-^^. 


-^3. 


-;rf  :'^UCHARD  J.  OGLESBY,  Gov- 
ernor 1865-8,  and  re-elected 
in  1872  and  1884,  was  born 
July  25,  1824,  in  Oldham  Co., 
Ky., — the  State  which  might 
f^X""^  be  considered  the  "  mother  of 
Illinois  Governors."  Bereft  of 
his  parents  at  the  tender  age 
%>  of  eight  years,  his  early  education 
was  neglected.  When  12  years  of 
age,  and  after  he  had  worked  a  year 
and  a  half  at  tlie  carpenter's  trade, 
he  removed  with  an  uncle,  Willis 
Oglesby,  into  whose  care  he  had 
been  committed,  to  Decatur,  this 
State,  where  he  continued  his  ap- 
prenticeship as  a  mechanic,  working  si.K  months  for 
Hon.  E.  O.  Smith. 

In  1844  he  commenced  studying  law  at  .Spring- 
field, with  Judge  Silas  Robbins,  aud  read  with  him 
one  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1845,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Sullivan,  the  county  seat  of  Moultrie  (bounty. 

The  next  year  the  war  with  Mexico  was  com- 
menced, and  in  June,  1846,  Mr.  Oglesby  volunteered, 
was  elected  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  Fourth  Illinois 
Regiment  of  Volunteers,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Vera  Cruz  and  Cerro  Gordo. 

On  his  return  he  sought  to  perfect  his  law  studies 
by  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  Louisville,  but 
on  the  breaking  out  of  the  California  "gold  fever"  in 
1849,  he  crossed  the  plains  and  mountains  to  the 
new  Eldorado,  driving  a  six-mule  team,  with  a  com- 


^ 


pany  of  eight  men,  Henry  Prather  being  the  leader. 

In  1852  he  returned  home  to  Macon  County,  and 
was  placed  that  year  by  the  Whig  party  on  the  ticket 
of  Presidential  Electors.  In  r8s6  he  visited  Europe, 
Asia  and  Africa,  being  absent  20  months.  On  his 
return  home  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Gallagher,  Wait  &  Oglesby. 
In  1S58  he  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  the 
Lower  House  of  Congress,  but  was  defeated  by  the 
Hon.  James  C.  Robinson,  Democrat.  In  i860  he 
was  elected  to  the  Illinois  State  Senate ;  and  on  the 
evening  the  returns  of  this  election  were  coming  in, 
Mr.  Oglesby  had  a  fisticuff  encounter  with  "  Cerro 
Gordo  Williams,"  in  which  he  came  out  victorious, 
and  which  was  regarded  as  "  the  first  fight  of  the 
Rebellion."  The  following  spring,  when  the  war 
had  commenced  in  earnest,  his  ardent  nature 
quickly  responded  to  the  demands  of  patriotism  and 
he  enlisted.  The  extra  session  of  the  Legislature 
elected  him  Colonel  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
the  second  one  in  the  State  raised  to  suppress  the 
great  Rebellion. 

He  was  shortly  entrusted  with  important  com- 
mands. For  a  time  he  was  stationed  at  Bird's  Point 
and  Cairo;  in  April  he  was  promoted  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral ;  at  Fort  Donelson  his  brigade  was  in  the  van, 
i)eing  stationed  on  the  right  of  General  Grant's  army 
and  the  first  brigade  to  be  attacked.  He  lost  500 
men  before  re-inforcements  arrived.  Many  of  these 
men  were  from  Macon  County.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  and,  in  a  brave  charge  at  this 
place,  was  shot  in  the  left  lung  with  an  ounce  ball, 
and  was  carried  from  the  field  in  expectation  of  im- 


1 64 


RICHARD  J.    OGLESBY. 


mediate  death.  That  rebel  ball  he  carries  to  this 
day.  On  his  partial  recovery  he  was  promoted  as 
Major  General,  for  gdlantry,  his  commission  to  rank 
from  November,  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1S63  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  i6th  Army 
Corps,  but,  owing  to  inability  fron  the  effects  of  his 
wound,  he  relinquished  tliis  command  in  July,  that 
year.  Gen.  Grant,  however,  refused  to  accept  his 
resignation,  and  he  was  detailed,  in  December  folio  w- 
ing,  to  court-martial  and  try  the  Surgeon  General  of 
the  Army  at  Washington,  where  he  remained  until 
May,  1864,  whin  he  returned  home. 

The  Republican,  or  Uiion,  State  Convention  of 

1864  was  held  at  Springfield,  May  25,  when  Mr. 
Oglesby  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Governor, 
while  other  candidates  before  the  Convention  were 
Allen  C.  Fuller,  of  Boone,  Jesse  K.  Dubois,  of  Sanga- 
mon, and  John  M.  Palmer,  of  Macoupin.  VVm. 
Bross,  of  Chicago,  was  nominated  for  Lieutenant 
Governor.  On  the  Democratic  State  ticket  were 
James  C.  Robinson,  of  Clark,  for  Governor,  and  S. 
Corning  Judd,  of  Fulton,  for  Lieutenant  Governor. 
The  general  election  gave  Gen.  Oglesby  a  majority 
of  about  31,000  votes.  The  Republicans  had  also  a 
majority  in  both  thj  Legislature  and  in  the  repre- 
sentation in  Congress. 

Gov.  Oglesby  was  duly  inaugurated  Jan.  i-j,  1865. 
The  day  before  tlie  first  time  set  for  his  installation 
de.ith  visited  his  lu  ne  at  Decatur,  and  took  from  it 
his  only  son,  an  intelligent  and  sprightly  lad  of  six 
years,  a  great  favorite  of  the  bereaved  parents.  This 
caused  the  inauguration  to  be  po3t|X)ned  a  week. 

The  political  events  of  the  Legislative  session  of 

1865  were  the  election  of  ex-Gov.  Yates  to  the 
United  .States  Senate,  and  the  ratification  of  the  13th 
amend. nent  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
abolishing  slavery.  This  session  also  signalized 
itself  by  repealing  the  notorious  "  black  laws,"  part 
of  which,  although  a  dead  letter,  had  held  their  place 
upon  the  statute  books  since  1S19.  Also,  laws  re- 
quiring the  registration  of  voters,  and  establishing  a 
State  Board  of  Equalization,  were  passed  by  this  Leg- 
islature. But  the  same  body  evinced  that  it  was  cor- 
ruptly influenced  by  a  mercenary  lobby,  as  it  adopted 
some  bad  legislation,  over  the  Governor's  veto,  nota- 
bly an  amendment  to  a  charter  for  a  Chicago  horse 
railway,  granted  in  1859  for  25  years,  and  now 
sought  to  be  extended  99  years.  As  this  measure 
was  promptly  passed  ov;r  his  veto  by  both  branches 
of  the  Legislature,  he  deemed  it  useless  further  to 
attempt  to  check  their  headlong  career.  At  this 
session  no  law  of  a  general  useful  character  or  public 
interest  was  perfected,  unless  we  count  such  the 
•urning  over  of  the  canal  to  Chicago  to  be  deepened. 
The  session  of  1867  was  still  more  productive  of 
private  and  special  acts.  Many  omnibus  bills  were 
proposed,  and  some  passed.  Tiie  contests  over  tiie 
..Dcaiion  of  the   Industrial  College,  the  Cipital,  the 


Southern    Penitentiary,  and   the  canal   enlargement 
and   Illinois  River  improvement,  dominated  every 
thing  else. 

During  the  year  1872,  it  became  evident  that  if 
the  Republicans  could  re-elect  Mr.  Oglesby  to  ihe 
office  of  Governor,  they  could  also  elect  him  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  which  they  desired  to  do. 
-Accordingly  they  re-nominated  him  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  and  placed  upon  the  ticket  with  him  for 
Lieutenant  Governor,  John  L.  Beveridge,  of  Cook 
County.  On  the  other  side  the  Democrats  put  into 
the  field  Gustavus  Koerner  for  Governor  and  John 
C.  Black  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  election 
gave  the  Republican  ticket  majorities  ranging  from 
35,334  to  56,174, — the  Democratic  defection  being 
caused  mainly  by  their  having  an  old-time  Whig  and 
.Abolitionist,  Horace  Greeley,  on  the  national  ticket 
for  President.  According  to  the  general  understand- 
ing had  beforehand,  as  soon  as  the  Legislature  met 
it  elected  Gov.  Oglesby  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
whereupon  Mr.  Beveridge  became  Governor.  Sena- 
tor Oglesby 's  term  expired  March  4,  1S79,  having 
served  his  party  faithfully  and  exhibited  an  order  of 
statesmanship  beyond  criticism. 

During  the  campaign  of  1884  Mr.  Oglesby  was 
nominated  for  a  "third  term"  as  E.xecutive  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  against  Carter  H.  Harrison,  Mayor 
of  Cliicago,  nominated  by  the  Democrats.  Both 
gentlemen  "stumped  "  the  State,  and  while  the  peo- 
ple elected  a  Legislature  which  was  a  tie  on  a  joint 
ballot,  as  between  the  two  parties,  they  gave  the 
jovial  "  Dick"  Oglesby  a  majority  of  15,018  for  Gov- 
ernor, and  he  was  inaugurated  Jan.  30,  1S85.  The 
Legislature  did  not  fully  organize  until  this  date,  on 
account  of  its  equal  division  between  the  two  main 
parties  and  the  consequent  desperate  tactics  of  each 
party  to  checkmate  the  latter  in  the  organization  of 
the  House. 

•  Gov.  Oglesby  is  a  fine-appearing,  affable  man,  with 
regular,  well  defined  features  and  rotund  face.  In 
stature  he  is  a  little  above  medium  height,  of  a  large 
frame  and  somewhat  fleshy.  His  physical  appear- 
ance is  striking  and  prepossessing,  while  his  straight- 
out,  not  to  say  bluff,  manner  and  speech  are  well 
calculated  favorably  to  impress  the  average  masses. 
-Ardent  in  feeling  and  strongly  committed  to  the  pol- 
icies of  his  party,  he  intensifies  Republicanism 
among  Republicans,  while  at  the  same  time  his  jovial 
and  liberal  manner  prevents  those  of  the  opposite 
party  from  hating  him. 

He  is  quite  an  effective  stump  orator.  With  vehe- 
ment, passionate  and  scornful  tone  and  gestures, 
tremendous  physical  power,  which  in  speaking  he 
exercises  to  the  utmost;  with  frequent  descents  to 
the  grotesque;  and  with  abundant  homely  compari- 
sons or  frontier  figures,  expressed  in  the  broadest 
vernacular  and  enforced  with  stentorian  emphasis, 
he  delights  a  promiscuous  audience  beyond  measure. 


&._#^^^:^-- 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


IU7 


J  o  HN  M.  Pa  l  mer 


J 

liOHN  Mc  AULEY  PALMER,  Gov- 
ernor 1869-72,  was  born  on 
Eagle  Creek,  Scott  Co.,  Ky., 
Sept.  13,  1S17.  During  his  in- 
fancy, his  father,  who  had  been 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12,  re- 
moved to  Christian  Co.,  Ky., 
where  lands  were  cheap.  Here 
the  future  Governor  of  the  great 
Prairie  State  spent  his  childhood 
and  received  such  meager  school- 
ing as  the  new  and  sparsely  set- 
tled country  afforded.  To  this 
he  added  materially  by  diligent 
reading,  for  which  he  evinced  an 
eaily  aptitude.  His  father,  an  ardent  Jackson  man, 
was  also  noted  for  his  anti-slavery  sentiments,  which 
he  thoroughly  impressed  upon  his  children.  In  1831 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Madison  County. 
Here  tlie  labor  of  improving  a  farm  was  pursued  for 
about  two  years,  when  the  death  of  Mr.  Palmer's 
noiher  broke  up  the  family.  About  this  time  Alton 
College  was  opened,  on  tlie  "manual  labor  "  system, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1834  young  Palmer,  with  his 
elder  brother,  Elihu,  entered  this  school  and  remained 
18  months.  Next,  for  over  three  years,  he  tried 
variously  coopering,  peddling  and  school-teaching. 

Duiing    the    summer  of   1838  he  formed  the  ac- 
quain'Lince  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  then   making  his 


first  canvass  for  Congress.  Young,  eloquent  and  in 
political  accord  with  Mr.  Palmer,  he  won  his  confi- 
dence, fired  his  ambition  and  fixed  his  purpose.  The 
following  winter,  while  teaching  near  Canton,  he  be- 
gan to  devote  his  spare  time  to  a  desultory  reading 
of  law,  and  in  the  spring  entered  a  law  office  at  Car- 
linville,  making  his  home  with  his  elder  brother, 
Elihu.  (The  latter  was  a  learned  clergyman,  of  con- 
siderable orginality  of  thought  and  doctrine.)  On 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar,  Douglas  being  one  of  his  examiners. 
He  was  not  immediately  successful  in  his  profession, 
and  would  have  located  elsewhere  than  Carlinville 
had  he  the  requisite  means.  Thus  his  early  poverty 
was  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  to  it  he  now  attributes 
the  success  of  his  life. 

From    1839  on,  while  he   diligently   pursued    his 
profession,    he    participated    more   or   less    in   local 
politics.     In    1843    he  became  Probate  Judge.     Ip 
1847  '^s  ^^^s  elected  to  the  State  Constitutional  Con 
vention,  where  he  took  a  leading  part.     In    1852  Ik 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  at  the  special 
session  of  February,   1854,  true   to  the  anti-slaverj 
sentiments  bred  in  him,  he  took  a  firm  stand  in  op 
position  to  the  repeal  of  the   Missouri  Compromise, 
and   when  the    Nebraska  question  became  a  [lart] 
issue  he  refused  to  receive  a  re-nomination  for  ths 
Senatorship  at  the  hands  of  the  Democracy,  issuinj, 
a  circular  to  that  effect.     A    few    weeks   afterward 


7r,s 


JOHN  MC  AULEY  PALMER. 


ho  .vever,  hesitating  to  break  with  his  party,  he  par- 
iliipated  in  a  Congressional  Convention  which  nonii- 
r.  L.  Harris  against  Richard  Yates,  and  which 
anqualifiedly  approved  the  principles  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  act.  But  later  in  the  campaign  he  made 
the  plunge,  ran  for  the  Senate  as  an  Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat,  and  was  elected.  The  following  winter 
he  put  in  nomination  for  the  .United  States  Sejiate 
Mr.  Trumbull,  and  was  one  of  the  five  steadfast  men 
who  voted  for  liim  until  all  the  Whigs  came  to  their 
support  and  elected  their  man. 

In  1856  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State 
Convention  at  Bloomington.  He  ran  for  Congress  in 
1859,  but  was  defeated.  In  i860  he  was  Republican 
Presidential  Elector  for  the  State  at  large.  In  1861 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  five  Delegates  (all  Re- 
publicans) sent  by  Illinois  to  the  peace  congress  at 
Washington. 

When  the  civil  conflict  broke  out,  he  offered  his 
services  to  his  country,  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  the 
14th  111.  Vol.  Inf,  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
at  Island  No.  10;  at  Farir.ington,  where  he  skillfully 
extricated  his  command  from  a  dangerous  position  ; 
at  Stone  River,  where  his  division  for  several  hours, 
Dec.  31,  1862,  held  the  advance  and  stood  like  a 
rock,  and  for  his  gallantry  there  he  was  made  Major 
Ceneral;  at  Chickamauga,  where  his  and  Van  Cleve's 
divisions  for  two  hours  maintained  their  position 
when  they  were  cut  off"  by  overpowering  numbers. 
Under  Gen.  ShermaUj  he  was  assigned  to  the  i4lh 
.\rniv  Corps  and  participated  in  the  .\tlanta  campaign. 
At  Peacii-Tree  Creek  his  prudence  did  much  to  avert 
disaster.  In  February,  1865,  Gen.  Palmer  was  as- 
Figned  to  the  military  administration  of  Kentucky, 
which  was  a .  delicate  post.  That  State  was  about 
half  rebel  and  half  Union,  and  those  of  the  latter 
element  were  daily  fretted  by  the  loss  of  their  slaves. 
He,  who  had  been  bred  to  the  rules  of  common  law, 
trembled  at  the  contemplation  of  his  extraordinary 
power  ovjr  the  persons  and  property  of  his  fellow 
men,  with  which  he  was  vested  in  his  capacity  as 
military  Governor;  and  he  exhibited  great  caution  in 
the  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  post. 

Gen.  Palmjr  was  nominated  for  Governor  of  Illi- 
nois by  the  Republican  State  Convention  which  met 
at  Pe  )ri  I  M.iy  6,  186S,  and  his  nomination  would 
l)robably  have  been  made  by  acclamation  had  he  not 
oersi^ten^ly  declared  that  he  could  not  accept  a  can- 


didature for  the  office.  The  result  of  the  ensuing 
election  gave  Mr.  Palmer  a  majority  of  44,707  over 
John  R.  Eden,  the  Democratic  nominee. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  January, 
1869,  the  first  thing  to  arrest  public  attention  was 
that  portion  of  the  Governor's  message  which  took 
broad  State's  rights  ground.  This  and  some  minor 
points,  which  were  more  in  keeping  with  the  Demo- 
cratic sentiment,  constituted  the  entering  wedge  fir 
the  criticisms  and  reproofs  he  afterward  received 
from  the  Republican  party,  and  ultimately  resulted 
in  his  entire  aleniation  from  the  latter  element.  The 
Legislature  just  referred  to  was  noted  for  the  intro- 
duction of  numerous  bills  in  the  interest  of  private 
parties,  which  were  embarrassing  to  the  Governor. 
Among  the  public  acts  passed  was  that  which  limited 
railroad  charges  for  passenger  travel  to  a  maximum 
of  three  cents  per  mile ;  and  it  was  passed  over  the 
Governor's  veto.  Also,  they  passed,  over  his  veto, 
the  "tax-grabbing  law"  to  pay  r^.ilrosd  subscriptions, 
the  Chicago  Lake  Front  bill,  etc.  The  new  State 
Constitution  of  1870,  far  superior  to  the  old,  was  a 
peaceful  "  revolution"  which  took  place  during  Gov. 
Palmer's  term  of  office.  The  suffering  caused  by  the 
great  Chicago  Fire  of  October,  187 1,  was  greatly 
alleviated  by  the  prompt  responses  of  his  excellency. 

Since  the  expiration  of  Gov.  Palmers 's  term,  he  has 
been  somewhat  prominent  in  Illinois  politics,  and 
has  been  talked  of  by  many,  especially  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  as  the  best  man  in  the  State  for  a 
United  States  Senator.  His  business  during  life  has 
been  that  of  the  law.  Few  excel  him  in  an  accurate 
appreciation  of  the  depth  and  scope  of  its  principles. 
The  great  number  of  his  able  veto  messages  abun- 
dantly testify  not  only  this  but  also  a  rare  capacity  to 
point  them  out.  He  is  a  logical  and  cogent  reasoner 
and  an  interesting,  forcible  and  convincing  speaker, 
though  not  fluent  or  ornate.  Without  brilliancy,  his 
dealings  are  rather  with  facts  and  ideas  than  with 
appeals  to  passions  and  prejudices.  He  is  a  patriot 
and  a  statesman  of  very  high  order.  Physically  he  is 
above  the  medium  height,  of  robust  frame,  ruddy 
complexion  and  sanguine-nervous  temperament.  He 
lias  a  large  cranial  development,  is  vivacious,  social 
in  disposition,  easy  of  approach,  unostentatious  in  his 
liabits  of  life,  democratic  in  his  habits  and  manners 
and  is  a  true  American  in  his  fundamental  princiiilc 
of  statesmanship. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


17T 


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OHN  LOWRiE  BEVER- 
IDGE,  (Governor  1S7  -1-6,  was 
■■'^  born  111  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  6,  1S24.  His  parents 
were  George  and  Ann  Bever- 
idge.  His  father's  parents,  An- 
drew and  Isabel  Bcveridge,  be- 
fore their  marriage  emigrated 
from  Scotland  just  before  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  in 
Washington  County.  His  father 
was  the  eldest  of  eight  brothers,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  60  years  of 
age  when  the  first  one  of  the  num- 
ber died.  His  mother's  parents, 
James  and  Agnes  Hoy,  emigrated 
from  Scotland  at  the  close  of  tlic 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  also  in 
Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  their 
first-born,  whose  "  native  land  "  was 
the  wild  ocean.  His  parents  and 
grandparents  lived  beyond  the  time 
allotted  to  man,  their  average  age 
being  over  80  years.  They  belonged  to  the  "  Asso- 
ciate  Cliurch,"   a   seceding   Presbyterian    body    of 


America  from  the  old  Scotch  school ;  and  so  rigid 
was  the  training  of  young  Beveridge  that  he  never 
heard  a  sermon  from  any  other  minister  except  that 
of  his  own  denomination  until  he  was  in  his  lytli 
year.  Later  in  life  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  wliich  relation  he  still 
holds. 

Mr.  Beveridge  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation, but  his  parents,  who  could  obtain  a  livelihood 
only  by  rigid  economy  and  industry,  could  not  send 
him  away  to  college.  He  was  raised  upon  a  farm, 
and  was  in  liis  i8th  year  when  the  family  removed 
to  De  Kalb  County,  this  State,  when  that  section  was 
very  sparsely  settled.  Chicago  had  less  than  7,000 
inhabitants.  In  this  wild  West  he  continued  as  a 
farm  laborer,  teaching  school  during  the  winter 
months  to  supply  the  means  of  an  education.  In  the 
fill  of  1842  he  attended  one  term  at  the  academy  at 
Granville,  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  and  subsequently  several 
terms  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary  at  Mount  Morris, 
Ogle  Co.,  111.,  completing  the  academic  course.  At 
this  time,  the  fall  of  1845,  ^'^  parents  and  brothers 
were  anxious  to  have  him  go  to  college,  even  though 
he  had  not  money  sufficient;  but,  njt  willing  to  bur- 
den the  family,  he  packed  his  trunk  and  with  only 
$40    in  money    started    South    to   seek    his  fortune. 


JOHN  L.  BEVERIDGE. 


Vvjor,  alone,  witliout  friends  and  influence,  he  thus 
entered  upon  the  battle  of  life. 

First,  he  taught  school  in  Wilson,  Overton  and 
Jackson  Cos.,  Tenn.,  in  which  experience  he  under- 
went considerable  mental  drill,  both  in  book  studies 
and  in  the  ways  of  the  world.  He  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  in  the  South,  bat  did  not  learn 
to  love  the  institution  of  slavery,  although  he  ad- 
mired many  features  of  Southern  character.  In  De- 
cember, 1847,  he  returned  North,  and  Jan.  20,  1S48, 
he  married  Miss  Helen  M.  Judson,  in  the  old  Clark- 
Street  M.  E.  church  in  Chicago,  her  father  at  that 
time  being  Pastor  of  the  society  there.  In  the  spring 
of  1848  he  returned  with  his  wife  to  Tennessee, 
where  his  two  children.  Alia  May  and  Philo  Judson, 
were  born. 

In  the  fall  of  1S49,  through  the  mismanagement 
of  an  associate,  he  lost  what  little  he  had  accumu- 
lated and  was  left  in  debt.  He  soon  managed  to 
earn  means  to  pay  his  debts,  returned  to  De  Kalb 
Co.,  111.,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Sycamore,  the  county  seat.  On  arrival 
from  the  South  he  had  but  one-quarter  of  a  dollar  in 
money,  and  scanty  clothing  and  bedding  for  himself 
and  family.  He  borrowed  a  little  money,  practiced 
law,  worked  in  public  offices,  kept  books  for  some  of 
the  business  men  of  the  town,  and  some  railroad  en- 
gineering, till  the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  removed 
to  Evanston,  12  miles  north  of  Chicago,  a  place  then 
but  recently  laid  out,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Northwestern  University,  a  Methodist  institution. 
Of  the  latter  his  father-in-law  was  then  financial 
agent  and  business  manager.  Here  Mr.  Beveridge 
prospered,  and  the  next  year  (1855)  opened  a  law 
office  in  Chicago,  where  he  found  the  battle  some- 
what hard;  but  he  persevered  with  encouragement 
and  increasing  success. 

Aug.  12,  1861,  his  law  partner.  Gen.  John  F. 
Farnsworth,  secured  authority  to  raise  a  regiment  of 
cavalry,  and  authorized  Mr.  Beveridge  to  raise  a 
company  for  it.  He  succeeded  in  a  few  days  in  rais- 
ing the  company,  of  course  enlisting  himself  along 
with  it.  The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Charles, 
m.,  was  mustered  in  Sept.  18,  and  on  its  organiza- 
tion Mr.  B.  was  elected  Second  Major.  It  was  at- 
tached, Oct.  ir,  to  tiie  Eighth  Cavalry  and  to  the 
Army  of  tlie  Potomac.  He  served  wit'.i  tlie  regiment 
until  November,  1863,  participating  in  some  40  bat- 


tles and  skirmishes  :  was  at  Fair  Oaks,  the  seven  days 
fight  around  Richmond,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville  and  Gettysburg.  He  commanded  the  regiment 
the  greater  part  of  the  summer  of  1S63,  and  it  was  while 
lying  in  camp  this  year  that  he  originated  the  policy 
of  encouraging  recruits  as  well  as  the  fighting  capac- 
ity of  the  soldiery,  by  the  wholesale  furlough  system. 
It  worked  so  well  that  many  other  officers  adopted 
it.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  he  recruited  another  com- 
pany, against  heavy  odds,  in  January,  1864,  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  the  17th  111.  Cav.,  and 
skirmished  around  in  Missouri,  concluding  with  the 
reception  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's 
army  in  Arkansas.  In  1865  he  commanded  various 
sub-districts  in  the  Southwest.  He  was  mustered 
out  Feb.  6,  1S66,  safe  from  the  casualties  of  war  and 
a  stouter  man  than  when  he  first  enlisted.  His  men 
idolized  him. 

He  then  returned  to  Chicago,  to  practice  law,  with 
no  library  and  no  clientage,  and  no  political  experi- 
ence except  to  help  others  into  office.  In  the  fall  of 
1S66  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Cook  County,  serving 
one  term;  next,  until  November,  1870,  he  practiced 
law  and  closed  up  the  unfinished  business  of  his 
office.  He  was  then  elected  State  Senator;  in  No- 
vember, 187 1,  he  was  elected  Congressman  at  large; 
in  November,  1S72,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Oglesby;  the  latter  be- 
ing elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  Mr.  Beveridge  became 
Governor,  Jan.  2r,  1873.  Thus,  inside  of  a  few 
weeks,  he  was  Congressman  at  large.  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Governor.  The  principal  events  oc- 
curring during  Gov.  Beveridge 's  administration  were: 
The  completion  of  the  revision  of  the  statutes,  begun 
in  1869;  the  partial  success  of  tlie  "farmers'  move- 
ment;" "  Haines'  Legislature  "  and  Illinois'  exhibit  at 
the  Centennial. 

Since  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term  ex-Gov. 
Beveridge  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bever- 
idge &  Dewey,  bankers  and  dealers  in  commercial 
paper  at  7 1  Dearborn  Street  (McCormick  Block), 
Chicago,  and  since  November,  1 881,  he  has  also  been 
Assistant  United  States  Treasurer :  office  in  the 
Government  Building.  His  residence  is  still  at  Ev- 
anston. 

He  has  a  brother  and  two  sisters  yet  residing  in 
De  Kalb  County — James  H.  Beveridge,  Mrs.  Jennet 
Henry  and  Mrs.  Isabel  French. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


I7S 


Sk 


Seelb-  y  M.  Cullom, 


*:y     ■'U^'    ■»    '-i-i 


w 


'  HELBY  M.  CULLOM,  Gover- 
r.or  iS77-83,is  the  sixth  child 
of  the  late  Richard  N.  Cullom, 
and  was  bora  Nov.  22,  1829,  in 
Wayne  Co.,  Ky.,  where  his  fa- 
ther then  resided,  and  whence 
both  the  Illinois  and  Tennessee 
branches  of  the  family  originated.  In 
the  following  year  the  family  emi- 
grated to  the  vicinity  of  Washington, 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  when  that  section 
was  very  sparsely  settled.  They  lo- 
cated on  Deer  Creek,  in  a  grove  at 
the  time  occupied  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians, attracted  there  by  the  superior 
hunting  and  fishing  afforded  in  that 
vicinity.  The  following  winter  was 
known  as  the  "  hard  winter,"  the  snow  being  very 
deep  and  lasting  and  the  weather  severely  cold;  and 
the  family  had  to  subsist  mainly  on  boiled  corn  or 
hominy,  and  some  wild  game,  for  several  weeks.  In 
the  course  of  time  Mr.  R.  N.  Cullom  became  a  jjrom- 
inent  citizen  and  was  several  times  elected  to  the 
Legisl'ature,  both  before  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
cajiital  from  Vaudalia  to  Springfiv^ld.    He  died  about 

'873- 

Until  about  19  years  of  age  young  Cullom  grew  up 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  attendi-.ig  school  as  he  had 
opportunity  during  the  winter.  Witlitn  this  time, 
nov/ever,  he  spent  several   months  teaching'  school 


and  in  the  following  summer  he  "broke  prairie  "with 
an  ox  team  for  the  neighbors.  With  the  money  ob- 
tained by  these  various  ventures,  he  undertook  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary,  a 
Methodist  institution  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  County; 
but  the  sudden  change  to  the  in-door  life  of  a  stu- 
dent told  severely  upon  his  health,  and  he  was  taken 
home,  being  considered  in  a  hopeless  condition.  While 
at  Mt.  Morris  he  heard  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  make 
his  first  speech. 

On  recovering  health,  Mr.  Cullom  concluded  to 
study  law,  under  tlie  instruction  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
at  Springfield,  who  had  by  this  time  attained  some 
notoriety  as  an  able  lawyer;  but  the  latter,  being  ab- 
sent from  his  office  most  of  the  time,  advised  Mr. 
Cullom  to  enter  the  office  of  Stuart  &  Edwards. 
After  about  a  year  of  study  there,  however,  his  health 
failed  again,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  once  more 
to  out-door  life.  Accordingly  he  bought  hogs  for 
packing,  for  A.  G.  Tyngj  '»  I'eoria,  and  while  he  re- 
gained his  health  he  gained  in  purse,  netting  $400  in 
a  few  weeks.  Having  been  admitted  to  the  Bar,  ho 
went  to  .Springfield,  where  he  was  soon  elected  City 
.'Vttoruey,  on  the  .\nti-Nebraska  ticket. 

In  1856  he  ran  on  the  Fillmore  ticket  as  a  Presi- 
dential Elector,  and,  although  failing  to  be  elected  as 
such,  he  was  at  tiie  same  time  elected  a  Re|)rescnta- 
tive  in  the  Legislature  from  Sangamon  County,  by  a 
local  coalition  of  the  American  and  Republican  par- 
ties. On  the  organization  of  the  House,  he  received 
the  vote  of  the  Fillmore  men  for  Speaker.    Practicing; 


176 


SHELBY  M.    CULLOM. 


law  until  1S60,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, as  a  Republican,  while  the  county  went  Demo- 
cratic on  the  Presidential  ticket.  In  January  follow- 
ing he  was  elected  Speaker,  probably  the  youngest 
man  who  had  ever  presided  over  an  Illinois  Legis- 
lature. After  the  session  of  1861,  he  was  a  candidate 
for  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  called  for 
that  year,  but  was  defeated,  and  thus  escaped  the 
disgrace  of  being  connected  with  that  abortive  parly 
scheme  to  revolutionize  the  State  Government.  In 
1862  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate,  but 
was  defeated.  The  same  year,  however,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lincoln  on  a  Government 
Commission,  in  company  with  Gov.  Boutwell  of 
Massachusetts  and  Cnarles  A.  Dana,  since  of  the 
N"ew  York  Sun,  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the 
Quartermaster's  and  Commissary  Departments  at 
Cairo.     He  devoted  several  months  to  this  duty. 

In  1864  he  enteted  upon  a  larger  political  field, 
being  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for 
Congress  from  the  Eighth  (Springfield)  District,  in 
opposition  to  the  incumbent,  JohnT.  Stuart,  who  had 
been  elected  in  1862  by  about  1,500  majority  over 
Leonard  Swett,  then  of  Bloomington,  now  of  Chicago. 
The  result  was  the  election  of  Mr.  Cullom  in  Novem- 
ber following  by  a  majority  of  1,785.  In  1866  he 
was  re-elected  to  Congress,  over  Dr.  E.  S.  Fowler,  by 
the  magnificent  majority  of  4  103!  In  1868  he  was 
again  a  candidate,  defeating  the  Hon.  B.  S.  Edwards, 
another  of  his  old  preceptors,  by  2,884  votes. 

During  his  first  term  in  Congress  he  served  on  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  Expenditures  in 
the  Treasury  Department;  in  his  second  term,  on 
the  Committees  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  on  Territories ; 
and  in  his  third  term  he  succeeded  Mr.  Ashley,  of 
Ohio,  to  the  Chairmanship  of  the  latter.  He  intro- 
duced a  bill  in  the  House,  to  aid  in  the  execution  of 
law  in  Utah,  which  caused  more  consternation  among 
the  Mormons  than  any  measure  had  previously,  but 
which,  though  it  passed  the  House,  failed  to  pass  tlie 
Senate. 

The  Republican  Convention  which  met  May  25, 
1876,  nominated  Mr.  Cullom  for  Governor,  while  the 
other  contestant  was  Gov.  Beveridge.  For  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor they  nominated  Andrew  Shuman,  editor 
of  the  Chicago  Journal.  For  the  same  offices  the 
Democrats,  combining  with  the  Anti-Monopolists, 
placed    in    nomination    Lewis   Steward,   a  wealthy 


farmer  and  manufacturer,  and  A.  A.  Glenn.  The 
result  of  the  election  was  rather  close,  Mr.  Cullom 
obtaining  only  6,800  majority.  He  was  inaugurated 
Jan.  8,  1877. 

Great  depression  prevailed  in  financial  circles  at 
this  time,  as  a  consequence  of  the  heavy  failures  of 
1873  and  afterward,  the  effect  of  which  had  seemed 
to  gather  force  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  Gov. 
Cullom's  first  administration.  This  unspeculative 
period  was  not  calculated  to  call  forth  any  new 
issues,  but  the  Governor's  energies  were  at  one  time 
put  to  task  to  quell  a  spirit  of  insubordination  that 
had  been  begun  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  among  the  laboring 
classes,  and  transferred  to  Illinois  at  Chicago,  East 
St.  Louis  and  Braidwood,  at  which  places  laboring 
men  for  a  short  time  refused  to  work  or  allow  others 
to  work.  These  disturbances  were  soon  quelled  and 
the  wheels  of  industry  again  set  in  motion. 

In  May,  i88o,  Gov.  Cullom  was  re-nominated  by 
the  Republicans,  against  Lyman  Trumbull,  by  the 
Democrats;  and  although  theformer  party  was  some- 
what handicapped  in  the  campaign  by  a  zealous 
faction  opposed  to  Grant  for  President  and  to  Grant 
men  for  office  generally,  Mr.  Cullom  was  re-elected 
by  about  314,565,  to  277,532  for  the  Democratic  State 
ticket.  The  Greenback  vote  at  the  same  tmie  was 
about  27,000.  Both  Houses  of  the  Legislature  again 
became  Republican,  and  no  representative  of  the 
Greenback  or  Socialist  parties  were  elected.  Gov. 
Cullom  was  inaugurated  Jan.  10,  1S81.  In  his  mes- 
sage he  announced  that  the  last  dollar  of  the  State 
debt  had  been  provided  for. 

M.irch  4,  1883,  the  term  of  David  Davis  as  United 
States  Senator  from  Illinois  e.\p:red,  and  Gov.  Cul- 
lom was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  This  promoted 
Lieutenant-Governor  John  M.  Hamilton  to  the  Gov- 
ernorship. Senator  Cullom's  term  in  the  United 
States  Senate  will  expire  March  4,  1889. 

Ai  a  practitioner  oflaw  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Cullom,  Scholes  &  Mather,  a!  Spring- 
field ;  and  he  has  also  been  President  of  the  State 
National  Bank. 

He  has  been  married  twice, — the  first  time  Dec. 
12,  1855,  to  Miss  Hannah  Fisher,  by  whom  he  had 
two  daughters;  and  the  second  time  May  5,  1863, 
to  Julia  Fisher.  Mrs.  C  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  with  which  religious  body  Mr. 
C.  is  also  in  sympathy. 


yfS^ifes- 


..r^:? 


^(Ayo^^yU^z.^ 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'79 


A  :^L/>s>s>  :^^ 


N;i^^*;is-«>^:Ke^s;g^i^sis^S;C*^$;;&>s*;::*#S;g<^;K^**;-;ij<j^s;;^ 


^^^^ 


^«s-^^ 


OHN  MARSHALL  HAMIL- 
^j,  TON,  Governor  1883-5,  ^^^ 
born  May  28,  1847,  in  a  log 
liouse  upon  a  farm  about  two 
miles  from  Richwood,  Union 
County,  Ohio.  His  father  was 
Samuel  Hamilton,  the  eldest  son 
of  Rev.  VVm.  Hamilton,  who,  to- 
gether with  his  brother,  the  Rev. 
\'  Samuel  Hamilton,  was  among  the 
early  pioneer  Methodist  preachers  in 
Ohio.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was,  before  her  marriage, 
Mrs.  Nancy  McMoiris,  who  was 
born  and  raised  in  Fauquier  or  Lou- 
doun County,  Va.,  and  related  to  the 
two  large  families  of  Youngs  and  Marshalls,  well 
known  in  that  commonwealth;  and  from  the  latter 
family  name  was  derived  the  middle  name  of  Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In  March,  1854,  Mr.  Hamilton's  father  sold  out 
his  little  pioneer  forest  home  in  Union  County,  C, 
and,  loading  his  few  household  effects  and  family 
(of  six  children)  into  two  emigrant  covered  wagons, 
moved  to  Roberts  Township.  Marshall  Co.,  111.,  being 
21  days  on  the  route.  Swamps,  unbridged  streams 
and  innumerable  hardships  and  privations  met  them 
on  their  way.  Their  new  home  had  been  previously 
selected  by  the  father.  Here,  after  many  long  years 
of  toil,  they  succeeded  in  payii.g  for  the  land  and 
making  a  coinforfal>le.  home.     John  was,  of  course, 


brought  up  to  hard  manual  labor,  with  no  schooling 
except  three  or  four  months  in  the  year  at  a  common 
country  school.  However,  he  evinced  a  capacity 
and  taste  for  a  high  order  of  self-education,  by 
studying  or  reading  what  books  he  could  borrow,  as 
the  family  had  but  very  few  in  the  house.  Much  of 
his  study  he  prosecuted  by  the  light  of  a  log  fire  in 
the  old-fashioned  chimney  place.  The  financial 
panic  of  1S57  caused  the  family  to  come  near  losing 
their  home,  to  pay  debts ;  but  the  father  and  two 
sons,  William  and  John,  "buckled  to''  and  perse 
vered  in  hard  labor  and  economy  until  they  redeemed 
their  place  from  the  mortgage. 

When  the  tremendous  excitement  of  the  political 
campaign  of  1S60  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Rob- 
erts Township,  young  Hamilton,  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  took  a  zeal- 
ous [)art  in  favor  of  Lincoln's  election.  Making  speci.il 
efforts  to  procure  a  little  money  to  buy  a  uniform,  he 
joined  a  company  of  Lincoln  Wide-Awakes  at  M.ng- 
nolia,  a  village  not  far  away.  Directly  after  the 
ensuing  election  it  became  evident  that  trouble 
would  ensue  with  the  South,  and  this  Wide-Awake 
company,  like  many  others  throughout  the  country, 
kept  up  its  organization  and  transformed  itself  into  a 
military  company.  During  the  ensuing  summer  they 
met  often  for  drill  and  became  proficient ;  but  wheji 
they  offered  themselves  for  the  war,  young  Hamilton 
was  rejected  on  account  of  his  youth,  he  being  then 
but  .14  years  of  age.  During  the  winter  of  1863-4  lie 
attended  an  academy  at  Henry,   Marshall  County. 


i8o 


JOHN  MARSHALL  HAMILTON. 


and  in  the  following  May  he  again  enlisted,  for  the 
fourth  time,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  141st  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  a  regiment  then  being  raised  at  Elgin,  111., 
for  the  100-day  service.  He  took  with  him  13  other 
lads  from  his  neighborhood,  for  enlistment  in  the 
service.  This  regiment  operated  in  Soulhwesteni 
Kentucky,  for  about  five  months,  under  Gen.  Paine. 
The  following  winter,  1864-5,  •^'■-  Hamilton  taught 
school,  and  during  the  two  college  years  1865-7,  he 
went  through  three  years  of  tlie  curriculum  of  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  Tlie 
third  year  he  graduated,  the  fourth  in  a  class  of  46^ 
in  the  classical  department.  In  due  time  he  received 
the  degree  of  M.  A.  For  a  few  months  he  was  the 
Principal  of  Marshall  "  College  "  at  Henry,  an  acad- 
emy under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  By 
this  time  he  had  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and 
after  earning  some  money  as  a  temporary  Professor 
of  Latin  at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Weldon, 
Tipton  &  Benjamin,  of  that  city.  Each  member  of 
this  firm  has  since  been  distinguished  as  a  Judge. 
.Admitted  to  the  Bar  in  May,  1870,  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  given  an  interest  in  the  same  firm,  Tipton  hav- 
ing been  elected  Judge.  In  October  following  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  H.  Rowell,  at  that  time 
Prosecuting  Attorney.  Their  business  was  then 
small,  but  they  increased  it  to  very  large  proportions, 
practicing  in  all  grades  of  courts,  including  even  the 
U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  and  this  partnersliip  continued 
unbroken  until  Feb.  6,  1883,  when  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  sworn  in  as  Executive  of  Illinois.  On  the  4th 
of  March  following  Mr.  Rowell  took  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress. 

In  July,  187 1,  Mr.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Helen 
M.  Williams,  the  daughter  of  Prof.  \Vm.  G,  Williams, 
Professor  of  Greek  in  the  Ohio  Wejleyan  University. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  two  daughters  and  one  son. 

In  1876  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publicans for  the  State  Sen.ite,  over  other  and  older 
competitors.  He  took  an  active  part  '■  0:1  the  stump  " 
in  the  campaign,  for  the  success  of  his  party,  and  was 
sleeted  by  a  majority  of  1,640  over  his  Democratic- 
Greenback  opponent.  In  the  Senate  he  served  on 
the  Committees  on  Judiciary,  Revenue,  State  Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations,  Education,  and  on  Miscel'- 
lany ;  and  during  the  contest  for  the  election  of  a 
U.  S.  Senator,  the  Republicans  endeavoring  to  re- 


elect John  A.  Logan,  he  voted  for  the  war  chief  on 
every  ballot,  even  alone  when  all  the  other  Republi- 
cans had  gone  over  to  the  Hon.  E.  B.  Lawrence  and 
the  Democrats  and  Independents  elected  Judge 
David  Davis.  At  this  session,  also,  was  passed  the 
first  Board  of  Health  and  Medical  Practice  act,  of 
which  Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  champion,  agair;;  ,  ; 
much  opposition  that  the  bill  was  several  times 
"  laid  on  the  table."  Also,  this  session  authorized 
the  location  and  establishment  of  a  southern  peri- 
tentiary,  which  was  fixed  at  Chester.  In  the  session 
of  1879  Mr.  Hamilton  was  elected  Vxt.%\A&xA  fro  tern. 
of  the  Senate,  and  was  a  zealous  supporter  of  John 
A.  Logan  for  the"  U.  S.  Senate,  who  war,  this  time 
elected  without  any  trouble. 

In  May,  1880,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  on 
the  Republican  ticket  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  his 
principal  competitors  before  the  Convention  being 
Hon.  Wm.  A.  James,  ex- Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  Judge  Robert  Bell,  of  Wabash 
County,  Hon.  T.  T.  Fountain,  of  Perry  County,  and 
Hon.  M.  M.  Saddler,  of  Marion  County.  He  engaged 
actively  in  the  campaign,  and  his  ticket  was  elected 
by  a  majority  of  41,200.  As  Lieutenant  Governor, 
he  presided  almost  continuously  over  the  Senate  in 
the  32d  General  .Assembly  and  during  the  early  days 
of  the  33d,  until  he  succeeded  to  the  Governorship. 
When  the  Legislature  of  1883  elected  Gov.  Cullom 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hamilton 
succeeded  him,  under  the  Constitution,  taking  the 
oath  of  office  Feb.  6,  1883.  He  bravely  met  all  the 
annoyances  and  embarrassments  incidental  upon 
taking  up  another's  administration.  The  principal 
events  with  which  Gov.  Hamilton  was  connected  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  State  were,  the  mine  dis- 
aster at  Braidwood,  the  riots  in  St.  Clair  and  Madison 
Counties  in  May,  1883,  the  appropriations  for  the 
State  militia,  the  adoption  of  the  Harper  high-license 
liquor  l.iw,  the'vetoof  a  dangerous  railroad  bill,  etc. 

The  Governor  was  a  Delegate  at  large  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention  at  Chicago  in  June, 

1884,  where  his  first  choice  for  President  was  John 
A.  Logan,  and  second  choice  Chester  A.  .\rthur;  but 
he  afterward  zealously  worked  for  the  election  of  Mr. 
Blaine,  true  to  his  party. 

Mr.  Hamilton's  term  as  Governor  expired  Jan.  30, 

1885,  wlien  the  great  favorite  "Dick"  Oglesby  was 
inauourated. 


J25*Nk, 


JOSEPH  w.  fifi-:r. 


183 


4i»^ 


.^e.'iS^iSit 


> •o*o..@>>,A^..o«o. -v 


■9* 


osKPH    WILSON    FIFf:R.     This 
1 
5:       distiiiguisLed     gentleman     was 

(*^t«  elected  Governor  of  Illinois 
,%'•■  November  6,  1888.  He  was 
[  \.  popularly  known  daring  the 
^  X'  campaign  as  "Private  Joe."  He 
had  served  with  great  devotion 
to  his  country  during  the  Ke- 
bellion.  in  the  Thirty-third 
Illinois  Infantry.  A  native  of 
Virginia,  he  was  born  in  1840. 
His  parents,  John  and  ^larj- 
(Daniels)  Fifer,  were  American 
born,  though  of  (German  de- 
scent. His  father  was  a  brick 
and  stone  mason,  and  an  old 
Henry  Clay  Whig  in  politics.  John  and  Mary 
Fifer  had  nine  children,  of  whom  Joseph  was  the 
sixth,  and  naturally  witli  so  large  a  family  it  was 
.all  the  father  could  do  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the 
door;  to  say  nothing  of  giving  his  children  any- 
thing like  good  educational  advantages. 

Young  Joseph  attended  school  some  in  Vir- 
ginia, but  it  w!us  not  a  good  school,  and  when 
his  father  removed  to  the  West,  iu  1857,  Joseph  had 
not  advanced  much  further  than  the  "First  Reader." 


■^T 


Our  subject  was  sixteen  then  and  suffered  a  great 
misfortune  iu  the  loss  of  his  mother.  After  the  deal  h 
of  Mrs.  Fifer,  which  occurred  in  Missouri,  tlie 
family  returned  to  Virginia,  but  remained  only  a 
short  time,  as  during  the  same  year  Mr.  Fifer 
came  to  Illinois.  He  settled  in  McLean  County  and 
started  a  brickyard.  Here  Joseph  and  his  broth- 
ers were  put  to  work.  The  elder  Fifer  soon 
bought  a  farm  near  Bloomington  and  began  life  as 
an  agriculturalist.  Here  Joe  worked  and  .attended 
the  neighboring  school.  He  alternated  farm-work, 
brick-la3ing,  and  going  to  the  district  school  for 
the  succeeding  few  years.  It  was  all  work  and  no 
play  for  Joe,  j^et  it  by  no  means  niade  a  dull  buy 
of  him.  All  the  time  he  was  thinking  of  the  great 
world  outside,  of  which  he  had  caught  a  glimpse 
when  coming  from  Virginia,  yet  he  did  not  know 
just  how  he  was  going  to  get  out  into  it.  He 
could  not  feel  that  the  woods  around  the  new 
farm  and  the  log  cabin,  in  which  the  family  lived, 
were  to  hold  him. 

The  opportunity  to  get  out  into  the  world  was 
soon  offered  to  young  Joe.  He  traveled  a  dozen 
miles  barefoot,  in  company'  with  his  brother  (ieorge, 
and  enlisted  in  Company  C,  33d  Illinois  Infantry; 
he  being  then  twenty  years  old.     In  a   few   day 


184 


JOSEPH  W.  FIFER. 


tl'.e  regiment  was  sent  to  Camp  Butler,  and  then 
over  into  Missouri,  and  saw  some  vigorous  service 
tliere.  After  a  second  time  lielping  to  cliase  Price 
out  of  Missouri,  tlie  33d  Kegiment  went  down 
to  Milliken's  Bend,  and  for  several  weeks  ■•  Private 
Joe"  worked  on  Grant's  famous  ditcii.  The  regi- 
ment then  joined  the  forces  operating  against  Port 
(iibson  and  Vicksburg.  Joe  was  on  guard  duty  in 
the  front  ditches  when  the  flag  of  surrender  was 
run  \\\)  on  the  4th  of  July,  and  stuck  the  ba^-onet 
of  his  gun  into  the  embankment  and  went  into  the 
cit}'  with  the  vanguard  of  I'nion  soldiers. 

The  next  da3%  Jul3'  5,  the  38d  joined  the  force 
after  Johnston,  who  had  been  threatening  Grant's 
rear;  and  tinally  an  assault  w;is  made  on  him  at 
Jackson,  Miss.  In  this  charge  -^Private  Joe"  fell,  ter- 
ribly' wounded.  He  was  loading  his  gun  when  a 
minie-ball  struck  him  and  passed  entirel}"  through 
ins  body.  He  was  regarded  as  mortally  wounded. 
His  brother,  George,  who  had  Ijeen  made  a  Lieu- 
tenant, proved  to  be  tlie  means  of  saving  his  life. 
Tlie  Surgeon  told  him  unless  he  had  ice  liis  brotlier 
Joe  cf)uld  not  live.  It  was  fifty  miles  to  the  nearest 
point  where  ice  could  be  obtained,  and  the  roads 
were  rough.  .\^  comrade,  a  McLean  county  man,  who 
liad  been  wounded,  offered  to  make  the  trip.  An 
ambulance  was  secured  and  the  brother  soldier 
started  on  thejournej-.  He  returned  with  the  ice. 
but  the  trii).  owing  to  the  roughness  of  tlie  I'oads. 
was  very  hard  on  him.  After  a  few  months'  care- 
ful nursing  Mr.  Fifer  was  able  to  come  home.  The 
33d  came  home  on  a  furlough,  and  when  the 
boys  were  ready  to  return  to  the  tented  field, 
young  Fifer  was  ready  to  go  with  them:  for  he  was 
determined  to  finish  liis  term  of  three  3^ears.  He 
was  mustered  out  in  October,  1864.  having  been 
in    the  service   three  years  and  two  months. 

••Private  Joe"  came  out  of  the  arm}'  a  tall, 
tanned,  and  awkward  young  man  of  twent\'-four. 
About  all  he  possessed  was  ambition  to  be  some- 
bod}- — and  pluck.  Though  at  an  age  when  most 
men  have  finished  their  college  course,  the  3-oung 
soldier  saw  that  if  he  was  to  be  anybody-  he  must 
have  an  education.  Yet  he  had  no  means  to  ena- 
ble him  to  enter  school  as  most  3'oung  men  do. 
He  was  determined  to  have  an  education,  however, 
and  that  to  him  meant  success.     For  the  followina: 


four  years  he  struggled  with  his  books.  He  entered 
Wesleyan  University  Jan.  1.  1865.  He  was  not  a 
brilliant  student,  being  neither  at  the  head  nor  the 
foot  of  liis  class.  He  was  in  great  earnest,  how- 
ever, studied  hard  and  came  forth  witii  a  well- 
stored  and  disciplined  mind. 

Immediately  after  being  graduated  he  entei-ed 
an  ofHce  at  Bloomington  as  a  law  student.  He  had 
alre.adj'  read  law  some,  and  as  he  continued  to  work 
hard,  with  the  spur  of  poverty  and  promptings  of 
ambition  ever  with  him,  he  was  ready  to  hang  out 
his  professional  shingle  in  1869.  Being  triist- 
worthj'  he  soon  gathered  about  him  some  influen- 
tial friends.  In  1871  he  was  elected  Corporation 
Counsel  of  Bloomington.  In  1872  he  was  elected 
State's  Attorney  of  McLean  Count}-.  This  office 
he  held  for  eight  j'ears,  when  he  took  his  seat  in 
the  State  Senate.  Here  he  served  for  four  years. 
His  ability  to  perform  abundance  of  hard  work 
made  him  a  most  valued  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture. 

^Ir.  Fifer  was  married  in  1870  to  Gertie,  daugh- 
ter of  William  J.  Lewis,  of  Bloomington.  Mr. 
Fifer  is  six  feet  in  height  and  is  spare,  weighing- 
only  I.jU  pounds.  He  has  a  swarth}-  complexion, 
keen  black  ej'es.  quick  movement,  and  possesses  :v 
frank  and  sympathetic  nature,  .and  naturally  makes 
friends  wherever  he  goes.  During  the  late  Guber- 
natorial campaign  his  visits  throughout  the  State 
proved  a  great  power  in  his  behalf.  His  liappv 
facult}'  of  winning  the  confidence  and  good  wishes 
of  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  personal  contact  is  a 
source  of  great  popularit}',  especiallv  during  a  polit- 
ical l)attle.  As  a  speaker  he  is  fluent,  his  hiugu.age 
is  good,  voice  clear  and  agreeable,  and  manner 
forcible.  His  manifest  earnestness  in  what  he  s.ivs 
as  well  as  his  tact  as  a  public  speaker,  and  his  elo- 
quent and  forceful  language,  makes  him  a  most 
valuable  campaign  orator  and  a  powerful  pleader 
at  the  bar.  At  the  Republican  State  Convention, 
held  in  May.  188S,  ^Ir.  Fifer  was  chosen  .as  its  candi- 
date for  (Governor.  He  proved  a  popular  nominee, 
and  the  name  of  ••  Private  Joe  "  became  familiar 
to  everyone  throughout  the  State.  He  waged  a 
vigorous  campaign,  was  elected  by  a  good  m.ijority. 
and  in  due  time  assumed  the  duties  of  the  Chief 
Executive  of  Illinois. 


fa«   — • 


■^.o^j^o; 


^6)*^ 


mmm  & 


T. 


^..<=?:-^??'. 


^^^'^ 


M  INTRODUQTORY.i^ 


"»°,C[-JE  time  has  arrived  when  it 
becomes  the  duty  of  the 
people  of  this  county  to  per- 
petuate the  names  of  their 
pioneers,  to  furnish  a  record 
of  their  early  settlement, 
and  relate  the  story  of  their 
progress.  The  civilization  of  our 
day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age 
and  the  duty  that  men  of  the  pres- 
ent time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to 
'"i.rtr''i'J':  y  themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
oJ  ti^'^r-'  p'rs  demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives 
-^,  Vr^  r\-^  and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  bio- 
graphical history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to 
enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and 
to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a 
safe  vessel  in  whicli  the  names  and  actions  of  the 
people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  country  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.  Surely  and  ra[)idly 
the  great  and  aged  men,  who  in  their  j^rinie  entered 
the  w-ildenjess  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their 
heritage,  are  passing  to  tlicir  graves.  The  number  re- 
maining wliocan  relate  the  incidents  of  tlie  first  days 
jf  settlement  is  becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an 
actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and  [jreser- 
vation  of  events  without  delay,  before  all  the  early 
settlers  are  cut  down  by  the  scythe  of  Time. 

To  be  forgotten  has  been  the  great  dread  of  mankind 
from  remotest  ages.  All  will  be  forgotten  soon  enough, 
in  spite  of  tiieir  best  works  and  the  most  earnest 
efforts  of  their  friends  to  perserve  the  memory  of 
their  lives.  The  means  employed  to  prevent  oblivion 
and  to  perpetuate  their  memory  has  been  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  of  intelligence  they  possessed. 
Th:  pyramids  of  Egypt  were  built  to  perpetuate  the 
names  and  deeds  of  their  great  rulers.  The  exhu- 
mations made  by  the  archeologists  of  Egypt  from 
buried  Memphis  indicate  a  desire  of  those  people 


to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  achievements. 
The  erection  of  the  great  obelisks  were  for  the  same 
purpose.  Coming  down  to  a  later  period,  we  find  the 
Greeks  and  Romans  erecting  mausoleums  and  monu- 
ments, and  carving  out  statues  to  chronicle  tlieir 
great  achievements  and  carry  them  down  the  ages. 
It  is  also  evident  that  the  Mound-builders,  in  piling 
up  their  great  mounds  of  earth,  had  but  this  idea — 
to  leave  something  to  show  that  they  had  lived.  All 
these  works,  though  many  of  them  costly  in  the  e.x- 
treme,  give  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  lives  and  charac- 
ters of  those  whose  memory  they  were  intended  to 
perpetuate,  and  scarcely  anything  of  the  masses  of 
the  people  that  then  lived,  the  great  pyramids  and 
some  of  the  obelisks  remain  objects  only  of  curiosity; 
the  mausoleums,  monuments  and  statues  are  crum- 
bling into  dust. 

It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an  intelli- 
gent, undecaying,  immutable  method  of  perpetuating 
a  full  history — immutable  in  that  it  is  almost  un- 
limited in  e.xtent  and  perpetual  in  its  action ;  and 
this  is  through  the  art  of  printing. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable  system 
of  local  biography.  By  this  system  every  man,  though 
he  has  not  achieved  what  the  world  calls  greatness, 
has  the  means  to  perpetuate  his  life,  his  history, 
through  the  coming  ages. 

The  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all ;  nothing  of  the 
physical  man  is  left.  The  monument  which  his  chil- 
dren or  friends  may  erect  to  his  memory  in  the  ceme- 
tery will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass  away;  but  his 
life,  his  achievements,  the  work  he  has  accomplished, 
which  otherwise  would  be  forgotten,  is  perpetuated 
by  a  record  of  this  kind. 

To  preserve  the  lineaments  of  our  companions  we 
engrave  their  jwrtraits,  for  the  same  reason  we  col- 
lect the  attainable  facts  of  their  history.  Nor  do  we 
think  it  necessary,  as  we  speak  only  truth  of  them,  to 
wait  until  they  are  dead,  or  until  those  who  know 
iheni  are  gone:  to  do  this  we  are  ashamed  only  to 
pul)lish  to  the  world  the  history  of  those  whose  lives 
are  unworthy  of  public  record. 


PORTHAIT  AND  HIOGRAlMlfcAL  ALliUM. 


191 


'^i 


— >-5-^& — °<sS-<ai!l)>-»e-o — ■»  {<- 


;|  LEXANDKK  HULL.  M.  D., 
'  Ba  of  I>ewistovvn,  is  one  of  the 
most  eminent  members  of  the 
medical  i)rofession  in  Central 
Uliiiois,  and  not  only  has  he 
been  honored  and  distinguisliod 
as  a  physician  and  surgeon  who 
has  met  with  more  than  usual 
success  in  his  chosen  profession, 
but  for  his  excfileut  record  as 
a  civic  officer,  and  for  the  ]iart 
he  has  always  taken  in  the  cause  of 
education  and  other  interests  tend- 
ing to  advance  the  material  pros- 
perity of  the  county.  Me  has  also  shown  himself 
a  business  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  and 
although  he  has  been  very  lil)eral  and  charitable  to 
tlu!  i)oor,  and  has  given  largely  of  his  means 
toward  the  support  of  all  jirojects  tending  to  alle- 
viute  human  suffering  and  promote  their  happiness, 
lie  has  acquired  a  large  competency,  and  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  wealthy  and  most  inHuential  citi- 
zens of  this  county.  Among  those  inseparably 
identified  with  the  advance  of  this  county,  is  Dr. 
Hull,  whose  portrait  appears  on  the  opposite  page, 
and  before  giving  a  more  extended  mention  of  his 
history,  it  might  be  well  to  give  briefly  that  o!  liis 
ancestry.  His  paternal  grandfather.  ,Iohn  Hull, 
was  of  Euglisli  descent  but  a  native  of  ^Lar\  land, 
from  which  place  he  removed  to  Virginia,  near 
Hari)er's  Feny,  in  171)8.  'I'lience,  in  1807,  he.  with 
a  large  family,  four  sons  and  seven  daughters,  re- 
moved to  Licking  County.  Ohio,  not  in  wagons, 
but  on  pack-horses  and  on  foot,  through  an  un- 
broken wilderness,  inhabited  mostly  by  Indians, 
and  onl}-  now  and   then   a  white   man   to   be  seen. 


Here  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life,  surrounded 
by  most  of  his  children,  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years. 

His  son  Philip,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Harrison  Count\-,  Md.,  in  1795,  and  was 
twelve  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his  fam- 
ily from  \'irginia  to  Licking  County,  Ohio.  He 
there  enlisted  in  tlie  War  of  1812,  and  by  re.ison 
of  his  seiH'iccs  drew  a  pension  in  his  old  age.  There 
also  in  1820  he  married  Sarah,  dalighter  of  Alex- 
ander iMcCracken  who  was  born  in  the  North  of 
Ireland  but  of  Scotch  ancestry.  During  the  Revo- 
lutionary War  he  was  brought  to  this  country  veiy 
nuich  against  his  will  as  a  soldier  in  the  British 
Army,  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Americans  and 
not  released  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  re- 
turneil  to  his  native  isle.  Butso  well  pleased  was  he 
with  what  he  saw  of  America,  that  he  soon  came 
back  and  settled  near  lirownsville,  Fayette  County. 
Pa.  Shortly  afterward  he  married  a  Miss  Eaton, 
and  they  made  this  their  home  for  many  years,  aild 
in  the  meantime  reared  a  largo  family  of  children. 
'While  yet  in  Ireland  he  was  converted  to  Chris- 
tianity under  the  influence  and  preaching  of  Adam 
Clark,  and  soon  after  he  united  with  tlie  Methodist 
Clinrrh.  and  became  noted  as  a  minister.  In  1817  he 
and  family  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  Mus- 
kingum County,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  until  his 
lieath  at  the  advanced  age  of  nearly  ninety  years. 
He  performed  most  C)f  the  marriage  ceremonies  and 
preached  the  greater  number  of  the  funeral  ser- 
mons within  the  vicinity  of  his  home  for  one  third 
of  a  century  in  the  early  days  of  Ohio,  as  many  of 
the  older  people  of  this  county  who  knew  Liim 
there  can  attest. 

In  the  fall  of  1838  Philip  Hull  left  Licking 
County,  Ohio,  to  seek  a  home  in  the  then  Far 
West,  and  accompanied  l)y  his  wife  and  children 
made    ilie    trij)   overland     in     wagons    to    li'ulton 


192 


PORTRAIT  A^;D  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


County  arriving  in  Lewistown  on  the  10th  of  De- 
cember. In  the  spring  of  1839  lie  bought  and 
moved  on  to  a  tract  of  land,  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  near  the  present  site  of  .Suiithfield,  on  which 
was  a  lo§  cabin  and  a  fen-  acres  of  land  fenced  and 
broken.  After  living  in  the  cabin  for  a  short  lime 
a  comfortable  frame  house  was  built,  and  the  farm 
was  otherwise  improved;  but  for  many  }'ears  deer 
and  wild  turke3's  were  plent3^  in  the  neighborhood 
and  throughout  the  county.  In  the  fall  of  1S45 
he,  in  company  with  many  of  his  neighbors,  hauled 
wheat  in  waguns  to  Chicago,  two  hundred  miles 
distant,  taking  with  them  provisions  and  horse 
feed,  camping  out,  consuming  three  weeks  in  mak- 
ing the  trip.  The}'  sold  their  wheat  at  forty-seven 
cents  per  busliel,  and  bouglit  such  articles  as  were 
essential  to  the  family  and  returned,  being  well 
jileased  with  their  trip  and  the  speculation.  These 
were  the  days  of  hard  times,  hardships  and  per- 
plexities. There  were  then  no  railroads,  nor  were 
there  any  for  many  years  afterward.  But  how 
changed  the  scenes,  circumstances  and  conditions 
since  then. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  continued  to  reside 
on  the  old  homestead  until  186.5,  when  they  sold  it 
to  Jacob  Zigler,  who  now  occupies  it.  an(\,  regards 
it  as  the  best  farm  in  Cass  Township.  They  how- 
ever soon  bought  another,  within  a  mile  of  Lewis- 
town,  where  the}'  resided  until  the  time  of  their 
death,  which  occurred  in  1881  after  long  lives — 
sixty-four  years  having  been  spent  together  in 
happy  married  life.  The  father  died  at  tlie  age  of 
eight-nine  }-ears,  and  the  mother  at  the  .age  of 
eighty-thi'ee,  and  both  are  interred  in  the  Lewis- 
tiiwn  Cemeterj-.  Their  children  all  reside  in  Lew- 
istown — one,  a  single  daughter,  and  the  other 
is  married  to  James  H.  Randall,  the  father  of  Dr. 
R.  A.  and  Philip  Randall,  who  are  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  in  Lewistown,  the  former  being  a 
finely  educated  phj-sician  and  a  graduate  of  Rush 
]\Iedical  College. 

Capt.  W.  W.  Hull,  the  only  brother  of  our  sub- 
ject, made  an  overland  trip  to  California  in  the 
|)ioiieer  days  of  that  .Slate,  and  remained  there  for 
.•■everal  3'ears.  Returning  home  a  short  time  before 
the  Civil  War  he  entered  upon  a  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Lewistown,  but  upon  the  Ineaking  out  of 
the  conflict  he  enlisted  in  Company  H.. Seventeenth 
Regiment.  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  chosen  Cap-  ' 
Uiin  of  his  company,  continuing  as  such  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  merited  the  praise  and  high 
esteem  in  which  he  was  held,  as  a  true  patriot  and 
brave  soldier.  .Since  the  war  he  has  been  regarded 
as  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
has  filled  nunirrous  offices  of  trust  and  responsi- 
bihty.  In  1866  he  was  a  candidate  for  Sheriff  of 
Fulton    County    ou    the    Republican    ticket    and 


although  his  party  was  largelj-  in  the  minority  he 
was  beaten  only  two  votes  by  the  Democratic  can- 
didate, David  J.  Waggoner.  The  Captain  was  ap- 
poinleil  Postmaster  at  Lewistown.  serving  in  this 
as  in  other  positions,  with  credit  to  himself,  and  it 
niaj-  be  said  of  him  that  he  was  the  only  Republi- 
can Postmaster  in  Fulton  County  who  held  over 
and  retained  his  ]iosition  through  the  entire  Cleve- 
land administration.  The  Captain  has  one  child,  a 
son — Edgar — who  is  in  the  revenue  department, 
at  Peoria. 

Dr.  Hull  was  but  a  mere  boy  when  he  came  with 
his  ])arents  from  Ohio  to  this  count}-  in  1838.  Be- 
ing anxious  to  obtain  an  education,  and  the  oppor- 
tunities and  means  being  limited,  for  only  occa- 
sionall}'  would  a  common  or  district  school  be  taught 
and  then  only  for  three  months  in  the  year,  he  la- 
bored on  his  father's  farm  in  the  da3-time  and  studied 
at  night.  By  dint  of  hard  labor  and  close  applica- 
tion to  his  studies,  he  fitted  himself  for  teaching,  and 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  taught  his  first  school 
in  his  father's  neighborhood  with  credit  to  himself 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  patrons.  Thus  he 
continued  working,  teaching  and  studying  until  he 
acquired  a  good  and  liberal  education,  including  to 
some  extent,  the  languages.  His  attention  was 
quite  early  directed  to  the  study  of  medicine,  and 
as  soon  as  he  had  earned  and  laid  up  a  few  hundred 
dollars  he  commenced  the  study  with  his  cousin.  Dr. 
Abram  Hull,  then  of  this  county.  After  complet- 
ing the  ofHee  readings  he  attended  a  course  of  lec- 
tures at  St.  Louis,  and  the  following  year  entered 
Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  from  which  insti- 
tution he  was  graduated  with  honor  in  1850,  and 
in  May,  thereafter,  he  located  in  Cuba,  this  count}*, 
virtually  commencing  his  practice  where  he  was 
reared,  and  in  a  vev3'  short  time  his  practice  was 
large,  lucrative  and  quite  extended.  He  has  per- 
formed numerous  and  diflicult  surgical  operations; 
in  fact  there  is  scarcely  an  operation  in  the  whole 
list  but  what  he  has  jterformed,  and  with  nniform 
success.  In  the  practice  of  medicine  he  has  always 
been  successful,  and  always  had  a  large  business. 
For  three  years  prior  and  up  to  the  time  he  re- 
niove<l  to  Lewistown,  which  was  in  the  fall  of  1860, 
he  had  in  his  employ  an  excellent  phy-sician.  Dr. 
LaFayette  Gray,  uncle  to  John  A.  Gray,  a  promi- 
nent lawyer  of  the  Lewistown  Bar. 

In  the  memorable  campaign  of  1860  the  friends 
of  Dr.  Hull  induced  him  to  accept  the  nomination 
for  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  and 
Recorder,  to  which  he  was  elected.  That  he  dis- 
<-liarucd  the  duties  of  his  office  in  a  satisfactory 
manner  was  abundantl3'  proven  b3'  his  re-election 
to  a  second  term  in  1864.  The  Doctor  did  not  en- 
tirely relinquish  his  medical  pursuits  and  the  prac- 
tice of  his  ))rofessiou  when  elected  to  the  office,  as 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


lO.-J 


his  official  labors  were  performed  very  considerably 
bj'  (loputics.  Yet.  he  never  lost  sioht  of  the  various 
details  of  tlie  otiice,  ami  saw  tiiat  everytiiin.ir  ^vas 
done  in  the  very  best  possilile  manner,  meanwhile 
keeping  posted  up  in  the  medical  literature  of  the 
day,  and  occasionally  performing  some  important 
surgical  operation.  In  fad  it  is  said  that  some  of 
the  best  and  raf)sl  important  operations  were  per- 
forjned  while  in  olliee.  and  after  he  closed  his 
connection  therewith  he  entercil  again  into  the 
practice  with  his  usual  vigor  and  entljusiasm.  and 
thus  he  has  continued  to  the  present  time.  Perhaps 
but  few  men  outside  of  the  large  cities  have  per- 
formed more  important  surgical  operations  than 
he,  and  but  few  have  h.ad  a  larger  experience  in  the 
treatment  of  chronic  diseases.  His  knowledge  of 
the  profession  and  his  long  continued  practice  have 
given  him  an  extenib^l  consultation  jiractice. 

Dr.  Hull,  as  President:  Dr.  .1.  V.  Harris,  Secre- 
tary, of  Canton  ;  and  Dr.  J.  W.  Welch,  Treasurer,  of 
Cuba,  com|)ose  the  Examining  Hoard  for  Pensions 
at  Lewistown,  and  have  acted  as  such  for  five  or 
more  years.  The  fact  that  they  are  retained  by  the 
incoming  and  adverse  administration,  is  proof  that 
their  work  has  been  well  and  impartially  done,  and 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Government  and  the  sol- 
diers as  well.  Perhaps  but  few  Boards  have  been 
more  painstaking  in  their  examinaticms,  or  have 
treated  the  soldiers  more  considerately,  carefully 
and  kindly  tlian  this  Board. 

Politically  Dr.  Hull  has  always  been  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
State  and  other  medical  societies,  and  in  reference 
to  his  views  and  ideas  concerning  the  practice  of 
meilicine  he  is  orthodox,  liberal,  and  yet  indepen- 
dent. He  is  a  great  reader,  a  deep  thinker,  broad 
in  views,  religions,  philosophical  and  social.  He 
h,as  attained  an  enviable  position  as  a  man  of  in- 
fluence in  the  county,  while  his  course  in  life  has 
been  such  as  to  win  for  him  tlie  admiration  and  es- 
teem of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances.  He  has 
written  frequently  for  medical  journals,  newspa- 
pers, etc.,  and  wields  a  ready  and  pointed  pen.  As 
stated  of  him,  he  has  always  taken  great  interest  in 
educational  matters,  and  especially  in  his  own 
town.  He  is  President  of  the  Board  of  Education 
in  Lewistown,  and  has  been  for  the  last  sixteen 
years.  Dr.  Hull  is  not  only  public-s[)iril,ed  and  en- 
ergetic, hut  he  is  social,  cordial,  and  a  man  of  good 
morals,  strictly  temperate  in  his  habits,  and  posses- 
sing the  manners  of  a  gentlcinan.  He  is  well  cal- 
cnlated  to  make  and  retain  friends,  and  is  one  of 
the  best  known  citizens  of  Fulton  County. 

Dr.  Hull  was  married  in  November.  18.J7,  to 
MissN.  Perraelia  Heckird,of  this  county,  and  they 
have  but  one  child,  a  daughter  Carrie,  now  twenty- 
three  years  of  age,  and  singK".      And  upon  her   the 


father  has  doted  ami  done  everything  in  his  power 
to  elevate  her  socially',  morally,  ajid  in  educational 
and  literary  pursuits.  I'pon  her  in  these  directions 
he  has  spent  thousands  of  dollars,  and  she  has  prof- 
ited largely  by  it.  She  has  attended  the  best  col- 
leges in  Illinois  and  in  ihe  East,  and  isperhapsone 
of  the  best  educated  young  ladies  in  this  portion  of 
the  State.  She  is  now  taking  musical  instruction 
in  Boston.  In  the  case  of  Dr.  Hull  the  fact  is 
demonstrated  that  success  is  attributed  to  his  en- 
ergy and  indomitable  perseverance,  ami  those  (piali- 
ties  which  giv(!  him 

"The  strength  to  dare,  the  nerve  to  meet 
Whatever  threatens  with  defeat 
An  all-indomitable  will." 


-€-*^ ^ 


Wi  1).  .lOHNSON,  foreman  of  the  painting 
de|)artment  of  Parlin  &  Orendorff's  manu- 
factory in  Canton,  w.'is  born  in  Newark, 
Newcastle  C(junty,  Del.,  October  17,  1840.  He  is 
the  son  of  James  C.  and  JMartha  (Caldwell)  John- 
son, and  his  grandparents  came  respectively  from 
Ireland  and  Scotland.  His  father  was  born  in  New 
York,  spent  some  j'ears  in  Penn.iylvania  and 
removed  thence  to  Delaware  while  still  a  young 
man.  In  1860  he  changed  his  place  of  residence  to 
New  Jersey,  where  he  died  in  1882  at  the  age 
of  seventy-five  years.  His  marriage  had  been  solem- 
nized in  P(!nnsylvania.  which  was  the  native  State  of 
his  wife.  The  union  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
three  children,  to  whom  the  mother  bade  adieu 
in  1818  when  called  from  time  to  eternity,  she  be- 
ing then  but  thirt3'-two  years  of  age. 

The  father  of  our  subject  subsequently  married 
Miss  Sarah  Hickman,  and  to  them  was  born  one 
child, — Lola.  After  the  death  of  his  second  wife 
Mr.  Johnson  married  Miss  lilary  Case,  who  is  still 
living.  To  this  union  were  born  three  children,  who 
are  stdl  living.  The  own  brother  of  our  subject, 
James  T.  Johnson,  w.as  graduated  from  Delaware 
College  and  was  for  many  years  I'resident  of  the 
La  Grange  (Ga.)  Female  Seminary.  During  the 
war  he  was  pressed  into  the  service  of  the  Confed- 
erate Army  upon  two  occasions,  but  each  time  was 
released  about  two  weeks  after  his  conscription  on 
account  of  his  eminence  as  an  educator.    Ho  is  still 


194 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


living  in  lliL'  SouUicni  rily,  now  cashier  of  a  bank. 
Tlie  otbfi-  child  of  our  subject's  tuother  is  M.ir- 
waret  E..  the  wife  of  J.  T.  Conover.  of  Fleininglon, 
N.  .1. 

Tlie  subject  of  our  sketch  remained  witli  liis 
f.'itiier  until  after  he  liad  leaclied  liis  seven iceiilh 
year,  receiving  a  fair  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  entering  the  Del- 
aware College.  One  of  his  sclioolmates  there  was 
Senator  Anthonj-  M.  Higgins.  of  Delaware,  loung 
Johnson  had  been  attending  the  college  but  a  year 
wlien  the  institutiou  was  broken  up  and  be  began 
his  personal  work  in  life.  In  1861  he  went  to  New 
Jersey,  which  State  lie  made  his  home  until  he 
tofik  up  his  residence  in  Canton.  At  Clinton,  in 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  Conipan3' E,  Thirty-first  New 
.7erse3'  Infantry,  and  being  mustered  in  at  Fleming- 
ton,  was  sent  to  the  defense  of  Wastiington. 
remaining  in  or  near  that  city  several  months.  He 
look  an  active  part  in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville 
and  also  at  Fredericksburg.  He  had  enlisted  as  a 
private,  but  was  elected  Fourth  Sergeant  of  his 
coniiianj',  and  after  serving  as  such  for  a  period  of 
three  months,  w.is  advanced  to  be  First  Sergeant, 
anil  continued  in  that  capacity  until  discharged. 

The  regiment  was  enlisted  for  nine  months, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service  and  disbanded,  the  last  march 
l>eing  from  Falmouth  to  Washington — a  distance 
of  one  hundred  miles — which  they  covered  in  less 
tiian  three  days'  time.  Immediatel}'  after  his  dis- 
charge Mr.  Johnson  came  West,  and  in  February 
following  his  arrival  in  this  State  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany I,  Fifty-first  Illinois  Infantry  ,  and  upon  the 
organization  of  the  company  was  elected  Orderlj^ 
Sergeant.  The  troops  were  first  sent  to  Texas  and 
stationed  in  Port  Lavaca  on  Matagorda  BaN",  and 
later  were  at  Nashville  and  New  Orleans,  doing 
[)ust  and  camp  duty  until  discharged  in  September, 
1865. 

In  Boston,  in  1869.  Mr.  Johnson  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  Colville,  a  native  of  Canada  who,  after 
ten  j-ears  of  happy  wedded  life  dieil  in  LaGrange, 
Ga.,  where  she  had  gone  for  her  health.  She  left 
two  children — Stella  and  Maggie — both  of  whom 
live  in  Canton.  Mr.  Johnson  was  again  mairied  in 
1881,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Belle  Com- 


stoek,  a  native  of  Woonsocket,  Conn.,  and  the 
ceremony  being  solemnized  at  Detroit.  This  lady 
breathed  lier  last  in  1884,  and  our  subject  was  once 
more  united  iu  matrimony,  this  time  at  Canton.  111., 
in  September,  1889.  with  Miss  Kittie  Flory,  of 
Clear  Springs.  Md.  Mrs.  Johnson  is  a  faithful 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
both  she  and  her  husband  have  numbers  of  warm 
personal  friends,  both  in  Canton  and  throughout 
the  countj'. 

At  the  beginning  of  his  business  career  in  this 
Slate  ilr.  Johnson  worked  for  Mr.  Parlin  in  the 
capacity  of  a  common  hand,  but  in  three  years' 
time  was  promoted  to  his  present  position — that  of 
foreman  of  the  painting  dei)artment.  He  li.is  had 
a  share  in  the  municipal  offices,  having  been  City 
Clerk  in  1880,  and  in  1890  he  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  Census  Enumerator  for  this  place. 
He  is  interested  in  the  social  orders,  being  a  charter 
member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  in  Canton,  a  Knight 
of  Pythias  and  a  United  >A'orkman.  He  has  been  an 
active  political  worker,  and  was  for  many  j-ears 
manager  of  the  Canton  Opera  House. 


1 


F.  KOBBINS,  manufacturer  of  and  dealer 
in  marble  and  granite,  both  imported  and 
domestic,  is  one  of  the  most  reliable  busi- 
ness men  of  Canton.  He  carries  a  large  line 
of  goods,  varying  from  the  common  grades  to  that 
which  is  fit  for  the  sculpter's  chisel,  and  is  there- 
fore able  to  supply  the  needs  of  various  classes, 
from  those  in  humble  financial  circumstances  _to 
the  capitalist.  He  is  deserving  of  the  patronage  of 
the  jieople  and  secures  a  large  proportion  of  the 
trade  in  his  line  of  business.  He  comes  of  English 
ancestry  and  his  kinsmen  in  both  maternal  and 
p.aternal  lines  have  for  several  generations  held  im- 
portant social  and  commercial  positions  in  the 
United  States. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  John  and  Edee  S.  (Cum 
mings)  Robbins,  natives  of  New   Hampshire  and- 
Maine  respectively.  They  removed  with  their  fam- 
ily to  St.  Clair.  Mich.,  in   18.52,  and   there  for  two 
years  the  father  carried  on  a    farming  and  milling 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


195 


business.  At  the  expiration  of  lliat  time  he  ro- 
moverl  to  Quincj-,  Kj'.,  at  wiiicli  iioiiil  he  was  en- 
Sageil  in  the  himber  business.  lUil  after  a  few 
years  he  quitted  tlie  Blue  Grass  State  and  journe}'- 
ing  northwest  located  in  Canton  in  the  year  1856. 
lie  purchased  a  good  farm  in  Buckheart  Township, 
but  retired  from  agricultural  life  some  years  since. 
The  mother  passed  away  to  her  final  resting'  place, 
May  18,  1880,  and  the  father  died  in  September. 
1890.  The  latter  iiad  re.iclied  an  advanced  age,  his 
natal  day  having  been  June  26,  1801.  The  paren- 
tal family  included  .1.  J.,  born  March  23,  1837; 
Edee  Klizabcth.  born  September  9,  1838,  and  now 
deceased  and  J.  F..  of  whom  we  write. 

The  subject  of  tliis  biographical  sketch  was  born 
in  Newport,  Me.,  August  22,  1843,  and  remained 
at  home  until  he  ha<l  reached  his  eighteenth  j'ear, 
at  which  age  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Fifty- fifth 
Illinois  Infantry.  They  were  mustered  in  at  Chi- 
cago, and  then  sent  to  St.  Louis  where  they  were  in 
l)arracks  awhile,  and  then  went  to  Paducah,  Ry., 
drilling  and  |)eiforming  the  various  camp  duties. 
They  next  went  up  the  Tennessee  River  to  Pitts- 
burg Landing,  where  they  took  part  in  the  battle, 
and  where  Mr.  Kobbins  was  severely  injured  by 
some  flying  missile.  After  the  fight  he  was  placed  in 
the  Held  hospital,  and  from  there  sent  to  Hamburg, 
Tenn.,  where  he  remained  a  week  or  so,  after- 
wards going  to  Benton  Barracks,  St.  Louis.  He 
was  finally  discharged  by  order  of  the  surgeon  as 
unable  to  resume  service.  Mr.  Kobbins  suffered 
greatly  even  after  reaching  home,  and  it  was  quite 
a  while  before  he  was  able  to  attend  to  business  of 
any  kind. 

Our  subject  having  in  a  measure  regained  his 
health,  commenced  to  learn  the  marble  cutting 
trade  with  .Sanford  A-  Barrows  at  Canton.  Finish- 
ing his  apprenticeship  in  a  year's  time,  he  was  em- 
ployed by  this  firm  for  a  long  time,  and  traveled 
for  them  in  ditferent  directions.  Finally,  in  1879, 
Mr.  Robbins  bought  out  the  business,  and  has  con- 
tinued to  run  it  most  successfully  up  to  the  present 
writing.  He  carries  a  lar<re  sujiply  of  marble,  and 
is  the  oldest  man  in  his  line  of  business  in  the  city. 
Mr.  Robbins  married  Miss  Jennie  Watson,  of 
Canton,  on  M.ay  28,  1871.  She  was  a  native  of  Ohio 
and  a  daughter  of  Stanley  and  Celia  ( Woodhouse) 


Watson.'  Of  this  union  have  been  born  three  chil- 
dren, viz:  Walter,  Fcbruarj'  29,  1872;  Leona,  Au- 
gust 5,  1873,  and  Clifford,  October  3,  1877.  The 
subject  of  our  sketch  is  a  highly  respected  gen- 
tleman, and  one  who  possesses  a  great  amount 
of  information.  Being  a  constant  reader  and  in- 
terested in  ancient  matters,  he  has  collected  a  num- 
ber of  i)reliistoric  relics,  and  those  of  our  Indians 
and  Mound  Builders. 


'•    »    ^- 


i^ 


Wi 


S.  STETSON.  Of  the  citizens  of  Farming- 
ton,  few  are  so  well  and  none  more  favor 
abl}'  known  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  has  resided  in  this  city  since  the 
spring  of  1856.  During  this  long  period  he 
has  made  many  warm  friends,  who  hold  him  in 
the  highest  esteem  for  his  integrity  of  charac- 
ter and  genial  disposition.  After  a  prosperous 
career  in  the  commercial  world  he  now  rests 
from  active  labor  and  is  passing  his  last  days 
in  peace  and  quietude.  He  is  pre-eminentl}-  a  self- 
made  man,  meriting  great  praise  for  the  noble 
manner  in  whicli  he  has  at  all  times  overcome  ob- 
stacles placed  in  his  way.  He  w.as  eighty-five  years 
of  age  on  January  10,  1890,  and  is  now  unable  to 
care  for  himself,  but  receives  the  best  of  care  from 
his  devoted  wife. 

Before  giving  the  principal  facts  in  the  life  of 
Mr.  Stetson,  a  few  words  with  reference  to  his  lin- 
eage will  not  be  amiss.  His  father,  Oliver  Stetson, 
was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade,  and  with  his 
parents,  three  brothers  and  two  sisters  emigrated 
from  Connecticut  in  1800  and  located  in  Otsego 
County,  N.  Y.  In  the  spring  of  1804  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Mar}'  Stewart,  the  daughter  of 
John  Stewart,  and  they  immediately  commenced 
housekeeping.  A  few  months  later  he  look  his 
wife  and  household  goods  to  her  father's  liouse, 
while  he  went  South  to  seek  employment  for  the 
winter  season.  He  proceeded  as  far  as  St.  Francis- 
ville.  Mo.,  and  there  died. 

In  the  home  of  liis  grandfather  Stewart,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  horn  January  10,  1S05,  and 
under  the   tender    care   of    these   loving   relatives 


Ht(5 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


passed  liis  ycmth  iinlil  he  was  able  to  care  for  him- 
self. His  mother  suhsequenth-  married  Aldrich 
Baicora,  by  whom  she  had  seven  children,  all  de- 
eensed.  She  passed  away  in  1852  at  the  age  of  six- 
ty-five years.  Nothing  of  special  interest  occurred 
in  the  life  of  our  subject  until  the  fall  of  1820,  when 
he  became  interested  in  the  subject  of  religion  and 
related  his  experience  to  the  First  Baptist  Church 
at  Butternuts,  Otsego  CounDy,  N.  Y.,  and  was  re- 
ceived into  its  fellowship  and  baptized  by  Elder 
Adams,  their  pastor,  January  7.  1821.  Since  that 
time  he  has  lived  a  consistent  Christian  life.  In 
1840  he  was  elected  a  Deacon  to  fill  a  vacancy- 
caused  by  the  death  of  Deacon  Lull. 

In  his  youth  our  subject  attended  the  district 
schools  and  was  eng.iged  in  various  kinds  of  work. 
In  the  spring  of  1820  he  and  Mr.  Chapin  engaged 
as  partners  in  the  wheelwright  trade  under  the 
firm  name  of  Chapin  &  Stetson.  They  were  thus 
employed  in  Noble vi lie  for  two  years.  Mr.  Stet- 
son was  united  in  marriage  April  27,  1826,  with 
Miss  Eliza  Robinson,  and  began  their  wedded  life 
in  a  house  rented  of  Mr.  Chapin.  In  1828.  Mr. 
Stetson  moved  to  what  is  now  known  as  Stetson- 
ville,  and  buying  a  house  and  fifteen  acres  of  land, 
built,  the  following  year,  a  shop  where  he  manu- 
factured wagons,  sleighs  and  coffins.  Finding  his 
house  too  small  for  his  family  and  help,  in  1836  he 
purchased  a  more  commodious  residence  and  sixty- 
three  acres  of  land. 

Early  in  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Stetson  sold  his 
fifteen-acre  tract,  and  fitting  one  room  of  his  house 
for  a  store,  purchased  a  small  stock  of  dry-goods, 
etc.,  and  commenced  in  the  mercantile  business, 
which  he  carried  on  in  connection  with  farming 
and  the  manufacture  of  potash.  He  subsequently 
built  a  good  store  and  dwelling  house  at  a  cost 
of  $2,500  and  later  [)urchased  two  hundred  and 
fourteen  acres  of  adjoining  land,  and  erected 
house  and  b.irn,  and  other  buildings  suitable 
for  dairying.  In  the  fall  of  185-1  he  resolved 
to  locate  in  the  West,  and  upon  his  arrival  in 
Farmington,  111.,  was  so  well  pleased  with  the  land 
and  the  prospects  that  he  purchased  of  A.  D.  Reed 
a  store  for  $2,000  cash.  Here  he  commenced  mer- 
chandising in  partnership  with  his  son,  in  the  fall 
of  1 855  the  firm  being  J.  S.  Stetson  <fe  Son.     They 


were  prosperous,  doing  a  good  business  until  1860, 
when  the  partnership  was  dissolved  and  the  stock 
and  store  sold  to  George  Stetson  for  «8,500. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  family  in  Farmington  in 
the  spring  of  1856,  Mr.  Stetson  purchased  a  house 
and  two  acres  of  land  of  Mr.  Underbill  for  12.000; 
this  residence  he  still  occupies.  Mrs.  Stetson  died 
of  consumption  February  9,1863,  aged  sixty  years. 
She  was  the  mother  of  seven  children,  namelv 
Mary  Jane,  born  August  23.  1827  and  died  at  the 
age  of  tweuty-two  years;  George,  born  November 
30,  1829;  David  R.,  December  5.  1831;  Fannie 
M..  March  8,  1834;  Sally  Ann.  May  6,  1836; 
Charles  A..  May  4.  1840  and  John  Lee,  January  7, 
1846. 

On  June  14.  1864,  Mr  Stetson  was  united  in  the 
holy  bonds  of  wedlock  "iih  Mrs.  Elvira  McColiuni. 
with  whom  he  had  been  formerly  acquainted 
in  Morris,  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.  She  was  feeble, 
and  lived  but  a  short  time  after  their  union,  dying 
of  consumption  June  23,  1854,  aged  fifty-two  years. 
Mr.  Stetson  afterward  contracted  a  matrimonial  al- 
liance with  Mrs.  Mary  Maxfield.  a  resident  of 
Springfield.  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.  They  were  mar- 
ried May  16,  1866  and  came  immediately  to  Farm- 
ington. accompanied  by  the  aged  mother  of  Mrs. 
Stetson,  to  whom  they  gave  the  most  devoted  care 
until  her  death,  February  28,  1883,  at  the  great  age 
of  ninety-two  years. 

During  the  many  years  of  their  happy  wedded 
life,  Mrs.  Stetson  has  been  a  true  companion  of  our 
subject  and  an  untiring  worker  in  his  behalf.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Farmington, 
and  has  contributed  liberally  to  its  support,  at  one 
time  giving  8230  to  pay  the  balance  due  on  the 
parson.age.  She  was  born  in  Warren  County.  N. 
Y.  and  received  a  common-school- education.  .She 
became  the  mother  of  two  childreu^Orlando  and 
Minnie,  both  of  whom  died  in  youth.  She  is  the 
friend  of  temperance  and  everything  calculated  to 
advance  the  interests  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Stetson  is  highly  respected  as  a  man  of 
probity  and  honor.  When  he  came  to  Farmington 
he  found  the  Baptist  Church  weak  and  unable  to 
support  a  pastor,  but  he  and  his  wife  and  daughter 
joined  the  feeble  band  and  be  has  sine  e  served  as 
Deacon  and  has  been  one  of  the  main  supporters  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


197 


the  L'liurcli  in  supply  preafhing  anil  in  builtlinfr  the 
house  of  worshii)  at  a  cost  of  xo.OOO.  He  is  well- 
known  in  the  Otsego  (New  Yorii)  Association,  and 
in  the  Peoria  Associalion,  having  served  the  latter 
as  Treasurer  for  about  eiglit  venrs.  He  was  orig- 
inally a  Democrat  anil  voted  that  ticket  until  1840 
since  whicli  time  he  has  su|)ported  the  Hepulilican 
party  and  its  principles.  He  served  four  years  as 
Police  Magistrate  and  in  oilier  ways  aided  the 
thriving  town  of  Farmingloii. 


NDREW  TIMMONS  is  the  owner  and  oc- 
cupant of  one  of  the  most  valuable  farms 
I'i  in  the  county,  its  location  being  on  sec- 
tions 2,  11  and  12.  Young  Hickory  Town- 
ship. His  entire  landed  proiiorty  consists  of  four 
iiundred  and  sixtv-one  acres  which  is  divided  into 
three  improved  places  and  cost  from  ^."5')  to  $70 
per  acre.  It  is  fertilized  by  never-failing  water 
from  springs,  every  acre  being  tillable.  One  hun- 
dred and  sixty-six  acres  are  rented  and  the  balance 
is  operate!  by  Mr.  Timmons  himself.  He  raises 
full-blooded  and  graded  .Shorthorn  cattle,  Berk- 
shire and  Poland-China  swine,  and  also  feeds  stock 
for  shipment.  I.a.st  year  he  sold  one  hundred  and 
cightj-  hogs.  On  the  home  farm  there  are  two  sub- 
stantial residences  and  two  commodious  barns,  each 
40.\G0  feet.  Farm  scales,  modern  machinery  and 
every  convenience  for  the  domestic  and  farm  econ- 
omy will  be  found  there. 

Our  subject  who  is  the  oldest  child  of  his  par- 
ents, was  born  near  Circleville.  Ohio,  July  10,1838. 
He  was  seven  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  West,  the  journey  being  made  in  a  "prairie 
schooner."  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Knox 
Count}',  where  he  began  driving  oxen  to  a  plow 
when  not  more  than  eight  ^ears  old.  He  aided  as 
his  strength  would  permit  in  the  improvement  of 
the  raw  land,  taking  advantage  first  of  the  subscrip- 
tion and  afterward  of  the  free  schools,  wherein  his 
educational  privileges  were  very  fair.  He  was  a 
young  man  of  eighteen  years  when  bis  father  re- 
moved to  this  county  and  he  continued  to  assist  his 


parent  until  he  was  of  age.  He  then  went  to  Henry 
County,  locating  near  Bishops  Hill,  where  he  rented 
a  farm  for  a  year.  Corn  was  but  eight  cents  a 
bushel  and  other  farm  products  brought  so  low  a 
price  that  he  found  existence  a  hard  struggle. 
Sir.  Timmons  therefore  went  into  Knox  County, 
!  bought  twenty  .acres  and  after  oi)erating  it  two 
:  years  sold  it  and  rented  his  f.ather's  jjlaee  a  year. 
In  the  spring  of  1805  he  went  to  Kansas  by  rail, 
sending  a  team  overland,  and  rented  a  farm  in 
Douglas  County,  near  Baldwin  City.  He  lost  his 
crop  and  in  six  months  returned  to  this  .State  over- 
land to  begin  a  new  career  here.  He  bought  sixty 
.acres  on  Swigle  Creek  to  which  he  subsequently 
added  twenty  acres,  still  later  trading  sixty  for  an 
adjoining  farm  of  one  hundred  and  lwenty-(ive 
acres.  On  his  estate,  which  then  consisted  of  one 
Imndred  and  forty-five  acres  on  sections  11  and  12, 
he  made  his  home  for  some  time.  He  was  burnt 
out  but  rebuilt  and  after  a  time  l)ought  the 
Roberts  place,  an  improved  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty-six  acres  on  section  12.  In  1887  he  bar- 
gained for  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  on  section  2, 
known  as  the  old  Fisher  [ilace,  for  which  he  w.as  to 
pa}'  $10,500.  His  failure  to  pay  for  this  place  was 
prophesied,  but  contrary  to  the  expectations  of  his 
neighbors,  he  was  clear  of  debt  in  less  than  three 
j'ears,  and  that  after  paying  the  highest  price  tliat 
had  been  given  for  land  here. 

In  his  endeavors  to  advance  his  fortunes  .Mr. 
Timmons  has  been  assistad  by  a  faithful  companion, 
whose  prudent  management  of  household  affairs 
and  words  of  counsel  and  encouragement  are  highly 
valued.  This  ladj'  who  was  formerly  known  .as  Miss 
Sarah  Campbell,  was  born  near  Attica.  Ind..  in 
Warren  County,  and  became  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject in  Maquon,  Knox  County,  III.,  in  1860.  The 
iiapp}'  union  has  been  blest  b}'  the  birth  of  four 
children — l-'anny,  Johnson,  Arthur  and  Mina.  The 
eldest  child  w<is  formerly  a  school  teacher,  but  is 
now  the  wife  of  Charles  Ulm  who  lives  on  tiic  farm 
of  our  suliject.  Johnson  makes  his  home  also  here; 
Arthur  and  Mina  still  reside  under  the  parental 
roof. 

Mr.  Timmons  was  elected  Commissioner  of 
Highwaj'S  but  resigned  the  place  after  a  year's  ser- 
vice.    He  has  served  efficiently  in  the   position  of 


198 


PORTRAIT  AIS'D  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Sc-hool  Director,  has  contributed  to  tiie  building  of 
churches  and  to  other  enterprises  which  promise  to 
benelil  tlie  community,  and  exercises  generous 
hospitality.  He  is  a  Democrat  and  during  recent 
}-ears  has  been  stronger  in  the  faith  than  ever  before. 
Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Stephen  S.  and  Lucinda 
(Emery)  Timraons.  tlie  former  bc^rn  in  Higliland 
and  the  latter  in  Picliavvay  County.  C)l)io.  Mrs. 
Timmons  was  a  daugliter  of  the  Rev.  Stephen 
Emery,  a  local  minister  of  tlie  Jletiiodist  Episcopal 
Churcli,  wlio  finallj'  came  to  Knox  County,  111., 
and  after  farming  there  ten  years  bought  a  home- 
steader's claim  in  Linn  County,  Kaii.,  removed 
thither  and  made  that  his  home  during  the  rem- 
nant of  his  days.  Stephen  Timmons  followed  farm- 
ing in  Pickaway  County.  Ohio,  for  somej'ears.  then 
sold  his  property  and  came  to  Illinois.  He  hart  but 
•^5  when  he  reached  this  county,  but  with  the  same 
eiitei'prisiiig  spirit  which  characterizes  his  son,  lie 
set  to  work  undismayed  to  secure  a  good  home. 
After  having  rented  land  in  Fairview  Townshii)  a 
few  years,  he  bought  in  Knox  County  and  dirt  well 
there  financially.  When  hereturnert  to  this  county 
he  bought  property  in  Young  Hickory  Township 
where  he  now  lives  retired  on  a  farm  of  some  three 
hundred  acres.  He  has  reached  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years.  Like  his  son,  he  votes  the  Democratic 
ticket.  His  worthy  companion  died  in  Young 
Hickory  Township,  December  23,  1863.  The  chil- 
dren younger  than  our  subject  are,  Peter  who  lives 
on  section  1,  Young  Hickory  Township;  Mrs.  Sarah 
Combs,  of  Knox  County;  Mrs.  Margaret  Johnson, 
fif  Sliermau  County.  Kan.;  and  Joseph,  of  London 
Mills. 


-*J-fc- 


AMUEL  WILLCOXEN,  a  wealthy  citi- 
zen of  Buckheart  Township,  has  for  nian^' 
years  been  identified  with  its  farming  inter- 
ests as  one  of  its  most  practical,  wide-awake 
and  business-like  farmers  and  stock-raisers.  He  is 
a  native  of  Ashe  County,  N.  C,  born  October  12, 
1813.  His  father,  the  Rev.  Squire  Willcoxen,  was 
•  for  many  years  a  Baptist  preacher.  He  was  also  a 
North  C.irolinian  bj'  birth  and  was  married  in  the 
State  of   his   nativity  to  Sarah  Tatrira,  a  daughter 


of  James  Tatrim  and  a  native  of  North  Carolina. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Willcoxen  w-as  a  son  of  Samuel  Will- 
coxen and  he  served  in  th.e  War  of  1812. 

When  our  subject  was  about  three  years  old  the 
faiiiil}'  removed  from  North  Carolina  to  Kentucky, 
where  they  remained  twelve  j'ears,  and  then  carae 
to  this  county  about  1828.  Thus  his  parents  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  this  part  of  HIinois,  lo- 
cating in  a  place  called  Slabtown.  Five  years  later 
they  moved  into  what  is  now  Buckheart  Township, 
west  of  the  present  home  of  our  subject  on  section 
5,  and  were  among  the  pioneers  of  the  township. 
Here  the  father's  death  occurred  on  his  farm  in 
1837  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years.  They  were  tiie 
parents  of  nine  children,  six  girls  and  three  boys, 
and  Samuel,  of  whom  we  write,  was  the  seventh  of 
the  family. 

Our  subject  was  reared  among  the  pioneer  scenes 
in  Kentucky  and  experienced  also  all  the  hardships 
and  privations  of  pioneer  life  in  Fulton  County. 
After  coming  here  he  attended  the  old  Tatrim  school, 
which  was  conducted  on  the  subscription  plan,  and 
tliere  he  learned  to  read,  write  and  cipher.  He 
remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty- 
seven  years  of  age,  when  he  married  and  established 
a  home  of  his  own.  taking  as  his  wife  Miss  Lucinda 
Carner,  of  this  township.  She  was  born  in  Ken- 
tuckj'  and  was  brought  to  this  State  when  she  was 
quite  young  by  lier  parents,  who  were  [)ioneer  set- 
tlers here.  She  has  been  a  very  useful  assistant  to 
her  husband  in  the  acquirement  of  his  property 
and  has  been  a  devoted  mother  to  their  children,  of 
whom  they  have  had  three:  Ellen,  wife  of  Elijah 
Johnson;  George  W..  wlio  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead, and  one  who  died  in  infancj'. 

B\'  wise  thrift  and  pnidrnce,  by  tlie  dint  of  liaid 
and  unremitting  labor,  by  careful  manageincnl, 
shrewdness  and  foresight  in  the  transaction  of 
business,  Mr.  Willcoxen  has  placed  himself  among 
the  most  well  to-do  members  of  the  farming  popu- 
lation of  Buckheart  Township.  He  is  very  skillful 
as  a  farmer  and  has  his  farm  well-stocked  with  cat- 
tle, horses  and  hogs  of  high  grades.  Before  he 
divided  his  land  w'itli  his  children  lie  had  nine 
hundred  acres  of  choice  farming  land.  He  still 
retains  possession  of  two  hundred  acres  which  is 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation    and    finely    itn- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


199 


proved.  After  marriage  he  first  settled  on  the  old 
homestead  that  belonged  to  his  father,  and  besides 
carrying  that  on  managed  one  of  his  mother's  and 
he  lived  on  it  forty-six  years,  when  he  bought  his 
present  farm  on  section  11,  Hiiekheart  Township, 
comprising  one  hundred  and  lifty-foiir  acres,  and 
is  considered  one  of  the  most  valuable  in  the  local- 
ity. It  is  supplied  with  substantial  buildings,  in- 
cluding a  large  and  comfortably  furnished  I'esidenee 
and  one  of  the  best  brick  barns  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. 

As  an  early  settler  of  Buckheart  Township  and  as 
one  of  its  most  able  farmeis.  who  has  done  much 
for  its  development,  our  subject  occupies  a  [ironii- 
nenl  place  among  the  pioneers  of  this  locality  and 
of  the  county.  lie  and  his  wife  are  devoted  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Cliurch,  contributing  tlicir 
quota  to  its  support  and  helping  along  its  every 
good  work. 


APT.  WILLIAM   BOYD,    Deputy    County 
,  Clerk    and    Assistant  Treasurer   of    Fulton 

^^'  County,  has  long  been  connected  with  the 
civic  life  of  this  part  of  Illinois,  and  no  public  olli- 
cial  is  held  in  higher  estimation  for  pr.actical  aliil- 
ity  and  iine  personal  character  than  he.  lie  was  a 
brave  C)fncer  in  the  I'nion  ranks  during  the  late 
war,  and  did  noble  service  for  his  adopted  country. 
Capt.  Boyd  was  born  August  1.  1830.  in  the  prov- 
ince of  Ulster,  County  Antrim,  Irel.and.  His  fa- 
ther. John  Boyd,  was  a  native  of  the  same  county 
as  was  his  father,  Hugh  Boyd,  who  was  of  early 
Scotch  ancestry.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  so  far  as 
known,  S|)ent  his  entire  life  in  County  Antrim. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  well-educated,  and 
when  a  j'OUTig  man  taught  school,  and  was  also  en- 
gaged as  a  music  teacher,  and  as  a  civil  engineer. 
He  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  county  of  his  birth, 
dying  in  1840,  when  sixty  years  of  age.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Ann  Taggart,  and  she 
was  born  in  the  North  of  Iieland.  She  was  twice 
married,  the  name  of  her  tirst  husband  having  been 
Keenan. 

After  the  death  of  the  father  of  our  subject,   his 


mother  came  to  America  with  live  of  her  eight  chil- 
dren, .letting  sail  from  Port  Rush,  early  in  April, 
proceeding  from  there  to  Liverpool,  and  thence  to 
New  York,  landing  in  that  city  earl\-  in  June.  She 
Went  directly  to  Wooster,  Ohio,  and  there  her  re- 
maining days  were  passed,  her  death  occurring  in 
18r)l.  The  names  of  her  children  were:  Hannah 
(daughter  of  her  first  marriage);  Hugh,  Ann,  Jen- 
nie, John,  Robert,  William  .'uid  James.  John  died 
in  County  Antrim,  and  the  others  came  to  Amer- 
ica. Hannah  died  a  few  years  after  her  arrival 
here;  Ann  married  Hugh  Price,  and  settled  near 
Columbus,  Ohio;  Jennie  married  Joseph  Woods, 
and  settled  near  Gallion,  Ohio;  Hugh  located  in 
Wooster,  and  died  there;  Robert  also  died  in  Woos- 
ter; James  located  in  Columbus. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch  was  but 
twelve  3'ears  old  when  he  came  to  America  with  his 
mother.  As  she  was  in  limited  circumstances,  the 
brave,  manly  little  lad  had  to  set  about  earning  his 
own  living  at  an  early  age.  When  he  was  thirteen 
years  old,  he  commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  a 
shoemaker,  and  followed  that  until  1849.  In  that 
jear  he  went  to  Columbus,  and  in  1857  came  from 
that  city  to  Lewistown,  where  he  was  engaged  at 
his  trade  until  18C2. 

Capt.  Boyd  was  mostly  reared  and  educated  un- 
der the  institutions  of  this  country-,  and  early  im- 
bibed a  love  for  it  and  became  thoroughly  Ameri- 
canized. During  the  first  months  of  the  great 
struggle  between  the  North  and  South,  he  watched 
the  course  of  events  with  intense  interest,  and  as 
soon  as  practicable.  Laid  aside  his  work  to  take  u|) 
arms  in  defense  of  the  country  that  had  given  him 
a  home.  In  the  month  of  August.  18G2,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  II,  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois 
Infantr}-,  and  was  mustered  in  as  First  Lieutenant, 
at  Peoria,  August  2.  In  November,  he  was  sent 
with  his  regiment  to  Bolivar,  Tenn.,  and  thence  to 
La  Grange.  In  December  he  started  for  Vicksburg 
with  Gen.  Grant.  Commuidcation  being  cut  off 
Grant's  army  went  to  J.ackson,  and  there  the  regi- 
ment of  our  subject  was  quartered  for  the  winter. 
On  the  return  of  spring,  he  and  his  comrades  re- 
turned to  La  Grange,  anil  there  spent  a  short  time, 
and  were  dispatched  to  Vicksburg  from  that  place 
to  guard  the  rear  of  the  Federal   army,   and   aided 


200 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  defeat  in  uf  Jolinston's  atlempt  to  reinforce  tliat 
city.  After  tlie  fall  of  Vicksbuig,  our  subject 
went  to  Jackson  and  fought  gallantly  in  llie  battle 
witli  tlie  enemy  at  that  place.  From  there  his  regi- 
ment pushed  on  to  Black  River,  and  rested  until 
fall,  and  then  marched. to  Clialtanooga,  and  did 
good  service  in  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge. 
The  men  were  next  sent  to  the  relief  of  Burnside 
at  Knoxville,  and  then  retired  to  Scottsboro,  Ala. 
A  few  weeks  later  our  gallant  young  officer  accom- 
panied by  his  men,  started  for  Georgia,  having  been 
sent  there  to  attract,  the  attention  of  the  rebels  and 
draw  them  away  from  Sherman,  who  had  gone  on 
his  Meridian  raid.  Returning  to  Scottsboro,  the 
One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois,  nftcr  a  short  rest, 
went  on  another  reconnoitering  expedition,  n>arch- 
ing  to  Cleveland,  Tenn.,  and  back  to  Scottsboro. 
May  1,  1864,  it  joined  Sherman's  forces,  accom- 
panied him  on  the  Atlanta  campaign.  dt)ing  noble 
service  in  the  principal  battles  on  that  long  and 
ever  memorable  march.  Capt.  Boyd  and  the  sol- 
diers under  him  aided  in  the  siege  and  capture  of 
Atlanta,  fought  in  the  battle  of  Atlanta  Pass,  and 
after  that  went  witii  the  army  to  the  Chattahoocliie 
River.  Our  subject  received  an  injur}-  that  re- 
sulted in  the  loss  of  one  eye,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
resign  his  commission  and  give  up  military  life  for 
which  he  vvas  so  eminently  litled.  His  course 
througliout  his  service  had  marked  him  as  a  soldier 
who  was  prompt  in  obeying  orders,  was  cool  and 
courageous  in  any  emergency,  and  as  an  officer  in- 
spired his  men  to  brave  deeds.  His  superiors,  ap- 
preciating these  fine  qualities,  had  promoted  him  to 
the  rank  of  captain  before  his  retirement. 

After  he  left  the  army,  Capt.  Boyd  returned  to 
Lewistown,  and  in  1865  established  hinjself  in  the 
hardware  business,  and  continued  it  until  1873, 
when  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  position  as 
Deputy  County  Clerk,  and  he  then  sold  out  his 
business  interests.  As  before  mentioned,  he  is  As- 
sistant Treasurer,  and  has  made  a  good  record  in 
both  offices.  His  political  aililiations  are  with  the 
Republicans.  Religiously,  he  is  a  sound  Presby- 
terian, and  both  he  and  Mrs.  Boyd  are  church  mem- 
bers. He  is  identified  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Mutual  Aid. 

Our  subject  has  been    twice   married.     In   1852 


Sarah  S.  Miner  became  his  wife.  She  was  a  native 
of  Gratiot,  Licking  County,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter 
of  Francis  and  Myra  (.Jordan)  Miner.  Her  death 
occurretl  in  1860.  Of  the  three  children  born  of 
her  wedded  life,  tivo  are  now  living:  Carrie  mar- 
ried Alexander  Wetherell,  and  lives  near  Lima, 
Ohio;  Ida  married  Dr.  II.  P.  Stipp,  of  Sonora.  Cal. 
The  Captain's  second  marriage,  which  was  solemn- 
ized in  1861,  was  with  Miss  Lucy  J.  Foote.  a  na- 
tive of  Iowa.  There  are  two  children  living  of  the 
second  marriage:  Mrs.  Grace  Lillie,  of  Lewistown; 
and    Wilhird. 


Nt„4\  A.RTIN  M.  WAUGHTEL.  Among  the 
young  farmers  of  this  county  are  many 
li"  who  are  pursuing  their  course  in  life  with 
great  energy  and  much  skill,  and  thereliy 
attaining  satisfactory  results.  One  of  this  num- 
ber is  the  gentlem;ui  above  named,  who  is  located 
on  section  26,  Cass  Township,  occupying  the  farm 
on  which  his  birth  took  place  August  23,  18,i9.  His 
est.ate  consists  of  one  hundred  acres,  nearly  all  of 
wliicli  is  improved,  and  he  carries  on  general  agri- 
cultural work,  raising  both  grain  an<l  slock.  Cattle 
and  hogs  are  the  domestic  animals  which  he  raises 
in  the  greatest  numbers,  but  he  has  some  fine  speci- 
mens of  horseflesh,  among  them  a  team  of  three- 
vear  old  Normans,  weighing  three  thousand  and 
thirty-live  pounds. 

Henry  Waughtel,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Ohio  in  1812,  but  former  generations  of 
the  family -had  lived  in  Virginia.  He  mirrried  Mar- 
garet Markley,  a  native  of  the  same  State  as  him- 
self, their  marriage  taking  place  in  this  State,  to 
which  both  had  come  in  childhood.  Mr.  Waughtel 
belonged  to  a  family  which  was  one  of  the  first  to 
make  a  settlement  in  this  part  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley.  He  w.as  the  first  Supervisor  of  Cass  Town- 
ship, taking  the  olHce  in  1850.  He  fought  during 
the  Black  Hawk  War.  He  breathed  his  last  in 
1885,  but  his  widow  still  lives  and  nine  of  their 
twelve  children   survive. 

Our  subject  received  a  good  common-school  edu- 
cation and   from  earl}-  boyhood  was  accustomed  to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAlMUt'AL  ALHl'M 


201 


take  part  in  farm  work,  to  wliicli  he  lias  (•oiitiiuietl 
to  give  his  attention,  lie  began  life  for  himself 
when  twenty  years  old,  marrying  Philena  Orwig, 
a  (laughter  of  John  and  Amanda  (Hancock)  Orwig, 
who  were  ol<l  settlers  in  this  ('onuty.  The  young 
couple  took  possession  of  forty  acres  of  land 
owned  by  the  husband,  wliich  he  operated  suc- 
cessfully. His  wife,  who  was  born  in  IHCi:?,  died 
in  August,  1884,  leaving  two  sons — John  and 
IMilton.  Mr.  Waughtel  was  again  married  in  Sep- 
tember, 1885,  his  bride  being  iSarali  M.  Hinder- 
liter,  a  daughter  of  Julius  Hinderliter.  wlio  was 
one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Cass  Township.  This 
lady  was  born  in  1862,  received  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  and  the  home  train- 
ing which  fitted  her  for  the  duties  of  a  horae- 
kcei)er.  She  has  borne  hor  husband  two  children, 
one  of  whom   is  now  living,  a  son,  William. 

Mr.  Wanghtel  has  from  hi§  early  manhood  been 
more  or  less  closely  connected  with  the  |)ub- 
lic  affairs  of  the  section  in  which  lie  lives.  He  be- 
came Sciiool  Director  in  Di.slrict  No.  6  as  soon  as 
he  was  old  enough  to  hold  the  oUice  and  is  still 
its  incumbent.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three  years 
he  was  elected  Township  Collector  and  served  in 
that  cap.aeity  until  elected  Supervisor,  in  which  he 
is  now  serving  his  fourth  term.  He  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest  in  politics  and  is  one  of 
the  principal  workers  in  the  township;  he  has  been 
a  delegate  to  county  conventions  and  is  now  a 
committeeman. 

. ^— ,  -''*-^^=n::^^^-,i — ',    . — ;■ 

^^^      . — '        S:^3i=^»,       *— »  ^— ^ — ' 

yASHINGTON  F.  KANDOLI'H.  a  veteran 
of  the  late  war  and  a  well-known  farmer 
of  Canton  Townshi[),  was  born  in  Joshua 
Township,  this  countj',  Januaiy  11,  1812.  the 
youngest  child  of  John  F.  and  Nancy  (Rawalt) 
Randolph.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  in  the  place  of  his  birth  and  made  his 
home  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage.  After 
that  he  settled  in  Canton  Township,  where  he  has 
since  lived.  Ho  has  always  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing with  the  exception  of  the  two  years  tiiat  he 
spent  in  the  army  during  the  war,  and   he  has    a 


choice  f;uiii  of  eighty  acres  on  section  8,  which  is 
well-improved. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  the  bravo  volunteers 
during  the  late  (JIvil  War.  He  enlisted  in  the 
month  of  August,  18()2.  the  year  that  he  attained 
his  majority,  in  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and 
Third  Hlinois  Infantry  and  served  with  credit  two 
years. 

Mr.  Randolph  was  married  in  Canton  Township 
to  Miss  Mar}-,  a  daughtei'  of  Homer  and  Susan 
Moore,  early  pioneers  of  Fidton  County.  The 
mother,  a  daughtei- (if  John  llugen.  is  living  at  a 
venerable  age  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  re- 
maining in  Fulton  County.  Mrs.  Randolph  is  a 
native  of  Canton  Townsliii).  Her  marriage  with 
our  subject  has  brougiit  them  these  three  chil- 
dren: Minnie  F..  Lola  F..  and  Homer  F. 

Mr.  Randolph  is  a  devoted  advocate  of  the 
I'roliibition  party  in  politics.  H(!  has  been  School 
Director  and  has  .served  his  township  well  in  that 
capacity.  He  is  a  man  of  exemplary  habits,  and 
is  classed  among  our  most  worthy  citizens.  Mrs. 
Randolph,  who  is  held  in  like  respect,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Uaptisl  Church. 

-^ ^#-^ ■ -— 


^RED  0.  I'lTI 


f(jrnier  manager  of  tlie  ex- 
tensive livery  business  founded  in  Canton 
b}'  Morrell  lligbie,  was  born  in  18.^().  He 
is  the  son  of  Norris  and  Elizabeth  (Granger)  Pitt, 
who  reside  in  Peoria  and  have  made  that  city  their 
home  during  the  jiast  twenty-five  years.  The 
father  is  the  proprietor  of  a  merchant  tailoring 
establishment,  but  does  none  of  the  actual  work 
himself,  having  other  inteiests  which  occupy  his 
time,  except  tliat  portion  which 'ho  devotes  to  the 
oversight  of  the  business.  He  deals  quite  exten- 
sively in  Western  hinds,  and  has  a  prominent  pLace 
among  the  Aldermen  of  the  city.  He  has  always 
been  actively  eng.aged  in  politics,  and  is  generally 
known  and  esteemed  throughout  the  community. 
He  has  five  sons,  two  of  whom  are  in  Chicago  and 
two  in  Peoria. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical   sketch    passed 
his  childhood  and  ^outli   in   Peoria,  and   there  ob- 


•202 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tained  a  good  education  in  the  High  School.  Upon 
first  entering  the  business  world  he  learned  his 
father's  trade,  and  was  connected  with  him  until 
1879,  wlien  he  opened  a  merchant  tailoring  estab- 
lishiiient  in  Canton.  This  he  carried  on  success- 
fully until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  during  the 
ensuing  jear.  He  tlien  made  his  home  in  Peoria 
for  a  twelvemonth,  but  at  the  expiration  of  that 
time  returned  to  Canton,  where  he  pursued  his 
chosen  business  until  1885.  At  that  time  the  fail- 
ing health  of  his  father-in-law,  Morrell  Higbie, 
forced  him  to  abandon  hard  work  and  Mr.  Pitt  was 
called  upon  to  assume  the  management  of  his 
liverj-  business.  He  is  an  eminently  successful 
business  man.  and  has  gained  wide  popularity  by 
his  genial,  happy  disposition  and  strict  integrity'. 
Mr.  Pitt  was  fortunate  in  liis  choice  of  a  wife, 
Miss  Frank  Higbie  being  a  30ung  lad3'  possessed 
of  a  good  education,  pleasing  manners  and  the 
character  and  disposition  calculated  to  make  a 
happy  home.  Tiie  congenial  couple  are  the  pf.r- 
ents  of  two  cliildren — Lucy  and  Bessie.  Mr.  Pitt 
is  a  member  of  the  social  order  of  tiie  Knights  of 
Pythias. 


i,OAH   R.    KNOWLES,   who    is    engaged    in 
farming  and  stock-raising   on    section    15, 

^  Pleasant  Township,  where  he  owns  a  good 
farm,  is  a  veteran  of  the  late  war.  He  was  born 
in  Sussex  County.  Del.,  April  19,  1841,  to  William 
W.  and  Elizabetli  (Phillips)  Knowles,  natives  re- 
spective]\'  of  Delaware  and    Maryland. 

Mr.  and  5lrs.  Knowles  removed  to  Somerset 
Count}^  Md.  when  their  son,  Noah,  of  whom  we 
write,  was  ten  or  twelve  j'cars  old,  and  there  the}* 
lived  a  number  of"  years.  Thej'  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Dorchester  County,  that  State  and  re- 
mained there  till  the  fail  of  1860,  when  they  came 
to  Illinois  and  took  up  their  residence  in  Fulton 
County.  In  1865  the  parents  removed  to  Nebraska, 
where  they  are  living  at  the  present  time.  Their 
wedded  life  has  been  blessed  to  them  b^-  the  birth 
of  seven  children,  of  whom  five  survive,  namely: 
Noah  R.;  George  W.,  a  resident  of  Johnson  County, 
Neb. ;  Angeline,  wife  of  John  Turner  of  Nebraska; 


S.  T.  T.  who  makes  his  home  in  Missouri;  and  Sena, 
wife  of  James  Turner,  of  Nebraska. 

Our  subject  had  but  limited  educational  advanta- 
ges in  the  common  schools  of  Maryland  and  Dela- 
ware, but  he  made  the  best  of  them.  After  coming 
to  Fultim  County  he  worked  on  a  farm  b^-  the 
month  for  G.  C.  Cooper,  receiving  in  payment  for 
his  labor  $10  a  month  and  his  board,  continuing 
thus  employed  for  about  three  years.  In  March, 
1864  he  enlisted  in  Company  H.,  Twentj'-eighth 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  bore  an  honorable  part  in  the 
war.  He  was  with  his  regiment  at  the  siege  of 
Spanish  Fort,  and  he  fought  in  many  minor  skir- 
mishes, besides  doing  much  scouting  and  provost 
duty.  He  served  principally  in  Tennessee,  Missis- 
sippi, Louisiana  and  Alabama  and  gave  proof  of 
excellent  soldierl}'  qualities.  While  in  the  array 
his  e)'esight  was  much  injured  owing  to  exposure 
and  he  suffered  all  the  hardships  and  privations 
incidental  to  life  on  the  l)attlefleld.  He  was  hon- 
orably discharged  in  March,  1866  in  Texas,  where 
he  was  doing  guard  duty,  and  he  was  mustered  out 
at  Springfield  the  following  April.  The  value  of 
his  services  during  the  time  he  was  in  the  array 
have  been  recognized  by  the  Government  which 
grants  him  a  pension  of  iS16  a  month. 

Since  the  war  our  subject  has  given  his  attention 
to  farming,  and  in  the  spring  of  1879  settled  on 
liis  present  farm  on  section  15,  Pleasant  Township. 
Here  he  has  eighty  acres  of  land  which  is  fenced 
into  convenient  fields,  is  admirably  tilled  and  is 
provided  with  all  the  necessary  buildings  and  good 
farming  machinery.  Mr.  Knoules  enjoys  the  es- 
teem and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens,  as  his 
conduct  in  all  the  affairs  of  life  has  ever  been  hon- 
orable and  upright.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
sound  Republican.  Socially,  he  is  connected  with 
the  Grand  Army,  being  a  member  of  the  Post  at 
Ipava.  Though  he  docs  not  belong  to  any  church 
he  contributes  liberally  to  the  support  of  religious 
causes. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  to  I\Iiss  Irena 
Cooper  was  celebrated  in  Januar}',  1867,  and  has 
been  productive  of  much  happiness  to  both.  To 
them  have  been  born  two  cliildren,  Cora,  wife  of 
Elmer  Porter,  of  this  place,  and  one  child  who 
died  in  infancj'.  Mrs.  Knowles  is  a  daughter  of 
Levin  Cooper,  whose  biography  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  volume. 


<J<3^ 


c_ 


J,  /^/Y/v^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


207 


'^f' AMES  H.  McCALL.  This  gentleman  was  a 
conspicuous  figure  in  tiie  history  of  Central 
Illinois  for  nearly  forty  years.  He  was  :i  resi- 
'fi^!/'  'lent  of  Peoria,  and  later  of  Canton,  the  lat- 
ter city  being  his  home  when  his  career  was  cut 
short  by  death.  In  addition  to  a  brief  outline  of 
his  life,  wc  append  some  notices  from  the  press, 
and  fraternal  resolutions  which  sufliciently  indicate 
the  place  which  he  held  in  the  mind  of  the  i)ublic. 
We  also  present  to  the  reader  portraits  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McCall. 

Jar.u'S  Harvey  McCall  was  born  in  1809,  in  the 
city  of  ISallimore,  .Md..  of  Scotch  parents.  In  1814, 
he  removed  with  his  parents  to  York  County,  Pa., 
and  lived  on  a  farm  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age.  In  1825  he  went  into  Lancaster  County,  of 
the  same  State,  and  was  tliere  engaged  in  farming 
and  sawniillino;  until  the  spring  of  1S;5,5,  when  iie 
with  his  eldest  sister,  emigrated  to  I'eoria,  111.  hi 
tlie  fall  of  tliat  same  year  he  rented  a  grist  and  saw- 
mill on  Kickapoo  Creek,  and  after  working  there 
for  six  months,  returned  to  town,  and  followed  car- 
pentering for  a  year,  then  alternating  that  with 
farming  until  1839,  when  he,  with  John  Monroe, 
built  and  loaded  a  tlatboat  witli  produce,  which 
they  took  to  Xew  Orleans.  After  returning  he  en- 
gaged in  feeding  cattle  and  hogs,  and  built  the  first 
j)ens  in  Peoria,  feeding  with  the  slop  fi-oui  Capt.  A. 
S.  Cole's  distillery,  which  was  the  first  distillery 
erected  in  I'eoria. 

Mr.  McCall,  in  .\piil,  1846,  received  injuries,  and 
was  unable  to  work  for  several  months.  In  the 
spring  of  1847,  he  entered  into  a  partnership  in  the 
sawmill  business,  and  continued  there  for  two  years, 
then  they  built  an  addition  of  a  gristmill,  and  just 
as  It  was  completed  it  burned  to  the  ground.  In 
the  fall  of  1800,  he  had  rebuilt  on  the  old  site,  and 
was  running  a  custom  mill,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1852,  the  first  copartnership  of  Moss,  Bradley  ife 
Co.,  (the  company  being  McCall,  ami  afterward 
MeCall  ik  Frazer)  was  formed.  Here  he  was  iJiter- 
ested  until  the  fall  of  1862,  when  he  removed  to 
Canton,  111.,  to  take  personal  supervision  of  a  dis- 
tillery, which  he  had  previously  bought.  Here  he 
helped  to  establish  tlie  First  National  Bank  of  Can- 
ton, of  which  he  was  Presideiil  from  the  time  of 
its  establishment  to  tlie  day   of  his  death. 


On  June  10.  1845.  :Mr.  McCall  was  married  to 
.Miss  Louisa  Raj-mond,  and  to  them  were  born  four 
children,  dangliters,  whose  record  is  as  follows: 
iM.aggie  L.,  wife  of  Dr.  James  Entwistle,  of  C!ii- 
cago;  Carrie  O.,  who  married  Georg(>  A.  Black, 
and  resides  in  Omaha,  Ncib. ;  Josie  K.,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Babcock,  Jr..  of  Canton,  and  Agnes  M.,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Charles  Levings,  of  Chicago. 
Mr.  McCall  cast  his  first  vote  for  Andrew  Jackson, 
and  was  during  his  entire  life  a  stanch  Democrat. 
He  was  always  an  active  politician,  and  as  such 
was  influential  in  the  councils  of  his  party. 

During  the  fall  of  1872  Mr.  McCall  went  to  Cali- 
fornia on  business,  and  on  his  way  back  home  met 
men  whose  acquaintance  gave  him  the  desire  to  in- 
vestigate part  of  the  mining  interests  of  the  Western 
country,  and  on  June  16,  1873.  he  started  to  do 
so.  From  that  time  he  was  among  the  mountains, 
and  alll'.ougli  it  was  a  disagreeable  task  to  him.  he 
w'rote  more  often  than  usual  to  his  .family,  always 
sayinn;  he  was  enjoying  good  health  and  spirits,  and 
the  day  before  he  was  taken  sick,  wrote  home  the 
same  good  news,  w'liich  letter  was  not  received  un- 
til the  day  after  tin;  telegram  announcing  his  death. 
The  following  extracts  from  the  different  p;ipers 
will  partially  show  the  high  regard  in  which  he  w.as 
held  in  the  community,  anil  also  give  many  items 
of  interest,  for  tritles  assume  an  importance  not 
their  own  when  ct)nneeted  with  those  who  have 
been  loved  and  lost: 

From  the  Canton  Jiegistcr,  September  5,   1873: 
S.vi)  Ai'i'LiCTiON — Sudden  Dkatii  of 
J.  II.  McCm.i.. 

On  Tuesday  last  the  citizens  of  Canton  were 
startled  and  pained  by  a  report  tluit  Mr.  .lames  H. 
McCall  was  dead.  An  inquiry  developed  the  fact 
that  tlie  rejiort  was  in  all  probability^  true,  although 
the  dispatch  announcing  the  fact  was  very  unsatis- 
factorj',  not  to  say  mysterious.  It  w.as  as  follows: 
Elko,  Nevada,  September  1st,  1873. 

Geokok  a.  Br-ACK  Canton,  III.: 

I  leave  here  on  the  5  v.  ji.  train  with  the  remains 
of  J.  H.  McCall.      Meet  me  at  Bureau  Junction. 
[.Signed]  A.  B.  Ciiai'.man, 

Nothing  more  vvas  learned  by,  or  known  to  the 
family  concerning  the  matter.  A  letter  was  re- 
ceived from  Mr.  McCall  on  Tuesday  evening,  dated 
August  27.  in  which  he  writes  concerning  some 
business,  and  this  letter  was  written  by  Mr.  McCall 


268 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  llie  clear  and  concise  manner  peculiar  to  him  in 
business  matters. 

Mr.  Chapman,  who  sends  the  dispatch,  formerly 
lived  in  Joliot.  111.,  and  Mr.  MuCall  became  ac- 
quainted with  hira  when  in  the  \Vest  a  year  ago. 
Tlie  family  knew  nothing  of  him.  only  that  lie  is 
engaged  in  business  at  Mountain  City,  near  Elko, 
Nev. 

Mr.. George  A.  Black,  a  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Call,  started  for  Omaha,  Tuesday,  to  meet  tlie  re- 
mains, and  bring  them  home;  and  Col.  A.  C.  Bab- 
cock.  Mr.  McCall's  partner,  will  also  meet  them 
tiiere.  They  are  expected  to  arrive  in  the  city  to- 
day, Friday. 

Up  to  noon  of  Thur.sday,  tliere  liad  been  nothing 
further  in  relation  to  Jlr.  McCall's  death  received, 
and  there  is  a  hope  yet  indulged  that  there  may  be 
a  mistake. 

Mr.  McCail  has  been  one  of  tlie  most  enterpris- 
ing and  public-spirited  citizens  of  Canton,  and  all 
have  felt  that  not  his  family  alone,  but  the  whole 
community  have  sustained  an  irreiiarable  loss.  His 
remains  will  be  interred  in  the  Canton  cemelerj'. 

From  the  Canton  Register,  September  12,   1873: 

De.\th  of  J.  H.  McCall. 

HIS  FUNERAL. 

Tiie  reported  death  of  Mr.  J.  H.  McCall.  men- 
tioned by  us  last  week,  proved  to  be  onl\-  too  true, 
dispatches  from  G.  A.  Black  confiiniing  the  sad  news 
being  received  on  Thursday  evening,  just  after  our 
paper  was  primed. 

A.  B.  Chapman,  Esq.,  a  merchant  of  .Mountain 
City.  Nev..  who  was  with  Mr.  McCall,  the  greater 
portion  of  the  time  since  tlie  latter  has  been  in  the 
West,  has  furnished  us  the  following  particulars: 

Jlr.  MoCall  had  been  in  liis  usual  good  health  up 
to  the  morninir  of  the  29th  ult..  when  he  was  taken 
at  Mountain  City  with  what  appeared  to  be  a  con- 
gestive chill,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  was  un- 
conscious for  sonie  time.  After  coming  out  of 
the  chill,  consciousness  returned,  and  he  at  once 
announced  to  Mr.  Chapman  and  his  attendants  that 
lie  would  not  recover,  and  that  it  would  be  uselesiS 
to  send  for  a  pliysician.  A  team  and  driver  had 
been  procured  by  Mr.  Chapman,  and  was  just  read^- 
to  start,  when  Mr.  McCall  told  lliem  to  stop,  as  he 
would  not  live  long  enough  for  a  physician  to 
reach  him.  Jlountain  City  is  only  a  mining  town, 
and  to  obtain  a  physician  it  was  necessary  to  send 
to  Elko,  ou  the  Union  Pacific  Railro.ad,  distant 
eighty-six  miles  from  Mountain  City.  The  stage 
time  between  the  two  points  is  two  days. 

After  giving  directions  to  Mr.  Cliapmau  concern- 
ing some  business  matters,  sending  messages  to 
loved  ones  at  home,  and  requesting  that  Mr.  Chap- 


man accompany  his  remains  to  Canton,  at  3:.S0 
p.  M.,  on  the  30th,  he  died. 

It  was  impossible  to  get  a  coffin,  or  even  himlier 
to  make  one,  at  Mountain  City,  and  j\lr.  Chapman 
was  compelled  to  put  the  body  in  a  rough  box, 
packed  in  ice,  and  haul  it  over  a  rough  mountain 
road  in  an  oi>en  wagon  to  Elko.  He  started  at  1  1 
o'clock  p.  M..  on  the  30lh.  arriving  at  Elko  at  1  p. 
M.,  on  the  first  of  .September.  Xot  being  able  to 
obtain  a  casket  there,  a  cofBn  was  procured,  sealed 
in  zinc,  and  then  enclosed  in  a  box,  and  at  5  p.  m.. 
on  the  1st  inst.,  he  started  for  Omaha.  At  Omaha 
he  was  met  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  A.  Black,  and  Col. 

A.  C.  Babcock,  who  accompanied  the  remains 
home,  arriving  here  at  10:45  a.  m  ,  Friday,  the  5th. 

The  remains  were  met  at  the  depot,  and  taken 
in  charge  by  a  committee,  consisting  of  Mes^rs. 
William  Babcock,  J.  W.  Ingersoll,  C.  T.  Heald,  A. 

B.  Hulil,  and  H.  L.  Wright,  on  the  part  of  the  citi- 
zens, and  W.  B.  Gleason,  .S.  Y.  Thornton,  J.  H. 
Stipp,  W.  H.  Craig  and  .1.  C.  Brinkerlioff.  on  the 
part  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  The  remains  were 
taken  into  the  depot  building,  the  colHii  opened, 
and  the  bod\'  identified.  An  examiualion  was  also 
made,  at  the  request  of  friends,  by  Drs.  .Swisher 
and  Wright,  to  ascertain  if  death  had  ensued  from 
natural  causes. 

The  remains  were  then  conveyed  to  his  late  resi- 
dence where  they  were  cared  for  until  Saturday,  at 
two  o'clock,  when  the  funeral  took  place. 

The  Masonic  fraternity  met  at  their  hall  at  half- 
past  one  o'clock,  and  formed  in  procession  under 
direction  of  W.  B.  Gleason.  as  Marshal,  with  C.  N. 
llenkle  and  \V.  H.  Craig  as  assistants.  Preceded 
by  the  Cornet  Band,  they  marched  to  the  late  resi- 
dence of  the  deceased,  where  the^'  were  met  b}'  the 
committee  of  citizens  above  mentioned.  The  re- 
mains were  taken  in  charge,  and  conveyed  to  the 
Congregational  Churcli.  J.  H.  Stipp,  J.  jM.  Fox.  G. 
S.  McConnell,  S.  P.  Slocum,  W.  H.  Smith,  and  J. 
R.  McQuiad.  acting  as  pall  bearers. 

The  funeral  services  at  the  church  were  con- 
ducted by  the  Rev.  H.  B.  Smith,  of  Peoria,  who 
delivered  an  impressive  and  feeling  address,  basing 
his  remarks  on  the  second  and  third  verses  of  the 
seventh  chapter  of  EcclesLastes: 

"It  is  better  to  go  to  the  house  of  mourninfc, 
than  to  go  to  the  house  of  feasting:  for  that  is  the 
end  of  all  men;  ami  the  living  will  lay  it  to  his 
heart." 

"Sorrow  is  better  than  laughter,  for  by  the  s.ad- 
ness  of  the  countenance  the  heart  is  made  better." 

At  the  close  of  the  services  the  h}  mn  "Scotland," 
a  favorite  tune  of  Mr.  McCall's  was  sung  by  the 
choir,  and  a  procession  was  again  formed,  the  band 
and  Miisonic  fraternity-  in  the  front,    followed   h^- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


209 


the  hearse  and  family  then  a  long  line  of  citizens 
on  foot  and  upwards  of  fifty  vehicles  in  the  rear. 
The  procession  proceeded  to  the  cemetery,  where 
the  lemains  were  interred  with  the  beautiful  funeral 
service  of  tlie  Masonic  fraternitv,  conducted  by  Dr. 
Sylvester  Stevens,  of  Knoxville,  an  old  and  es- 
teemed friend  of  Mr.  McCail's. 

During  the  funeral  services  the  banks  were  closed, 
and  business  to  a  great  extent  suspended.  A  num- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity  from  Lewistown 
Fairview,  and  other  places,  besides  many  others, 
came  to  pay  the  last  tribute  of  respect  to  their  de- 
parted friend. 

And  thus  was  laid  to  re«t  one  of  nature's  noble- 
men. It  is  but  seldom  that  one  is  called  upon  to 
record  tlie  decease  of  a  man  who  will  be  as  greatly 
missed,  in  all  the  walks  of  life,  as  James  II.  McCall. 
Althougli  a  resident  of  Canton  only  some  ten  or 
twelve  years,  lie  had  so  identified  himself  with  all  the 
best  interests  and  material  advancement  of  tiiecity 
and  of  the  county,  that  he  was  perhai)s  more  widely 
known  than  many  of  our  older  citizens;  and  where 
known,  his  name  was  synonymous  with  integrity, 
justice,  honor,  and  business  cai)acity.  I'o.ssessed  of 
ample  means,  he  was  ever  ready  to  use  them  in 
public  enterptises,  and  for  general  good. 

In  his  private  life  he  was  known  far  and  wide 
for  his  genero.us,  unostentatious  hospitality,  his  ex- 
tensive cliarities,  and  benevolent  nature.  In  his 
domestic  life  he  was  noted  for  the  almost  idolatrous 
love  for  his  family.  Of  a  happy  and  joyous  na- 
ture himself,  he  impressed  himself  so  upon  all  who 
came  in  contact  with  him  in  the  family  circle,  and 
never  was  too  much  occupied,  or  ever  loo  much 
troubled  in  spirit  to  endeavor  to  make  all  about 
him  happy.  And  never  did  he  appear  more  lov- 
able than  in  his  last  days  at  home,  when  sur- 
rounded by  the  young  friends  of  his  affection.ate 
children,  he  showed  that  his  heart  was  as  young  as 
any  there,  and  that  he  could  and  did  enjoy  the 
sports  and  esteem  the  friendship  of  the  youngest 
present.  Ilis  was  a  heart  that  never  would  grow 
old,  and  a  warm  loving  nature  that  nothing  could 
over  chill  so  long  as  the  life  current  coursed  through 
his  veins,  lie  was  a  good  man.  Peace  to  his  ashes. 
From  the  Fulton  County  Ledger,  September  12, 
1873: 

FCIITHEU  PaKTICULAKS  of    TlIK    DkATH  op 

James  H.  McCall. 
We  last  week  informed  our  readers  of  the  death  of 
James  H.  McCall.  Esq.  of  this  city,  but  could  give 
none  of  the  particulars,  as  nothing  w.as  known  ex- 
cept the  dispatch  from  Mr.  A.  B.  Chapman,  of 
Mountain  City,  Nev.,  one  of  the  men  interested 
with  him  ill  mining  operations  in  that  vicinity. 
The  body  of  Mr.  McCall  arrived  here  on  Friday 


morning,  accompanied  through  by  Mr.  Chapman, 
and  met  at  Omaha  by  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  George 
A.  Black,  and  Col.  A.  C.  Babcock.  A  committee 
from  the  Masonic  Loilge,  and  also  of  citizens,  and 
a  large  number  of  our  people,  were  at  tlie  depot 
when  the  train  arrived.  The  remains  were  taken 
to  tlie  house,  where  they  remained  until  Saturday 
afternoon,  when  they  were  interred  in  the  Canton 
cemetery. 

At  one  o'clock  v.  m.,  on  Saturday,  Morning  Star 
Lodge  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  met  in  their  rooms  and 
formed  in  procession  and  marched  to  the  Imuse, 
preceded  by  the  Canton  band,  which  had  volun- 
teered for  the  occasion,  and  escorted  the  remains  to 
the  Congregational  Church,  where  services  were 
held,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Smith  of  the  rniversalist  Church, 
Peoria,  preaching  the  sermon.  The  church  w.as 
crowded. 

The  attendance  at  the  cemetery  was  the  largest 
wo  have  ever  seen  at  a  funeral  in  this  city.  The  en- 
tire city  seemed  to  turn  out  to  pa>-  this  last  tribute 
to  him  who  was  one  of  our  best,  most  liberal  and 
enterprising  citizens.  A  number  tif  M.asons  >Tere 
here  from  Lewistown  and  Fairview  Lodge. 

James  H.  JlcCall  was  sixty-four  years  of  age  in 
June  last.  lie  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Md.;  came 
West  in  1835,  soon  after  settling  in  Peoria.  In 
1845  he  married  Jliss  L.  Raymond,  of  Peoria,  who 
with  their  four  children,  daughters,  survive  him. 
In  the  fall  of  18C2  he  removed  his  family  to  Can- 
ton, and  has  since  resided  here.  He  has  been  one 
of  our  most  active  business  men,  and  by  economy, 
industry  and  uprightness  had  amassed  a  large 
amount  of  pro|)erty.  At  the  time  of  his  death  lie 
was  President  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  this 
cilv'.  and  the  owner  of  a  large  amount  of  stock. 
Early  last  sp'-ing  Mr.  McCall  iiad  a  severe  attack 
of  congestion  of  the  liver,  and  his  attending  phy- 
sician. Dr.  Fleming,  then  informed  him  that  if  he 
should  ever  have  another  attack  of  the  disease,  it 
w^ould  cause  his  death.  About  the  last  of  iMay  or 
the  first  of  June,  he  went  West  to  prospect  as  to 
the  value  of  certain  silver  mines,  in  which  the  Mr. 
Chapman  mentioned  above  and  others  were  inter- 
ested, and  which  were  n  presented  to  liira  as  very 
valuable  hist  fall,  while  he  was  returning  from  a 
trip  to  California,  by  some  of  the  parties,  whom  he 
met  on  the  cars,  and  who  were  anxious  to  get  some 
parties  with  capital  to  take  an  interest  in  them.  He 
liad  assured  himself  that  there  was  a  fortune  in  the 
enterprise.  He  had  himself  selected  specimens  of 
an  average  yield  of  quartz,  and  had  them  assayed, 
and  they  produced  ^449.32  to  the  ton,  which  was 
considered  veiy  rich;  and  having  satisfied  himself 
of  the  value  of  the  mines,  he  had  made  arrange- 
ments to  invest  in  the  enterprise. 


210 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BlUURAPlllCAL  ALBUM. 


On  Friday  morning,  29lh  ult.,  lie  was  taiven  sicic 
wilh  congestion  of  the  liver,  and  fell  llial  liis  time 
was  sliorl  in  tliis  world,  lie  sent  for  Mr.  Cliap- 
nian,  told  Inni  about  liis  affairs  and  what  disposi- 
tion was  to  be  made  of  what  he  had  witli  him.  That 
a  day  or  two  before  he  had  refeived  a  draft  for 
§1,000,  and  of  this  he  wanted  S600  used  to  pay 
some  bills  he  had  contractt-d,  and  the  remainder  to 
be  used  in  takino;  his  body  home  to  Canton.  There  j 
was  no  physician  nearer  tlian  Elko,  in  Kevada,  a 
town  eiiihty-six  miles  north  of  Mountain  City,  and 
about  six  lumdred  miles  by  rail  from  San  Francisco. 
Mr.  Chapman  proposeil  to  send  for  a  physician,  but 
Mr.  McCall  said  it  w.as  no  use — a  physician  couhi 
do  him  no  good  if  there,  and  he  would  be  dead  be- 
fore one  could  reach  him.  And  in  a  little  more 
than  twenty-four  hours  from  the  lime  he  was  taken, 
he  was  a  corpse.  His  remains  were  taken  to  Elko, 
where  they  were  placed  in  a  zinc  case,  soldered 
tight,  and  thus  brought  home. 

His  death  will  be  a  great  loss,  not  only  to  his 
family  ami  friends,  but  to  our  little  city  also.  As 
we  said  last  week,  he  was  ever  ready  to  lend  a  help- 
ing hand  to  the  needy,  and  was  one  of  the  foremost 
in  anything  which  pertained  to  the  growth  and  in- 
terest of  our  little  city.  But  death  is  no  respecter 
of  persons.  The  rich  and  the  poor,  the  high"  and 
the  low,  must  all  bow  before  him,  and  in  a  day  and 
an  hour  that  we  know  not  of,  are  we  called  upon  to 
yield  to  bis  cold  embrace. 

We  learn  from  the  Peoria  Democrat  that  ^Ir.  Mc- 
Call served  for  several  j-ears  .as  a  member  of  the 
City  Council  of  Peoria,  commencing  in  18.5.5.  The 
Democrat  very  truthfully  says: 

"As  a  man,  .as  a  neighbor,  and  as  a  citizen,  we 
can  only  speak  of  Mr.  McCall  in  terms  of  commen- 
dation; sociable,  cheerful,  amiable,  and  generous, 
his  society  was  sough i,  by  all  classes,  and  by  the 
young  and  the  old.  Those  who  have  i)artaken  of 
"his  hos()itality  in  the  years  that  are  gone,  will  not 
soon  forget  the  pleasant  family  circle  of  which  he 
was  the  head.  It  is  within  the  bounds  of  truth  to 
say  that  few  men  were  more  greatly  blessed  in  the 
home  which  their  own  exclions  have  endowed, 
than  James  H.  McCall.  A  spirit  of  affectioli  and 
Irusl  prevailed  the  whole  circle,  and  those  who  en- 
tered it  were  compelled  to  drink  of  its  influence." 

From  the  Peoria  National  Democrat,  September 
6,  1873: 

Anothek  oi'  TiiK  Old  Men  Gone. 

The  friends  of  .Tames  II.  McCall,  formerly  a  resi- 
dent of  this  city,  but  latterly  a  resident  of  Canton, 
in  Fulton  County,  were  sadly  surprised  on  Thnrs- 
d:i\'  last,  bv  a  telegram  published   in   the  Democrat 


of  that  day,  of  the  death  of  that  gentleman  in  Ne- 
vada, the  previous  d.ay.  The  ))ainfulness  of  the 
circumstances  was  intensified  by  the  vagueness  of 
the  report.  None  of  the  attending  fads  were  given, 
onl\'  the  bare  mention  that  he  was  dead,  leaving 
the  imagination  to  supply  the  cause  and  incidents 
of  de.itli,  and  these,  as  the  deceased  was  known  to 
have  in  his  possession  a  considerable  amount  of 
money,  naturally  led  to  the  conclusion  that  violence 
had  been  used,  and  that  murder  had  been  commit- 
ted. 

Later  dispatches,  however,  relieved  the  minds  of 
the  friends  of  that  mistake,  and  state  that  he  died 
of  congestive  chills.  His  death  was  sudden  and  un- 
ex|)ected.  On  the  27th  ult.  he  wrote  to  his  family 
a  letter  which  they  received  on  the  day  of  his  ileath. 
and  gave  directions  relative  to  some  business  mat- 
ters, and  in  it  there  is  no  indication  of  ill-health. 
He  was  taken  sick  on  the  morning  of  the  29th,  and 
died  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day. 

We  have  no  information  at  hand  relative  to  the 
nativity  or  age  of  the  deceased.  He  first  became 
known  to  the  writer  of  this  sketch  while  in  the 
City  Council  of  Peoria,  where  he  served  some  four 
or  five  years,  commencing  in  1855.  He  was  then 
engaged  in  business  with  Capt.  W.  .S.  Moss,  now 
of  California,  and  was  considered  one  of  our  best 
and  most  respected  business  men.  Soon  after  that 
time  he  removed  to  Canton,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided, and  there,  as  here,  his  interest  in  business 
affairs  was  reached.  Several  months  ago  his  atten- 
tion was  called  to  a  mining  operation  in  the  new 
State  of  Nevada,  and  after  due  consideration,  he 
concluded  to  embark  in  it.  and  it  was  while  carry- 
ing out  that  determination  that  he  met  his  death. 
As  soon  as  the  f.act  of  his  death  was  announced,  his 
son-in-law,  Mr.  George  A.  Black,  started  to  meet 
the  train  on  which  the  body  was  to  be  brought,  and 
it  was  expected  that  the  sad  cortege  would  arrive 
in  Canton  yesterday,  and  that  there  the  obsequies 
would  be  celebrated.  We  may  receive  intelligence 
from  that  place  before  this  number  of  our  pajier 
goes  to  press. 

Few  men  have  exhibited  a  greater  show  of  pub- 
lic spirit  than  the  deceased.  He  was  always  ready 
to  assist,  wilh  his  purse  and  his  hands  as  well  as  his 
advice,  anv  feasilde  project  for  public  improve- 
ments, the  friend  of  education,  and  a  leader  in  many 
benevolent  an<l  generous  enter|)rises.  We  might 
cite  hundreds  of  cases  where  he  has  proven  these 
assertions  true,  but  it  is  unnecessary  to  do  so,  for 
his  works  in  this  regard  were  known  to  all  his 
neighbors  and  acquaintances.  He  was  one  whom 
his  adopted  city  can  illy  spare. 

Mr.  JNIcCall  was  a  devotefl  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  and  until  increasing  years  led  him 


PORTRAl  r  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


211 


to  oftener  seek  tlie  delights  of  the  home  circle,  was  I 
a  regultir  attendant  of  the  order,  and  we  have  licard 
him  expre>;.s  the  belief  that  it  was  one  of  tlie  licst 
means  yet  devised  to  awaken  the  hearts  of  nuMi  lo 
the  too  often  neglected  virtues  of  benevolence  luxl 
charilj-.  The  society  of  which  he  wns  a  menilier 
ver}'  properly  take  charge  of  the  remains,  follow 
tliem  in  their  last  journey,  and  deposit  them  in  the 
place  appointed  for  all  living. 

The  t)low  is  a  severe  one  upon  Ihe  family  so  sud- 
denly bereaved,  but  they  have  the  infinite  cimsola 
tion  that  the  deceased  neglected    no  duty,   shirked    : 
no  responsii)ility.  nor  wronged  any  iixlividnal;  that   j 
he  goes  home  with  a  clear  record  and    the   prayers 
of  the  needy  as  his  demit  from  the  earthly  lodge. 
.Seldom  are  we  called  upon  to  chronicle  the   death    j 
of  a  man  in  all  respects  so  commendable  as   .lames 
H.  McCall. 

MASONIC  NOTICE. 

Members  of  Peoria  Lodge  No.  15,  are  requested 
to  meet  at  the  Toledo.  Peoria  &  Western  depot,  at 
11:30  A.  M.,  this  (Saturday)  morning,  for  the  pur- 
jiose  of  attending  the  funeral  of  onr  late  brother,  J. 
11.  McCall,  of  Canton. 

,1.  F.  Hazzaku,  W.  M. 

From  the  Peoria  Daily  Transcript,  September  8, 

KS7:5: 

FuNiiUAL  OF  James   H.  McCaij.. 

The  funeral  of  James  IL  McCall  which  took  place 
in  Canton  on  Saturday,  was  the  largest  ever  held 
in  that  city.  The  Masonic  fraternity,  of  which  the 
deceased  was  an  honored  member,  did  all  iu  their 
power  to  add  by  their  rites  lo  the  solemnity  of  the 
occasion.  Rev.  II.  B.  Smith,  pastor  of  the  I'niver- 
Sftlist  Churcli  in  this  city,  olliciated  as  clergyman. 
The  cemetery  was  crowded  with  those  anxious  to 
do  honor  lo  the  memory  of  a  man  well  known  and 
respected  in  the  country  at  lartre.  and  revered  and 
loved  in  his  own  more  immediate  circle  of  friends 
and  relatives. 

From  the  Klko,  (Nev.)  Independent,  September 
13. 

i)ii;i> 

In  Mountain  City,  Nev.,  August  ;30,  1S7M.  J.  II. 
McCall,  a  native  of  Canton,  1!!,,  aged  sixty-two 
years. 

Deceased  was  President  of  the  Peoria  Nevada 
Smelling  and  Relining  Company,  operaling  in 
Bruno,  and  was  temporarily  sojourning  in  XorLli- 
ern  Nevada  attending  to  the  interests  of  the  com- 
pany. As  it  wiU  be  at  least  some  satisfaction  to 
his  bereaved  family  and  his  numerous  friends  to 
know  that  in  his  last  moments  nothing  was  left  un- 
done to  alleviate  his  suffciings.  wc  will  rncnlion 
that  Messrs.  Chapman,  Fisk  and  llazeltinc,  and  iMes- 


dames  Fisk  and  Walsh,  and  others  did  all  in  their 
power  to  smooth  his  pathway  '-to  tliat  undircovered 
country  from  whose  bourne  no  travrler  returns,'' 
Being  loth  to  leave  him  in  the  land  of  tlie  stranger, 
far  from  family  an<l  friends,  Col.  A.  B.  Chapman 
at  once  started  with  the  remains  to  Canton,  111.. 
Mr.  McCall's  former  liorne.  While  a  large  circle 
of  friends  vvill  miss  his  accuslome<I  cheering  pres- 
ence, let  us  console  oui'selves  with  the  triought  that 
our  loss  is  his  gain,  and  tliat  he  has  only  gone  be- 
fore across  mystic  river. 

Resolutions  of  the  3fusunfs. 
To  the  Worshipful  Master,  Warden,  and   Breth- 
ren of  Morning  Star  Lodge,  No.  31),  A.  F.  cl'  A.  M. 
Masons.  Canton,  111. : 

We  your  committee  appointed  to  di-aft  resolu- 
tions upon  the  death  of  our  worthy  brother,  James 
H.  McCall,  would  i-espectfully  submil  th'.'  follow- 
ing: 

WiiEUEAS.  It  has  pl(>aseil  the  (Jrand  Master  of 
the  uiriverse,  in  the  dispensation  of  His  providence, 
to  remove  from  this  world  to  the  (irand  Lodge 
above,  and  to  rest  from  his  labors  here,  our  worthy 
anil  esteemed  brother-,  .lames  II.    McCall: 

Resolred,  That  in  the  death  of  br-other  McCall, 
the  fraternity  has  lost  a  farthfirl  member;  the  com- 
munity au  enterprising  and  upright  crtizen;  the 
wife  a  devoted  husband,  and  the  children  an  affec- 
tionate parent. 

Resolved.  That  while  we  jjlace  a  record  of  our 
brother's  decease  among  the  archives  of  this  lodge 
and  huinbly  bow  to  the  will  of  our  divine  Master, 
we  woirld  express  our  deep  regret  that  we  have 
been  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  onr  deceased 
bi-other,  cut  down  in  the  nselulrress  of  his  life. 

Resolved.  That  we  deeply  symi)alhize  with  the 
f.amily  of  our  late  brother  in  their  sudden  bereave- 
ment! an<l  direct  the  Secretary  to  send  them  a  copy 
of  these  resolutions,  under  the  seal  of  tlie  lodge. 

Resolcedfiirlher.  That  these  resolutions  be  spread 
upon  the  records  of  the  lodge,  and  the  Secretary 
certify  a  copy  to  Peoria  Lodge,  No.  1'),  of  which 
brother  McCall  was  a  member. 

All  of  which  is  resiiectfully  submitted. 
[Signed]  James  II.  Stiim', 

J.    C.    BUINKERIIOFF, 

S.  Y.  Thornton, 

Iv    II.    ClJllTIS, 

\V.  B.  Gleason. 


^SAIAH  PRICKPyrr.    Tins  countv  is  the  home 

I     of  a  goodly  number   of    men  who    began    LIreir 

'it,    life-work     without     capital     other     than     lliat 

afforded    by    their   native  abilities,  the  education 


212 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


which  was  obtainerl  in  pioneer  scliools  and  the  in- 
dustrious haliits  whieli  the3-  were  taught  in  boy- 
hood. Tailing  up  the  battle  of  life  with  a  deter- 
mined spirit,  they  have  succeeded  in  surrounding 
themselves  with  comfort,  bestowing  upon  their 
offspring  good  advantages  in  the  wa3'  of  home  care 
and  educational  privileges,  and  while  accumulating 
property  have  won  the  thorough  respect  of  their 
fellow-men.  One  of  this  number  is  Isaiah  Prick- 
ett,  a  resident  of  Lewistown  Township,  where  he 
owns  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  also 
having  the  title  to  eighteen  hundred  acres  of  swamp 
land  in  Waterford  To'-vnship. 

Tradition  states  that  three  brothers  bv  the  name 
of  Prickett  emigrated  from  England  to  America 
during  the  early  Colonial  days,  one  locating  in 
Virginia  and  the  others  farther  south.  From  tlie 
former  is  descended  ?)ur  subject,  whose  grandfather 
was  killed  b3-  Indians,  having  his  career  cut  short 
before  he  had  reached  the  prime  of  life.  His  son, 
Nicholas,  the  father  of  our  subject,  grew  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  State,  and  there  married  Cath- 
erine Knapp,  an  estimable  woman  of  German 
ancestry  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  After 
their  marriage  the  young  couple  removed  to  Oliio, 
making  their  home  iu  Clermont  Count}-  for  a  time 
and  then  removing  to  Clarke  County,  where  the 
wife  breathed  her  last  in  1847. 

The  father  of  our  subject  bought  a  mill  site  on 
Buck  Creek  at  the  landing  known  as  Lagonda,  now 
included  in  the  city  of  Springfield  and  occupied  by 
the  Champion  Agricultural  Implement  Works.  In 
company  with  his  brother  he  built  a  mill  which 
was  one  of  the  first  put  up  in  that  count}'.  About 
1826  he  visited  Vermilion  County,  III.,  with  the  in- 
tention of  buying  laud  and  locating,  but  was  taken 
sick  and  died  at  the  liome  of  his  friend,  Aek  Mor- 
gan. Our  subject  was  thus  left  fatherless  when 
ten  years  old,  his  birth  having  taken  place  in 
Clarke  County,  Ohio,  March  7,  181  P.  During  his 
youth  he  attended  the  pioneer  schools,  the  temple 
of  learning  in  which  he  pursued  his  studies  being 
built  of  logs,  heated  by  a  fireplace,  and  hav- 
ing the  light  admitted  through  greased  paper  which 
covered  the  opening  cut  from  the  logs.  It  was 
supplied  with  home-made  furniture,  the  benches 
being  of  slabs  with  wooden  pins  for  legs,  and  desks 


being  unknown  except  one  around  the  sides  of  the 
room  where  the  advanced  scholars  stood  to  write, 
this  being  a  board  laid  on  wooden  pins  projecting 
from  the  walls. 

Young  Prickett  began  his  life's  labors  as  a  farm 
hand,  receiving  §6.25  per  month  when  seventeen 
years  old,  and  the  following  year  driving  a  team 
from  Lagonda  at  §13  per  month.  In  1836  he  emi- 
grated to  Indiana,  making  the  removal  willi  a 
team  and  took  his  place  among  the  early  settlers 
in  Noble  County,  where  there  were  more  Indians 
than  white  men  at  the  date  of  his  arrival.  He 
bought  a  tract  of  Government  land  and  built  a 
log  house,  but  a  few  months  later  sold  the  place 
and  entered  another  tract  upon  which  he  also  built. 
Before  moving  into  his  new  house,  however,  he 
sold  the  land  and  entered  still  another  tract,  where 
he  cleared  a  considerable  acreage.  There  he  made 
his  home  until  1852  when,  on  account  of  the  un- 
healthfulness  of  the  region,  he  started  with  his 
family  for  the  Prairie  State.  They  left  the  home 
which  he  had  rented  on  the  1st  of  September  and 
eleven  days  later  arrived  in  Lewistown,  since 
which  time  they  have  made  this  county  their 
home. 

Mr.  Prickett  lived  on  his  brother's  farm  until 
February,  1 854,  then  bought  a  tract  where  he  now 
resides.  A  clearing  of  eight  acres  and  a  hewed 
log  house  constituted  the  improvements.  The 
farm  now  contains  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres, 
has  been  suj.plied  with  well-built,  commodious  and 
conveniently-located  frame  buildings  and  the  other 
improvements  which  might  be  expected  of  an  ener- 
getic man.  Eighty  acres  of  section  10,  of  the  same 
township,  together  with  the  swamp  land  before 
mentioned,  have  been  purchased  by  our  subject, 
who  has  shown  himself  a  thorough  farmer,  a  wor- 
thy citizen  and  a  good  neighbor.  i 

The  home  of  our  subject  is -presided  over  by  an 
estimable  woman  who,  prior  to  November  20, 
1834,  was  known  .as  Miss  Eliza  Laughridge.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Su.«an  (Nelson) 
Laughridge,  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion,  who  are 
numbered  among  the  pioneers  of  Ohio,  to  which 
State  they  removed  in  1817.  In  Greene  County, 
thai  State.  Mrs.  Prickett  was  born  September  13, 
1818.     She  received    the  education    usual    to  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


213 


sons  and  (iaiigliters  of  pioneers  in  a  section  where 
sciiools  were  early  inslituteii,  together  with  the 
training  In  useful  (ionicstie  knowledge  wliich  lias 
qualifii'd  her  lo  thoroughly  discharge  her  duties  as 
housekeeper,  wife  and  mother. 

Of  the  children  born  to  IMr.  and  Mrs.  Prickett 
four  are  now  living — John  is  settled  on  his  own 
home  in  Lewistown  Township;  Nicholas  A.  still 
remains  under  the  parental  roof;  Susan  C.  is  the 
wife  of  Orville  M.  Macomber;  Eliza  J.  is  the  wife 
of  John  Rlaconiber.  A  son,  Harrison,  died  in  Lew- 
ist(jwn  in  18B7.  lie  devoted  four  years  of  his  life 
lo  the  service  of  his  country,  being  Captain  of 
Company  A,  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infiintr}'.  Mr. 
I'lickctt  was  a  Whig-  until  18.')G.  when  the  Repub- 
lican party  was  organized  and  he.  like  niost  of  his 
associates,  took  his  stand  in  the  ranks  of  the  new 
organization,  to  wiiose  principles  he  has  stanchly 
adhered  from  that  dav  to  this. 


^^ 


lU^OX.  WILLIAM  N.  CLINE,  M.  1).  Success 
y  in  any  profession  can  oidy  be  attained 
^  tlirough  industry  and  study,  and  the  good 
physician  must  necessarily  be  the  hardest  of 
workers  and  best  of  students.  Fulton  County  is 
proud  to  number  among  her  physicians  the  one  with 
whose  name  we  will  introduce  this  sketch.  His  career 
presents  a  remarkable  example  of  wh.al  may  b(>  ac- 
complished  by  assiduous  application  and  unremit- 
ting toil.  A  most  conscientious  man,  whatever  he 
undertakes  is  done  llioroughly.  In  one  respect  he 
differs  from  tlic  majority  of  the  human  race,  in  that 
age  mellows  and  softens  his  nature,  instead  of  the 
reverse,  as  is  often  the  case.  With  every  onward 
movement  made  in  the  science  to  which  he  has  de- 
yoted  his  life,  he  is  familiar,  and  time  lias  served 
only  to  enlarge  his  vic«"s  and  broaden  his  ideas. 

In  Rockingham  County,  \'a..  Dr.  Clinew.as  born 
December  20,  18-20,  to  Joseph  and  Isabella  (Pence) 
('line,  botli  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  Old  Do- 
minion. The  father  was  of  German,  and  the  mother 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  They  were  marrie<i  in 
Virginia,  where  for  many  years  .afterward  they  con- 
tinued to  reside,  removing   thence  to  Ohio,    where 


the  mother  died.  The  father  removed  to  Illinois 
in  185.5,  and  died  in  18()8.  To  them  were  born 
seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living  at  this 
writing,  namely:  Mrs.  Albright,  of  Rockford,  111.; 
Josci)h  C,  George  W.,  ani  William  N.  The  father 
and  mother  were  worthy  people  who  gave  to  their 
children  all  the  advantages  [)ossiljle,  and  reared 
them  to  worthy  manhood  and  womanhood.  Their 
honorable  and  upright  lives  were  not  the  least  of 
the  heritage  which  they  transmitted  to  tiicir  chil- 
ili'en. 

In  the  parental  family,  our  subject  was  the  eld- 
est child,  and  until  lifteen  years  of  age,  resided  at 
the  old  honu'slead  in  Virginia.  The  father  was  a 
man  of  great  prominence,  having  represented  his 
district  in  the  Legislalnie  of  N'irijinia  for  a  long 
period  .of  years,  and  being  besides  connected  with 
public  works  of  the  State,  and  a  magistrate  of  the 
County  Court.  William  N.  accompanied  his  frither 
to  Ohio,  and  in  1840,  having  determined  upon  a 
professional  career,  became  a  student  in  the  Jeft'er- 
son  Meilical  College.  I'liiladelphia;  he  had  previ- 
ously received  a  thorough  training  in  a  private 
school  in  Virginia,  as  well  as  in  the  schools  of 
Ohio.  Thus,  by  thorough  application  and  close 
study,  he  laid  the  foundation  f(jrhis  future  success. 

In  1842  the  Doctor  came  West,  locating  in  what 
was  then  Centerville,  but  now  Cuba,  III.,  aii'l  be- 
ginning the  practice  of  medicine  at  once.  His 
thorough  training  and  previous  experience  in  Ohio 
inaile  it  comparatively  e.asy  for  him  to  win  the  con- 
lidence  of  the  people,  and  his  success  was  assured 
from  the  start.  His  practice  increased  rapidly  eac^h 
year,  and  his  long  experience  now  reinlers  his  opin- 
ions and  decisions  valuable.  Hy  means  of  his  en- 
ergy, tact,  and  liberality,  he  is  able  to  materially 
advance  the  interests  of  the  community  where  he 
resides. 

Dr.  Cline  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife 
being  Miss  Lois,  daughter  of  .Martin  and  Susan 
Webster,  the  father  a  wealthy  agriculturalist  of 
Lewistown  Township,  this  county.  Mrs.  Cline  was 
born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  near  Chautauqua, 
and  received  an  excellent  education,  of  which,  prior 
to  her  marriage,  she  made  use  in  ISeaching.  Her 
union  with  our  subject  took  place  May  30,  1844, 
and    tiiey   had   a    family   of   five  children,    two  of 


214 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


•whom  are  decensed.  Tlie  three  now  living,  are: 
Mrs.  F.  E.  Kiiiirsbury,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Clara 
L.,  (Mrs.  Merrill). who  lives  in  Rialto,  Cal.,  and  Ross 
C  -who  is  City  Ticket  Agent  for  the  Wabash  Rail- 
road at  Toledo,  Ohio.     Mrs.  Cline  died  in   18G6. 

The  second  union  of  our  subject  was  celebrated 
December  21,  1869,  when  Mrs.  Jane  S.  Talcott,  of 
East  Hartford,  Conn.,  became  liis  bride.  She  was  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  where  she_received  a  good 
education,  and  was  at  one  time  a  teacher  in  the 
seminary  at  IMancliosler.  She  is  a  most  intellectual 
and  cultivated  lady,  and  wins  friends  wherever  she 
f,'oes.  She  comes  of  illustrious  ancestrj',  being  a 
member  of  one  of  the  most  highly  respected  fami- 
lies in  Connecticut,  and  who  vvere  of  aristocratic 
Puritan  origin.  Her  parents,  Solomon  and  Pliebe 
Spencer,  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  and  are  now 
deceased. 

In  whatever  community  Dr.  Cline  has  resided,  he 
has  alwa\  s  held  impditant  offices,  and  has  taken  a 
a  prominent  [)nrt  in  the  management  of  public  af- 
fairs. Poliiically.  he  is  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  a 
strong  advocate  of  temiierance.  On  the  adoption 
of  township  organization  he  was  for  a  number  of 
years  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Suiiervisors  from 
Putnian  Township,  later  was  for  one  terra  School 
Commissioner  of  Fulton  County.  He  represented 
the  county  in  the  Statu  Legislature  in  1855-56,  and 
in  1857  was  elected  President  of  the  Mississippi  &" 
Wabash  Railway  (now  lliat  [jortion  of  tlie  Toledo, 
Peoria  &  Western,  between  Peoria,  111.,  and  Keo- 
kuk, Iowa)  then  in  process  of  construction. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  railroad  build- 
ing ceased,  and  Dr.  Cline  accepted  the  Presidency 
of  the  Farmers'  and  ilerchants'  Insurance  Com- 
pany, Quincy,  III.,  which  position  he  held  six  years; 
iie  then  resigned  as  I'resident  of  that  company  to 
accept  the  same  position  with  the  Fulton  County 
Coal  ('ompany  at  Cuba.  In  1877  he  again  resumed 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  which  he  still  con- 
tinues. He  is  now,  and  has  been  since  its  organ- 
ization. President  of  the  Cuba  Library  Association, 
:in  iustitutidu  of  which  he  is  very  proud.  He  is 
now,  and  has  for  several  years  been  President  of 
the  Cuba  Improvement  Association,  and  of  the 
Cuba  Building  and  Loan  Association,  the  latter  or- 
ganization being  one  of  great  benefit  to  the  county. 


It  will  thus  be  seen  that  for  forty  years  he  has  held 
positions  of  trust,  responsibility  and  honor,  con- 
ferred upon  him  by  iiis  fellow-citizens  or  associates 
in  business.  Gifted  by  nature  with  high  endow- 
ments, he  lias  cultivated  these  to  the  utmost,  and 
his  indefatigable  labor  has  brought  to  him  the  es- 
teem of  his  fellow-men. 


ilLs^,  UGH  F.  HILLPOT.  There  is  always  a  vast 
amount  of  interest  felt  in  the  private  life  of 
those  brave  men  who  gave  up  home,  famil}' 
and  friends  to  tiglit  for  their  country,  and 
there  undergo  all  the  privations  and  hardships 
chaiacteristic  of  a  soldier's  life.  Such  bravery  is 
highly  appreciated  am9ng  all  the  civilized  nations 
upon  the  earth  and  everybody  feels  an  interest  in 
hearing  of  the  private  life  of  a  soldier,  and  es- 
pecially of  one  who  won  such  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion as  did  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  and  who  was 
numbered' among  "the  boys"  delegated  to  guard 
the  corpse  of  Abraham  Lincoln  when  he  was 
assassinated. 

Mr.  Ilillpot  is  the  veteran  dry-goods  merchant 
of  Fairview,  having  been  engaged  in  business  there 
ever  since  he  came  out  of  tlie  army.  His  father, 
Jacob  F.  Hillpot,  was  a  native  of  Bucks  County, 
Pa.,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  an  agriculturist. 
lie  died  at,  the  age  of  fifty-five  years.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Julia  Frank- 
enfield,  was  also  a  native  of  Bucks  County  and 
was  descended  from  an  old  Penns3'lvania  family. 
Her  ancestors  came  in  a  very  early  day  fiom 
Holland.  She  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years, 
after  having  become  the  mother  of  six  children, 
viz:  Reed,  who  is  a  blacksmith  and  residing  in 
Fairview;  Hugh  F.,  our  subject;  Jonas  who  was  in 
the  War  of  1812,  was  a  farmer  and  met  his  death 
accidentally  by  falling  off  a  iiaymow;  George  is  a 
painter  and  lives  in  Fairview;  Lovina  who  died 
at  the  age  of  eighteen,  and  an  infant.  After  the 
death  of  our  subject's  mother,  Mr.  Hillpot  married 
Mary  Most  who  bore  him  six  children,  four  of 
whom  lived  to  the  age  of  manhood  and  woman- 
hood;  Mary  Ellen,  now  Mrs.  Fratz  and  residing  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


215 


Pliiladelpliia;  Eilizabetli  wlio  is  manierl  also  resifles 
in  that  city,  as  does  also  Jacob  and  Grier. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Bucks  County,  Pa., 
September  1"2,  1833,  where  he  [lassed  his  youtliful 
days  on  a  farm  until  reaching  his  twenty-first 
birthday.  lie  then  commenced  to  learn  the  trade 
of  a  bl.acksmith  and  worked  faithfully  at  it  for 
three  years  in  New  .lersey.  His  brother,  who  was 
living  in  Fairview, wrote  for  our  subject  to  join  him 
an<l  accepting  the  invitation,  he  reached  Fairview 
November  22,  ISfjT.  He  then  engaged  in  the 
blacksmith  business  in  partnership  with  his  brother 
and  a  Mr.  A3-ers,  and  continued  thus  until  1861 
when  the  partnership  was  dissolved  and  the  year 
following  our  subject  enlisted  in  the  army.  He 
joined  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Third  In- 
fanlr}-.  Thej-  drilled  at  Fairview  and  Peoria  and 
from  the  latter  city  in  the  fall  of  1862,  went 
through  Blooraington  and  Cairo  to  Bolivar,  Tenn., 
where  they  at  once  commenced  skirniishiug.  They 
were  next  sent  to  La  Grange,  Tenn.,  and  from  that 
point  to  Holly  Springs,  thence  to  Waterford  and 
reached  Jackson,  in  the  same  State,  where  they 
wintcied. 

Mr.  Ilillpiit  received  a  severe  sunstroke  wliile 
engaged  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  was  entirely 
unconscious  for  several  weeks.  His  company  was 
ordered  to  Corinth  and  luka,  at  which  latter  place 
Mr.  Hillpot  was  again  the  victim  of  a  sunstroke 
while  building  a  fortification  and  was  in  the  hospi- 
tal at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  for  some  time  but  upon 
reaching  St.  Louis,  I\lo.,  was  discharged  from  the 
regular  service  and  assigned  to  the  reserve  corps — 
Company  V.  With  his  company  he  went  to  Wash- 
ington. I).  C  and  upon  the  evening  when  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  was  assassinated,  they  were  called  to 
assist  the  police  in  controlling  the  crowd.  A  few 
of  the  soldiers — our  subject  among  the  number — 
were  selected  to  guard  the  body  of  our  martyred 
President  for  three  days  and  nights.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  received  his  honorable  discharge  at 
Washington,  July  18,  1805. 

February  28,  1866,  Mr.  Hillpot  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Wan  Liew,  daughter  of 
Cornelius  and  Mary  (Suydara)  Van  Liew.  Mrs. 
Hillpot  came  to  Fairview  with  her  two  brothers 
who  are  prosperous  farmers  in  this  county.   Of  her 


union  with  our  su'ijcct  there  have  been  born  two 
children — Jchn  \'.  L.  who  is  a  graduate  of  the 
(ialesburg  Business  College,  has  th(^  entire  charge 
of  his  father's  store,  and  Eli/nbeth  C,  who  is  a 
charming  young  laily  of  eighteen  jcars,  makes  her 
home  with  her  parents. 

The  Kepublicau  part}'  numbers  Mr.  Hillpot  as 
one  of  its  stanch  adherents,  although  previous  to 
the  war  he  was  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  Blair  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Fairview.  Owing 
to  ill-health  brought  aljout  by  the  sunstroke  re- 
ceived during  tlu'  war,  Mr.  Hillpot  is  unable  to 
take  charge  of  his  business,  but  finds  a  competent 
sulistitute  in  his  son.  He  is  an  exceedingly  popular 
man  in  the  cummunity  and  has  accumulated  a 
goodly  amount  of  the  "  almighty  dollar." 


APT.  JOHN   S.  SMITH.     No   one  is   more 
,  universally  esteemed   in    Farmiugton    than 

i^y  the  old  soldier  whose  name  appears  at  the 
head  of  this  sketch.  Whenever  Farmiugton  cele- 
lirates,  Capt.  Smith  aids  with  money  and  work; 
wlienever  she  liecorates  Capt.  Smith  is  there;  when- 
ever any  great  political  or  other  publico  event  oc- 
curs Capt.  Smith  is  promptly  on  hand  to  .act  as 
master  of  ceremonies.  His  military  experience  gives 
him  a  special  litncss  for  organizing  and  conducting 
such  affairs,  and  his  comrades  of  the  Grand  Army, 
among  whom  he  is  a  great  favorite,  are  certain  to 
desire  his  leadership  in  an^^thing  in  which  they  bear 
a  part.  Notwithstanding  the  prominent  position 
which  our  subject  thus  occupies  so  frequentlj'  he 
is  one  of  the  most  unostentatious  of  men,  always 
preferring  an  inconspicuous  position  and  never  fail- 
ing to  withdraw  from  the  public  gaze  as  soon  as  his 
duties  will  |)erinit. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  another  .lohn 
Smith,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  whither  his  parents 
had  emigrated  from  Germany.  For  twenty  j-ears 
he  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Harrison  County, 
Tnd.  He  was  au  intimate  friend  of  the  father  of 
Judge  Gresham,  who  while  he  was  Sheriff  in  that 
county  was  shot  by  a  man  whom  he  was  trying  to 
arrest.     The   prisoner  was   biought  before  Justice 


216 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPHICAL  ALRUM. 


Smith  for  examination  and  bound  over  for  trial. 
Mr.  Smitii  was  a  w heel w right  and  manufacturer  of 
caniif^es.  He  married  Nancy  Grant  who  was  dis- 
tantly related  to  tho  famous  general   of  that   name. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  removed  to  Fulton 
County.  111.,  many  years  ago.  locating  on  a  tract  of 
land  Ave  miles  west  of  Canton.  Mr.  Smitli  soon 
sold  his  farm  and  about  1840  established  in  Farm- 
ington  the  first  enterprise  of  a  manufactuiing  na- 
ture in  the  city.  It  was  a  carding  and  cloth-dressing 
factory.  The  projjrietor  subsequently  removed  to 
West  Jersey,  Stark  County,  where  he  engaged  in 
his  olden  occupation  of  the  manufacture  ot  wagons. 
He  died  in  ISGG  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years. 
He  was  quite  prominent  in  church  circles.  His 
eldest  brotiier.  a  leading  scientist  and  electrician  of 
this  State,  is  the  inventor  of  the  electrical  apparatus 
by  means  of  which  teelli  may  ba  extracted  without 
pain. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  died  at  the  age  of 
forty-tvco  years,  leaving  seven  children  named  re- 
spectively, Theresa  A.,  Elias,  George  L..  John 
Springle,  iMartha  C,  Mary  and  Adeline.  The  fa- 
ther married  a  second  time,  having-  by  liis  last  union 
one  son — Abner. 

Capt.  Smith  was  born  at  Corydon,  Harrison 
County,  Ind.,  March  28,  1833.  His  first  recollec- 
tions are  of  farm  life  in  Fulton  County, 111.  He 
atti-nded  the  early  schools,  receiving  an  ordinary 
education,  in  addition  to  which  he  was  carding  boy 
in  the  mill,  worked  with  his  father  in  the  wagon- 
making  trade  and  on  the  farm  in  the  summer  time. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  began  a  regular 
two  j'ears'  apprenticeship  as  a  house,  carriage  and 
sign  painter,  continuing  to  work  at  his  trade  until 
the  needs  of  his  country  determined  him  to  take  up 
arms  in  her  defense.  He  enlisted  August  16, 1862,at 
Farmington  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois 
Infantry.  He  assisted  in  recruiting  a  company  and 
was  elected  by  the  boys  Second  Lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany C.  The  troops  were  drilled  at  Camp  Peoria. 
mustered  into  service  tlicre  and  sent  to  the  front, 
Lieut.  Smith  was  retained  as  Post  Commander  at 
Peoria  while  the  rest  of  the  regiment  were  in  Ten- 
nessee, but  in  December  joined  them  at  Waterford, 
Miss. 

Resuming  his  position  as  Second   Lieutenant,  tiie 


first  heavy  engagement  in  which  our  subject  took 
part  was  the  battle  at  Vicksburg.  this  being  fol- 
lowed by  that  at  Black  River  where  he  was  detailed 
to  act  as  Captain  of  another  company.  At  Jackson 
hard  fighting  and  close  quarters  were  the  fate  of 
the  boys,  who  not  long  afterward  again  met  the 
enemy  at  Buzzards  Roost.  Tenn.. whither  our  subject 
had  been  sent  in  February,  186  I,  to  support  Gen. 
John  M.  Palmer.  At  Resaea  Lieut.  Smith  had  a 
narrow  escape  from  a  piece  of  a  shell,  but  there,  as 
on  other  battlefields,  he  escaped  unhurt.  The 
man3' skirmishes  in  which  he  and  his  company  were 
engaged  are  beyond  the  limits  of  mention  in  a 
sketch  like  this.  The  prominent  battles  in  which 
he  took  part  after  those  mentioned  were  Dallas, 
New  Hope  Cliurch,  Noonday  Creek,  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Roswell  Mills  and  the  battle  of  Atlanta. 
Prior  to  the,  last  he  had  charge  of  a  detachment 
scouting  through  Alabama  under  orders  from  Gen. 
Sherman,  their  object  being  to  secure  horses  for 
recruiting  the  artillery  and  anjbulance  supply  and 
finding  out  the  position  and  strength  of  the  guer- 
rillas. During  the  month  of  January',  1864,  he  was 
aid-de-camp  on  the  brigade  staff  of  Col.  Dickerman. 

After  having  participated  in  the  engagement  at 
Atlanta  July  22,  1864,  Lieut.  Smith  was  elected 
Captain  of  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Third 
Illinois  Infantrj',  and  a  few  days  later  appointed 
Assistant  Quartermaster,  guarding  stores  in  that 
city  about  a  month.  He  was  then  permanently  de- 
tailed under  Col.  Garber  and  served  as  Assistant 
Quartermaster,  having  charge  of  the  hospital  stores 
of  the  Fifteenth  Armj-  Corps.  As  such,  he  acted 
at  Atlanta,  Chattanooga,  Nashville,  New  York  Cit^-, 
Hilton  Head,  S.  C,  Charleston,  Moorehead  City, 
N.  C,  and  Newbern,  being  at  the  latter  place  when 
Johnston  surrendered.  There  he  was  discharged  by 
reason  of  the  close  of  the  war  about  June  1,  1865. 
He  had  fought  in  the  whole  Atlanta  cani|:aign 
which  was  rated  by  Gen.  Sherman  as  one  hundred 
days  of  solid  fighting.  He  was  never  wounded  but 
at  Kenesaw  had  fojir  bullet  holes  through  his  hlouse. 

Returning  to  his  home  our  subject  settled  down 
to  his  trade,  at  which  he  continued  to  work  until 
1870  when,  on  account  of  ill-health  caused  by 
painting,  he  embarked  in  the  general  merchandise 
business.     In  the  crisis  of  1873  he  suffered  the  loss 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  about  $3,000  which  iicniiy  niiiu'il  him  fiiinn- 
eially  and  oblis^ed  him  t(i  practically  begin  anew. 
He  turned  his  attention  to  the  business  of  lire  in- 
surancfe  and  collections,  and  is  at  present  Secretar}' 
of  the  Farmers'  JIutnal  Insurance  Companj'.  He 
is  a  Notary  Public  and  Justice  of  the  Peace,  hav- 
ing been  elected  to  the  latter  position  six  years 
since  and  re-clocled  in  188'.).  He  has  been  Notary 
for  an  equal  length  of  time. 

In  1877  our  subject  enlisted  in  llio  State  service, 
becoming  a  member  of  the  Fourth  Illinois  National 
Guards  and  being  elected  by  ever}-  vote  of  Com- 
pany E  to  the  Captainc}',  which  he  held  two  and  a 
half  years.  He  is  a  steadfast  Republican,  well 
acquainted  with  many  of  tlie  leading  politicians  of 
the  .State  and  very  popular  in  political  circles.  He 
has  never  sought  political  honors,  but  has  done 
good  service  for  the  party,  having  been  a  member 
of  the  County  Central  Committee  twelve  years  and 
of  the  Executive  Committee  five  years;  he  is  still 
serving  on  the  latter.  Capt.  Smith  voted  for  Gen. 
Fremont  in  1856  and  from  that  day  has  never  failed 
to  cast  a  straight  Rei)ublican  ballot  at  every  Pres- 
idential election  except  during  the  year  1864,  when 
he  was  absent  from  the  polls  by  reason  of  his  pres- 
ence amid  scenes  of  conflict. 

On  three  different  occasioni  C'ai)t.  Smith  hasl)een 
solicited  to  accept  the  office  of  Sheriff,  but  persist- 
ently declined.  He  was  one  of  the  prime  movers 
in  organizing  the  Grand  Army  Post  in  Farming- 
ton,  and  served  efficiently  as  its  Commander  for 
two  years.  He  is  a  Deacon  in  the  Congregational 
Church  and  has  been  Trustee  and  Superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-school  several  years.  He  is  the  owner 
of  the  Mason  House  Block  in  which  he  is  domiciled 
and  he  likewise  owns  a  line  residence  on  Fort 
.Street.  He  carries  on  a  stock  farm,  making  a  spe- 
cially of  sheep,  he  and  his  wife  owning  a  tract  of 
one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land. 

In  the  fall  of  1861  Mr.  Smith  ^yas  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Harriet,  daughter  of  Jacob  Hand, 
formerly  Supervisor  of  Farniington  Township  and 
a  well-known  capitalist  therein.  Mrs.  Smith  was  a 
good,  true  woman  who  faithfuU}'  discharged  the 
duties  which  she  saw  before  her  as  long  as  her 
strength  would  permit.  She  was  called  hence  in 
1886.  and  two  years  later  our  subject  was  marrie  i 


a  second  time,  his  compnuiou  on  (his  occasion  be- 
ing Mrs.  Caroline  Wilcox.  The  present  Mrs.  Smith 
is  a  daughter  of  Luther  and  Nancy  (Wilson) 
Birge.  Deacon  Birge  is  well-known  as  one  of  the 
original  Abolitionists  of  this  .section,  who  with  the 
assistance  of  our  subject  conducted  several  loads 
of  slaves  away  at  various  times  on  the  underground 
railroad. 


E^Nf^ 


lALTHASER  JACOBS.  For  varied  reasons 
^  numbers  of  foreigners  come  each  year  from 
Euiopean  countries  to  make  for  themselves 
homes  in  the  United  States  and  here  i)ursue 
the  tr.ade  or  profession  which  they  learned  in  their 
native  land.  To  this  class  belongs  the  subject  of 
our  present  sketch,  he  having  been  born  in  one  of 
the  Rhine  Provinces,  in  Germany,  November  25, 
1827.  His  parents,  Peter  and  Mary  (Rechner) 
Jacobs,  never  came  to  America,  the  father  dying 
previous  to  the  time  of  our  sul)ject's  journey  hither 
and  the  mother  passing  away  from  earthly  scenes 
in  the  year  1864.  The  parental  family  consisted 
of  eight  children,  all  living  except  John,  the  first- 
born. The  survivors  are:  George.  Joseph,  Jacob, 
Balthaser,  Anloiie,  I'llizabeth  and  Mary,  and  all 
but  our  subject  reside  in  l!ieir  native  land. 

Mr.  Jacobs  spent  his  early  years  on  his  father's 
f:irm  and  obtained  a  fair  common-school  education, 
also  learning  the  trade  of  a  wagon-maker.  He 
started  for  America  in  1850,  and  upon  reaching 
the  New  World  spent  three  weeks  in  New  York 
City,  and  then  went  to  Buffalo,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade.  At  a  later  date  he  was  a  carpenter  in 
the  country  around  Buffalo  and  Niagara  Falls, 
and  in  1855  came  to  this  State,  settling  in  Polo, 
where  for  a  year  he  remained  doing  carpenter's 
work. 

The  young  man  then  pnrciiased  eighty  acres  of 
Land  which  he  cultivated  until  the  year  1865,  from 
which  time  until  1869  he  traveled  throughout  the 
State.  Finally  locating  in  Canton  he  began  gar- 
dening on  a  sm.'dl  scale  and  has  continued  the  occu- 
pation up  to  the  present  time,  and  gradually 
increased    his   business  until   he   is  now  one  of  the 


218 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRArillCAL  ALBUM. 


leading  nurserymen  of  the  place.  lie  began  with 
three  lots,  a  quarter  of  an  acre,  on  which  he  laiseii 
the  earliest  and  best  potatoes  in  the  market,  and 
now  owns  eleven  lots  on  Ehn  Street,  with  one  anc 
a  half  on  WLite  Street,  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  anc 
has  three  greenhouses  'unl  two  duelling  houses. 
He  does  a  large  gardening  business  and  has  the 
leading  trade  as  a  florist;  he  is  also  engaged  in 
berry  culture. 

Jn  May,  1877,  Mr.  .Tacobs  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Maria  Walter,  daughter  of  Conrad 
Walter,  and  a  native  of  (iermany.  !Mrs.  Jacobs  is 
an  excellent  housewife  and  is  devoted  to  the  inter- 
ests of  her  family,  the  circle  including  four  sous — 
George,  Carl,  Lewis  and  John,  and  a  babe  un- 
named. 

Our  subject  is  a  Catholic,  and  his  wife  belongs  to 
the  Unitarian  Church.  The}'  are  religions  people, 
and  embrace  every  passing  opportunity  to  .'advance 
the  interests  and  welfare  of  their  neighbors  and 
friends.  JMr.  Jacobs  is  well  and  favorably  known 
in  business  circles  as  a  thrifty,  industrious  and 
honest  man  who  manages  his  affairs  in  a  most  svs- 
tematic  way.  As  a  citizen  he  is  law-abiding,  sober 
and  quiet,  attending  strictly  to  his  own  atfairs.  and 
for  over  twenty  years  he  has  been  regarded  as  one 
of  the  best  of  the  German  born  citizens  of  the 
countv. 


(i^T'OSTER  G.  SMUrH  operates  three  hundred 
iN©  ^""^  twent}'  acres,  of  which  he  owns  eighty 
/!}>  ~~  acres,  situated  in  Fairview  Township.  His 
entire  time  and  attention  is  devoted  to  farming 
and  stock-raising;  he  breeds  thoroughbred  Short- 
horn cattle  and  .Shropshire  sheep,  and  has  a  herd  of 
thoroughbreds  and  fort}'  graded  Siiort  horns.  He 
is  justl}'  proud  of  his  fine  horses,  and  has  met  with 
success  in  this  line  also.  Both  in  business  and  so- 
cial circles  he  is  extensively  known,  and  though 
not  a  member  of  any  church  is  active  in  advancing 
the  inte:ests  of  all  religious  matters.  He  is  Chair- 
man of  the  Executive  committee  of  the  Methodist 
Cemetery  Association,  known  as  the  Foster  Ceme- 
ter}'. 

Socially,  Mr,  Smith   is  a  jjrominent  member  of 


the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  having 
attained  the  highest  degree  in  that  order.  He  is  a 
member  of  Patriarchs  Militant,  and  represented 
Fairview  Lodge,  No.  120,  at  the  State  Grand  Lodge 
of  Springfield  and  Cairo,  and  also  visited  the  Sover- 
eign Grand  Lodge  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  1889. 
He  first  belonged  to  Morning  Star  Lodge,  No.  "20, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  at  Piaeerville,  Cal.  His  interest  in  his 
lodge  h.is  been  at  all  times  great  and  he  is  well  and 
favorably  kno«n  to  fraternity  circles.  He  belongs 
to  tlie  Fulton  Encampment.  No.  .il,  at  Farmington, 
and  the  Canton  Oriental  of  the  Patriarchs  Militant, 
No.  33. 

With  the  pioneer  historj-  of  Fulton  County  the 
father  of  our  subject  was  very  closely  identified. 
He  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Ohio,  his  family 
having  emigrated  there  from  Virginia.  He  bore 
the  name  of  Jonathan  Smith,  and  the  date  of  liis 
birth  was  September  11,  1808.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  in  the  Buckeye  State  with  Ann  Foster, 
who  was  also  born  there,  and  they  came  to  Illinois 
in  1837,  buying  two  eighty-acre  tracts  of  land  at 
the  Government  land  sales  in  ( jiiiney.  Tlie  father 
had  visited  this  county  in  1833,  and  was  favoralily 
impressed  with  the  outlook  here.  Two  years  later 
he  came  and  raised  a  crop,  and  in  1837  located  on 
section  35,  where  he  lived  until  called  home. 

The  father  became  the  owner  of  five  hundred 
and  forty  acres  in  Fairview  Township  and  four 
hundred  and  eight}'  acres  in  Iowa.  He  began  life 
without  means,  having  been  left  an  orphan  at  the 
early  age  of  ten  years.  So  well  did  he  succeed  in 
his  efforts  that,  as  stateil  above,  before  his  death  he 
became  the  owner  of  one  thousand  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  in  Illinois  and  Iowa.  When  quite 
young  he  was  compelled  to  hire  out,  receiving  for 
his  services  from  ^7  to  ><10  per  month,  and  thus  was 
his  beginning  matle.  He  died  February  25,  1886, 
after  attaining  to  the  age  of  seventy -seven  years, 
fi\  e  months  and  fourteen  days.  The  mother's 
death  occurred  Feliruary  17,  1888.  at  the  age  of 
seventy-one  years,  five  months  and  eighteen  days. 

To  Jonnthan  and  Ann  (Foster)  Smith  were  born 
nine  children,  as  follows:  Sarah  Jane,  Foster  G,, 
Mary  E.,  Ellen  A.,  .lohn  H.,  America  A.,  Alice  M., 
Martha  F.  aiul  one  who  died  in  iiifancy  unnamed. 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  A.  J.   McCombs,  and  lives  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


219 


Fail-view  Township;  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  .John 
Bi-oiulCiolil,  a  fiuit  "jrower  of  California;  Ellen  A. 
married  Di'.  S.  B.  Beer,  of  Fnirview ;  Julm  II.  mar- 
ried Mary  A.  Wyckoff,  and  is  a  farnuT  in  Marsiiall 
County,  Iowa;  America  .\.  is  the  wife  of  W.  T.  (icii- 
tle.  a  farmer  of  Fairvit'w  Township;  Alice  M.  autl 
Martha  V.  are  living'  witli  tlieir  brother  on  the  old 
homestead. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  born  April  21.  1.S40. 
on  the  Smith  liomestead.  and  passed  his  life  in  the 
usual  manner  of  fanners'  lads  in  frontier  countries. 
AVhen  he  had  reacheil  maturity  lie  made  an  extended 
trip  to  California,  in  18G1,  and  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  and  niiniuL;  operations.  He  passed 
nine  years  there,  and  finally  reluctantly  returned 
East  and  has  since  engaged  as  a  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser.  He  is  highly  esteemed  in  this  communit}' 
as  a  man  of  probity  and  honor,  and  his  life  of  in- 
dustry and  enterprise  has  brought  him  success 
from  a  financial  point  ofview  and  a  high  position 
in  the  county  which  is  his  native  liome. 


ylLLlAM  PARLl^'.  There  is  probably  no 
resident  of  this  county  whose  work  is  so 
widely  known  as  that  of  the  gentleman 
above  named,  who  is  the  pioneer  nianufsicturer  of 
the  noted  Canton  Clipper  Plow.  Since  the  day 
when  he  landed  in  this  place,  then  a  small  village, 
he  has  instituted  and  carried  to  successful  operation 
a  mammoth  business  enterprise,  has  materially-  as- 
sisted in  the  ujibuilding  of  the  flourishing  city,  and 
won  for  liimself  a  comfortable  fortune.  These 
results  have  left  him  the  same  unostentatious  and 
kindly  man  he  was  before  Fortune  had  smiled 
upon  him.  To  the  men  employed  in  the  establish- 
ment lie  is  a  sympathizing  friend,  possessing  their 
confidence  in  a  rcmarkal>le  degree.  He  is  the  old- 
est continuous  plow  manufacturer  in  the  entire 
Northwest. 

Mr.  Parliii  was  born  in  Acton.  Mass.,  Januai-3' 
21,  1817,  being  the  fouith  of  five  children  born  to 
Wainer  and  Lydia  (Davis)  Parlin.  His  parents 
were  natives  of  the  same  count\-  as  himself  and  the 


fathers  of  each  were  Revolutionary  soldiers.  A 
cousin  of  (jrandfatlier  Davis,  one  Capt.  Davis,  was 
the  first  officer  killed  at  Concord.  The  Parlins  are 
of  English  descent.  Warner  Parlin  was  a  farmer 
by  occu|)aUon  and  of  considerable  prominence  in 
the  vicinity  of  his  home.  He  passed  his  days  in  tlie 
old  Bay  State,  dying  about  the  year  1838  in  tlie 
sixty-seventh  year  of  his  age.  His  wife  also  breathed 
her  last  in  her  native  State.  Of  their  children  he 
of  wliom  \vc  write  and  an  elder  brother  are  all 
that  survive. 

Our  subject  passed  his  boyhood  on  the  farm, 
pursuing  the  advantages  open  to  him  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  Having  no  taste  for  agriculture,  he 
determined  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  aiul 
in  his  seventeenth  year  entered  upon  an  a|)prentice- 
ship.  By  the  time  he  became  of  age  he  had 
mastered  all  departments  of  the  business  and  was 
ready  to  begin  work  as  a  journeyman.  He  traveled 
throughout  his  own  Slate  and  tlien  drifted  west  to 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  stopping  for  a  lime  and  working  at 
his  trade.  After  settling  his  bills  he  started  North 
on  a  steamboat,  arriving  at  Copperas  Creek  Land- 
ing on  the  Illinois  River  on  llie  Eourth  of  .Tul^', 
1840.  After  paying  his  passage  his  finances  were 
reduced  to  twenty-five  cents  which  he  expended  in 
reaching  Canton.  He  little  dreamed  of  what  awaited 
him  in  the  village  that  he  entered  with  a  kit  con- 
sisting of  three  hammers  tied  up  in  a  leathern 
apron. 

Mr.  Parlin  at  once  applied  for  work  and  was  em- 
ployed by  R.  C.  Cultoii.  His  first  work  was  done 
on  Monday  morning,  July  6.  Mr.  F'.mry  went 
to  the  shop  to  get  a  froe  made  for  splitting  lath  to 
plaster  on,  wishing  it  to  be  about  half  the  size  of  a 
cooper's  froe.  Mr.  Culton  had  a  job  on  hand  and 
as  Mr.  Emr3'  was  in  a  luirr}-,  asked  his  new  journey- 
man if  he  could  make  the  utensil.  Tlie  prompt 
reiily  was,  ••  I  will  try,  sir."  Selecting  a  suitable 
piece  of  iron  and  getting  his  fire  in  shape  he  drew 
and  turned  the  e^e,  with  the  next  heat  shaped  the 
froe  nearly  half  way.  and  with  the  third  finished  it. 
Mr.  Eniry,  who  was  himself  a  blacksmith,  always 
declareil  that  it  was  the  quickest  and  most  mechani- 
cal piece  of  work  he  had  ever  seen  done.  He  then 
and  tliere  predicted  a  successful  future  for  the 
young    stranger.       Tlie   iiiipleiiienl   then   made   by 


220 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


onr  subject  was  presented  to  him  by  a  son  of  its 
original  owner  on  July  4,  1890,  wlien  friends 
galliererl  to  celebrate  tlie  fiftieth  aiiiuvcrsar3'  of  iiis 
arrival  in  Canton. 

After  workino  for  Mr.  Culton  a  year,  young 
Parlin  was  taken  into  partnership  by  him.  the 
connection  continuing  two  years  and  being  then 
dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  Mr.  Parlin  then 
started  in  business  on  his  own  account,  his  first 
shop  being  a  very  cheap  one,  scarcely  more  than  a 
shed,  but  under  its  humble  roof  he  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  the  preseDt]magnificent  Canton  Plow  Works. 
At  first  he  devoted  himself  to  general  blacksmith- 
ing  during  the  summer  and  to  making  a  few  plows 
in  the  winter,  hammering  the  moldboard  l)y  hand 
out  of  wrought  iron.  He  also  made  other  tools 
needed  by  the  farmers,  proving  himself  quite  a 
benefactor  to  the  community  in  those  earl}'  da3-s. 
As  his  business  increased  he  built  a  brick  shop 
which  is  still  standing  and  in  use  as  a  part  of  his 
present  works.  In  1873  the  large  three-story  brick 
building,  2G0x300  feet  in  dimensions,  was  erected, 
furnished  with  an  engine  of  125-horse  power  and 
various  kinds  of  machinery  adapted  for  the  busi- 
ness. 

The  establishment  at  present  furnishes  employ- 
ment for  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  to  three 
hundred  and  fifty  men.  The  Canton  Clipper  Plow 
has  been  sold  in  every  part  of  the  civilized  world 
and  has  been  ship|)ed  in  quite  a  number  to  the 
British  possessions,  also  to  Mexico  and  South  Amer- 
ica. Although  this  implement  is  the  most  noted 
of  the  manufacUires  of  tlie  company-,  their  cultiva- 
tors and  harrows  also  bear  a  good  reputation.  Five 
traveling  salesmen  are  kept  on  the  road  obtaining 
orders.  In  1853  Mr.  Parlin  took  W.  J.  Orendoiff 
in  as  a  partner  and  in  1867  the  firm  was  merged 
into  an  incorporated  company  under  the  State  laws. 
Upon  tlie  reorganization  William  Parlin  became 
President,  W.  J.  Orendorff  Vice  President  and 
Treasurer,  and  W.  H.  Parlin  Secretary. 

At  the  home  of  the  bride  in  Orion  Township 
January  7,  1845.  Mr.  Parlin  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Caroline  Orendortl.  daughter  of  John 
Orendorff,  Esq.,  wlio  came  to  this  county  in  1825, 
from  Sduih  Carolina.  She  is  a  sister  of  W.  J. 
Orendorff   of    the    P16w    Company.      During    the 


many  j'ears  in  which  she  has  been  the  honored 
companion  of  our  subject  she  has  been  worthily 
carrying  out  her  obligations  as  a  wife  and  mother 
and  fulfilling  the  duties  she  owes  to  society.  She 
and  her  husband  have  had  four  children,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters.  Artemus  F.,  the  first-born, 
has  been  removed  from  them  by  death.  The  only 
son  now  living  is  the  Secretary  and  Manager  of 
the  compan}'.  Clara  E.,  the  third  child,  is  j'et  with 
her  parents;  Alice  C,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  E. 
Ingersoll,  a  dealer  in  lumber  in  Canton. 

Mr.  Parlin  has  filled  several  offices  of  trust,  hav- 
ing been  Supervisor  of  Canton  Township,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  City  Council  one  term,  and  of  the 
School  Board  for  a  much  more  extended  period. 
In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican.  He  is  proud 
of  the  fact  that  his  first  Presidential  vote  was  cast 
for  the  Whig  candidate,  William  Henry  Harrison, 
and  that  he  has  lived  to  see  a  grandson  of  that 
official  filling  the  same  exalted  station.  He  is  a 
member  of  Morning  Star  Lodge,  Xo.  734,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  was  President  of  thel]\Lasonic  Mutual 
Benefit  Society  for  twelve  years.  His  attractive 
residence  with  its  beautiful  grounds  is  pointed  out 
to  every  visitor  of  the  city  "as  the  home  of]a  man 
whom  all  delight  to  honor,  joining  in  the  wish  ex- 
pressed on  the  anniversarv  of  his  advent  intoQthe 
count}' — that  man}'  more  may[|be  allotted]^him  be- 
fore his  life's  work  is  complete. 


t 


ILLIAM    T.  GENTLE.     There    is    not    a 
%r\//i'     more    successful    resident      of     Fairviow 


\^^  Township  than  is  the  subject  of  our  sketch 
who  is  widely  known  as  the  successful  owner  of 
fine  Shropshire  sheep.  His  estate  is  peculiarly 
well  adapted  to  stock-raising,  and  he  has  been  in 
that  business  during  the  years  intervening  between 
boyiiood  and  the  present  date.  At  this  writing  he 
has  on  hand  about  three  hundred  thoroughbreds 
and  high  grades.  He  received  his  start  from 
George  Allen,  of  AUerton.  111. 

Mr.  Gentle  was  born  in  Hamilton  County,  Ohio, 
about  four  miles  from  Cincinnati.  His  jiarents 
came  to  this  State  in  1855.  settling  in  Farmington 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


221 


Township.  Tin'  father  died  in  1S79.  at  the  age  of 
fifty-five;  the  mother  is  still  living  and  makes  her 
home  with  our  sulijeet,  being  now  sixty-three  years 
of  age.  To  Iheiii  were  born  four  i-liihlren,  viz: 
William  T.;  .John  W ..  who  resides  in  Iowa,  mar- 
rie<l  .Miss  Lou  Terwilliger  of  London  Mills,  111.; 
Hester  A.,  who  married  L.  C".  .lolmson,  die(i  at  her 
home  in  Iowa,  leaving  three  child;eu;  Thomas  E. 
makes  his  liome  in  Prescott,  Iowa. 

Our  subject's  parents  and  all  the  ehildren  with  the 
exceiition  of  William  T.  moved  to  Creston,  Iowa 
in  ISTtiand  there  the  father  died  in  1879.  Tlie 
the  mother  returne<i  to  live  with  our  subject.  The 
birth  of  Mr.  Gentle  took  plaee  September  24,  184C, 
and  he  was  only  nine  j'cars  of  age  when  he  came 
to  Illinois.  His  education  was  received  partly  in 
lliis  State  and  partly  in  Ohio,  and  he  reached 
man's  estate  on  his  father's  farm  in  Farmington 
Township.  In  1869  Mr.  Gentle  married  Miss 
America  A.  .Smith,  the  si.vth  child  of  Jonathan 
Smith,  deceased,  one  of  the  wealthiest  citizens  who 
ever  resided  in  Faii-view  Town8hi|i.  Her  brother, 
Foster  G.  Smith,  is  re|>resented  in  another  part  of 
this  Alium.  Her  birth  occurred  in  Fairview 
Township  where  the  most  of  her  birlli  was  passed. 
She  attended  school  at  Yates  City.  Of  their  union 
have  been  born  three  children,  viz:  Lacie  O.,  Min- 
nie A.  and  Matlie  F.  Misses  Lacie  and  Minnie  A. 
are  students  at  the  State  Normal  at  Bloomington, 
thus  fitting  themselves  to  enjoy  the  wealth  and 
comforts  of  their  beaulifvd  home  in  the  highest 
possible  manner,  and  to  add  sunsliine  to  an  already 
happy  home. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  owner  of  t)ne 
hundred  and  luiiety  acres  of  valuabh;  land  on  sec- 
tion 26.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Or- 
der Odd  of  Fellows  lodge  at  Fairview  and  has  been 
through  the  chairs  in  same,  and  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Modern  \A'oodmen  lodge.  Mrs.  (ientle  and 
her  two  eldest  daughters  are  members  of  the 
l-)augliters  of  Rebecca  lodge  in  Fairview  Town- 
ship, and  Mrs.  Oentle  is  holding  tlie  Noble  Grand 
Chair  for  the  secoml  term.  Both  our  subject  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Providence  Chapel, 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  former  is 
Trustee.  The  entire  family  are  active  workers  for 
the   Sunday-school    and    other  worthy   causes    that 


benefit  anil  adxtince  the  interests  of  hiimanity.  He 
believes  in  protection  to  Americar,  industries.  Mr. 
(Jentle  has  h.ad  possession  of  his]  present  farm  for 
three  years  and  it  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the;sur- 
rounding  country.  His  fame  and  |)opularity  have 
extended  much  beyond  the  limits  of  the  township 
and  his  genial,  cordial  manners^have  gainedOhim 
the  friendship  of  all  wlio'have  beenfassocialed  with 
him  either  in  commercial  or  social  circles. 

||RENUS  T.  SCl'DDER.  There  is  in  the  de- 
ll velopment  of  every  successful  life  a  lesson  to 
tL  ever3-  one;  for  if  a  man  is  industriously  ambi- 
tious and  honorable  in  his  ambition,  he  will  un- 
doubtedly rise  to  a  position  of  i)romiiu'nce.  whether 
having  the  |)restige  of  family  and  wealth,  or  the 
obscurity  of  poverty.  We  are  led  to  these  reflec- 
tions in  reviewing  the  life  of  Mr.  .Scudder,  who  is 
a  dealer  in  drugs  and  toilet  articles  in  Farmington. 
He  has  attained  his  present  enviable  position  as  a 
competent  and  popular  druggist  b)-  indomitable 
energy  and  a  laudable  desire  to  reach  the  top  round 
of  the  ladder  of  fortune. 

At  present  Mr.  Scud<ler  is  engaged  in  a  nourish- 
ing business,  and  owns  in  addition  to  his  elegant 
store,  a  residence  on  East  Street,  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  city.  He  is  a  gentlemrui  of  excellent 
taste  and  fine  personal  appearance,  and  has  many 
warm  friends  in  the  coinmunitj'  where  he  makes  his 
home.  He  has  engaged  in  his  present  business 
since  September,  1889,  and  is  doing  a  flourishing 
tiade.  In  addition  to  his  drug  business  Mr. 
Scudder  is  well  posted  in  the  inaiiageraent  of  tele- 
phone lines  and  fixtures,  having  charge  of  the 
telei)lu)ne  olDce,  which  is  located  in  the  back  [lart 
of  his  large  store. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  in  New  York 
State,  August  8,  18.51,  and  his  |)arents  were  John 
T.  and  Sarah  A.  (Taft)  Scu<lder,  natives  of  New 
York.  He  received  a  good  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  his  father  being  a  physician  of 
considerable  talent,  our  subject  had  an  inherited 
tendency  toward  the  study  of  medicine,  and  was 
thus  prepared  to    become   an  excellent   [jharmacist. 


222 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


In  1881  be  opened  a  dnio-store  in  Fannington, 
and  for  seven  years  continued  to  do  a  first-elass 
business.  Selling  out  his  interest  in  1888,  he 
worked  for  two  years  in  the  Nebraska  Telephone 
Exchange. 

As  before  stated  the  father  of  our  subject  was  an 
exi)prt  in  the  "healing  art,"  and  after  settling  in 
Prairie  City,  111.,  in  1853,  continued  to  practice  his 
chosen  profession  and  enjoyed  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice.  His  death  occurred  there  in  August, 
1867,  after  he  had  attained  his  fort3--fiflh  year. 
The  mother  is  still  living,  and  is  over  sixty 
years  of  age.  She  bore  her  husband  ten  children, 
of  whom  six  survive,  viz.:  Irenus  T.,  our  subject; 
Albert  1)..  Miner  R..  Ida  M..  John  L.  and  Clem- 
ent V. 

A  very  important  event  in  the  life  of  our  sub- 
ject was  his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated 
February  4.  18S.5,  with  ISIrs.  Caroline  Negly,  of 
Farniington.  Mrs.  Scudder  is  a  most  estimable 
woman,  a  devoted  wife  and  a  good  neighbor.  She 
was  born  December  20,  1846,  and  was  the  daughter 
of  M.  A.  and  C.  Brown,  both  of  wlioni  are  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Scudder  is  a  strong  Democrat  in  his 
political  opinions;  socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  is  universally  conceded  to 
bea  business  man  of  unusual  ability. 


^=^EORGE  BURNETT  is  noted  for  his  indus- 
'11  (--,  trious  habits  and  enterprising  spirit,  and  is 
^^^^  the  oldest  settler  of  Fairview  Township  who 
is  engaged  in- any  active  pursuit.  When  only  five 
years  of  age  he  was  brought  to  this  count}'  by  his 
parents, William  and  Sarah(Poland)Burnett,  but  his 
birth  occurred  in  Harrison  Count}',  W.  Ya.,  April 
19.  1830.  The  trip  from  Virginia  to  this  State  was 
made  in  1835,  in  a  wagon  pulled  b}'  three  horses. 
The  parents  sought  a  new  home  and  found  it  in  Ful- 
ton County.  111.,  where  the  father  bought  a  claim 
with  a  cabin  on  it  for  SIOO.  He  entered  the  land 
from  the  Government  and  at  once  started  to  work 
to  improve  it.  They  went  to  Ellisville  to  mill  and 
the  coinitry  around  was  in  a  purely  primeval  state. 
The  lirst  school  our  subject  attended  was  where 


Lyons  graveyard  is  now  located,  and  he  can  give  a 
most  interesting  description  of  this  country  in  its 
pioneer  daj's  when  game  abounded  on  ever}'  side 
having  seen  fourteen  or  fifteen  deer  in  a  herd  many 
a  time.  Breaking  up  and  clearing  land  and  farm- 
ing engaged  his  time  and  attention  from  an  early 
period  in  life.  He  has  turned  acres  of  the  virgin 
sod  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  has  had  a  long  and 
prosperous  career  as  an   agriculturist. 

INIr.  Burnett  was  married  in  1854  to  Miss  Abigail 
Barbee,  daughter  of  Franklin  and  Lucinda  (Mer- 
ris)  Barbee,  natives  of  Virginia  and  Canada  re- 
spectively. Her  parents  were  married  in'  Ohio, 
where  she  was  born,  and  later  moved  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Scott  County  and  in  1853  coming  to 
Fulton  County.  Mrs.  Burnett  was  only  seven- 
teen years  of  age  wiien  she  was  married  and  to 
her  and  our  subject  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren: John  F.  married  Miss  Eliza  Pratt,  who  died 
in  1888  leaving  four  chililren;  he  is  now  in  charge 
of  the  home  farm;  Eliza  E.,  married  Henry  Rist 
and  lived  in  Fremont  County,  Iowa,  where  she 
died  in  1880  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years;  Mary 
C.  died  when  seventeen  years  cf  age;  Clymena  R. 
is  the  wife  of  Joseph  T.  Gourley.  and  has  one  child, 
Blanche  R.  Mr.  Burnett  has  noted  with  great  sat- 
isfaction all  the  improvements  in  the  way  of  farm 
machinery  and  the  general  progress  throughout  his 
county.  He  is  opposed  to  secret  societies  and 
gives  strict  attention  to  his  business  in  which  he 
has  met  with  marked  success.  He  is  also  giving 
much  attention  to  stock-raising  and  is  very  proud 
of  his  horses.  The  principal  part  of  his  wealth  has 
been  accumulated  in  the  pork  producing  industry. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Rei)ublican  party,  and  re- 
ligiously, he  and  his  estimable  wife  belong  to  the 
United  Brethren  Church. 

Our  subject's  father  was  a  native  of  County 
Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  left  that  country  when  only 
eighteen  years  of  age.  coming  to  the  Uniteil  States 
and  settling  in  ^'irginia  where  he  married  the 
mother  of  our  subject.  They  came  to  Illinois  from 
Virginia  in  1835  and  were  numbered  among  the  pio- 
neers of  Fairview  Township,  locating  on  section  18. 
The  motberdied  in  1859  when  fifty  seven  years  of 
age  and  the  father  in  1862  when  sixty-one  years 
old.     To  them    wore    born   twelve    children:      viz: 


il 


'o-\^\yy^  iy\n.ZAj(iJ, 


^"yy^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


225 


Rachel,  who  married  John  Roberts,  died  at  Ipava 
leaving  five  children;  Elizabeth,  who  married  John 
Ilubunks,  lived  in  Iowa.  She  died  at  the  home  of 
her  fiillier  leaving  six  children;  John,  wlio  resides 
in  Davis  County,  Iowa,  married  Charlotte  Johnson 
and  has  had  thirteen  children;  George  is  the  sub- 
ject of  our  sketch;  Martin  died  in  infanc_y;  Mary, 
wlio  married  Reuben  Hungerford,  lives  in  Metrop- 
olis, III.;  James  lives  in  Fairvicw  Townsliii),  of 
wliich  he  is  one  of  the  well-to-do  farmers.  He  was 
twice  married;  Margaret  died  when  twenty-tliree 
years  of  age;  Sarah  A.,  the  wife  of  Benjamin 
Sampson,  lives  in  Warren  Count}',  HI.,  and  is  the 
mother  of  seven  children;  Martha,  was  tlie  wife  of 
Alex.  Pliillippi,  and  at  her  death  left  two  children; 
Anettie  is  the  wife  of  Wm.  Boden,  of  Sacramento, 
Cal..  and  lias  two  children;  William,  who  married 
Neosha  Davis,  died  in  1888  when  forty  years  of 
age. 


\T]OSEPH  VINTON  HARRIS,  M.  D.  The 
city  of  Canton  is  not  without  her  share  of 
members  of  tiie  learned  professions,  who  are 
a  credit  to  the  pursuit  they  have  chosen  and 
to  the  town  itself.  Among  ihose  who  have  taken 
up  the  calling  of  a  medical  practitioner  is  Dr. 
Harris  vvho  devotes  himself  assiduously  to  his  prac- 
tice and  tiie  scientific  investigations  which  will  en- 
hance his  professional  knowledge  and  skill.  He  is 
well  citalilished  in  reiuitalion  as  a  pliysician  and  is 
recognized  as  among  Ihe  able  practitioners  of  Cen- 
tral Illinois. 

Before  outlining  tlie  life  history  of  our  subject  it 
maj'  be  well  to  make  a  brief  record  regarding  liis 
parents.  His  fathfr,  Coll)crt  Harris,  was  born  in 
Prince  George's  County,  Md.,  July  30,  1798.  In 
182G  he  located  in  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  on  a 
tract  of  land  which  lie  leaserl  for  ten  years.  He 
cleared  and  cultivated  it  until  tiie  expiration  of  his 
lease,  when  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  Monroe  County  and  removing  tiiillicr  resided 
tiiere  until  his  death,  which  occiu'red  March  2-1, 
18.T.'i.  He  left  a  widuw  and  eleven  cliildren.  Of 
the  latter   si.\  only   are  now  living.     The   mother 


died  in  March,  1853.  She  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Catherine  E.  Crupijei-,  and  was  born  in  Leesburg, 
Loudoun  County,  V.a.  July  8,  1808. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was  the 
sixth  son  of  his  parents  and  was  born  in  Jlonroe 
County,  Ohio,  October  22,  1839.  He  entered  the 
common  schools  and  further  advanced  his  knowl- 
edge by  an  attendance  at  Fairview  (Ohio)  Acad- 
emy. He  then  turned  to  teaching  as  a  temporary 
expedient,  continuing  to  make  his  home  in  Fair- 
view  and  pursuing  his  peaceful  pedagogical  labors 
in  the  country.  In  1860  he  took  up  the  study  of 
medicine  in  the  ollice  of  Dr.  .1.  T.  McPherson  of 
Cambridge,  Ohio,  and  in  due  time  took  his  first 
course  of  lectures  al  llie  medical  college  in  Cleve- 
land. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  the 
Doctor  enlisted  ii:  the  Union  Army  November  7, 
18G1,  as  he  considered  his  duty  to  his  country  par- 
amount to  his  desire  to  become  a  physician.  He 
was  enrolled  in  Comjjany  H,  Sixty-fifth  Ohio  In- 
fantry', Col.  Charles  G.  Harkcr  commanding.  The 
regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, under  command  of  Gen.  Buell,  and  became  a 
part  of  the  Fourth  Armj'  Corps.  His  regiment 
took  part  in  a  number  of  the  most  noted  conflicts 
of  the  war,  among  them  being  Sliiloh,  Holly 
Springs.  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Kenesaw 
Mount.-un,  Franklin  and  Nashville.  The  interven- 
ing time  was  spent  in  skirmishing,  marching  and 
the  various  important,  although  monotonous,  (bfties 
of  cani|)aigu  life. 

At  Decatur,  Alii.,  in  the  fall  of  1864,  Dr.  Harris 
was  shot  in  the  hip.  and  from  the  effects  of  the 
wound  he  was  kept  at  Howard  Hospital  in  Nash- 
ville for  three  months.  He  then  rejoined  his  reg- 
iment, serving  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was 
mustered  out  JNIay  12,  186.5.  lie  had  been  pro- 
moted from  the  ranks  to  the  position  of  Hospital 
Steward  and  Acting  Assistant  Surgeon,  in  w  hich  po- 
sitions he  was  enabled  to  relieve  suffering  and  aid 
in  restoring  his  comrades  to  health,  while  at  the 
same  time  he  gained  an  experience  which  has  been 
of  great  value  to  him  in  hili'r  years. 

After  his  discharge  Dr.  Harris  returned  to  Ohio, 
but  the  same  fall  removed  to  Canton  where  he  pur- 
sued his  practice  about  five  3'ears.    He  then  I'ntered 


226 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Rush  Medical  College  in  Chicago  and  after  com- 
pleting his  second  course  of  lectures  was  graduated 
in  187L  He  resumed  his  professional  labors  in 
Canton  and  has  long  been  considered  a  permanent 
member  of  the  fraternity  here. 

October  19,  I860,  the  rites  of  wedlock  were  cele- 
brated between  Dr.  Harris  and  Miss  Ellen  S.  Platt- 
enburg.  at  that  time  a  resident  of  this  city.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Perry  and  Ellon  S.  (Doddridge) 
Plattenburg.  and  was  born  in  Wellsburg,  Va.,  her 
mother  also  being  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion. 
She  came  to  this  State  with  her  parents  when  quite 
young  and  grew  to  maturity  here,  receiving  a  good 
education  and  a  careful  home  training.  Her  union 
with  our  subject  has  been  blest  by  the  birth  of 
two  children — Ellen  E.  and  Joseph  Perr3-. 

Dr.  Harris  belongs  to  the  State  Medical  Society 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Lewistown  Board  of  Exam- 
ining Surgeons  for  pensions.  He  belongs  to  Morn- 
ing Star  Lodge,  No.  734,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  has 
attained  the  Thirt3'-secoud  degree  of  the  Ancient 
Scottish  Rite  Masonry.  Politically,  he  is,  and 
always  has  been,  an  earnest  and  stanch  Republican. 
His  pleasant  home  in  the  midst  of  agreeable  sur- 
roundings is  one  of  the  notable  centers  of  the 
social  life  of  the  cultured  society  of  the  cit\-. 

In  connection  with  this  biographical  review  we 
are  pleased  to  present,  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  a 
lithographic  portrait  of  Dr.  Harris. 


-^^ 


^^-^-  HARLES  C.  EHRENHART  is  prosperously 
conducting  in  Lewistown  an  extensive  ag- 
^J  ricultural  implement  business.  He  owns  the 
handsome  brick  block,  a  large  building  42x80  feet 
in  dimensions,  on  South  Main  Street,  where  he  is 
established,  and  he  is  one  of  the  solid  men  of  the 
city. 

Our  subject  is  a  Bavarian  1)3-  birth,  born  in  the 
German  Fatherland  in  the  month  of  November, 
1850.  His  father,  Michael  Ehrenhart,  w,as  a  native 
of  the  same  locality  as  himself,  and  a  son  of  one 
Mathew  Ehrenhart,  the  latter  having  been  born  in 
Austria  and  going  from  there  to  Bavaria  during 
llie  lime  of  the  Austrian  Revolution,  spending  the 


remainder  of  his  life  there.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  when 
a  3'oung  man  entered  the  army  in  accordance  with 
the  laws  of  (iermany,  and  for  nine  or  ten  years 
served  as  a  soldier.  In  1866  he  came  to  America 
with  his  eight  children,  setting  sail  from  Rotterdam 
in  the  month  of  October,  and  landing  at  New  York 
the  following  January-.  He  came  to  Illinois,  and 
for  a  time  lived  in  Rio  Township,  Knox  Counl3'. 
At  the  expiration  of  three  j'ears  he  removed  from 
there  to  Galesburg,  and  was  in  the  emplo3'  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quinc3-  Railroad  the  en- 
suing seven  j'ears.     He  still  resides  in  that  city. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Susannah  Lantz,  and  she  was  also  of  Bavarian 
birth.  She  died  in  Bavaria  in  1863  or  1864,  and 
her  death  was  a  serious  loss  to  her  fauiilv.  She 
and  her  husband  reared  eight  children,  named 
Phillip,  Charles,  Amelia,  Mathew,  Frank.  Martha, 
Fred  and  Mary. 

The  son  of  whom  this  sketch  is  written  w.as 
carefully  trained  l)3-  his  worthy'  parents  in  all  that 
goes  to  make  an  honest  man  and  a  good  citizen  ;  and 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place,  which  he 
attended  most  of  the  time  quite  steadil3-  till  he  came 
to  America  in  1866,  he  received  an  excellent  edu- 
cation. The  first  two  or  three  3'ears  after  his 
arrival  in  this  country  he  w.as  employed  on  the  farm 
with  his  father  in  Knox  Count3'.  We  next  hear  of 
him  as  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  store  in  Galesburg,  and 
his  six  3'ears  experience  in  that  capacity  in  that 
place  proved  of  invaluable  service  to  him,  and  there 
he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  career  as  a  business 
man.  His  next  eniploymenl  was  as  agent  for  sew- 
ing machines  in  Iowa.  He  spent  three  seasons  there 
verj'  profitahl3',  and  then  located  permanentlj-  in 
Lewistown  in  the  month  of  September,  1877.  Here 
he  engaged  in  the  butchering  business,  continuing 
in  that  some  six  years.  After  that  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  lumber  trade,  and  one  year  later 
added  the  sale  of  agricultural  implements,  and  is 
still  conducting  the  implement  business,  which  he 
has  extended  greatlj',  and  is  in  receipt  of  a  good 
income  from  that  source. 

Mr.  Ehrenhart  and  Miss  Eliza  Brookmeier  united 
their  lives  and  fortunes  Januar3'  5,  1877,  and  their 
marriage  has  been  productive  of  much   domestic 


PORTRAIT  AND  BrOGRAPIlICAl.  ALBUM. 


227 


felicity.  Four  eliildien.  Lillie.  Amelia,  Annie  and 
Clifton,  complete  their  pleasant  lionie  ciicle.  Mrs. 
Kbrenhart  is  a  native  of  Iowa,  .and  .1  dausi;liter  of 
Jacob  Biooknieicr.  a  native  of  Wuvtembuis;,  Ger- 
many, and  a  pioneer  of  Iowa.  She  is  a  sincere 
Christian  and  an  esteemed  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Ehrenhart  is  an  ambitious,  wide-awake  man, 
whose  capabilities,  industry  and  methodical  business 
habits  have  been  the  making  of  ium.a'id  given  him 
good  financial  standing  in  this  comnuinily.  He 
belongs  to  Lewistown  Lodge,  No.  33.0,  1.  G.  0.  F., 
and  to  Commonwealth  Lodge,  No.  Gl,  M.  A. 

'^  AMES  GRIGGS  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers 
of  Fulton  County,  to  which  he  came  as  earl^- 
as  the  yeru-  1829.  Long  years  of  raerito- 
f(®/'  rious  conduct  in  private  and  public  life  have 
won  for  him  a  r(:pntation  which  is  the  choicest 
heritage  he  can  leave  to  bis  posterity  when  called 
from  time  to  eternity.  He  is  the  owner  and  occu- 
pant of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  finely 
imi)roved  land  on  section  1,  Orion  Township,  and 
is  cl.assed  among  those  who  make  of  agriculture 
both  an  art  and  a  science.  He  combines  qualities 
of  two  prominent  nationalities,  being  of  German  an- 
cestry in  the  paternal  line  and  French  in  the  ma- 
ternal. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  George  and  Sarah 
(Harker)  Griggs,  removed  from  the  Empire  State 
to  Peoria  County,  111.,  in  1829.  The  country  to 
which  they  had  come  was  full  of  Indians  and  they 
endured  raanj'  trials  from  the  savages,  particularly 
after  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  War  in  1830. 
The  father  was  a  soldier  during  the  War  of  1812. 
The  parents  were  rewarded  for  all  their  trials  and 
privations  by  seeing  their  family  grow  to  honored 
raanhood  and  womanhood.  The  circle  comprised 
eight  children,  whose  record  is  as  follows:  Harvey 
married  Elizabeth  Long,  now  deceased,  and  makes 
his  home  in  Peoria  County ;  Pruella  married  Will- 
iam Thurston,  their  home  being  in  Elmwood,  Peo- 
ria County;  Mary  is  unmarried  and  lives  with  her 
brother  James  of  this  notice;  Franklin   I),  married 


Deborah  Largent  and  lives  in  Farmington;  Asen- 
eth,  who  is  now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  (George 
Champ;  Susan,  also  deceased,  was  the  wife  of 
William  Bown;  Jeremiah  married  Eunice  Yaw 
and  lives  at  Oak  Hill,  Peoria  ('ount3'. 

The  birthplace  of  our  subject  was  Cayuga 
County,  N.  Y..  and  his  natal  day  June  10,  1819. 
After  reaching  in.".turity  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Bown  who  died  within  a  year 
after  their  mairiage.  He  was  joined  in  wedlock 
with  his  present  wife,  formerly  Duleena  E.  Mc- 
Mains,  in  1856  and  the  union  has  been  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  live  childien.  The  first-born,  (George 
W.,  married  Belle  Gruniger  and  lives  in  Peorif 
Countj-;  Edwin  E.  married  Maude  Frank,  tliei: 
home  being  in  this  township;  Mary  Ann  became 
llie  wife  of  Frank  .lacobs  a  resident  of  Peiu'ia 
County;  Susan,  is  unm.arricd  and  is  still  making 
her  home  under  the  |i;ircntal  roof  and  engaged  in 
the  profession  of  teacliing.  All  the  children  have 
been  given  good  educations  and  three  have  been 
engaged  in  teaching. 

Mr.  Griggs  and  the  various  members  of  his 
family  take  a  great  interest  in  educational  matters 
which  he  has  assisted  .as  a  School  Director  for  over 
twenty-five  years.  His  first  Presidential  vole  was 
cast  for  Martin  ^'an  Buren  and  f(jr  years  he  has  ad- 
hered to  the  doctrines  of  Democracy  as  firmly  as 
when  he  first  adaijtcd  them.  He  is  a  Baptist  in  his 
religious  faith. 


^  ESSE  HEYLIN,  editor  of  the  Lewistown 
Lance,  a  weekly  paper  devoted  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  Republican  party  and  the  people, 
;'  is  a  native  of  this  county  and  is  one  of  whom 
it  may  well  be  proud,  for,  though  he  is  a  young 
tiian,  he  has  already  won  his  way  to  distinction  as  a 
journalist  of  signal  ability. 

Fanners  Township  is  the  place  of  the  birth  of 
our  subject  and  December  15,  18G5,  the  date  of 
that  important  event  in  his  life.  His  father.  Henry 
Ileylin,  was  of  English  birth  and  antecedents,  the 
city  of  London  the  place  of  his  nativity.  His 
father,  whose   name    was    Joseiih  Ilo^liu,    was  also 


228 


PORTRAIT  AND   HIOGRAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


bdiTi  in  that  great  metropolis.  Me  was  a  silk  man- 
ufacturer and  carried  on  tliat  business  in  London 
some  years.  He  came  to  America  before  tiie  war, 
located  at  first  in  Fulton  County,  where  he  resided 
for  a  time,  and  then  took  up  his  residence  in  New 
York  City,  where  his  remaining  days  were  p.assed. 
lie  reared  four  ciiildren,  who  weie  named,  Joseph 
(r..  Mary,  William  and  Henry.  Mary  died  in  Lon- 
don when  quite  young,  and  Joseph  still  resides 
there.  William  and  llenr}'  came  to  this  countrj', 
and  William  engaged  in  the  silk  and  tassel  business 
in  New  York  City  and  there  died. 

The  father  of  our  suliject  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Lon<lon,  and  came  to  the  Ihiiled  States 
aliout  1840.  He  located  in  New  York  City, and  soon 
became  a  sailor,  followed  the  sea  some  years  in  a 
whaling  vessel,  and  during  the  Mexican  War  was 
in  the  marine  service.  After  that  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  followed  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  in  Ber- 
nadolte  Township,  .\fter  a  few  years  he  removed 
to  Farmers  Township  where  he  dwelt  until  death 
rounded  out  his  life  April  29,  1886.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Eliza  L.  McQueen.  She  was 
born  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.;her  father,  John  McQueen 
was  also  a  native  of  that  State,  and  a  farmer  of 
tliat  place.  He  remove<l  from  New  York  to  Mis- 
souri and  settled  near  Jefferson  City  where  he 
bought  land  and  improved  a  good  farm,  which  re- 
mained his  home  until  his  death  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife,  the  grandmother  of  our  subject, 
was  Mary  Scott.  She  was  born  in  New  York  City 
and  spent  her  last  years  at  the  home  of  her  son-in- 
law  in  Missouri.  The  mother  of  our  subject  resides 
in  Farmers  Township.  She  reared  four  children, 
John,  Ellen,  Joseph  and  Jesse.  Joseph  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty -six  years ;  John  lives  in  Frontier 
County.  Neb.;  Ellen  married  George  Carrison, 
since  deceased  and  lives  in  Farmers  Township. 

Jesse  Heylln,  of  whom  we  write,  was  given  iiis 
first  schooling  in  the  home  district  and  his  learn- 
ing was  further  advanced  1)3-  his  attendance  at  the 
Normal  School  at  Macomb,  and  later  he  pursued  a 
course  of  study  at  Jennings  Seminary  at  Aurora. 
He  thus  obtained  a  sound  basis  for  his  future  pro- 
fessional career.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  com- 
menced teaching,  and  was  thus  quite  steadily 
engaged   for  the  three  ensuing  years.   In  1887  he 


went  to  Garden  City,  Kan.  as  a  proof  reader  and 
night  reporter  on  the  Garden  City  Daily  Sentinel. 
Five  months  later,  so  well  appreciated  were  his  ser- 
vices, he  was  appointed  city  editor  of  that  sheet, 
which  position  he  held  until  he  resigned  it  in  1888. 
He  then  returned  home  and  commenced  teaching, 
continuing  thus  emiiioyed  one  year.  August  2, 
1889,  Mr.  Heylin  established  the  Lewistown  Lance, 
a  carefully  edited  paper  issued  weeklj',  having  its 
full  share  of  patronage  from  the  reading  public. 

Finergj',  patience  and  perseverance  have  accom- 
plished their  good  work  in  the  efforts  of  our  subject 
to  establish  a  newspaper  that  shall  be  readable  and 
justif}'  its  claim  as  a  wide-awa.ve,  public-spirited 
journal  of  sound  literary  merit,  and  a  pure  family 
paper,  one  of  the  best  of  its  kind  luiblished  in  this 
part  of  Illinois. 


HESTER  B.  CHURCHILL,  a  well-known 
farmer  of  Joshua  Township,  is  classed 
among  the  pioneers  of  this  county  who 
lave  dtnie  good  service  in  advancing  its  agricultu- 
ral development.  He  is  a  native  of  the  .State  of 
New  York,  and  was  born  in  1824.  He  came  to 
Fulton  County  in  1837,  and  cast  in  his  lot  with  the 
pioneers  whom  he  found  woi'king  zealously  to  i)ro- 
mole  the  growth  of  this  section  of  the  country. 
He  entered  at  that  lime  his  present  homestead 
on  wiiich  he  has  resided  for  more  than  foity  years. 
He  has  evolved  a  fine  farm  from  the  wild  tract  of 
land  that  he  purchased  from  the  Goverment.  has 
it  under  excellent  improvement,  and  provided  with 
good  buildings. 

Prior  to  coming  to  this  State,  Mr.  Churchill  was 
married  in  1847  to  Miss  Catherine  M.  Turkic,  who 
has  been  a  devoted  helpmate  an<l  an  active  assist- 
ant in  the  pioneer  labors  of  her  husband.  Nine 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  as  follows:  Har- 
riett, Mildon,  Chester,  Leonard,  Washington, 
George,  William,  Stephen  and  Kate.  Of  these  the 
following  are  deceased:  Mildon,  Chester,  Leonard, 
AVashington,  George  and  William.  Stephen  is  a 
resident  of  .loshua  Township;  Kate  married  Homer 
Randolph,  and   lives   in  Canton  Township.     Mrs. 


PORTRAFT  AND  BIOGRAPrilCAL  ALBUM. 


229 


Churchill  is  a  zealous  and  active  worker  in  the 
Christian  Church,  of  which  slie  is  a  devoted 
member. 

In  pioneer  limes -Mr.  Ciiurcliill  was  widely  known 
as  one  of  the  best  musicians  in  this  i)nrt  of  the 
countrj'.  His  services  were  in  constant  demand  to 
])]ay  llie  violin  for  countiy  dances,  as  the  young 
people  would  rather  have  "old  Church,"'  as  they 
called  liiiu.  than  any  one  else,  and  he  would  be 
called  to  go  even  as  far  as  Peoria  to  furnish  music 
for  j)arties.  Ills  children  have  inherited  his  musical 
gifts  and  are  well-trained  musicians.  Our  subject 
cast  his  llrst  Ijallot  in  this  county,  and  has  alw.ays 
voted  the  Democratic  ticket,  lie  h.is  taken  an 
active  part  in  educational  matters  and  has  been  Di- 
rector of  schools  in  his  own  town-ihip  for  over 
twenty  years.  At  oiu>  time  he  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Grange  when  that  t)rder  was  Bour- 
isliing. 


^  AMKS  K.  WELCH,  iM.  IJ.,  is  one  of  the  most 
eminent  physicians  practicing  his  i)rofession 
within  the  limits  of  this  count}',  and  he  is 
((®l/  also  closely  connected  with  its  business  in- 
terests as  a  druggist  in  Cuba,  his  place  of  residence, 
and  with  its  public  life  as  Chairman  of  the  County 
Ik)ard  of  Su[)ervisors. 

The  Doctor  is  a  native  of  Nelson  County,  K\'., 
born  September  4,  184.5.  His  father,  .lames  W.,  was 
also  a  native  of  Kentucky  .as  was  his  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Swaze)'.  They  married  and 
lived  in  that  State  until  1818,  and  then  touk  up 
their  residence  among  the  pioneers  of  McDouough 
Ciiunty,  this  Slate,  where  they  remained  until  their 
death;  the  mother  dieil  in  185()  and  the  father  in 
187S.  At  one  lime  he  w.as  engaged  in  business  at 
Blandiusville. 

Our  sutjject  was  one  of  eighteen  children  of  whom 
eight  are  now  living.  When  four  years  old  lie  ac- 
comi)anied  his  parents  to  Illinois  and  received  his 
eleinenlary  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
McDouough  County.  During  his  >-outh  he  received 
a  severe  wound  which  prevented  his  entering  the 
army  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out.  He  had  a  de- 
cided  talent    for  medicine,  and  entered  upon   his 


stuilies  for  that  profession  with  enthusiasm,  was 
graduated  with  honor  from  the  Kei)kuk  Mediial 
College  in  the  class  of '65  and  is  a  line  cxponenl  <>( 
the  Allopathic  school  of  medicine. 

After  leaving  college.  Dr.  Welch  established  him- 
self  as  a  physician  in  Cuba,  and  for  twenty-four 
3ears  has  been  in  active  practice.  He  has  a  laii;e 
patronage  that  extends  far  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
village  and  township,  having  an  experience  of 
ivventy-live  years  in  Ibis  locality  and  being  im- 
mensely popular  with  all  cLasses.  Seven  j'ears  ago 
he  opened  a  drug  store  here  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  Square,  a  year  and  a  half  ago  removed  to  the 
northeast  corner  where  he  is  now  located,  his  office 
being  in  the  store.  He  is  carrying  on  a  fine  busi- 
ness and  has  here  a  well-stocked,  commodious 
store,  replete  with  all  the  appointments  of  the  best 
establishments  in  the  county. 

The  energy  of  our  subject  has  by  no  me;ins 
been  confined  to  the  management  of  h;s  practice 
and  his  drug  business,  but  he  has  engaged  in  var- 
ifuis  enterprises.  In  1878  he  opened  a  livery  stable 
and  for  some  time  managed  an  extensive  business. 
In  1868  he  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  in  Putman  Township  and  carried  it  on 
by  proxy  for  several  years  but  he  now  rents  both 
the  livery  barn  and  the  farm. 

Dr.  Welch  and  Miss  iSIalinda  Clayberg  were  mar- 
ried in  1808.  Their  wedded  life  was  happy  but  was 
too  soon  brought  to  a  close  by  the  early  death  of 
Mrs.  Welch  in  1874.  She  left  two  children — Lucy 
B.  and  Maggie  IM. — the  latter  of  whom  lives  with 
her  uncle  Dr.  P.  C.  Clayberg,  now  of  St  Louis. 
Our  subject  was  married  again  in  1878  to  Elizabeth 
E.  Wilson,  daughter  of  William  H.  and  Margaret 
(Laswell)  Wilson,  who  were  among  the  oldest  pio- 
neer families  of  this  county.  Iler  mother  died  in 
1884.  Her  father  still  survives  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty years.  Mrs.  Welch  was  born  in  this  county  in 
18.i6  and  received  her  education  in  the  public 
schools.  She  is  a  fine  woman  in  every  respect,  de- 
voted to  the  interests  of  her  husband  and  children 
and  knows  well  how  to  care  for  her  household. 
The  following  four  children  have  been  born  of  this 
marriage,  Roy,  Mamie,  James  W.,  and  F^thel  Fay. 
Prominent- in  the  medical  world  and  in  the  busi- 
ness circles   of  this  part  of  Illinois,  Dr.   Welch  is 


230 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


also  |ire-eniiiient  in  its  public  life,  as  a  man  of  his 
progressive  mind,  executive  and  tiuancial  ability 
is  needed  to  aid  in  the  guidance  of  civic  affairs  and 
he  has  held  many  offices  of  responsibility  with  dis- 
tinction. He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Town 
Council  and  President  of  that  honorable  body  for 
years.  He  is  serving  his  sixth  term  as  one  of  the 
County  Board  of  Suitervisors,  representing  Puttnan 
Township,  and  is  now  acting  for  a  second  time  as 
Chairman  of  the  Board,  he  having  served  in  that 
capacity  in  1888.  He  has  always  been  a  Demo- 
crat and  stands  high  in  the  councils  of  his  party. 

In  1886  our  subject  was  appointed  United  States 
Examiner  of  Pensions  and  still  retains  that  posi- 
tion b}'  request  of  the  old  soldiers  of  this  county, 
although  a  Republican  administration  is  at  the  head 
of  national  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Order  at  Cuba  and  has  been  Secretary  of  the 
same.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Indei)endent  Order 
of  Odd  F"ellowsof  Cuba,  is  identified  with  the  An- 
cient Order  of  United  Workmen  and  is  JNIedical 
Examiner  and  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
and  also  of  the  Mutual  Aid  Suciety.  He  and  his 
wife  are  among  the  leading  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  of  wliich  he  has  been  a  Trustee,  and  she 
has  been  acti  kfely  identified  with  the  Sunday-school. 


•^fV  '^K^ 


^^^EORGE  WASHINGTON  SEATON.  Even 
il  (^— ,  a  cursory  view  of  the  Inisiuess  establish- 
'^J4^    ments  of  Canton    will  reveal  the   fact  that 


the\'  are  in  charge  of  men  of  tact,  push  and 
good  judgment.  In  the  goods  upon  their  shelves, 
llie  order  which  characterizes  them,  and  the  honor- 
able, courteous  way  in  which  patrons  are  treated, 
they  vie  with  those  of  much  larger  cities.  One  of 
these  flourishing  establishments  is  the  grocery  store 
of  our  subject,  who  carries  a  large  and  well-select- 
ed stock,  and  occupies  a  favorable  location  on  the 
east  side  of  the  square. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  John  Seaton,  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  whose  home  after  emigra- 
tion was  in  Tennessee.  There  James  Seaton,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was   born   and   roared.     He 


icnioved  to  Indiana  about  1817,  there  marrying 
Winifred  Roberts.  This  Uuly  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, but  in  her  girlhood  had  accompanied  her 
father,  Thomas  Roberts,  to  the  Iloosier  Stale. 
James  Seaton  was  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil,  and 
made  the  Iloosier  State  his  home  during  all  of  his 
later  ye.irs.  His  widow  died  on  the  same  place  in 
1882.  full  of  jears  and  honors.  She  was  the  mother 
of  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  one  son  and  one 
daughter  being  now  deceased. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  i)lace  in  Crawford 
County,  Ind.,  near  Leavenwortii,  May  9.  1833. 
Ilis  carh'  boyhood  was  spent  in  attendance  at  the 
common  schools  near  his  home,  and  he  subsequently 
continued  his  studies  in  a  private  school  in  Ken- 
tucky, having  relatives  there  with  whom  he  could 
make  his  home.  When  about  eighteen  years  old 
he  began  his  mercantile  experience  as  a  clerk  in 
the  dry  goods  store  of  IT.  F.  <k  J.  W.  Ingersoll,  in 
Canton,  ren'aiuing  in  the  establisinnent  five  years. 
He  then  formed  a  partnership  with  R.  B.  L'nder- 
wood,  and  under  the  firm  name  of  Seaton  &  Un- 
derwood embarked  in  the  dry-goods  business.  The 
connection  continued  until  18G2  when  the  business 
was  disposed  of.  and  Mr.  Seaton  became  a  partner 
with  A.  C.  Bahcock,  the  nevv  firm  doing  an  exten- 
sive business  during  the  war,  and  continuing  some 
j'ears  longer,  when  they  were  swei)t  out  In'  fire. 
sustaining  a  heavy  loss.  The  firm  was  dissolved 
b3'  mutual  consent,  and  Mr.  Seaton  connected  him- 
self witli  W.  r>.  Gleason  it  Co.,  in  the  dry -goods 
l).usiness.  He  remained  an  attache  of  that  firm 
until  1885  when  he  opened  a  grocery  store  on  the 
south  side  of  the  square.  January  I,  1S90,  he  re- 
moved to  his  present  site  with  increased  facilities 
to  accommodate  his  growing  trade. 

Mr.  Seaton  was  fortunate  in  his  choice  of  a  life 
comi*anion,  winning  Miss  Louisa  Culton,  daughter 
of  Robert  Culton  of  this  city.  The  marriage  rites 
were  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the  bride  in  1858, 
and  the  congenial  union  has  lieen  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  six  children.  They  are  named  respect- 
ively, William  P..  Anna,  Charles  A.,  Kate,  Fred- 
erick and  George  Washington.  Anna  is  the  wife 
of  Fred  Patec,  of  Peoria;  Kate  ma'-ried  W.  E. 
Gill,  of  Canton;  the  eldest  son  and  Charles  are 
traveling  salesmen,  and  Frederick  is  clerk  in  a  dry- 


PORTRAIT  AND  1510GRAPMICAL  ALBUM. 


231 


m 


goods  store.  Tlic  joungest  son  is  still  altenrliiig 
school.  Mrs.  Sc.ilon  ilicil  Lii  1879,  .nnil  our  suliji'ct 
was  ngaiii  married  September  6,  1^91),  to  Miss  .M. 
V.  Downing,  of  Canton. 

Mr.  Scatiin  was  liii'  lirst  cigar  insi)('ctor  of  Can- 
ton, and  acted  in  tliat  capacity  two  years,  lie  has 
served  as  Ahh'rnian  from  the  First  Ward  five 
terms,  .and  is  still  discharging  the  duties  of  that 
jjositinn,  working  faithfully  to  advance  the  inter- 
ests of  his  constituents  and  the  cit>'  at  large.  lie 
is  a  mcinher  of  Morning  Star  Lodge,  No.  734,  F. 
&  A.  M.  He  belongs  to  the  Re|)ublican  party,  and 
is  steadfast  in  the  support  of  the  princii)les  in  which 
he  tinnly  believes. 

Vf/  ACOB  PERRY  MAUS  is  one  of  the  success- 
ful farmers  in  Liverpool  Township,  to  whom 
fortune  has  been  exceedingly  generous  in 
her  gifts.  He  is  a  native-born  citizen  of 
Fulton  County,  Liverpool  Township,  the  place  of 
his  birth  and  December  26,  1850,  the  date  thereof. 
He  is  ,1  son  of  .lacob  Mans,  who  was  a  well-known 
pioneer  of  this  county  and  was  prominent  in  its 
early  development. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Carroll 
County,  Md.,  Octoljcr  12.  1814.  His  father.  who.«e 
name  was  the  same  as  his  ovvn.  was  a  native  of 
Adams  County.  Pa.,  and  a  son  of  George  Mans, 
who  was  born  in  Holland  an<l  came  to  America 
about  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  settling  in  Penn- 
sylvania. The  grandfather  of  our  subject  moved 
to  Marylanil  in  early  life  and  there  carried  on  busi- 
ness as  a  farmer  and  miller,  he  being  the  proprie- 
tor of  a  good  farm  on  which  stood  a  mill.  He  was 
killed  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  j-ears  by  the  fall- 
ing of  a  wall  of  his  mill. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm 
in  Maryland  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  miller.  He 
was  married  in  that  Stale  to  Mary  Forniwalt  who 
was  born  there  Septemlier  (J,  1818.  Immediately 
after  marriage  the  young  couple  came  to  Fult<Mi 
County  in  the  spring  of  1810,  making  the  journej' 
by  wagon  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  thence  by  boat  by  llie 
w.ay  of  the  Ohio,  Mississippi  anil   Illinois   Rivers, 


anil  landing  at  Liverpool.  Mr,  Maus  bought  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  laud  on  s^•ction  13,  Liv- 
erpool Townshii),  and  at  once  entered  upon  its  im- 
provement. He  fou:i<l  the  surrounding  country  in 
a  wild,  sp.'ir.-ely  settled  condition  and  deer,  wild 
turkeys  and  other  game  abounded  in  the  woods. 
Only  about  tvveiity  .acres  of  his  entire  land  were 
cleared  and  as  there  was  much  v.-duable  timber 
standing  there,  he  soon  erected  a  sawmill  on  Buck- 
heart  Creek  which  he  had  in  operation  for  about 
(ifteen  years,  also  having  a  gristmill  in  connection 
with  it.  "While  carrying  on  his  milling  business  he 
devoted  himself  at  the  same  time  to  farming  and 
at  dilliercnt  periods  bought  land  until  his  estate 
embraced  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  at  the 
lime  of  his  death.  He  placed  upon  it  many  valu- 
aiile  improvements,  including  a  fine  brick  residence 
which  he  built  in  18G1  and  a  large  barn, 

Mr,  Maus  deparled  this  life  August  29,  1888, 
and  it  is  doubtful  if  in  this  whole  coiiuty  the  death 
of  any  man  has  been  more  sincerely  mourned.  He 
was  beloved  in  the  family  circle,  by  his  neighbors, 
and  by  r.ll  who  met  him  in  a  business  way.  An  ar- 
dent Christian  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  he  was  instrumgntal  in  advancing  all  re- 
ligious Causes.  He  was  a  member  tif  the  Demf)cratic 
party  and  was  well  known  in  political  circles  and 
in  public  life.  For  a  period  of  ten  or  twelve  years 
he  represented  Liverpool  Tt)wnshi[),  as  a  member 
of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  and  he  was  also 
School  Treasurer.  His  good  wife  preceded  him  in 
death,  dying  May  19,  1878.  She  was  a  consistent 
Christian  woman  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  for  a  great  many  years.  The  following  is 
recorded  of  their  three  children:  .losephus  II.  born 
November  2.").  1  81  1,  died  .lanuaiy  23,  184.5;  John 
William,  born  February  12,  1848,  died  March  11, 
18()1;  .lacol)  Perry,  their  youngest  son,  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biographical  review. 

Our  suijject  passed  his  youth  on  the  home  farm, 
attending  the  primitive  pioneer  scdiools  duiing  the 
winter  season  and  hidpiiig  his  father  during  the 
summer  months.  Since  the  death  of  the  latter  he 
has  managed  the  farm  ahnie  with  excellent  success. 
He  has  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  choice  land 
under  his  care,  and  his  land  lying  princip.ally  on 
the   Illinois  River  bottom,  is  of  exceptional    feriil- 


232 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ity  and  is  quite  productive.  He  resides  in  the 
house  liiat  his  father  Ijuilt,  which  is  one  of  tlie 
largest  Iiricli  residences  in  the  county,  and  the  other 
farm  buildings  are  of  a  substantial  order  and  the 
large  red  frame  barn  is  one  of  the  most  commodious 
in  this  section. 

Mr.  Mans  was  married  September  21,  1876,  to 
Lottie  E.  Morton,  a  native  of  Fulton  County.  She 
was  born  May  12,  1859,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard W.  Morion.  Her  father  was  born  in  Estill 
County,  Ky.,  April  15,  1819.  "When  he  was  eleven 
years  old  he  came  to  Fulton  County  in  1830,  with 
his  uncle,  Elijah  Wilcoxen.  He  is  slill  living  on  a 
small  farm  on  section  2,  Liverpool  Township.  He 
has  been  three  times  married.  Hiebard  Morton, 
the  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Maus,  was  captain 
of  a  boat  on  tlie  Ohio  River.  He  married  JNlary 
Wilcosen,  who  wa.<  born  in  Ashe  County,  N.  C, 
and  was  a  grand-niece  of  Daniel  Boone,  the  noted 
Kentucky  pioneer.     Capt.  Morton  died  in  1820. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maus  has  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  these  four  children:  Marv  L.,  born 
April  29,  1881;  Clara  G.,  June  15.  1883;  Myrtle 
M.,  June  28,  1885;  and  Frank  M..  September  28, 
1887. 

Mr.  Maus  is  an  active,  intelligent  fai-raer.who  h.is 
a  good  understanding  of  his  calling.  He  is  kind 
and  generous  in  his  relations  with  others  and  is 
generally  [jopular  among  his  fellow  citizens.  He 
is  an  ardent  Democrat  in  politics.  He  has  served 
one  term  as  Road  Commissioner  of  his  township, 
and  ever  manifests  an  interest  in  its  welfare. 

^OHN  W.  GRAHAM.  The  principal  feature 
of  interest  in  the  history  of  a  Kation.  State 
or  count}-  is  necessarily  the  people,  who  by 
their  own  success  and  enterprise  have  added 
to  the  renown  of  the  place  in  which  they  live.  In 
view  of  this  fact  a  history  of  this  county  would  be 
decidedly  incomplete  without  a  description  of  the 
life,  surroundings  and  successes  of  John  W.  Gra- 
ham, a  prosperous  and  well-known  resident  of  Can- 
ton. His  birth  occurred  at  this  i)lace  June  16. 
1850,  he  being  the  son  of  John  G.  and  Lvdia 
(Wills)  Graham. 


The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Saratoga 
County.  N.  Y..  November  17,  1817.  and  was  the 
son  of  John  Graham,  a  native  of  the  Green  Moun- 
tain State.  He  became  a  teacher  in  one  of  the 
leading  colleges  in  his  native  State,  and  later  as  a 
civil  engineer  surveyed  the  roadbed  for  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quinc}-  Railroad.  For  his 
services  he  was  paid  in  State  script  which  he  ex- 
changed in  Ciiicago  for  the  merchandise  with  which 
he  first  stocked  his  store  in  tiiis  county.  He  was 
a  wide-awake,  enterprising  merchant  and  real-estate 
dealer,  was  also  engaged  in  speculating  and  to  a 
considerable  extent  interested  in  agriculture.  He 
was  a  man  of  unusual  prominence  and  served  as 
Legislator  through  several  terms  and  was  Chair- 
man of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  tlie  .State. 
He  died  at  his  home  in  this  count}'  in  JanuaiT, 
1869. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Cumber- 
land County,  Pa.,  February  10,  1815.  and  died  in 
Canton,  March  30,  1886.  Siic  was  a  daughter  of 
McKinnej-  Wills  and  was  highly  connected,  being 
close!}'  related  to  some  of  the  most  prominent  men 
the  country  has  ever  known.  Mnj.  Charles  W. 
Wills,  a  gallant  soldier  who  achieved  fame  in  the 
Illinois  troops,  is  a  nephew  of  hers,  and  her  brother 
James  Wills,  an  early  pioneer  of  this  county,  is 
well  remembered  by  the  old  citizens.  She  w.as  also 
connected  with  several  residents  of  Chicago,  amonof 
whom  are  James  and  Washington  AA^ills.  who  fioure 
[irominently  in  mercantile  circles  and  are  members 
of  the  Board  of  Trade  in  that  city.  She  was  a  mem- 
ber of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  aristocratic  fam- 
ilies in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  her  ancestors 
having  resided  there  for  over  one  hundred  years. 
The  Wills  family  came  originally  from  Scotland; 
on  the  maternal  side  she  was  of  Irish  descent. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  these 
paragraphs  received  his  educational  training  in  his 
native  place,  where  he  has  continued  to  make  his 
home.  In  the  early  years  he  received  most  excel- 
lent atttnlion  frr-m  his  mother,  who  was  universall}' 
recognized  as  a  woman  of  singularly  noble  charac- 
ter. His  education  has  been  very  thorough  and 
indeed  the  family,  one  and  all,  have  devoted  an 
unusual  anuiunt  of  attention  to  belles-lettres  and 
educational  matters  and  are  cultured  and  refined. 


#j: 


.,=^^' 


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<^^^^-    ^5P 


^-m 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


235 


Mr.   'Grah.im    inherited  ti  large  fortune  from   his 

father  and  has  addeil  to  it  until  at  the  present  writ- 
ing he  is  a  very  wealth}'  man.  His  father  had  en- 
tered ten  thousand  acres  of  land  in  Illinois  and 
about  fifteen  thons'ind  in  Iciwa  and  six  or  eigiit 
thousand  acres  are  now  in  possession  of  the  son.  He 
has  retired  from  active  business,  simpi}'  attending  to 
the  letting  out  of  his  money  and  the  supervision 
of  his  estates  an<l  those  of  his  sisters.  He  and  his 
sisters  rank  very  liigh  in  the  esteem  of  their  numer- 
ous acciuainlauces  and  friends. 


-^ 


^^OL.  THOMAS  HAMER.  On  the  opposite 
iff  _  page  is  presented  a  lithographic  portrait  of 
^^T  this  gentleman,  who  is  one  of  the  represen- 
tative citizens  and  prominent  residents  of  Fulton 
Count}-.  He  has  distinguished  himself  in  various 
walks  of  life,  both  as  a  brave  .otticer  in  the  late 
war,  a  promiiiciit  civilian,  an  able  statesman,  ami  a 
successful  man  of  business.  He  is  an  old  settler  of 
this  section,  and  has  long  been  influential  in  its 
])olitical  and  scicial  life,  and  has  been  a  potent 
factor  in  advancing  its  commerce  and  agriculture, 
and  its  material  interests  generally.  For  many 
years  a  resident  of  \'ermont,  the  Colonel  is  living 
in  one  of  the  most  attractive  homes  of  this  beauti- 
ful village.  He  has  retired  from  business,  but  is 
active  in  public  life  as  State  Senator,  reiiresenting 
Fulton  and  Knox  Counties  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  Illinois. 

Our  subject  is  derived  from  line  Revolutionary 
stock,  both  his  paternal  and  maternal  grandparents 
having  done  good  service  in  the  struggle  of  Amer- 
ican Colonists  for  freedom  from  the  motlier  couri- 
try.  He  was  born  in  White  Deer  Township,  Union 
County,  Pa.,  June  1,  1818.  His  parents  were  James 
and  Elizabeth  (Seibert)  Ilamer,  who  were  natives 
of  Northumberland  and  Lancaster  Counties,  Pa., 
respectively,  his  father  having  been  born  in  March, 
1784,  and  his  iiiolher  in  Fcl)ruary,  178().  The 
paternal  grandparents.  Thomas  and  Ellen  (Lyon) 
Hamer.  came  from  Scotland  lo  this  country  ])rior 
to  tlic  Revolution  and  settled  in   Northumberland 


County,  Pa.,  taking  up  their  .abode  in  Chillisquaque 
Township  oil  a  large  tract  of  land. 

Thomas  Hamer  became  a  prominent  man  in 
those  parts.  He  was  the  first  Sheriff  of  Xorthum- 
berland  County,  and  served  in  the  Revolution  as 
Caiitain  under  Gen.  Greene,  and  filled  various 
ofliccs.  He  was  the  father  of  the  following  chil- 
dren— James,  Thomas,  William,  Joseph,  Jesse, 
Abraham,  John,  Elizabeth,  Nancy  and  Wyllie,  all 
of  whom  married  and  reared  families,  having  set- 
tled in  various  States.  VVilliam  moved  to  lirowii 
County,  Ohio.  He  had  a  son,  Thomas  L.  Hamer. 
who  became  a  prominent  attorney,  and  commanded 
an  Ohio  Brigade  as  Brigadier-General  in  the  Mexi- 
can AVar.  He  represented  his  district  in  Congress, 
and  appointed  Gen.  (irant  to  West  Point.  His 
brilliant  career  was  cut  short  at  the  close  of  the 
Mexican  W.ar  by  his  untimely  death  at  the  age  of 
forty-five,  at  Ft.  Ihown,  Tex. 

The  maternal  grand|)arents  of  our  sul)jcct  were 
Joseph  and  l^lizabeth  ((Jilbert)  Seibert,  who  came 
to  this  country  from  Prussia  in  Colonial  times,  and 
located  in  Union  County,  Pa.  He  w.as  a  farmer  by 
occupation.  In  the  struggle  of  the  Colonists  for 
indei)eiidcnce  he  gave  his  services  to  his  adopted 
country  and  was  a  good  soldier  iluriiigthe  Revolu- 
tion. Mis  children  were:  John,  Josci)h,  Elizabeth, 
Sarah  and  Christina. 

The  fatl'.er  of  our  sulijcct  served  in  the  War  of 
1812  in  the  company  of  his  brother.  Capt.  Thomas 
Ilamer,  and  was  afterward  Ca[)tain  of  a  militia 
regiment,  lie  was  married  in  I'nion  County,  Pa., 
and  in  the  fall  of  184G  with  his  family  emigrated 
to  Illinois,  traveling  from  Pittsl)urg  by  boat  to  St. 
Louis,  whence  they  made  their  w.a}'  with  a  wagon 
to  Vermont.  The  father  located  in  this  township 
on  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  19.  and  resided 
there  until  within  Ihice  years  of  his  di-alli.  in  the 
summer  of  1871.  IJis  wife  |)recoded  him  to  the 
otlier  shore,  dying  in  the  winter  of  1870  in  Ver- 
nnjut  N'illage.  They  were  devoted  Christians,  and 
while  they  lived  in  Pi'nn.sylvania  vvere  members  of 
the  P.aptist  Church,  but  after  coming  to  Illinois 
they  united  with  the  Christi;iii  Church,  and  re- 
mained true  to  that  faith.  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Ilamer 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  nine  children: 
James    who  came   to   Ogle  County,   111.,   in    1844; 


236 


PORTRAIT  AND  BTOOR APIIICAL  ALBUM. 


Margaret:  Ellen,  who  died  in  Pennsylvniiiu ; 
Thomas,  Joseph,  John;  Elizabulh.  ihe  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Doebler;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Swartz, 
and  Samuel,  who  died  in  1851.  Margaret  is  the 
wife  of  the  Rev.  Adnah  A.  Hecox.  a  prominent 
Methodist  minister  of  California.  She  keeps  the 
light-house  at  Santa  Cruz,  Cal..  having  been  ap- 
pointed to  that  position  by  Abraham  Lincoln. 

Col.  Thomas  Ilanier  i)asscd  the  early  years  of 
his  life  on  his  father's  farm,  and  was  given  the  ad- 
vantap'es  of  a  substantial  education  in  the  English 
branches  at  Wilton  Academy.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen he  entered  upon  a  practical  training  for  a 
mercantile  career  by  becoming  clerk  in  a  store,  and 
he  was  thus  engaged  in  his  native  State  until  he 
came  to  Illinois,  when  he  acted  in  a  like  capacity 
for  Joab  Mershon.  of  Vermont,  remaining  with 
him  two  years.  He  established  himself  in  business 
in  1S.50.  and  carried  it  on  successfully  until  1861, 
when  he  sold  it  to  his  cousins.  Edward  and  Patter- 
son Hamer.  He  subs«  quently  devoted  liimself  to 
his  country  and  [latriotically  gave  his  services  for 
the  defense  of  the  dear  old  flag. 

With  characteristic  energy,  and  a  military  fervor 
inherited  from  his  ancestors,  our  subject  set  about 
the  ^ork  of  aiding  to  raise  a  regiment  for  the  ser- 
vice, and  was  prominent  in  enlisting  and  equipping 
the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois  Infantry,  commanded  by 
Col.  Lewis  II.  Walters,  and  was  himself  appointed 
Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  regiment  by  Gov.  Yates. 
He  proved  to  be  a  most  courageous  and  efficient 
officer;  his  military  career  was  brought  to  a  close, 
however,  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  as  he  was 
there  so  wounded  and  disabled  thai  he  was  ren- 
dered unfit  for  further  service.  He  had  three  horses 
shot  under  him  while  leading  his  men  to  charge 
the  enemy,  and  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  he  was 
wounded  in  his  left  breast,  had  his  left  shoulder 
broken  and  his  right  knee  injured.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  serious  injuries  he  sustained  that  day,  the 
gallant  and  determined  Colonel  appeared  on  the 
field  the  next  day  and  assumed  the  command  of 
his  men.  They  were  so  delighted  at  the  heroism 
and  fortitude  displayed  by  their  valiant  leader 
that  they  gave  him  a  gold  watch  as  a  testimonial 
of  their  a<liniration  of  his  conduct.  He  was 
obliged  to  resign  his  commission  after   that  on  ac- 


count of  his  physical  condition,  and  after  the  bat- 
tle of  Chickamaiiga  he  was  honorably  discharged 
from  the  army. 

In  connection  with  the  military  life  of  our  sub- 
ject we  will  add  the  following  incident,  gleaned 
from  an  article  in  the  Chicago  Inter  Ocean,  of  his 
(^arl}'  career,  relating  "How  ami  Why  Fulton 
County's  Industrious  Legislator  Failed  to  Become 
a  West  Pointer."  Young  Hamer  entered  the  office 
of  his  cousin.  Congressman  Thomr^s  L.  Hamer, 
in  Ohio,  after  he  left  his  home  in  the  Keystone 
State,  and  while  there  a  vacancj'  occurred  at  West 
Point,  which  it  was  his  cousin's  i)rivilege  to  (ill, 
and  he  suggested  to  his  young  relative  that  he  be- 
come a  cadet  at  the  famous  military  school.  Our 
subject  gladly  availed  himself  of  the  opportunity 
thus  offered  to  gain  a  military  education,  and  laid 
aside  his  law  books  and  went  to  Washington.  His 
commission  was  made  out  and  he  was  waiting  to 
go  where  he  was  to  receive  several  months  pre- 
liminary training,  when  his  cousin  came  to  him  one 
day  and  said:  "Tom,  this  arrang='ment  I  made 
for  \o\\  to  go  to  West  Point  is  all  spoiled.  Here's 
a  letter  I  just  got  from  Jesse  Grant  asking  me  to 
j  appoint  his  son.  Now  Grant  is  an  influential  man 
]  in  ra\'  district  out  in  Ohio.  The  district  is  very 
j  close.  I  want  his  influence,  but  I  don't  want  any 
charge  of  nepotism  brought  against  me.  I  want  to 
have  Grant's  influence,  so.  Tom.  I'll  have  to  with- 
draw your  name  and  get  Grant's  son  appointed  in 
your  place."  Our  subject  could  do  nothing  better 
than  to  gracefully  yield  the  point  and  withdriiw. 
which  he  did.  Gen.  Grant  never  forgot  the  Hamers, 
and  during  his  Presidenc}'  wIumi  his  influence  was 
asked  to  have  the  Colonel's  son  Le  Ray  appointed 
to  West  Point,  he  promptly  an<l  cheerfully  pre- 
ferred the  request  for  the  appointment,  which  was 
concurred  in  by  .Secretar}'  Lincoln.  Much  to  our 
subject's  disappointment  his  S((n  finally  decided 
not  to  accept  the  appointment,  but  the  General's 
kindly  offices  in  the  matter  have  never  been  for- 
gotten. 

After  his  return  from  the  South  our  subject  was 
unable  to  get  out  for  six  months,  liut  as  soon  as  he 
recovered  sufficiently  he  resumed  business,  built  a 
line  store  and  carried  on  a  large  and  profitable 
Ir.ade  until  1878,  when  he  leased  bis  building,  sold 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


237 


bis  business,  and  retired.  He  also  managed  a  farm 
of  eight}'  acres  besides  attending  to  liis  otiierafifairs. 
Cdl.  llamer  lias  been  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the 
pujjlic  and  political  life  of  town  and  county  from 
early  days.  He  lias  represented  Vermont  as  a  nicin- 
ber  of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  four  terms, 
and  lias  held  vnrious  local  offices.  lie  has  i)eeii  a 
delegate  to  nearly  every  State  Convention  since  he 
came  to  Illinois,  first  as  a  Whig,  and  after  the  for- 
mation of  the  Republican  part\-  as  its  representative. 
In  lb48  the  Whigs  nominated  him  for  the  Lower 
House  of  the  Legislature,  and  although  he  had  a 
Democratic  majorit}'  of  nine  hundred  to  overcome, 
he  came  within  three  votes  of  being  elected.  In 
1852  ho  was  again  nominated,  and  this  time  was 
elected,  but  was  counted  out.  He  was  prominei  tly 
mentioned  as  a  candidate  for  Congress,  and  was 
urged  b}-  his  friends  to  accept  the  nomination,  but 
declined  anil  used  his  influence  for  Gen.  Post.  In 
the  fall  of  188fi  the  Colonel  was  elected  to  the 
Lower  House  of  the  State  Legislature,  and  so  ac- 
ceptably did  he  serve  in  that  capacity,  that  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate  in  1888  to  represent 
Pulton  and  Knox  Counties  in  that  honoralile  body, 
of  which"  he  is  still  a  member.  His  long  experience 
as  a  business  man  and  as  a  politician  has  been  of 
value  to  him  in  his  legislative  career,  and  his  course 
as  a  statesman  has  justified  bis  selection  as  Repre- 
sentative and  as  State  Senator  by  bis  constituents. 

As  a  member  of  various  important  committees 
while  in  the  Lower  House,  he  was  instrumental  in 
bringing  about  much  needed  legislation  to  protect 
and  ailvance  the  interests  of  the  State  and  people. 
He  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Enrolling 
and  Engrossing  bills,  served  as  a  member  of  the 
House  and  Finance  Committee,  and  was  a  meml)er 
of  the  Committee  for  Appropriations,  State  Insti- 
tutions, Canal  and  River  Improvements,  Sanitary 
Affairs  and  State  and  Municipal  Indebtedness.  In 
the  Sen.ate  the  Colonel  has  been  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance  and  Claims,  has  been  one  of 
the  Committee  on  State  Charitable  Institutions, 
Canals  .and  Rivers,  Federal  Relations,  Roads,  High- 
w.ays  and  Bridges,  and  Exacntive  Department. 

Col.  Hamer  has  been  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  for  forty  eight 
years,  and   originated  the  Vermont  lodge,  and  he 


has  been  connected  with  the  Ancient,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons  for  thirty  years.  Religiously,  he 
is  a  member  of  tlie  Methodist  Episcopal  Churcli, 
while  his  wife  lielongs  to  the  Universalist  Church, 
lie  is  po|)ular  with  all  with  wlioiii  he  associats.  lie 
is  gifted  with  a  frank,  generous  nature,  is  a  lover 
of  fun,  and  is  a  witty  and  entertaining  conversa- 
tionalist, lie  has  gathered  a  never  ending  fund  of 
anecdotes,  and  it  never  more  interesting  than  when 
he  is  relating  some  story  of  his  experiences  of  the 
war,  of  life  in  camp  and  on  the  battlefield. 

Our  suliject  has  Ijcen  twice  married.  March  25, 
1850,  his  union  with  Miss  Harriet  E.  Johnson  was 
solemnized.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Franklin  and 
Hopy  (King)  .lolinson,  who  came  to  this  State 
from  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  and  were  early  set- 
tlers of  Vermont,  where  jNIr.  Johnson  w.as  a  pioneer 
druggist.  Seven  children  were  horn  to  our  subject 
by  that  marriage,  of  whom  four  boys  died  when 
from  two  to  four  years  of  age,  and  one  daughter  at 
the  age  of  six  years.  The  children  living  are: 
Wyllie,  wife  of  Ansel  Ainrine;  and  Le  Ray.  The 
latter  is  States  Attorney  at  Oklahoma.  He  is  well 
educated,  a  graduate  of  Abingdon  College  and 
Bloominglon  Law  School.  He  stands  high  in  busi- 
ness and  political  circles,  and  is  an  orator  of  ability. 
Mrs.  Hamer  departed  this  life  April  1.3,  1871,  at 
the  age  of  forty  years,  leaving  behind  her  a  good 
record  as  wife,  motlicr  and  friend.  She  was  a  sin- 
cere Christian.  In  early  life,  with  her  husband  she 
was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  but 
the  exigencies  of  the  war  broke  up  that  church,  so 
many  of  its  members  were  removed,  and  she  after- 
ward connected  herself  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  The  marriage  of  our  suliject  to  his 
present  wife,  formerly  Miss  Maryette  Johnson,  a 
sister  of  his  first  wife,  was  coi  summated  August 
10,  1876,  and  has  been  productive  of  mutual  happi- 
ness. 

-    orx>    . 


ESSE  W.  STRONG   is  the  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Canton  liepublican,  one  of  tljo 
numerous  papers  of  this  county  which    lays 
just  claim  to  a  liberal   share  of  public  pat- 
ronage and  enjoys  it.     The  sheet  is  a  six  column, 


m 


238 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


eioriii-paj^e  paper,  neatly  printed  upon  a  ()Ower  press 
find  issued  on  Tliiirsday  of  eacli  week.  It  is  de- 
voted to  tlie  a<l  viuiceraent  of  Independent  i)rinci- 
ples  and  the  political  issues  of  the  daj'  are  well 
handled  by  its  editor.  Its  local  columns  are  well 
arranged,  its  items  of  news  are  well  selected,  and 
in  ever}'  respect  it  is  a  creditable  sheet.  The  plant 
is  owned  by  Mr.  Strong,  who  purchased  it  about 
September  1.5,  1890.  The  journal  was  established 
in  June,  1877,  under  the  name  of  the  Advertiser 
and  c(jnducte(l  independently  of  political  partisan- 
ship. The  name  was  afterward  changed  to  the 
Ti'/ncs  and  again  to  the  Fulton  liejniblk-an,  the  last 
change  being  made  in  1880  when  the  present  name 
was  adopted.  It  is  now  the  leading  Independent 
paper  of  the  county. 

The  gentleman  with  whose  name  this  sketch  is 
introduced  is  a  native  of  the  city  in  which  he  is 
in'u-  carrying  on  his  journalistic  labors,  having  been 
l)orn  April  9,  1859.  He  is  the  30ungest  son  of  Dr. 
O.  G.  and  Bethina  (Pavey)  Strong,  of  whom  a 
more  extended  notice  will  be  found  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  After  receiving  a  fundamental  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  he  spent  some  time  in 
study  at  Columbus.  Ohio,  and  upon  his  return  to 
ills  home  took  up  the  newspaper  business.  (Toing 
to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  he  was  em[)loyed  on  the  I'ost- 
Dispatch  and  Journal  and  then  having  returned  to 
Canton  for  a  time  was  a  member  of  the  force  on 
the  Register. 

In  July,  1880,  Mr.  Strong  went  to  Buffalo,  N. 
Y.,  where  he  liebl  a  position  on  the  Courier  until 
December,  1881,  when  he  returned  to  Canton  with 
his  health  much  impaired.  For  a  few  months  ids 
chief  endoavoi'  was  to  restore  bis  ph3'sical  forces  to 
their  ronnal  condition,  and  after  regaining  his 
strength  he  began  work  on  the  Canton  Register  in 
July,  1882.  He  held  a  position  in  that  office  prac- 
tically until  July,  1889,  wiien  he  resigned  to  take 
charge  of  the  journal  he  is  now  ably  conducting. 

Hy  reason  of  his  general  intelligence,  his  good 
breeding  and  upright  character.  'Sir.  Strong  is  re- 
spected by  those  who  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  his 
acquaintance.  He  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the 
rising  members  of  the  journalistic  profession  and 
one  whose  power  is  likely  to  be  felt  still  more 
strongly  in  years  to  come.     He  is  a  member  of  the 


social  order  of  Red  Men.  Februarys,  1886,  our 
subject  led  to  the  hymeneal  altar.  Miss  Carrie  .Strong 
of  Union  City,  Ohio.  This  cultured  young  lady 
is  the  second  daughter  of  Augustus  and  Lucina 
Strong.  Of  the  above  union  two  children  have 
been  born;  Olive  and  Belhina. 


/p^ILBERT  HATHAWAY.  No  name  is  more 
III  (— ,  honored  or  more  worthy  of  reverence  among 
^^^(5j  those  of  the  noble  pioneers  of  Peoria 
County,  by  whose  labors  it  was  established  on  a 
firm  foundation  of  emhuing  prosperity,  than  that 
of  this  gentleman,  who  has  played  an  important 
part  in  the  agricultural,  political  and  religious  de- 
velopment of  Jubilee  Townshi|),  and  so  of  the 
county.  In  his  work  he  was  much  pr(^)spere(l,  ac- 
cumulating a  goodly  amount  of  property,  and  is 
now  living  retired  in  Farmington,  Fulton  Count}-, 
where  he  is  quietly  and  pleasantly  passing  the  de- 
clining years  of  a  life  well  spent  in  all  that  goes 
to  make  a  true  man  and  a  good  citizen. 

Our  subject  was  born  July  27,  1818,  about  sixty 
miles  from  the  Canada  line  in  the  wilds  ^A  Somer- 
set (now  Franklin)  County,  Me.,  the  place  of  his 
birth  KingsQeld  Tov/nship,  which  was  named  in 
honor  of  .Maine's  first  Goveriior,  King,  who  bought 
a  very  large  tract  of  land  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  State,  which  w.as  divided  u})  into  three  towns — 
Concord,  Lexington  and  Kingstield.  The  Ilatha- 
ways  came  from  England,  and  Deacon  Hathaway 
is  a  direct  descemlant  of  one  Col.  Kbenezer  Hatha- 
way, who  was  sent  to  this  country  by  the  English 
Government  in  charge  of  one  of  the  English  trooiis 
in  one  of  the  Colonial  wars.  He  settled  at  Assonet, 
Mass.,  and  there  reared  a  family.  He  did  good 
service  as  an  officer  in  the  French  and  Indian  War. 
His  son  Gilbert  was  born  at  Assonet,  and  as  a 
middle-aged  man  removed  to  Oxford  Connly,  Me., 
anil  was  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Livermore. 
He  was  accompanied  hither  by  his  wife  and  thirteen 
children,  of  whom  our  subject's  father  is  the  eighth 
in  order  of  birth. 

Luther  Hathaway,  the  father  of  our  suliject, 
married,  in  Oxford  County,  Miss  Clarissa  W.  Hinds, 


PORTRAIT  AND  lilOGRAPIIICAI.  AI.IJUM. 


239 


a  native  of  Massacliiisctts,  who  was  taken  to  Maine 
by  lior  paieiils.  wIid  were  of  Soutoli  (lesceiit.  Tlio 
falliui-  of  our  subject  followed  fariniiiij  in  Maine  for 
scveial  3'cars,  Init  linally  removed  to  I'coria  Count}- 
with  his  family  and  was  a  pioneer  settler  of  iJi'im- 
tield  Township.  In  after  years  he  and  his  wife 
lived  retifed  in  Brinilield  \'illage,  where  she  died  in 
1  iS7o^  nt  the  age  of  eighty  years.  She  had  always 
been  a  consistent  Christian,  as  had  her  husband. 
After  her  death  he  lived  at  times  with  our  subject 
and  al  limes  with  the  twin  sister  of  ouv  subject, 
.Mrs.  Preston,  of  Fulton  County,  in  whose  home  he 
died  August  14,  187G,  rounding  out  a  long  life  of 
eighty-six  years,  seven   months  and  fourteen  days. 

Deacon  Hathaway  was  reared  in  the  woods  of 
Maine,  amid  pleasant  scenes,  and  one  of  bis  first 
recollections  is  of  the  beautiful  golden  sunsets  over 
Mt.  Ahram.  lie  was  one  of  a  familj-  of  eight  chil- 
dren, named  as  follows:  IJoadicea,  Edwin  I!.,  Gil- 
bert and  Tryphena  (twins)  Christopher  Coluiid)us, 
Hannah,  Salome  K..  and  (4eorge  W.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  State 
and  was  brougiit  up  to  habits  of  industry  on  a  farm 
by  bis  worthy  parents.  In  his  youth  be  was  greatlv 
interested  in  reading  an  account  of  the  Black  Hawk 
^^■ar.  and  from  its  description  obtained  a  good  idea 
of  the  State  of  Illinois  and  was  fired  with  the  am- 
bitious desire  to  try  life  on  its  wild  prairies.  His 
mother  dul  not  wish  him  to  leave  home,  thinking 
iiim  loo  3'oung,  and  then,  too,  his  eldest  brother, 
Kdwin,  had  gone  from  them,  sailing  away  on  the 
ocean,  and  had  settleil  in  South  Carolina  some  years 
before,  and  bis  family  had  lost  all  trace  of  him. 
Gilbert's  parents  seeing  that  he  was  still  very  de- 
sirous togo  westward,decided  that  his  father  should 
visit  Illinois  to  see  tlu^  country  and  liud  out  whether 
the  Indians  had  left  tiie  State  and  whether  it  w:is 
iKdiitable.  Conse(|uenl  1\  he  st.arte(l  for  the  Far 
West  in  1837,  and  after  his  ai-rival  in  Illinois  wrote 
to  his  famil}'  stating  that  everjthing  was  all    right. 

INIr.  Hathaway  says,  with  reference  to  bis  father's 
coming  here,  "AVe  were  poor  as  poverty-,  and  father 
had  to  go  to  Massachusetts  to  borrow  money  to 
come  out  with."  Our  suliject  started  for  his  des- 
tination May  10,  1S;3.S.  with  but  $11  in  his  pocket. 
He  traveled  with  two  families,  who  were  going  to 
Jackson  County,  Mich.,  and   he  drove  one  team  to 


help   pay  his  way.     When   he   arrived  in  Jackson 

County,  Mich.,  his  uuiney  was  all  gone  and  he  was 
in  debt  besidi's.  With  characteristic  honesty  he 
stayed  there  until  he  had  earned  money  to  repay 
his  indebtedness,  working  on  a  farm  for  three 
months,  it  taking  two  months  to  obtain  the  re- 
fpiired  sum.  He  then  started  on  his  way  and  went 
as  far  as  his  money  woukl  cai-ry  him,  whii'li  was 
iu)t  a  great  distance,  as  in  his  igiu)raiu'e  he  had  ac- 
cepted in  payment  for  his  work  paper  money  which 
was  called  in  Icical  pfirlance,"  '•shinplastcrs,"  which 
was  not  lawful  currency  oidy  in  the  immeiliate 
neighborhood  of  where  it  was  manufactured.  So 
when  he  had  traveled  some  distance  he  found  his 
money  was  useless,  and  when  he  arrived  at  St.  Jo- 
se|)h  he  was  obliged  to  go  to  work  again.  For  ten 
days  he  was  employed  in  a  stable  as  hostler.  A 
boat  was  just  then  being  re|)aired  at  St.  Joseph, 
which  i)lied  between  that  place  and  Chicago,  and 
J\Ir.  Hathaway  engaged  as  fireman  on  board  to  save 
the  expense  of  his  passage,  and  received  besides 
sixty-two  and  one-half  cents  \>ov  day  for  his  work. 
Arriving  at  Chicago  he  found  a  dii'ty  village  built 
among  the  sloughs  and  s^^amps,  with  no  indication 
of  its  present  size  and  importance  as  the  second 
city  in  populalion  in  this  country.  He  paid  for 
having  his  trunk  or  chest  taken  to  Peoria  from 
there,  and  he  started  on  foot  for  this  county.  He 
subsequently  took  passage  on  a  river  boat  to  Peo- 
ria, and  when  he  landed  there  had  just  eiglitcen  and 
three-fourth  cents  in  his  pocket.  From  there  he 
walked  out  to  a  friend  who  lived  in  Trivoli  Town- 
ship, Peoria  County. 

Mr.  Hathaway  and  his  father  worked  hard, earning 
money  enough  to  send  home  for  the  mother  and  I  he 
rest  of  the  children  the  next  year.  Our  subject 
l)ep;an  work  at  810  a  month  to  buy  a  farm  for  his 
father  and  mulher.  He  performed  much  pioneer 
labor,  and  by  unceasing  industry  finally  established 
a  home  of  his  own  and  became  well-to-do.  For 
many  years  he  owned  a  valuable  and  highly  im- 
proved farm  f)f  one  hnndred  and  forty  acres  in 
Jubilee  Township.  He  was  an  able  and  practical 
business  man  and  dealt  a  good  deal  in  real  estate, 
and  in  that  way  became  quite  wealthy.  In  the 
month  of  September,  1883,  he  gave  up  active  busi- 
ness as  a  farmer  and  removed  to  his  present  com- 


•2l(> 


PORTRAIT  AND  BTO(tRAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


luiiiililiMDiiimodioiis  home  in  Fartnington.  of  whifh 
lio  is  still  a  highly  respected  citizen. 

Ill  18.50  Deacon  Hathaway  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Maria  AVillard,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Barbara 
(Stearns)  Sabin.  natives  of  Vermont.  At  the  time 
of  her  marriage  with  our  subject  she  was  the 
widow  of  A'pheus  Willard,  to  whom  she  had  been 
married  in  Vermont  in  1825.  They  were  pioneer 
settlers  of  Brimlield,  Peoria  County,  coming  here 
in  1838.  By  that  marriage  she  became  the  mother 
of  the  following  children:  Isaac,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; William  A.,  Frances  M.,  Cynthia  A.,  Henry 
C.  Lot  S.,  and  Abbie  R.  William  died  in  1865, 
leaving  a  wife  and  two  children — Frank  A.  and 
Mary  B. ;  Frances  is  the  wife  of  George  P.  Burt,  a 
retired  carpenter  of  Galva,  and  they  have  four 
children — Frank  H.,  Theresa  AV.,  Flora  M.,  Sophia 
S.;  Cynthia  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years;  Henry, 
a  prominent  citizen  and  meicliant  of  Pittsburg, 
Kan.,  married  Miss  Ellen  Moore,  and  thej'  have  two 
children — Lavon  and  Alice;  Lot.  a  real-estate  dealer 
at  Seattle,  Wash.,  married  Ellen  Davidson,  and  they 
have  two  children — Maj'  G.  and  Lee  A.  Lot  S. 
Willard  was  a  Major  on  McPherson's  staff  during 
the  Civil  War.  Abbie  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Mar- 
shall, a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Jubilee  Township,  and 
they  have  eight  children — Birdie  A.,  Cora,  Ernest 
W.,  William  A.  Harry  E..  Janie  M.,  Nellie  M.  and 
Stella  R. 

Deacon  Hathaway's  life  career  has  been  directed 
by  energy,  perseverance,  stabilit}-  of  character  and 
good  business  habits,  combined  \rith  honorable  and 
conscientious  dealings,  and  his  course  furnishes  an 
excellent  example  to  the  young  men  who  are  just 
starting  out  in  the  world  to  seek  fortune's  favors. 
He  enjoys  a  higii  personal  standing  throughout  the 
count}',  where  the  most  busy  3-ears  of  his  life  w-ere 
passed,  and  is  held  in  consideration  wherever 
known.  While  a  resident  of  Jubilee  To^wnship  he 
w.as  revy  prominent  in  its  public  affairs  and  was 
for  a  long  time  one  of  its  most  valued  officials.  He 
represented  the  township  as  a  memljer  of  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors  two  3- cars.  He  was 
Assessor  five  years,  Collector  four  years,  and  School 
Treasurer  for  twentj'-seven  consecutive  years.  No 
man  has  done  more  to  forward  the  religious  inter- 
ests of  his  community  than  the  Deacon.     He  helped 


ItuiM  e\eiy  cliuich  in  Brimfield,  except  the  Catho- 
lic, and  officiated  .is  Deacon  in  tlie  Bapt'sl  Church 
of  that  place  several  years.  He  has  also  acted  in 
that  capacity  in  the  church  of  thiit  denomination 
in  Farmington.  He  has  a  creditable  record  as  a 
Republican,  he  being  a  firm  ally  of  that  party.  Be- 
fore its  organization  he  was  a  Whig,  and  he  has 
voted  for  the  following  for  President:  Gen.  AV.  H. 
Harrison  in  1840,  well  remembering  the  log-cabin 
craze;  Fremont,  in  1856;  Lincoln,  in  1860  and 
1864;  Grant,  in  1868  and  1872;  Hayes,  in  1876: 
Garfield,  in  1880;  Blaine,  in  1884;  Harrison,  in 
1888.  Though  Mr.  Hathawa}-  is  stronglj-  in  favor 
of  temperance  he  is  not  a  third  part\'  man. 

a^^HEODORE  O.  WHITENACK.  There  is 
(Im^^  something  about  the  life  of  a  i)rosperous 
^^^  and  popular  j^oung  man  very  pleasant  to 
contemplate;  something  that  gives  encouragement 
to  those  seeking  to  make  for  themselves  desirable 
positions  in  life.  Such  an  example  is  given  in  the 
person  of  Theodore  Whitenack,  who  is  generally 
conceded  to  deserve  unlimited  praise  for  the  suc- 
cess he  has  attained  and  for  the  strict  integrity  of 
his  business  transactions.  He  is  a  native-born  citi- 
zen of  this  county,  and  is  now  numbered  among 
the  intelligent  farmers  of  Liverpool  Township.  In 
the  fall  of  1882  he  bought  his  present  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  three  acres  on  section  9.  Under  our 
subject's  careful  management  the  farm  has  been 
placed  under  excellent  cultivation  and  is  now  a 
neat  and  well-ordered  piece  of  property,  comparing 
favorably  with  any  other  farm  in  the  neighborhood 
in  point  of  tillage  and  improvement.  Here  Mr. 
AA'hitenack  is  engaged  in  cultivating  his  land  and 
in  raising  stock  to  a  considerable  extent  with  a  very 
good  profit. 

Peter  AVhitcnack,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  the  State  of  New  York  in  1820.  His  fa- 
ther, who  bore  the  same  name  as  himself  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania.  The  Whitenack  famil}'  are 
of  German  antecedents  and  its  representatives  in 
America  are  descended  from  two  brothers  who 
came  to  America  from  Holland  in   Colonial    times 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


241 


in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  eeutiuj'.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  farmer  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  finally  removed  from  that  State  to 
J\ew  York,  where  he  passed  his  last  days  on  a  farm. 

Tlie  father  of  our  suliject  was  born  and  reared 
on  a  farm  in  Western  New  York,  and  in  early  life 
he  became  [)roprielor  of  a  farm  of  eight}'  acres  in 
that  part  of  the  country  u[)on  wliich  he  lived  until 
1850.  In  that  year  he  settled  up  his  affairs  in  that 
State  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Canton,  this 
count}',  making  tlie  journey  from  his  old  home  by 
rail  and  boat.  lie  and  his  family  resided  in  Canton 
two  years  and  tlien  settled  on  a  farm  in  Canton 
Township.  Later  Mr.  Whitenack  moved  to  Union 
Township,  and  farmed  there  about  six  years.  At 
the  expiration  of  that  time  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence at  EUisville.  In  ISC')  he  removed  to  Bryant 
in  Buckheart  'I'ownship.  and  for  twenty  years  was 
engaged  in  business  as  a  blacksmith  at  that  point. 
Since  tliat  time  he  has  made  his  home  witli  our  sub- 
ject. The  wife  who  lias  journ(!yed  witli  him  so  far 
on  life's  road,  lives  with  him  and  devotes  herself  to 
his  comfort.  Her  maiden  name  was  Sarah  S.  El- 
wood,  and  she  w.is  born  in  the  State  of  New  York 
in  1825.  Both  the  parents  of  our  subject  are  de- 
voted Christians  and  members  of  tlie  Methodist 
Church.  Mr.  Whitenack  is  a  firm  Republican  in 
his  political  sentiments.  He  held  tlie  office  of  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  in  this  townsliip  four  years. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  four  children  of  whom  he 
and  his  sister  Iletlie  are  the  only  survivors.  Tlie 
names  of  those  deceased  are,  Isadore  and  Jennie. 
Theodore  Whitenack  was  born  in  Canton,  January 
23.  1855.  He  was  but  an  infant  when  his  parents 
moved  to  the  country  where  he  was  reared  (ui  a 
farm.  He  attended  school  some  in  the  country  but 
g'lined  his  education  mainly  in  the  villages  of  EUis- 
ville anil  Bryant.  When  he  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age  he  began  his  independent  career  as  a  farmer 
on  a  rented  farm  of  si.xty  acres  in  Buckheart  Town- 
ship. He  rented  land  for  about  six  years  and  then 
purchased  his  present  farm  as  before  mentioned. 

Our  subject  by  his  marriage  with  Lavina  Hum- 
mell,  April  2,  1876,  secured  a  wife  who  has 
greatly  aided  hiin  in  making  their  pleasant  home. 
Mrs.  Whiten.ack  was  born  in  Bryant  this  county, 
August   11,  1854.     She  is  a  daughter    of  William 


Huniiiiell  a  native  of  Licking  County,  Ohio,  who 
came  to  this  county  in  1831,  and  was  one  of  its 
early  settlers.  He  was  a  farmer  and  continued  to 
carry  on  that  occupation  until  the  time  of  his  death 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  The  maiden  name 
of  Mrs.  Whitenack's  mother  was  Nancy  M.  Wil- 
coxen,  and  she  belonged  to  a  noted  family  whose 
history  appears  elsewhere  in  this  Album.  She  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years  and  thus  closed 
a  well-spent  life.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  had 
three  chiblren,  namely :  Grace  T..  Anna  Blanche 
(deceased)  and  Leota  C.  Mrs.  Whitenack  is  a  de- 
voted member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  is  well 
thought  of  by  all  about  her. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  is  active  in  public  life  and  in  the  spring  of  1889 
was  elected  to  the  important  office  of  Supervisor  to 
represent  Liverpool  Township  on  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors,  to  which  position  he  was  re- 
elected in  1890.  He  has  served  as  School  Director 
for  nine  years  and  does  all  that  he  can  to  advance 
educational  interests  in  his  township.  He  possesses 
many  ple.asant  social  qu.alities  and  has  a  host  of 
warm  friends  who  delight  in  his  success. 


AVID  BEESON,  President  of  the  Canton 
National  Bank,  has  gained  an  enviable  repu- 
tation in  the  financial  world  for  honesty, 
uprightness  and  liberality.  He  began  the  labors 
of  life  when  quite  young,  undertaking  his  own 
support  at  the  early  age  of  thirteen  3'ears,  and  has 
in  all  positions  proved  himself  to  be  the  soul  of 
honor,  a  friend  of  the  iioor  and  distressed  and  a 
perfect  gentleman.  He  has  never  been  ambitious. 
in  fact  is  of  a  retiring  disposition,  but  his  qualifi- 
cations are  such  that  he  has  been  pushed  forward 
by  .admiring  friends  to  the  high  position  which  he 
holds  at  present. 

The  family  of  which  our  subject  is  a  member 
has  been  represented  in  this  country  for  at  least  two 
centuries,  Jacob  Beeson  being  the  founder  of  the 
American  branch.  He  h.ad  three  sons,  one  of  whom 
settled  in  N'irginia.  The  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject  was   Henry  Bce.ion,  whu   lived  and  died  in 


242 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Martinsburg,  W.  Va..  breathing  his  last  in  1S17, 
when  in  his  seventj--eigUtb  \-ear.  The  grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  Jesse  Beeson,  who  was  born  in 
Unionton-n.  Pa.,  July  8,  1768,  anfl  returned  to  his 
birthplace  during  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  dying 
there  June  8,  1842.  Much  of  his  active  life  was 
spent  in  Martinsburg,  W.  Va.,  in  tlie  occup.ition  of 
a  miller.  He  married  Julia  Ann  Swcaringen,  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland,  whose  natal  day  was  Februar\' 
11.  1773.  and  whose  death  occurred  December  23, 
1797.  They  reared  a  familj*  of  two  children — 
Edward  S.  and  Samuel,  the  latter  of  whom  was  born 
April  8.  1794,  and  died  October  17,  1818. 

Edward  S.  Beeson  was  born  December  12,  1795, 
and  dieil  Januarj'  14,  1852.  He  followed  the  busi- 
ness of  a  miller  in  Virginia  until  about  1830,  when 
he  removed  to  Indiana,  in  which  Slate  he  continued 
the  same  business  some  five  years.  He  then  went 
to  Ohio  and  engaged  in  the  sale  of  merchandise  at 
Beeson's  Cross  Roads,  now  known  as  Samautha. 
At  one  time  he  was  Sheriff  of  Highland  County 
and  later  resumed  his  trade,  running  what  was  then 
known  as  Reece's,  but  now  as  Foraker's  Mill.  In 
the  spring  of  1850  he  came  to  Canton,  111.,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  milling  business,  but  the  next  jear 
removed  to  Farmington,  where  he  died  not  long 
after,  his  death  being  caused  by  inhaling  steam 
from  a  boiler  explosion  while  engaged  in  a  search 
for  his  son,  our  subject. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Julianna  Ridgeway  and  was  born  in  Frederick 
County,  Va.,  August  31,  1802.  Her  parents  were 
David  and  Martha  Ridgeway.  After  the  death  of 
her  husband  she  removed  again  to  Canton  where 
she  breathed  her  last  August  2,  1863.  She  was  the 
mother  of  eight  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy. Of  the  living  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
the  third  in  order  of  birth.  The  others  are  Martha, 
who  was  born  August  29,  1826,  and  is  now  living 
in  Healdsburg.  Cal.,  being  the  widow  of  Joe  S. 
Jlillsap,  a  prominent  minister  of  the  Methodist 
Church;  Edward  R.,  born  April  2,  1833,  a  mer- 
chant and  stockman  in  Franklin  County.  Kan.; 
Jesse  A.,  born  February-  10,  1841,  and  now  a 
prominent  business  man  in  Bloomington,  this  State. 
The  last  named  was  a  soldier  in  Companj'  II,  Sev- 
euteenth   Illinois  Infantry,  going  promptly  at  the 


first  call,  was  discharged  for  disability  in  1803.  but 
re-enlisted  the  following  j-ear  and  received  his  final 
discharge  in  18G5.  He  received  an  injury  at  Ft. 
Donelson  from  the  effects  of  which  he  has  never 
recovered.  Two  daughters  have  died  within  the 
last  decade — Virginia  A.  who  was  born  August  27, 
1836.  and  died  August  13,  1882,  and  Julia,  whose 
natal  day  occurred  November  27,  1844,  and  whose 
death  occurred  August  12,  1886. 

The  birth  of  David  Beeson.  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  occurred  at  Hillsboro,  Highland  County, 
Ohio.  October  12.  1838.  Having  been  left  father- 
less soon  after  he  entered  his  teens,  he  became  -i 
clerk  for  SuUej'  &  Trace^',  general  merchants  and 
buyers  of  produce,  and  was  subsequently  connected 
with  H.  C.  Adams  in  the  mercantile  business  tw^o 
3ears.  The  establishment  was  then  closed  out  and 
Mr.  Beeson  engaged  with  Hulitt  &  Atwater,  with 
whom  he  remained  nine  years.  He  afterward 
clerked  for  a  Mr.  Mills  in  a  dry-goods  house  and 
also  for  a  yiv.  Huisley.  He  next  went  into  the 
private  bank  of  C.  T.  Ilealds,  and  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  being  started  a  short  time  afterward 
he  was  retained  in  the  new  institution  ,is  book- 
keeper for  sixteen  years,  during  which  time  he  also 
acted  as  Assistant  Cashier  and  Teller  and  held  a 
position  as  Director. 

In  1882  Mr.  Beeson  severed  his  connection 
with  this  bank,  having  the  previous  year  com- 
menced the  clothing  business  in  a  firm  known  as 
"Dave  it  Dick."  he  being  the  senior  member  and 
Richard  Dirilbiss  the  junior  member.  After  three 
jears  Mr.  Beeson  withdrew  from  the  firm  on  ac- 
count of  his  health  and  for  some  time  w.as  not  en- 
gaged in  active  business  pursuits.  At  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  National  Bank  Directors  he,  in 
companj-  with  others,  withdrew  and  organized  a 
private  banking  institution  known  as  C.  T.  Heald 
<fe  Co..  and  in  1887  they  organized  under  the  name 
of  Canton  National  Bank,  at  which  time  Mr.  Beeson 
was  elected  President. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  h.as  never  married  and 
passes  the  most  of  his  time  in  reading  and  travel- 
ing. He  has  an  excellent  library  in  which  he 
spends  many  hapjiy  hours,  eiojoying  the  best 
thoughts  of  great  men  and  thoughtfully  studying 
their  utterances.     In  recent  years  he  has  visited  his 


D 


O-i^c^i^  J^t.^^ 


ry^' 


^^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


245 


birthplace  and  localities  in  which  his  ancestors 
lived  anil  died,  finding  mnch  to  interest  him  in  the 
scenery  and  associations.  lie  is  a  worth\'  repre- 
sentative of  a  family  upon  whose  name  there  is  no 
blemish,  generation  after  generation  having  lived 
quiet  and  useful  lives  and  been  highly  esteemed 
citizens  in  their  respective  communities.  He  has 
in  his  possession  an  Irish  iiazel  cane  which  has  been 
in  tlie  family  for  more  tiian  two  centuries  and  was 
brouoht  to  thi<i  country  by  tlie  original  ancestor  of 
the  American  branch  of  tlie  family. 


<il  IklLLIAM  T.  DAVIDSON,  the  well-known 
\/^///  editor  and  prtiprietor  of  the  Fulton  Demo- 
V^w  crat,  the  leading  paper,  of  this  count\-,  has 
exercised  a  marked  inlluence  on  the  affairs  of  this 
section  of  Illinois,  and  even  of  the  entire  State,  not 
only  professionally,  but  as  a  iirogressive,  public- 
spirited  citizen,  and  lias  aided  in  guiding  its 
political  destiny,  as  well  as  in  guarding  and  advanc- 
ing its  dearest  intcre,«ts  materiall3',  social!}-  and 
morally. 

Mr.  Davidson  is  a  native  of  this  State,  a  member 
of  a  distingnisiied  family,  and  a  descendant  of 
sterling  pioneer  stock.  He  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Petersburg,  Menard  t'ounly,  February  8,  1837. 
His  father,  Isham  G.  Davidson,  was  born  in  Soutii 
Carolina,  Novemlier  11,  1802,  and  was  a  son  of 
William  Coke  Davidson,  a  native  of  the  same 
State.  The  latter  was  reared  and  married  in  South 
Carolina,  and  resided  there  till  1809.  In  th.it 
year  he  emigrated  with  his  family  to  that  part  of 
the  Northwestern  Territory  now  included  in  the 
State  of  Illinois,  the  removal  thither  being  maile 
in  rude  carts  entirely  of  wood,  the  wheels  having 
been  sawed  from  the  end  of  a  log.  The  journey 
was  entirel}^  b_v  land,  and  the  greater  part  of  the 
waj-  led  through  a  trackless  forest  inhabited  by 
hostile  Indians.  The  family  finally  arrived  in 
safety  at  its  destination,  located  three  miles  south 
of  the  present  site  of  Jvl  wards ville,  Madison  County, 
and  was  one  of  the  earliest  to  settle  there. 


The  grandfather  of  our  subject  made  a  claim  to 
a  tract  of  Government  land,  on  wliich  he  erected  a 
log  cabin,  and  then  entered  upon  the  hard  pioneer 
task  of  im[)ri)ving  a  farm  from  the  wilderness.  At 
that  time  there  were  but  fevv  settlements  in  the 
whole  territory  now  embracing  this  .State;  there 
were  no  markets  for  produce,  St.  Louis  being  then 
but  a  trading  post,  and  .as  there  were  likewise  no 
mills  the  pioneers  were  home  livers,  maintaining 
life  from  the  products  of  the  soil  and  from  wild 
game,  which  was  plenty.  There  were  many  Indians 
in  the  territory,  and  the  few  settlers  were  obliged 
to  gather  together  and  Ijuild  forts  and  stockades, 
in  which  thej^  resided  several  3'ears  after  Mr. 
Davidson's  removal  thither.  He  was  a  resident  of 
that  part  of  the  countr.y  till  his  death  from  milk 
sickness  in  1820.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife 
was  Hannah  Bankhead.  After  his  death  she  mar- 
ried a  second  time,  becoming  the  wife  of  Joshua 
Delaplain,  and  her  death  occurred  iu  INIadison 
Countj-  in  lvS31.  She  reared  six  children,  the  fruit 
of  her  first  marriage,  namely:  James,  Isham  G., 
George,  Jackson,  Klizabeth  .'uid  Millotson,  the  two 
hitter  of  whom  are  still  living. 

Isham  I)avids(jn,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
seven  years  oki  when  the  f;imily  moved  from  their 
distant  South  Carolina  home  to  the  wilds  of  Illinois. 
He  was  reared  on  the  frontier  in  Madison  County, 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  the  year  IS.'U),  in  the 
vigor  of  a  stalwart  manhood  he  became  a  pioneer 
of  Petersburg,  where  he  built  and  operated  a  flour- 
mill,  and  also  engaged  in  a  mercantile  business. 
He  was  pros|)ering.  when  he  met  with  serious 
financial  losses,  his  mill  being  burned  in  1837,  and 
all  his  other  possessions  w^ere  swept  away  in  the 
monetary  crisis  of  that  year.  In  18r)8  he  came  to 
Lewistown  and  look  a  contract  to  run  a  stage  line 
between  this  city  and  Springfield.  He  made  his 
home  here  till  his  death  at  a  ripe  old  age  in    1878. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  .Sarah  Ann  Springer.  .She  was  born  near 
Springfield,  Mercer  County,  Ivy.,  June  2,  1810, 
and  was  the  eldest  child  of  John  and  Susanna 
Springer.  Her  father  was  a  direct  descendant  of 
Charles  Christopher  8|)ringcr,  who  was  born  in 
Sweden,  his  father  being  Don  to  the  King  of 
Sweden,  and  minister  to  various  countries.  Charles 


246 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALHUM. 


Christopher,  or  Carl,  as  he  was  called,  was  educated 
in  London,  and  at  tiie  as^e  of  twent_v,  while  out  late 
one  night,  was  kidnapped  and  brought  to  Virginia, 
wiiere  he  was  sold  as  a  slave,  and  was  in  bond;ige 
for  five  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  period 
about  the  j'ear  1092,  he  went  to  Wilmington, 
Del.,  to  a  Swedish  settlement.  He  soon  became 
prominent  among  his  compatriots,  who  made  him 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  also  read  sermons  for 
them  and  conducted  their  religious  services  till  he 
wrote  to  the  King  of  Sweden,  and  secured  a  minister 
for  them,  and  also  Swedish  books,  etc.  He  assisted 
in  building  the  famous  old  Swedish  Church  that  is 
still  standing,  and  was  Church  Warden  and  Clerk 
during  the  rest  of  his  life.  lie  married  in  Dela- 
ware and  reared  a  large  family,  his  son  Charles  suc- 
ceeding him  as  Church  Warden  and  Clerk.  He 
died  in  1738  and  was  buried  in  frt)nt  of  the  church 
where  a  subsequent  enlargement  of  the  building 
enclosed  his  tomb,  and  an  arch  in  the  church  shows 
where  he  lies. 

The  grandson  of  this  noted  gentleman,  Charles 
Springer,  was  married  in  1756  to  Susanna  Seeds, 
settling  near  Fredericksburg,  Md.,  where  he  reared 
a  family  and  died.  Robert  Fulton  was  one  of  his 
wife's  bondsmen.  She  moved  to  Kentucky  in  1 780, 
with  her  son  .Tohn,  who  had  married  in  Maryland. 
He  was  in  the  Indian  War  in  Kentuckj'  in  1784. 
His  son  John,  the  father  of  Sarah  Ann,  was  born 
in  Harrod's  Fort,  now  Harrodsburg,  Ky.,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1784.  but  when  quite  young  his  family  moved 
to  Danville,  and  thence  to  a  farm  near  Springfield, 
where  he  was  principally  reared.  lie  was  there 
married  and  there  his  first  child,  Sarah  Ann,  was 
born.  The  mother,  Susanna  Sage  was  of  English 
extraction,  her  parents,  John  and  Frances  Sage, 
having  emigrated  to  Virginia  before  her  birth,  and 
subsequently  to  Kentucky,  where  she  was  married 
to  John  Springer  in  1 809. 

After  the  birth  of  their  first  child  in  June,  1810, 
Mr.  Springer,  not  wishing  to  rear  a  cliild  in  a  slave 
state,  decided  to  remove  to  Illinois,  and  in  the 
nutunin  of  that  year,  started  with  three  otiier 
families,  moving  their  effects  together  with  their 
families  in  tlie  famous  old  Kentucky  wagons.  They 
arrived  at  their  destination  late  in  that  same  year 
and  pre-empted  land  in  what  is  now  Bond  County, 


and  began  life  in  a  primitive  way  in  their  new 
home.  But  alas!  for  their  hopes  of  a  peacefu  and 
prosperous  life  in  the  far  West.  In  June  of  the 
following  year,  1811,  the  Indians  began  their 
horrible  butchering  of  the  helpless  settlers,  and 
they  were  forced  to  leave  their  peaceful  occupations 
and  erect  a  fort  for  their  defense. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  know  how  liiese  early 
settlers  constructed  the  fort  which  was  their  sole 
refuge  from  the  blood  thirsty  savages,  who  gathered 
in  large  forces  for  their  utter  desiruction.  They 
selected  a  suitable  place  about  a  half  a  mile  from 
Shoal  Creek,  on  the  edge  of  the  prairie,  and  then 
proceeded  to  cut  logs  fifteen  feet  mi  length  and 
split  them  into  slabs  four  inches  in  thickness,  and 
from  one  to  two  feet  in  width.  These  they  sharp- 
ened !it  the  upper  end  like  a  picket  fence,  and  dig- 
ging a  trench  two  feet  deep,  proceeded  to  set  the 
slabs,  each  overlapping  another  half  its  width,  thus 
giving  them  a  wall  or  stockade  as  it  was  called 
eight  inches  in  thickness  and  thirteen  feet  high  on 
the  inside.  Outside  the  stockade  the  settlers  dug 
a  trench  several  feet  deep  and  four  or  five  feet  in 
width,  making  it  seventeen  or  eighteen  feet  in 
height  from  the  bottom  of  the  trench  outside. 
Tills  was  to  prevent  the  Indians  from  scaling  the 
walls.  The  only  ope.  ing  in  the  wall  was  a  double 
gate  fastened  to  a  movable  post  in  the  centre.  This 
was  secured  by  four  heav3r  bars  of  wood  crossing 
the  gate  and  fastening  into  a  post  on  either  side. 

Inside  the  walls,  and  some  distance  from  them, 
eight  block  hou,ses  were  erected,  their  inside  corners 
being  so  close  together  that  only  one  person  could 
pass  between.  Tliey  were  built  of  logs,  and  con- 
structed after  the  following  fashion:  The  lower 
rooms  were  sixteen  feet  square,  with  no  windows, 
and  but  one  door  which  opened  into  the  circular 
court  in  the  middle  of  the  fort.  The  ceiling  of 
these  rooms  was  just  high  enough  for  a  man  to 
stand  erect,  and  was  made  of  hewn  logs  closely 
fitted  together,  which  also  formed  the  floor  of  the 
room  above, and  extended  two  feet  be3-6nd  lli(>  walls 
of  the  lower  room  on  each  side,the  upper  room  being  * 
four  feet  larger  in  the  square  than  the  room  btlow. 
Tl  e  walls  were  then  built  up  about  seven  feet  on 
the  outer  side,  being  made  to  slope  a  foot  or  eight- 
een   inches  toward    the  inner   side    of    the    circle. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAl'lIlCAL  ALBUM. 


247 


The  clapboard  coverings  were  held  in  |)l:ice  by 
weigbt-poles,  as  tUey  were  called,  logs  several 
inclios  ill  diameter.  On  tiicse  sloping  roofs  the 
sentries  could  lie  protected  as  behind  an  embank- 
ment and  see  what  was  going  on  outside  the 
stockade.  The  only  entrance  to  the  upper  room  of 
the  house  was  through  a  trap  door,  !)>•  means  of  a 
ladder,  which  in  case  of  attack  could  be  drawn  up 
and  the  door  securely  fastened  down.  In  the  floor- 
ing of  this  room  where  it  jutted  beyond  the  room 
below  and  also  in  the  walls  of  the  lower  room  were 
port-holes  near  together,  so  that  if  the  people 
within  were  besieged  they  could  fire  on  the  Indians. 

As  soon  as  the  walls  of  the  fort  were  done,  the 
settlers  moved  in,  living  in  rail  pens  till  the  houses 
could  be  erected.  And  here  Sarah  Ann  spent  four 
years  of  her  earl^'  life,  and  from  within  these  walls 
date  her  first  recollections  of  home  and  passing 
events.  After  spending  four  years  at  Fort  Jones, 
as  it  was  c  died,  their  situation  became  so  desperate, 
that  the  little  company  decided  to  make  the  attempt 
to  reach  Camp  Russell,  the  garrison,  distant  forty 
miles  from  Fort  Jones,  and  six  miles  from  the 
jiresent  site  of  Kdwardsville.  Accordingly  carts 
were  made  wholly  of  wood,  each  large  enough  to 
contain  one  family,  and  the  small  amount  of  house- 
hold goods  that  could  be  taken  on  so  perilous  a 
journey,  and  each  drawn  by  one  horse.  The  little 
parly  started  by  daylight,  and  traveled  all  day  and 
far  into  the  night  without  being  molested,  and 
reached  the  g.irrison  in  safety. 

Soon  afterward  Mr.  Springer  and  others  of  the 
refugees  from  Fort  Jones  concluded  it  would  be 
safer  and  more  convenient  to  take  up  land  in  tbe 
vicinity  of  tlie  garrison,  which  they  accordingly 
did. Mr.  Springer  pre-empting  a  quarter-section  five 
miles  southwest  of  Edwardsville.  And  there,  hav- 
ing boug  t  the  lanfl  of  the  G'lvernment  as  soon  an 
it  care  into  the  market,  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  d3Mng  of  cholera  in  the  epidemic  of  1849. 
In  tiiat  pioneer  home  his  ilaughler  Sarah  grew  to 
womanhood,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  mar- 
ried Isham  Davidson.  Her  vivid  recollections  of 
fort  life,  its  perils  and  privations;  its  miraculous 
escapes  from  death;  and  her  life  of  toil  and  hard- 
ship such  as  women  of  that  day  had  to  endure, 
would   form  a  chapter  of  unusual  interest  in  the 


history  of  the  pioneer  women  of  the  State,  of  whom 
she  is  a  noble  representative. 

After  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Davidson  in  October, 
Ifi'iO,  this  remarkable  lady  lived  for  several  years 
near  Edwardsville,  and  one  year  in  Upper  Alton, 
where  almost  daily  for  weeks  she  fed  volunteers 
returning  from  the  Black  Hawk  War.  In  1836 
they  removed  to  Petersburg,  Menard  Counly,  Illi- 
nois, where  her  husband  engaged  in  merchandising 
and  milling.  Petersburg  was  tlien  a  small  hamlet, 
which  had  never  had  a  religious  service  of  any 
kind  within  its  borders.  Instead,  a  "groggery,"  as 
it  was  called,  was  set  up  on  a  vacant  lot  directly 
opposite  their  dwelling,  and  here,  quite  soon  after 
she  and  her  husband  removed  to  the  place,  and 
during  his  absence,  on  the  occasion  of  a  horse 
race,  Mrs.  Davidson  was  forced  to  endure  the 
scene  of  perhaps  two  hundred  men  in  all  stages  of 
intoxication,  swearing,  fighting,  etc.  During  the 
day,  and  nearly  the  entire  night  the  sounds  of 
unholy  revelry  polluted  the  air.  To  a  woman  of 
her  refinement  and  spirit  this  was  revolting,  and 
she  felt  she  could  not  live  amid  such  scenes  w'ith 
no  Cliristian  |)rivileges.  Accord ir.gly  wlicii  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Conference  met  in  Spiingdeld, 
twentv-two  miles  distant  from  Petersburg,  but  a 
short  time  subsequently,  she  attended  it  in  person 
and  requested  that  a  missionary  might  be  sent  to 
tlicin.  Her  appeal  was  listened  to  and  granted  in 
the  person  of  her  uncle,  the  Rev.  Levi  Springer, 
who  held  regular  services  at  Petersburg  during 
the  ensuing  two  years,  followed  b}-  Rev.  Michael 
Sliunck,  w-lio  was  an  inmate  of  llic  home  of  the 
Davidsons  while  they  staid  in  lliat  part  of  tlie 
State.  The  services  were  held  in  llicir  dwelling 
till  Mr.  Davidson  built  a  schoolliouse  for  the 
double  purpose  of  holding  school  and  divine  ser- 
vices within  its  walls.  But  the  opposition  to 
Christianity  was  so  strong  that  the  schoolliouse 
was  soon  burned,  and  the  devoted  band  of  worship- 
pers were  again  obliged  to  have  their  meetings  in 
the  Davidson  home.  Before  the  end  of  their  three 
years'  stay  in  Petersburg,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davidson 
had  the  happiness  of  seeing  the  little  church  of 
which  they  and  two  or  three  others  formed  the 
nucleus,  grown  into  a  goodly  company  of  Christian 
people.     During  those  years  and  subsequent  ones 


248 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mrs.  Davidson  often  entertained  in  her  house  those 
veteran  pioneer  preachers,  Peter  Cartwright,  Peter 
Akers,  George  and  William  Riilledge,  Henry  Sum- 
mers, and  many  others  prominent  in  the  annals  of 
Methodism.  She  has  also  entertained  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  .\braliam  Lincoln,  and  other  notalile  men 
of  their  day. 

After  the  panic  of  '37  had  swept  aw.ay  his  entire 
wealth  Mr.  Daviilson  became  contractor  of  the 
stage  route  from  Lewistown  to  Springfield,  and  re- 
moved his  family  to  Lewistown  in  the  autumn  of 
1S38.  In  1840  he  purchased  a  little  home  on  the 
outskirts  of  the  city,  and  he  and  his  wife  began  life 
anew  in  a  log  cabin.  Here  Mrs.  Davidson  was 
happy  and  contented  because  it  was  home,  and  her 
friends  were  as  welcome  as  in  more  prosperous 
daj-s.  And  when  a  few  years  later  the  cabin  gave 
place  to  a  more  commodious  cottage  it  was  and 
ever  has  been  a  home  for  all  who  claim  its  hos- 
pitality. This  venerable  lady  is  still  living,  honored 
and  cherished  by  her  children,  and  regarded  with 
feelings  of  respect  and  affection  far  beyond  her 
home  circle,  as  in  a  long  and  useful  life  she  has 
made  many  warm  friends,  who  have  been  indebted 
to  her  for  wise  counsel  and  helpfulness. 

]\Iother  Davidson  has  been  the  mother  of  eight 
children,  four  of  whom  were  born  in  ^Madison 
County,  where  two  died  infancy.  One,  William 
T.,  was  born  in  Petersburg,  and  three  were  born  in 
Lewistown.  Two  of  her  sons,  James  M.  (editor  of 
the  Carthage  Republican)  and  William  T.,  are 
editors  of  prominent  county  papers.  Mary  F., 
Luc}'  E.,  and  Eliliu  S.  are  dead.  Her  youngest 
daughter,  Sarah  M.  B.,  inherits  in  a  full  degree  the 
strength  of  character  and  literary  talent  of  her 
brothers,  and  is  a  lady  of  marked  culture.  She  is 
an  able  writer,  possessing  fine  descriptive  powers, 
and  it  is  to  her  graceful  pen  that  we  are  indebted 
for  the  foregoing  vivid  account  of  her  mother's 
early  life  and  of  pioneer  times.  Mrs.  Davidson's 
daughter  Sarah  and  an  orphan  grandson  reside  with 
her  and  cheer  her  declining  years  in  the  cottage 
which  has  'oeen  her  home  for  half  a  century.  .She 
has  endured  with  fortitude  and  resignation  the 
sorrows  that  have  fallen  to  her  lot  in  the  death  of 
those  nearest  and  dearest  to  her.  Her  husband, 
witli  whom  she  traveled  life's    road  for  more    than 


fifty  years,  has  been  removed  from  her  presence, 
and  a  son,  two  daughters  and  several  grandchildren 
have  also  gone  to  their  last  resting  place  since  she 
came  to  Lewistown.  Her  descendants  now  living 
in  18i)0  number  three  children  and  nineteen  grand- 
children and  great-grandchildren. 

William  T.  Davidson,  th(^  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical review,  was  but  a  small  child  when  his 
parents  brought  him  to  Lewistown,  and  here  he 
was  reared  amid  pioneer  influences.  His  early 
education  was  secured  in  the  disti-ict  school,  wliicii 
was  conducted  on  the  subscription  plan.  At  the 
youthful  age  of  twelve  3'ears  he  was  compelled  to 
leave  school  to  earn  his  own  living.  His  first  em- 
ployment was  teaming  produce  from  Lewistown  to 
the  Liverpool  and  Peoria  markets,  and  on  the  re- 
turn trip  he  loaded  his  wagon  with  merchandise, 
or  with  stone  and  sand  which  was  used  in  building 
many  of  the  early  stores  and  other  buildings  of 
Lewistown.  He  was  thus  engaged  till  he  was 
seventeen  years  old,  and  then,  as  an  apprentice  in 
the  printing  office  of  the  Lewistown  liepublicnn^ 
he  entered  upon  that  career  that  eventuplly  led 
him  to  the  editorial  chair  of  the  Fulton  Democrat, 
which  he  has  so  abl}'  filled  for  more  than  thirty 
years. 

He  worked  nine  months  in  the  llejmbUcan  ottice, 
and  then  as  the  paper  was  discontinued,  he  went  to 
Peoria  as  compositor  In  1854  the  Daily  Herald, 
the  first  daily  paper  ever  published  in  Peoria,  was 
established  by  George  W.  Ranney,  editor  and 
jiroprietor.  Our  subject  secured  a'position  to  set 
type  in  that  office  when  it  was  first  opened,  and 
the  following  eighteen  months  was  engaged  on  that 
and  other  |)apers  in  that  city  and  at  Tiskilwa  and 
Macomb.  In  June.  1855  he  was  called  to  Lewis- 
town  to  assist  his  brother  James  in  founding  the 
F'ulton  Democrat.  In  1856  he  returned  to  Peoria 
and  helped  to  found  the  Peoria  Transcript,  now 
the  most  prominent  paper  in  Central  Illinois.  Re- 
turning to  Lewistown,  our  subject  becnme  half- 
owner  and  assistant  editor  of  the  Fultoii  Democrat 
in  July,  1858,  and  the  11th  of  the  following  No- 
vember he  bought  his  brother's  interest  in  the 
paper,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present  has  been 
sole  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Democrat, 

Mr.  Davidson  has  devoted  his  best  energies  to 


PORTRAIT  AM)   11I()( ;  KA  I'll  ICAL  ALRU.M. 


249 


his  work  of  niaUing  a  newspaper  that  slionkl  educate 
its  conslitiii'iicy  and  be  a  iiolcnt  factor  in  the  np- 
liiiildiii!)-  of  city  and  connty.  This  he  has  acconi- 
|iiislicd,  and  the  journal  which  owes  its  strength 
and  high  position  to  his  genius  is  read  far  and 
wide,  perhaps  having  a  larger  circulation  than  any 
similar  provincial  newspaper,  and  has  iiclped  to 
mold  public  opinion  on  many  of  the  im[)ortant 
questions  of  the  day.  The  Deinocrat  is  a  sound 
family  paper,  well  supplied  with  solid  and  useful 
information,  as  well  as  with  lighter  matter,  keeping 
its  readers  wcll-infornud  on  current  topics  and  the 
affairs  of  this  anti  other  countries,  and  one  of  its 
interesting  features  is  the  correspondence  from 
various  localities  in  the  county. 

Mr.  l^avidson  is  a  man  of  strong  convictions 
and  does  not  hesitate  to  express  tiiem  freely  and 
frankly,  and  with  all  the  vigor  he  can  command. 
Man^-  a  time  his  sharp,  caustic  pen  has  done  good 
service  in  spurring  on  his  party  to  victory,  or  in 
exi)osing  fraud  and  corruption,  whether  found  in 
the  ranks  of  the  Republicans  or  Democrats,  among 
civic  otiicials  or  private  citizens.  Through  his 
columns  he  has  usually  supported  the  Democratic 
party,  but  holds  himself  independent,  and  has 
never  been  moved  by  mone^-  considerations  or 
personal  preferences.  His  readers  know  that  whom- 
soever or  whatsoever  he  sup|)orts  or  disapproves, 
his  course  is  actuated  by  conscientious  motives  and 
after  careful  consideration.  The  usual  amount  of 
praise  and  fault-linding  has  been  measured  out  to 
him  as  an  editor,  but  his  character  as  a  man  of 
honor,  integrity  and  public  spirit  has  never  been 
questioned.  His  manly  attitude  in  regard  to  the 
temperance  question  is  well-known,  as  he  is  a  radi- 
cal prohibitionist,  his  influence  being  felt  through- 
out this  section  of  the  country,  which  is  attested  by 
the  fact  that  Lewistown,  his  home,  is  the  center  of 
one  of  the  largest  prohibition  districts  in  the  Stale. 

Our  sul)ject  is  connected  with  the  following 
social  organizations:  Lewistown  Lodge.  No.  104, 
A.  F.  &  A.  j\L;  Havana  Chapter,  R.  A.  M.;  and 
Damascus  Commandory,  No.  42,  K.  T.  He  is  a 
lover  of  home  and  is  eminently  happ3^  in  his  do- 
mestic relations.  He  was  married  January  24, 
18G0,  to  Miss  Lucinda  M.  Miner,  a  native  of  Co- 
lumbus, Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Francis  and  Myra 


(Jordan)  Miner.  Seven  children  have  been  born 
to  J\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Davidson. — Harold  L..  Mabel 
(who  died  in  infancy).  Bertha,  Frances.  Lulu  I\L. 
Nell  c  (who  died  in  infancy),  and  JLaude. 

The  readers  of  this  volume  will  be  pleased  to 
notice  elsewhere  on  its  pages  a  lilhograi)hic  i)or- 
trait  of  Mr.  Davidson. 


-^^ 


lEORGE  H.  HETRICK.  proprietor  of  the 
Transfer  Line  at  Canton,  is  a  man  who  has 
always  met  with  success  in  worldly'  affairs, 
and  one  who  ranks  high  in  commercial  circles. 
Being  an  old  settler  in  this  county  he  is  well  known, 
and  that  he  is  highly  respected  it  needs  but  a  men- 
tion of  his  name  to  prove.  Fortune  having  smiled 
u|)on  his  efforts,  he  is  numbered  among  t,he  wealthy 
citizens  of  the  place,  having  a  good  business  and 
owning  a  fine  residence,  where  he  and  his  family 
enjoy  all  the  comforts  that  heart  can  desire  and 
money  purchase. 

William  Hetrick,  the  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  w.as  the  founder  of  the  family  in  America, 
coming  to  this  country  when  quite  a  young  man 
and  settling  in  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  continued  to  make  his  home  in  the 
Keystone  State.  The  next  in  the  direct  line  of  de- 
scent was  Robert  Hetrick,  who  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, lived  in  Virginia  for  some  years,  but  re- 
turned to  his  n.ative  State  to  die.  He  married  a 
Miss  Smith,  and  to  them  were  born  three  children, 
the  youngest  of  whom  was  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject. Ui)on  him  the  name  of  Robert  w.as  bestowed. 
After  reaching  manhood  he  married  Catherine 
Bellman,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary  Bellman, 
whose  ancestors  came  from  Germany  many  years 
ago.  She  was  born  about  a  mile  from  Gettysburg, 
Pennsylvania. 

Robert  Hetrick  i)ursued  the  calling  of  a  farmer, 
and  for  3'ears  served  his  fellow-citizens  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  Constable,  and  was  also  Sheriff  of  Cum- 
berland County  for  some  time.  He  was  a  well  ed- 
ucated man,  much  interested  in  the  progress  of  civ- 
ilization, and  his  home  was  a  great  resort  for  min- 
isters of  the  German  Baptist,  Methodist  Episcopnl 


250 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  otiier  denominations.  To  himself  and  his 
good  wife  ten  childi'en  were  burn,  of  whom  those 
now  deceased  are:  Caroline,  Eliza  Jane,  Kate,  Car- 
oline 2d,  Mary  Ellen  and  Jennie.  'J'he  living 
are:  Joiui,  now  a  stock-raiser  and  farmer  in  Linn 
County,  Mo.;  Ann,  wife  of  Augustus  Stoner,  a 
boot  and  shoe  dealer  in  Ilarrisburg,  Pa.;  the  sub- 
ject of  our  sketch,  and  Mary  Ellen,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Jacobi,  a  machinist  of  Ilarrisburg. 

The  birth  of  George  B.  Hetrick  occurred  in 
Cumberland  Countj-,  Pa.,  near  Harrisburg,  Janu- 
ary 29,  lb27.  Repassed  his  youth  in  his  native 
State,  starting  for  himself  in  the  business  world  at 
the  early  age  of  fourteen,  and  vvorking  for  his  un- 
cle, George  Bellman,  at  stage-driving  and  teaming. 
In  a  short  time  he  saved  enough  money  to  pur- 
chase a  team  of  his  own,  and  drove  a  stage  in  Pitts- 
burg, and  later  in  Northumberland.  In  1852  he 
came  West,  and  for  several  years  made  his  home 
in  Rushville,  this  State,  still  earning  his  living  by 
teaming.  In  comi)any  with  his  brother  he  took  con- 
tracts for  carrying  the  mail,  one  route  being  be- 
tween Burlington,  Iowa,  and  Springfield,  111.,  an- 
other from  Rushville  to  Jacksonville,  and  the  con- 
tracts covering  five  routes. 

Selling  out  his  mail  contracts  Mr.  Iletrick  re- 
turned to  liis  former  occupation  for  a  time,  then  be- 
gan farming  near  Iluntsville,  Schuyler  County, 
where  he  resided  two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1860  he 
came  to  Canton,  where  he  has  continued  to  make 
his  home.  Immediately  after  locating  here  he  took 
a  contract  to  carry  the  mail  between  Elmwood  and 
Livingston,  but  after  faithfully  discharging  tiie 
duties  of  a  carrier  twoj'ears,  sold  out  and  returned 
to  his  favorite  occupation,  teaming.  He  was  the 
first  to  haul  goods  from  the  dc[)ot  to  the  merchants 
and  now  has  four  teams  and  some  very  fine  wagons, 
his  entire  outfit  being  kept  up  in  first-class  style. 
There  is  scarcely  an  hour  in  the  day  when  at  least 
three  of  his  teams  are  not  in  use. 

In  1818  Mr.  Helrick  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Amanda  Pollinger.  a  native  of  Cumber- 
land County,  Pa.,  and  a  friend  and  schoolmate  of 
his  early  years.  She  is  a  daughter  of  George  and 
Matilda  (Ettcr)  Pollinger,  natives  of  the  Keystone 
State.  She  is  a  woman  of  fine  character  and  has 
been  a  devoted  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 


since  her  early  girlhood.  She  has  borne  her  hus- 
band ten  cliildren,  of  whom  the  living  are:  Robert, 
a  commercial  traveler  who  makes  his  home  in  Can- 
ton; Kale,  wife  of  R.  M.  Truax,  of  Morgan  Park. 
Cliicago;  William,  a  resident  of  Canton;  Anna 
and  (J race,  who  are  with  their  parents;  Jessie,  wife 
of  John  M«ore,  of  Buckheart  Township,  this 
county.  The  deceased  are  :  Ellen,  George,  James 
and  Dot.  Mr.  Hetrick  and  his  family  are  regular 
attendants  at  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  al- 
though none  but  his  wife  hold  membership,  all  aid 
in  vaiious  phases  of  church  work,  and  are  classed 
among  the  moral  members  of  societj'. 


iB^^:< 


SCAR  J.  BOYER.  There  are  few  professions 
which  require  the  amount  of  diligent  study 
and  general  information  that  is  essential  to 
the  knowledge  of  law.  To  master  legal  terras  un- 
derslandingly,  one  must  first  possess  a  good  edu- 
cation, and  must  in  addition  to  this  have  great 
concentration  of  thought.  What  could  call  forth 
more  admiration  than  a  forcible  speech  well  deliv- 
ered; or  appeal  more  earnestly  to  the  human  heart 
than  an  enthusiastic  defense  of  some  poor  man, 
whose  chances  for  living  depend  entirely  upon  his 
attorney's  eloquence.'  Among  the  gentlemen  wlio 
realize  the  full  importance  of  this  calling,  and  add 
dignity  to  the  profession,  ranks  Oscar  J.  Bo\'er, 
attorney  at  law.  Canton. 

William  Boj'er,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, escaped  from  France  during  the  revolution  in 
that  country,  and  coming  to  America  participated 
in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  settled  in  Delaware, 
where  his  son  John,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born.  This  gentleman  went  to  Ohio,  locating 
near  Zanesville,  whence  he  came  to  Fulton  Countj-, 
III.,  in  the  \'ear  1842,  dying  here  about  1860.  His 
family  consisted  of  five  children — Caleb,  the  father 
of  our  subject;  John,  who  is  now  deceased;  Robert, 
who  lives  in  Warren  County;  Rachel,  wife  of 
Henry  Byers.  of  Lewistown  Township;  and  Sarah, 
wife  of  James  Frederick,  of  Lee  Township. 

Caleb  Pioyer  was  born  near  Zanesville,  Ohio, 
September   3,   1821.     He   is   now    living   in   Cass 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


251 


T()wii>hi|),  tliis  ooiinty,  at  the  nge  of  sixlj'-six  ;  luiil 
his  wife,  who  is  tlie  same  age,  is  still  alive  and  well. 
He  has  been  a  farmer  and  local  preaeher  of  tiie 
liiiled  Ilielliren  faitli  and  enjoys  an  envialile  rep- 
utalion.  He  has  four  chihlren.  the  subject  of  this 
notice  being  the  (irst-ljorn.  The  otiiers  are.Iohn  W.. 
Norris  ('.,  and  Dellie.  wife  of  Zenie  Morey,  of 
Downer  County.  The  mother  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  .'^:irah  Baughman.  Her  ancestors  came  to 
America  before  the  devolution,  settling  irj  Virginia, 
wlience  the  faii)il_\-  moved  to  Ohio  at  an  early  d.ay. 
In  tlte  i'.uci<eye  Slate  Mrs.  Buyer  opened  her  eyes 
to  tlie  light.  .Somewhere  in  the  '40s  the  Baughmans 
came  to  Illinois,  locating  on  Tottens  Prairie,  Cass 
Township,  this  eount\'. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  .Inly  4,  18C1, 
in  Cass  Township,  this  county.  He  remained  with 
his  parents  until  he  liad  reached  his  sixteenth  year, 
having  in  the  meantime  received  a  common-school 
education.  lie  then  took  a  course  in  the  Gem  City 
Business  College  in  Quincy,  after  wliich  lie  liegan 
reading  law  with  Barrere  i^'  Grant.  While  master- 
ing the  legal  profession  he  taught  school  several 
terms,  and  when  twenty -one  years  of  age  passed  a 
very  creditable  examination  at  Springfield,  and  al- 
th()UL;h  so  young,  was  licensed  by  the  Supreme 
Court  to  practice  law.  In  the  fall  of  1882  he  came 
to  Canton  and  opened  an  office,  practicing  alone 
until  late  in  the  year  1888,  when  he  became  one  of 
tlie  firm  of  Gallagher  &  Boyer. 

Wr.  Boyev  was  married  in  August,  1885,  to  Miss 
l\Iinerva  A.  Snider,  of  Buckheart  Township,  who 
was  born  January  7,  186(3.  and  is  a  dauglitcr  of  John 
II.  and  .lemima  (Bowman)  Snider.  Mrs.  Boyer's 
family  are  of  Southern  descent,  her  parents  coming 
from  East  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  respectively. 
Her  marriage  rites  were  celebrated  at  Canton,  and 
the  happy  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
one  child — Bessie  B.  By  her  intelligen.ce,  good 
breeding  and  fine  character,  Mrs.  Boyer  is  fitted 
for  the  station  she  occupies  as  the  wife  of  a  rising 
member  of  the  bar,  and  the  guiding  power  in 
a  happy  home. 

Mr.  Boyer  is  a  young  man  of  unusn.al  ability, 
who  has  gained  several  important  cases  by  moans 
of  his  unmistakable  intelligence  and  el-.Tpiencc. 
He   has  always  taken    great    interest    in    political 


matters,  being  a  strong  Republican,  but  has  no 
personal  .aspirations  for  jiidilic  ollice,  choosing  to 
devote  himself  to  his  profession.  Bowdng  to  the 
wishes  of  tlie  people,  however,  he  rc|iresented  the 
township  in  the  Bfiard  of  Supervisors  in  1886-87, 
and  is  again  serving  in  that  capacity.  The  delegates 
to  the  County  Convenlion  have  been  instrucled  to 
nominate  him  as  the  choice  of  their  constituency  for 
the  Legislature.  He  is  a  member  of  the  M.asonic; 
fraternity,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  Mr.  Boyer  is  a  lover 
of  line  horses  and  is  interested  in  the  breeding 
of  standard-bred  Ilambletonian  and  Mambrino- 
I'atchen  horses;  at  the  head  of  his  stud  being 
Clipper  Sprague  Pilot,  dam  Mambrino  Patchen. 


ACOB  BRIMMER  lias  a  well-ordered  and 
finely  appointed  farm  on  section  6,  Farm- 
ington  Township,  and  he  is  considered  one  of 
the  first  farmers  of  the  township  in  regard 
to  his  skill  and  practical  knowledge  of  agriculture. 
He  was  born  in  Rensselaer  County,  N.  Y.,  December 
11,  1832,  to  Jacob  and  Matilda  (.Saunders)  Brim- 
mer. The  Brimmers  arc  of  mingled  .Scotch  and 
German  ancestry. 

In  the  fall  of  1854,  our  subject  came  to  this  State 
in  company  with  John  S.  Green.  They  put  their 
teams  and  all  their  worldly  effects  aboard  a  boat  at 
Sacketts  Ilarljor,  and  came  by  water  to  Chicago, 
and  from  there  made  their  way  to  their  destination 
in  this  county,  following  the  Illinois  Ki  ver  the  most 
of  the  way.  After  his  arrival  here  Mr.  Brimmer 
began  to  till  a  [larlof  the  large  tract  of  seren  hun- 
dred and  sixt}'  acres  of  land  Lii.it  had  been  entered 
in  this  township  by  his  father  and  John  S.  Green 
together  the  previous  spring.  Coming  here  in  the 
prime  of  a  strong,  manly,  vigorous  maiUiood,  Mr. 
Brimmer  has  accomplished  iniicii  and  has  placed 
liimscif  among  the  substantial  c'ilizens  of  Farming- 
ton  Townshii).  He  owns  here  and  is  operating  one 
of  the  finest  cultivated  and  best  managed  farms  in 
this  part  of  the  county.  Its  two  hundred  acres  are 
amply  supplied  with  commodious  buildings  and 
all  appliances  for  prosecuting  agriculture    ad  van- 


252 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tageou?l\'.  His  stock  presents  a  sleek,  well-kept 
appearance,  and  is  of  standard  grades. 

One  of  the  most  important  events  in  the  life  of 
our  subject  was  his  marriage  in  the  month  of 
February,  1858,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Saunders,  a 
daughter  of  Lyman  and  Sirrilla  Saunders.  Their 
wedded  life  has  been  as  felicitous  as  usually  falls 
to  the  lot  of  mortals,  and  has  been  blessed  to  them 
by  the  birth  of  three  children:  Ambrose,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years;  Sirrilla;  and  AdajM.,  who 
married  William  Purvianco,  agent  of  the  Iowa 
Central  Railway,  at  Abingdon,  III. 

Mr.  Brimmer  is  a  stalwart  among  the  Democrats 
of  this  section.  He  is  a  man  of  good  calibre,  of  ex- 
cellent habits,  and  of  a  keen,  intelligent  mind.  He 
has  served  on  tiie  jury,  and  is  at  all  times  prompt 
in  fulfilling  his  obligations  as  a  citizen. 


a^ 


"^AMES  STOCKDALE.  A  simple  narration 
of  facts  regarding  the  life  of  an  individual 
is  undoubtedly  the  best  biographical  history 
that  can  be  written  of  him.  Therefore  we 
shall  not  endeavor  to  elaborate  upon  the  incidents 
In  the  career  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch.  His  present  home  is  in  Canton,  in  or 
near  which  place  he  has  been  living  about  forty 
years.  He  has  now  partially  retired  from  business 
affairs,  deriving  his  principal  income  from  loaning 
money  and  tlie  rents  on  his  real  estate. 

Mr.  Stockdale  is  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England, 
having  been  horn  April  29,  1814.  His  father, 
William  Stockdale,  was  of  Scotch  descent  and  born 
at  Kirkbourti,  near  Driffield.  He  emigrated  to 
America  in  May,  1830,  and  died  the  following  fall, 
a  widow  and  six  children  surviving  him.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  Mary,  daughter  of  Roger 
Cook,  who  died  in  Cicero,  N.  Y. 

Our  subject,  who  was  the  eldest  child,  learned 
the  butcher's  trade  in  Hull,  England,  and  after 
coming  to  America  worked  at  it  in  Syracuse  and 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.  He  also  spent  two  years  on  the 
lakes  as  mate  of  a  schooner.  He  was  married  in 
Goodrich,  LTpper  Canada,  to  Miss  Harriot  Cutting, 
a  native  of  Sussex,  England.     Her  father,  Sidney 


Cutting,  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Canada  Company, 
building  up  a  town  and  also  laboring  as  a  boat 
builder.  Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Stockdale 
went  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  securing  employment  in 
jMitchell's  pork  house.  After  a  time  he  opened  a 
meat  market  on  the  Ohio  canal  at  the  junction  of 
the  Columbus  Feeder,  keeping  the  stand  two  3'ears 
and  furnishing  the  boats  with  meat.  He  next  went 
to  St.  Louis,  JIo.,  in  1839.  remaining  in  that  city 
nearly  ten  years. 

The  next  removal  of  Mr.  Stockdale  was  to  Can- 
ton, III.,  where,  in  1850,  he  opened  the  first  regular 
meat  market  in  the  place;  although  he  had  been 
there  in  the  fall  of  1848-49  slaughtering  hogs.  This 
he  carried  on  until  the  fall  of  1854,  when  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  James  H.  Stipp  and 
Thompson  Maple.  During  the  winter  of  1854  the 
company  packed  about  fifteea  thousand  hogs,  the 
proceeds  of  the  sale  amounting  to  nearly  $200,000. 
Mr.  Stockdale  was  eng.aged  in  this  enterprise  during 
the  winters  until  1859  when  he  bought  the  interest 
of  his  partners.  He  carried  it  on  alone  about  ten 
years:  then  sold  the  establishment.  It  was  some 
years  afterwards  burned.  He  then  carried  on  a 
meat  shop  a  few  years,  and  farmed. 

Having  invested  in  a  tract  of  land  not  far  from 
the  town,  Mr.  Stockdale  removed  his  family  thither 
in  1865,  giving  his  attention  to  agriculture  until  the 
fall  of  1877.  He  then  sold  the  farm, returned  to  Can- 
ton and  built  a  cider  mill,  which  he  runs  for  custom 
business,  making  as  mucli  as  three  thousand  barrels 
in  a  season.  He  has  two  large  presses  with  a 
capacity  of  one  hundred  barrels  per  day  and  does 
the  grinding  and  pressing  b}'  steam.  Except  dur- 
ing the  season  when  the  mill  is  in  operation  he  is 
practically  retired  from  business. 

Mr.  Stockdale  has  been  twice  married,  his  first 
companion  having  born  him  six  children.  Of  this 
circle  three  are  now  living.  Amelia  P.  is  Assistant 
Superintendent  in  the  Home  of  the  Friendless  in 
Chicago;  Fhebe  H.  is  the  wife  of  John  Hollings- 
worth  whose  home  is  near  Monroe  City,  Mo., 
eighteen  miles  west  of  Hannibal;  Albert  J.  is  a 
telegraph  operator  on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
(■iuincy  Railroad.  The  present  wife  of  our  subject 
bore  the  maiden  of  Rachael  Penny.  She  was 
born  ill  England  and  came  to  this  country  in  child- 


_M.^       iV 


1 


■iS 


V,     ^*- 


ISAAC    HARRIS. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBIJM. 


255 


hood,  her  home  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  being 
in  Canton.  This  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
six  ciiiidren.  as  follows:  Ilattie  E., a  bookkeeper  for 
P.  P.  Mast  &  Co.,  in  Peoria;  Grace  M.,  wife  of 
Wilton  Vandevonder;  Laura,  deceased;  Maud, 
.lames  E.,  and  Mattie,  at  home. 

Mr.  Stockdale  served  as  Assistant  Township 
Supervisor  two  years  and  was  afterward  elected 
Supervisor,  serving  in  that  unpacity  an  equal  length 
of  time.  For  several  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  order.  In  political  matters  he 
afliiiates  with  the  Republican  party,  being  one  of 
the  most  stanch  supporters  of  the  jsrinciples  laid 
down  in  its  platform.  In  the  first  campaign  of 
Lincoln  he  organized  nearly  twenty  Union  Leagues 
in  Fulton  County.  (Juietly  pursuing  his  course 
in  life,  honorably  discharging  all  his  obligations, 
and  manifesting  an  intelligent  interest  in  the  affairs 
of  the  community',  State  and  nation,  he  is  numbered 
among  the  respectable  citizens  and  successful  men  in 
this  vicinity. 

Three  of  Mr.  Stockdale's  sons  participated  in 
the  late  war.  \\illi;un  ('.,  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
Seventeenth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  received  the 
commission  of  First  Lieutenant;  Sidney  A.,  was  a 
member  of  tlie  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  afterward 
transferred  to  Gen.  Kellogg's  corps  and  appointed 
Provost  Marshal  in  Tennessee,  having  his  head- 
quarters at  Nashville.  He  was  for  some  time  on 
the  staff  of  Gen.  Grant,  and  was  appointed  Col- 
lector of  Internal  Revenue  for  sixteen  parishes  in 
Loul.siana,  which  was  among  the  first  a|)pointments 
made  by  Grant  after  he  became  President.  When 
Senator  Kellogg  was  appointed  Collector  of  Cus- 
toms at  New  Orleans,  Sidney  became  his  Deputy. 
Albert  J.,  was  a  drummer  boy  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Third  Illinois  Infantry  anfi  served  in  this  ca- 
pacity until  discharged. 


Sfjapa: 


\f  SAAC  HARRIS.  The  name  of  Harris  is  known 
and  respected  throughout  Fulton  Count}^  as 
belonging  to  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  this 
section  of  the  countrv,  in  wliose  honor  the  town- 
ship of  Harris  was  named.     The  present  represent- 


i 


ative  of  the  family  is  a  son  of  the  old  pioneer,  and 
was  himself  a  pioneer.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  an  important  factor  in  the  agricultural  life  of 
the  township  of  Bernadotte  and  is  one  of  its  most 
venerated  and  highly  esteemed  citizens. 

Our  subject  was  born  In  Licking  County,  Ohio, 
February  21,  1813.  His  parents  were  of  Pennsyl- 
vania birth.  They  came  to  Fulton  Count}-  in  1827, 
and  in  1834  removed  to  what  is  now  Harris  Town- 
ship, which  was  named  in  honor  of  John  Harris, 
the  father.  He  was  a  prominent  settler  here  for 
many  years,  dying  at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety- 
five  years.  His  wife  was  eighty-six  j'ears  old  at 
the  time  of  her  death.  In  the  history  of  Fulton 
County,  wc  find  the  following  concerning  Mr.  Har- 
ris' settlement  here:  "Harris  Township,  which 
borders  upon  the  western  boundary  of  the  county 
was  named  in  honor  of  John  Harris,  its  first  settler. 
He  removed  here  from  Bernadotte  Township,  and 
located  on  section  18,  as  early  as  1827."  It  is  said 
that  for  several  years  he  followed  the  occupation  of 
hunting,  finding  abundance  of  game  in  the  native 
forc)(^  and  upon  the  broad,  beautiful,  unculiivaled 
prairies.  It  is  said  that  when  he  first  visited  this 
region  he  made  the  journey  to  and  from  Ohio  on 
foot. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  with  his  par- 
ents until  he  was  within  twenty-two  d.ays  of  being 
twenty -one  years  old.  At  that  youthful  age  he 
married  and  established  a  home  of  his  own,  taking 
as  his  bride  Margaret,  daughter,  of  John  and 
Rachael  Sinnetl,  to  vrhom  ha  was  married  January 
30.  1834.  Their  pleasant  wedded  life  was  brought 
to  an  end  after  nine  years  by  the  premature  death 
of  the  wife  March  11,  1813.  Their  union  resuUccl 
in  the  birth  of  five  children,  four  daughters  and 
one  son,  of  whom  the  following  is  recorded:  Em- 
ily born  November  17,  1834.  married  J.  L.  Clif- 
ford, and  died  February  14.  1880;  Mary,  born 
August  11,  1836,  married  AV'illiam  DeFord  in 
October,  1855;  he  is  a  butcher  by  trade,  and 
they  live  in  Smithfield,  Cass  Township;  William 
H.  was  born  on  the  13th  of  Febru.ary.  1831), 
enlisted  in  1862  in  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and 
Third  Illinois  Infantry, and  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Lookout  ]\rountain  in  1863;  Rhoda.  born  Febru- 
ary   24,    1811,   married    Edivard    Fennel    in  July, 


256 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1858,  and  they  live  on  their  own  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  in  Wa^-ne  County,  Iowa;  Margaret,  born 
March  1 1,  1843,  married  Jolin  Wheeler.  October 
30.  1S64,  and  they  live  on  a  leased  farm  of  three 
hundrod  ami  twenty  acres  in  Putnian  Township. 

Mr.  Harris  was  married  to  his  present  estimable 
wife  June  22,  1843.  She  was  formerly  JlargaretJ. 
Littlejohn,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Sa- 
rah Litllejohn.  The  union  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife  h:!S  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  ten 
children,  of  whom  the  following  is  recorded:  Perr}-, 
born  August  10.  1844,  is  married  and  lives  on 
a  homestead  in  the  State  of  2sebraska;  Sarah, 
born  April  27,  1846,  married  Samuel  Chambers 
and  they  live  on  a  farm  in  Bern.ado'tte  Township; 
Xaucy,  born  February  20,  1847,  married  John  Cru- 
sen,  who  is  a  butcher,  and  thej'  live  in  Cuba,  Put- 
man  Township:  John  L.  born  February  S,  1850, 
lives  on  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  Cass  Towushi|);  Michael  R..  born  March  15, 
1852.  owns  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  the  .State  of  Nebraska;  Lana,  born  Januarj- 
8,  1855,  married  Jesse  Nate,  a  dairyman,  and  the}' 
live  in  Lewistowu;  Emma  Jane,  born  September  7, 
1858,  married  George  Stockhara,  and  thej'  live  on 
tlieir  farm  of  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  in  Lewis- 
town  Township;  Julia  E..  born  December  16,  1860, 
married  William  Freeman,  whose  biograjjhy  will  be 
found  elsewhere  in  this  book;  Elmira  M.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1  865,  married  William  Johnson,  and  lives 
on  part  of  her  father's  farm;  Amanda  E.,  born 
Januar}'  19.  1857,  died  at  the  age  of  nine  months. 

.Soon  after  our  subject's  first  marriage  he  en- 
tered one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  acres  of 
land  in  Harris  Township.  After  living  on  it  two 
years  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  13,  Bernadotte  Township,  where  he  has  re- 
sided ever  since.  It  is  in  ever}-  respect  a  good 
farm,  supplied  wilii  ample  buildings,  under  the 
best  of  cultivation  and  highly  productive.  Our  sub- 
ject has  been  a  hard  working  man.  In  his3-oungcr 
days  he  usetl  to  walk  from  Lewislown  to  where  he 
now  lives,  cut  two  cords  of  wood  and  walk  back 
again  the  same  day,  which  feat  no  one  but  a  ver}- 
strong,  active  man  could  have  perforn)cd.  He  has 
worked  for  tifty  cents  a  d.'iy  in  the  harvest-field. 

Mr.   Han  is    ha,s    been   a  witness   of   the   many 


if(i)) 


changes  that  have  made  this  a  well-developed 
country  and  which  have  been  brought  about  in  a 
great  measure  by  the  introduction  of  modern  m.a- 
chinery  that  has  so  greatly  facilitated  the  work  of 
harvesting.  He  is  a  man  of  strong  constitution 
and  comes  of  a  hardy,  long-lived  race,  havingaboift 
one  hundred  relatives  now  living.  He  has  fi  ve  wid- 
owed sisters  and  three  brothes,  the  youngest  of  whom 
is  sixty  years  old,  and  among  his  descendants  he  can 
count  seventy-five  grand  children  and  great  graml- 
chihlren.  His  mother-in-law,  Mrs.  Littlejohn.  is  liv- 
ing with  him  and  has  attained  the  remarkable  old 
age  of  ninetj-two  years.  Mr.  Harris  is  a  consist- 
ent member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  in  politics  is  a  sturdy  Republican.  His  por- 
trait is  presented  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

vOHN  POLHEMUS.  The  name  that  heads 
this  sketch  is  one  long  and  worthily  identi- 
fied with  Joshua  Township,  and  no  history 
of  this  immediate  vicinity  would  be  com. 
plete  without  a  biograjthical  review  of  the  life  of 
Mr.  Polhcmus.  From  a  perusal  of  this  necessarily' 
brief  and  incomplete  life  record,  it  will  be  seen  that 
from  earliest  jouth  to  tiie  present  time  his  days 
have  not  been  uselessly  or  idly  spent.  He  is  a  man 
of  more  than  ordinaiT  energy  and  force  of  ciiar- 
acter  and  one  much  respected  in  business  circles. 

Our  subject  was  boru  in  the  State  of  New  Jer- 
sey, M.ay  4,  1830,  a  son  of  Daniel  G.  and  .Maria 
Polhemus,  who  were  also  natives  of  that  State,  both 
being  descendants  of  Holland  ancestry.  In  the 
springof  1838,  the  parents  with  their  entire  family 
left  the  State  of  their  nativity  and  coming  to  Illi- 
nois, settled  in  Fairview.  The  father  bought  four 
hundred  acres  of  land  near  the  present  site  of  the 
town  of  that  name  and  the  Polhemus  family  have 
since  contributed  largely  to  the  growth  and  pros- 
jierity  of  this  enterprising  town  which  is  only  twc 
miles  from  their  residence.  The  father  became  one 
of  the  most  useful  pioneers  of  this  section  and  here 
passed  his  remaining  da^-s.  dying  in  the  month  '  of 
January,  1883,  at  a  ripe  old  age.  His  wife  died 
April  1,  1879,  and  thej'  are  both  sleeping  their   last 


^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


257 


slee[)  in  the  cemetery  at  Fairvicw.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children — John,  Ralph,  Emily, 
Henry,  Garrett.  Matilda  and  Mary,  of  whom  tlie 
first  three  are  deceased  and  the  others  are  living  in 
Fulton  County. 

John  Polhenuis  received  his  education  in  tlie 
common  school  and  remained  with  his  parents  at 
the  old  homestead  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of 
twenty-tiiree  years.  On  February  4,  1S62,  he  was 
wedded  to  Miss  Anna  Stout,  whqse  parents  were  of 
New  Jersey  birth.  Shortly  after  his  marrianc  Mr. 
Polhemus  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Third  Illinois  Infantry,  Company  I),  under 
command  of  Capt.  Wicas,  and  went  into  camp  at 
Peoria.  After  one  month  spent  there  he  marched 
with  his  regiment  to  Bolivar,  Tenn.,  and  took  part 
in  the  battles  of  Tallahatcliee,  Vicksburg,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Kenesaw  Mountain.  Mr.  Polhemus 
and  his  comrades  accompanied  Sherman  to  the  sea 
and  bore  an  honorable  part  in  all  the  engagements 
of  that  famous  campaign.  He  was  in  the  army 
three  years  and  during  all  that  time  never  lost  .a 
day  on  account  of  ill  health,  but  was  always 
prompt  in  reporting  for  duty.  He  showed  many 
valiant,  soldierly  qualities,  was  cool  and  courage- 
ous in  battle,  and  was  always  faithful  and  efficient 
at  all  times  and  in  all  phces.  At  Dalton,  Ga.,  Mr. 
Polhemus  was  captured  on  the  skirmish  line  by  the 
rebels,  but  he  overpowered  the  guard  in  a  personal 
encounter,  succeeded  in  taking  his  gun  and  gaining 
his  libert\%  by  this  exploit  escaping  the  hoi'rors  of 
the  rebel  prison  at  Andersonvillc.  He  was  cap- 
tured a  second  time  and  a  second  time  he  managed 
to  escape,  though  shot  at  twice  while  fleeing.  At 
Lookout  Mountain  he  was  wounded  and  at  Atlanta 
a  rifle  ball  struck  the  brass  plate  of  his  belt,  his  life 
being  saved  bj'  the  plate.  Mr.  Polhemus  still  pre- 
serves the  ball  and  belt  which  he  cherishes  highly 
as  a  relic  of  his  soldier  days. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Polhemus  was  hon 
orabl}^  discharged  from  the  service  and  returned 
home  with  an  excellent  railitnrj'  record.  He  has 
since  devoted  himself  to  fi'rming,  having  pur- 
chased a  good  farm  on  section  5,  Joshua  Township, 
after  he  left  the  army.  He  has  greatlj'  increased 
the  value  of  his  land  since  it  came  into  his  posses- 
sion and  has  upon  it  many  neat  and  well    ari'anged 


improvements.  He]pays  close  attention  to  his  du- 
ties, is  skillful  in  carrying  on;liis "operations  and  is 
meeting  with  well  deserved  success.  He  and  his 
wife  have  here  a  cozy,  eomfoi'table  home.  Their 
married  life  has  been  productive  to  them  of  much 
hapijiness  and  has  brought  to  them  eight  children, 
and  the  following  is  .the  record  of  the  four  living: 
Daniel,  born  April  13,  1855;  Charles.  October  20, 
185fi  ;  Emily,  February  23,  1  860,  and  Harry,  Febru- 
ary 14,  1861.  The  children 'have  been  carefully 
trained  to  useful  lives,  and  are  all  residents  of  Ful- 
ton County. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  a  giilhmt  and  brave 
soldier  and  one  who  must  always  be  remembered  in 
recounting  the  famous  victories  and  numerous  dan- 
gers of  the  great  Civil  War.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  L.  P.  Blair  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Fairview.  He  is 
a  citizen  who^is  most  highly  respected  and  well- 
liked  by  the  entire  community  and  in  all  the  affair.s 
of  life  he  has  conducted  himself  creditably  and 
honorably. 


'i^^- 


ELMER  ELLSAVORTH    WHITEHEAD,  the 
enterprising  editor  of  the  Fairview  Bee,    is 
. '  a  young  gentleman  possessed  of  those  happy 

traits  of  character  that  enable  him  to  keep  up  the 
liveliness  of  the  Bee  with  all  ease,  and  talent  that 
is  much  admired  throughout  this  community. 
There  is  certainly  no  position  in  life  that  requires 
more  energy,  good  judgment  and  education  than 
does  editorial  work.  Mr.  Whitehead  was  ushered 
into  this  world  at  Canton,  July  10.  1861,  and  is 
the  son  of  Savill  and  Anna  (Ogden)  Whitehead. 

Savill  Whitehead  was  born  in  Oldham, Lancashire, 
England,  as  was  also  his  wife.  He  was  a  machinist  by 
trade  and  upon  leaving  his  native  shores  located  in 
Canton,  where  he  is  still  living -and  following  his 
trade  in  hi.s  own  shops.  He  rendered  his  country 
good  service  by  joining  the  ranks  of  the  Fnion 
Army  during  the  late  Civil  War.  The  parental 
family  of  our  subject  included  nine  children, 
namely:  two  who  died  in  infancy  in  iMigland, 
Joseph,  born  in  England,  and  who  is  foreman  on 
the  Canton  Lerlc/er.  at  Canton;  Mary,  who  resides 
in  Chicago;  John  J.,  who  died  at   the  early  age  of 


■2r)S 


roirrii.viT  and  15I()(;rai'11jcal  album. 


(1111^  :uul  (iiK'-luill'  3'wus;  oiii'  subjuoL  w;is  next,  in 
orcJer  u(  liirtli;  l<hi  M.,  a  resident  of  Canton;  Vved 
G.,  who  (lied  when  two  years  old  and  AUiert.  who 
makes  his  home  in  Canton. 

Our  subject  passed  liis  chiltUiood  in.  Iiis  niitive 
place,  attending  tlie  public  and  liigli  schools  in 
Canton,  and  completing  liis  education  at  Toland's 
College  in  that  city.  When  seventeen  years  of 
age  he  entered  the  Ledger  office  as  type-setter  and 
"printer's  devil,"  (be  it  understood  that  he  was  by 
no  means  possessed  of  satanic  nature  except  in 
newspaper  phraseolog}',  kind  reader).  After  filling 
his  laborious  and  far  from  congenial  position  for 
about  two  years,  and  in  the  meantime  developing 
liis  talent  for  journalistic  work,  he  next  connected 
liimself  with  the  Vermont  Chronicle,  but  after 
chronicling  news  foi-  about  six  months,  he 
workeil  on  the  Burlington  Haivkeye — that  most 
amufing  of  all  ])apers.  His  next  venture  was  with 
the  Canton  Register,  after  wliieh  he  was  with  the 
]>cwistown  Democrat  and  the  Havana  Republican. 
Isatnrally  this  varied  experience  admirablj'  fitted 
him  to  take  charge  of  a  ])aper,  and  since  coming  to 
Fairview  he  has  been  busy,  not  as  a  bee,  buton  the 
Bee.  This  paper  was  established  Jann.iry  3,  1883, 
by  V.  B.Phillips. 

Mr.  Whitelicad  bought  out  the  owners  of  the 
Bee  the  same  j'ear  in  whicli  it  was  estalilished  and 
lias  continued  to  make  it  a  breezy  and  interesting 
sheet  up  to  the  present  t,ime.  His  is  not  a  "bee" 
that  stings,  but  one  that  "buzzes"  in  a  most  musi- 
cal manner,  and  flies  regularly  into  about  three 
hundred  and  lifty  homes  that  would  be  lost  with 
out  their  spicy  little  visitor. 

In  June,  188G,  our  subject  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lillian  M.  Odie,  of  Havana,  and 
daughter  of  William  Odle.  Her  father  is  a  retired 
merchant  and  slie  is  tlie  third  in  order  of  birth  of 
till'  four  chihlriMi  liorn  to  her  paients.  Mrs.  White- 
head is  a  graduate  of  the  Havana  High  School  and 
a  most  estimable  woman.  Her  union  with  our  sub- 
ject lias  been  blest  by  the  liirth  of  two  children — 
Violet  and  Hoyd  Nelson. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitehead  have  a  comfortable 
iiome  in  the  central  |iart  of  the  village,  and  lure 
thej^  entertain  many  a  brilliant  visitor  and  in  their 
cozy  parlor  numerous  "bon-raots"  tly  about.     Our 


(© 


subject  is  a  member  of  the  Fairview  Lodge,  No.  120, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  which  he  is  Secretary.  IIis  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In 
politics  our  subject  is  an  Indepen<lent.  In  addition 
to  his  editorial  duties,  he  has  a  nice  business  in  job 
work  and  is  gaining  ground  so  rapidly  in  this 
work  that  the  older  printing  houses  through  the 
county  should  look  to  their  laurels.  He  is  a  veiy 
popular  man  and  especially  so  in  his  own  town- 
ship, having  served  as  Township  Clerk  through 
1880  and  188'J. 

OHN  G.  ACKERSON,  a  veteran  of  the  late 
war  who  is  now  connected  with  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  Liverpool  Township,  is 
a  native  of  this  county.  He  vv.as  born  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1831,  in  the  i)ioneer  home  of  his  parents, 
Abram  and  Eleanor  (Kent)  Ackerson,  in  Lewistown 
Township.  His  father  was  one  of  the  very  earliest 
settlers  of  this  county,  coming  here  from  Ohio,  his 
native  State.  He  was  a  son  of  Garrett  Ackerson, 
who  was  a  native  of  New  York.  The  Ackersons 
are  supposed  to  have  originated  in  Holland.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  faimer  and  also 
engaged  iu  carpentering.  In  the  early  days  of  the 
settlement  of  Ohio  he  removed  from  New  York  to 
that  State  and  became  one  of  its  pioneers.  He 
cleared  a  farm  which  he  owned  and  operated  un- 
till  1827,  when  he  came  by  wagon  to  Fulton 
County  and  was  among  the  first  to  locate  in  Lew- 
istown Township,  settling  on  a  tract  of  timber 
land  three  miles  northeast  from  the  present  site 
of  the  city,  for  which  he  paid  -^^1.20  ac  acre.  The 
Indians  had  not  then  left  the  country  which  was  in 
a  very  sparsely  settled  condition,  and  deer,  wild 
hogs  and  turkeys  abounded.  The  grandfather  de- 
veloped a  farm  and  remained  a  resident  of  tliis 
county  until  his  ileatli  at  a  venerable  age  in  1862. 
The  father  of  our  subject  came  to  this  county  in 
1828,  about  a  j-ear  later  than  his  father's  removal 
to  this  section.  His  father  gave  him  forty  acres  of 
land,  and  Iu;  actively  entered  upon  the  pioneer  task 
of  preparing  it  for  farming  jiurposes.  His  work 
was  intermitted  for  a  time  by  the  Black  Hawk  War, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


259 


in  wliicli  lie  served  as  a  soldier.  Tie  lived  in  lliis 
Cdiiiity  milil  Ills  death  with  llu;  exei!|il  on  of  two 
years  icsideiice  in  Jlasoii  County.  He  died  on  our 
subjeel's  farm  in  J>iverpool  T(j\vnsliip,  in  18(58.  at 
the  age  of  tifty-six  ^ears.  He  was  a  man  of  exem- 
plary habits  and  was  a  member  of  the  chnreh 
nearly  all  his  life,  belorginij  lii\st  to  the  church  of 
the  I'nited  Brethren  and  later  to  the  Methodist 
Chnreh.  His  wife,  who  was  u  native  of  Ohio, 
lived  to  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years  and  then  gave 
up  her  life  with  the  cabTiness  and  sereidty  that  at- 
tends the  death  of  faithful  believers.  She  was  iden 
tified  with  the  Southern  Methodist  Church  for 
many  3'ears.  Five  children  were  horn  to  the  par- 
ents of  our  subject,  of  whom  four  grew  to  matu- 
rity, namelj':  Almarinda  (deceased),  John  (J., 
Abram  W.,  C'atheiine  (deceased),  and  Klizabeih, 
(Mrs.  Wheadon). 

Our  subject  passed  his  youth  on  a  farm  in  this, 
his  native  count}-,  and  in  the  common  schools  ob- 
taine(i  a  limited  education.  Tlie  schoolhouse 
which  he  attended  was  a  rude  log  structure  with 
slab  seats  and  fnrnisliings  quite  in  keeping  with 
the  day.  He  remained  at  home  and  assisted  in 
the  management  of  tlie  farm  until  lie  was  twen- 
ty-nine years  old.  In  .July,  1862,  he  determined  to 
tlirow  aside  his  work  and  take  part  in  the  great 
war  that  was  then  being  waged,  and  he  enlisted  in 
Company  B,  Eighty-fifth  Illinois  Regiment,  for  a 
term  of  three  3ears.  His  company  was  drilled  for 
two  weeks  at  Peoria  .and  w.as  then  sent  to  Louis- 
ville, K_v.  From  there  our  subji^'t  and  his  com- 
rades went  to  Crab  Orchard,  the  pride  of  the  Blue 
Grass  State  in  the  way  of  watering  [jlaces,  and 
thiMc  Ihey  took  jjart  in  a  bnttle  •■uid  skirmi.sli  that 
lasted  a  whole  day.  At  this  place,  Mr.  Ackcu'son 
was  taken  sick  with  a  bilious  attack,  and  was  re- 
moved to  the  regimental  hospital  at  Nashville, 
Teiiii.,  where  he  remained  until  February,  18G3, 
and  was  then  discharged  on  account  of  physical 
disability.  So  greatly  did  his  he.iltii  snflfer  from 
the  hardships  that  he  had  to  endure  while  in  the 
army  that  he  felt  the  effects  of  his  illness  for  a  3'ear 
after  his  return   home. 

In  1872  our  subject  removed  to  Cowley 
County,  Kan.,  where  he  bought  a  quarter  section 
of  land,      lie  broke    but  si.\ty-live  acres  and  raised 


a  good  croi)  of  corn  during  his  two  years  residence 
there.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  sold  oul.and  com- 
ing back  to  Fulton  County,  bcmght  one  hundred 
and  fifty-eight  acres  that  he  now  owns,  ,a  part  of 
which  is  on  the  Illinois  River  bottoms,  where  the 
Soil  is  very  rich  and  productive.  He  has  ever  since 
been  a  resident  of  Liverpool  Township,  and  li.as  de- 
voted himself  to  tilling  the  soil  and  raising  stock. 
He  has  jiut  many  good  inii)roveinents  vipon  his 
pl.ace,  has  everything  necessary  for  conducting 
agricullure.  and  from  his  well  tilled  (ields  reaps 
good  harvests. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1872.  Mr.  Aekerson  and 
Miss  May  Wallwoi  Ih  were  united  in  marriage.  Mrs. 
Aekerson  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  came  to  this  .State  with  her  parents  who  settled 
near  Fairbury.  Mr.  and  IMrs.  Aekerson  have  made 
for  themselves  a  pleasant  hom<!  and  they  enjoy  the 
friendship  of  many  in  their  community.  Politically 
Mr.  Aekerson  is  identified  wiili  the  Democratic 
part}'.  He  has  held  the  oflices  of  Road  Commis- 
sioner, Constable  and  School  Director  at  different 
times  and  no  one  is  more  willing  than  he  to  help  in 
forwarding  the  best  interests  of  l-ivcrpool  Town- 
ship. 


r->^  A  T  H  A  N  1  F  L  \  ITTUM.  While  Fulton 
County  has  much  in  the  way  of  natural  re- 
iL\  sources  and  commercial  transaction.s  to  com- 
mend it  to  the  public  at  large,  the  chief  interest 
centers  upon  the  lives  of  those  citizens  who  have 
achieved  success  for  themselves  and  at  the  same 
time  benefited  the  community  in  which  they  re- 
side. Prominent  among  these  men  is  he  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch.  Ire  having  been  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  and  taken  an  active  part  in  laying 
the  fouiulation  for  the  present  prosperity  of  the 
county. 

Grandfather  \ittum  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
in  New  Hampshire,  cutting  his  way  into  the  forest, 
and  receiving  the  deed  to  a  large  tract  of  Land  for 
his  settlement.  His  son  Tuftine  was  the  first  boy 
born  in  the  town  of  .Sandwich.  On  growing  to 
manhood  he  married  Dolly  Weed,  who  was  the 
first   girl    born    in    .Moilonboro,    N.    H.,  and  whose 


260 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


parents,  Moses  and  Dolly  (Mugget)  Weed,  were 
vciy  early  settlers  in  the  Granite  State  and  had 
been  warm  friends  of  the  Vittums  for  many  j-ears. 
Tuftine  Vittum  and  his  wife  resided  in  their  na- 
tive State  throughout  the  entire  course  of  their 
lives.  To  them  were  born  three  children — Na- 
thaniel, Daniel  and  Sallj-.  An  uncle  of  our  sub- 
ject fought  in  the  Revolutionar3-  War  and  many 
relatives  participated  in  the  War  of  1812. 

Nathaniel  Vittum  was  born  in  Sandwich,  N.  H., 
March  30,  1804,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive State,  following  farming  as  an  occupation. 
He  at  one  time  owned  an  hotel  and  was  also  in- 
terested in  the  stage  business.  In  1825  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Clara  Palmer,  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Sallie  (Cannistcr)  Palmer,  who  was  from  earl}' 
infancy  a  near  neighbor  of  Mr.  "N'ittum  and  is  but 
four  months  his  junior,  having  been  born  August 
17.  1804.  Her  ancestors  in  both  the  paternal  and 
maternal  lines  were  from  Holland.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Vittum  are  the  parents  of  three  children — .Sarah, 
who  married  Joseph  Drake,  both  being  now  de- 
ceased; Daniel  W.,  a  prosperous  farmer  and  wide- 
awake business  man  of  this  countA';  and  Martin, 
who  died  at  an  early  age. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  \'ittum  came  to  this  county-  from 
their  native  State  in  the  year  1847.  pui'chasing 
large  tracts  of  land  which  embraced  about  five 
hilndred  acres.  Their  son  had  previously  visited 
this  section  in  company  with  au  uncle,  and  con- 
sidering it  a  most  desirable  place  of  residence,  had 
located  here,  and  the  father  coming  to  visit  him. 
was  equally  well  pleased.  Mr.  Vittum  continued 
his  agricultural  o|ierations  until  his  advancing 
jears  impaired  his  health  and  he  retired  from 
business.  He  li.as  been  an  active,  hard-working 
man.  ilevoting  much  time  to  financial  matters, 
but  having  achieved  success,  is  now  enjoying  life 
in  a  most  comfortable  waj-.  He  and  his  wife, 
who  h.as  been  his  faithful  companion  for  sixt}'- 
Bve  years,  occupj'  a  cozy  home  in  Canton,  where 
they  are  surrounded  bj'  admiring  friends. 

Mr.  Vittum  h.as  taken  great  interest  in  polities, 
both  in  his  native  State  and  Illinois,  and  h.as  on 
man}-  occasions  been  urgefl  to  become  a  candi- 
date for  office,  an  honor  which  he  kindly  but 
firmly   declined.     He  was  an   old   acquaintance  of 


"Long  John"  Wnntworlh,  and  man}'  times  while 
hoys  together  in  New  Hampshire,  they  hauled 
wood  to  boil  maple  .syrup.  Indeed,  the  Went- 
worths.  Vittums  and  Weeds  were  upon  very  inti- 
mate terms  and  the  subject  of  our  sketch  frequently 
visited  Mr.  Wentworth  iu  Chicago.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Vittum  have  been  connected  with  the 
Congregational  Church  for  half  a  century. 


^•M 


€^-B- 


-^ 


EZEKIAH  CATTRON  who  is  well  known 
J  and  honored  in  this  section  of  the  county, 
is  distinguished  as  being  one  of  the  oldest 
'i^'  residents  of  Hickory  Township,  where  he 
has  a  large  and  valuable  farm.  He  is  (me  of  the 
most  extensive  landholders  of  Fulton  Count}-,  and 
as  a  prominent  farmer  has  been  a  i)0tont  agent  in 
advancing  the  growth  of  this  portion  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Cattron  was  born  in  .Sullivan  County,  East 
Tennessee,  May  26,  1813,  to  Valentine  and  Frances 
(Bohannon)  Cattron,  natives  respectively  of  Vir- 
ginia and  North  Carolina.  At  an  early  day  the 
father  of  our  subject  left  Tennessee  with  his  family 
and  started  on  an  exploring  tour  in  search  of  a 
pleasant  location  and  iu  1820  arrived  in  Washington 
County.  Ind.  They  settled  three  miles  south  of  Salem 
and  engaged  in  farming  there  four  years.  In  1825 
the  family  moved  to  Bartholemew  County  the  same 
State,  four  miles  north  of  the  city  of  Columbus, 
where  Mr.  Cattron  obtained  a  lease  of  a  school 
section.  In  a  short  time  he  sold  his  It.ase  and  we 
next  hear  of  him  in  Fountain  County.  Ind.,  where 
he  took  possession  of  eighty  acres  of  land,  which 
he  continued  to  occupy  for  a  period  of  ten  years. 
He  then  traded  that  land  for  a  tract  of  land  in  La 
Porte  County,  and  afler  the  death  of  his  wife  which 
took  place  April  15,  1832,  he  sent  his  son,  our  sub- 
ject,  to  improve  his  last  purchase.  In  1834  he  re- 
moved to  that  place  and  while  be  was  residing 
there  bought  a  quarter  section  of  land  in  Ple.asant 
Township,  t'ulton  County.  On  the  30th  of  April, 
1837,  the  family  came  to  this  county  and  settled  on 
said  land,  and  the  father  and  our  subject  made  an 
additional  purcliase  of  a  half  section  of  land  in 
Decrfield  and  Young  Hickory  Townships. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


261 


The  fatlier  of  our  siibjt^cl  died  February  4, 1840. 
He  had  been  verj'  much  prospered  and  at  the  time 
of  his  deUh  owned  land  in  the  followiu<r  four  towu- 
sliip;::  Hickory-,  Fairview,  Josiija  and  Deorlield, 
whieh  property  is  now  in  possession  of  our  subject. 
He  remained  with  liis  father  durinii  tlie  life  of  the 
latter,  afforded  him  material  assistance  in  the  ac- 
quisition of  his  fortune,  and  to-da}'  is  one  of  the 
wealthy  men  of  his  county.  He  has  further  in- 
cieased  the  acreage  of  his  estate  by  various  i)ur- 
chases  and  now  owns  twelve  huudrcil  acres  of 
choice  and  valuable  land  in  Fultt>u  County.  The 
farm  on  which  he  resides  is  [ileasrintly  located  on 
section  G,  Hickory  Township,  and  the  improve- 
ments on  it  are  of  the  best  class.  Mr.  Cattron,  al- 
though on  the  shad}'  side  of  life  is  yet  vigorous, 
and  man.ages  his  affairs  with  the  old  time  abilitj' 
and  sound  judgment.  Tlie  work  that  he  has  done 
to  advance  the  welfare  of  the  county  and  to  help 
build  up  its  schools  and  churches,  and  so  elevate 
its  social,  moral  and  religious  status,  entitles  him 
to  a  high  place  among  the  pioneers  of  Fulton 
County. 

.Mr.  Cattron  was  married  July  4,  1839,  to 
Rachael  Alcott,  their  marriage  taking  place  in  Fair- 
view  Township.  Her  parents  came  from  New 
Jersey  and  were  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  while  he 
s|)rings  from  German  ancestry.  Four  children 
have  blessed  the  wedded  life  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife,  all  of  whom  are  living  in  Fulton  County,  and 
their  record  is  as  follows:  Mary  Eliza,  born  July 
20,  1840^;  Josiah  A.,  January  8,  1842;  .lohn  Milton, 
April  4,  1844;  and  Israel  Valentine,  September 
I."),    184fi. 

.Mr.  Cattron  and  his  good  wife  joined  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  December  4,  1850.  and 
have  been  connected  with  it  ever  since  as  two  of 
its  most  consistent  and  valued  members,  wdio  are 
deeply  interested  in  all  religious  matters  and  will- 
ingly contribute  to  all  worth}'  causes.  Mr.  Cattron 
has  been  a  true  Republican  since  the  formation  of 
tlie  iiarty.  He  has  borne  a  prominent  part  in  the 
public  life  of  this  section,  and  has  served  in  various 
important  offices.  For  three  years  he  was  a  School 
Commissioner,  for  two  j'ears  a  Road  Commissioner, 
a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  same  length  of  time, 
was  a  member  of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors 


one  year,  and  he  sat  on  the  first  grand  jury  that 
was  ever  convened  in  this  county.  He  has  also 
interested  himself  in  educational  matters  as  a 
teacher.  He  obtained  his  education  in  Washington 
and  Fountain  Counties,  Ind.  under jlifBculties,  as 
ho  had  to  walk  a  distance  of  three  miles  over  a 
rough,  dreary  read  in  order  to  get  to  the  primitive 
pioneer  school  which  he  attended.  After  coming 
to  tliis  State  he  utilized  his  education  liy  leaching 
school  one  year  (1838)  two  miles  west  of  Canton. 
He  is  a  generous,  open-hearted  gentleman,  and  is 
re.ady  at  all  times  to  do  what  wealth  and  good 
feeling  can  accomplish  both  in  liusiness  and  social 
circles.  His  genial  nature,  as  well  as  his  unusual 
liberality,  has  made  numerous  friends  for  him  in 
the  community  with  which  he  has  been  identiOed 
for  more  than  half  a  century. 


M\  ARTIN    RUSSELL,    General      Insurance 


Iji  y^  Agent,  Canton.  Nothing  more  full}'  illus- 
y  A  trates  the  rapid  strides  the  world  has  made 
in  civilization  during  the  last  few  centur- 
ies, than  the  manifold  and  varied  occupations  found 
to  exist  in  large  and  small  cities;  and  the  immense 
amount  of  insurance  carried  both  on  individual  life 
and  property,  is  indeed  surprising  when  we  see  the 
estimate  In  plain  figures.  With  every  succeeding 
year  business  is  becoming  more  and  more  brisk, 
and  bread-winners  must  work  faithfully  and  well 
to  attend  properly  to  the  duties  found  in  each  line 
of  work.  But  tact  and  industry  combined  always 
bring  about  a  happy  result,  as  is  seen  in  the  case  of 
Martin.  Russell,  whose  sketch  now  claims  attention. 
I\Ir.  Russell  is  an  Englishman  by  birth,  having 
first  seen  the  light  of  day  in  that  country,  March  2, 
1823,  and  had  reached  his  second  year  when  his 
parents,  John  and  Hannah  (Ray)  Russell,  left  their 
English  liome  to  seek  a  new  one  in  the  United 
States.  The  father  was  an  agriculturist,  and  settled 
in  the  State  of  Vermont,  at  Barnard,  and  there 
continued  to  live  through  the  greater  part  of  his 
time  up  to  his  death.  The  mother  died  in  that 
State  about  1834,  leaving  three  children,  viz:  Cyn- 


262 


.PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tliia.  wife  of  Ceber  Sniitb,  of  Pittsford,  Vt. ;  John, 
resident  of  Barnard,  Vt.;  and  the  subject  of  our 
sketch. 

According  to  the  custom  of  those  days,  Mr. 
Russell's  father  bound  him  out  when  he  was  four 
years  old  and  he  continued  to  serve  until  he  had 
reached  his  seventeenth  year.  The  remembrance 
of  those  years  is  not  attended  with  any  great 
amount  of  pleasure,  although  Mr.  Russell  recalls 
the  lady  of  the  house  with  gratitude,  she  having 
always  been  kind  and  considerate  and  doing  all  in 
her  power  to  make  life  more  endurable  to  him.  He 
received  no  literary  instruction,  although  his  father 
had  arranged  for  him  to  attend  school  two  months 
each  3-ear.  He  had  been  ambitious  to  acquire  an 
education  and  had  obtained  a  certain  amount  of 
knowledge  b^'  studying  at  night  after  a  hard  day's 
work,  dreading  the  penalty  of  a  whippihg  if  the 
light  of  his  tallow  dip  was  discovered  by  the 
man  to  whom  he  was  bound.  After  leaving  this 
place  he  worked  for  a  few  raoutlis  on  a  farm  in  the 
same  neighborhood,  then  attended  a  select  sciiool 
three  months,  after  which  he  came  West  to  Mans- 
field, Ohio. 

This  was  in  184i,  and  Mr.  Russell  taught  for  a 
short  time  but  in  the  ensuing  year  came  to  Illinois, 
settling  first  at  Shabbona  and  continuing  to  make 
that  his  home  until  1850.  While  there  he  took  up 
the  insurance  business  and  is  now  about  the  oldest 
man  in  his  line  of  work  in  the  entire  State.  He  went 
to  California  by  the  overland  route  in  1850  and  his 
experience  throughout  the  trip  wasexceedingl3-  in- 
teresting. He  had  tiie  misfortune  to  lose  the  diary 
which  he  had  been  keeping,  but  an  excellent  mem- 
orj-  enables  him  to  recount  the  most  interesting  in- 
cidents as  well  as  the  most  trying  experiences  in 
which  he  bore  a  part.  He  learnod  what  hunger  is, 
as  the  last  mouthful  of  food  was  eaten  when  the 
pai-ty  was  yet  five  iiundre<l  miles  from  San  Fran- 
cisco. The  grass  on  the  plains  had  not  started  as 
early  as  usual  that  j-ear  and  it  was  necessary'  to  put 
the  horses  on  short  allowance  and  give  to  ihcm 
some  of  the  provision  that  had  been  made  for  the 
human  beings. 

After  a  short  experience  as  a  miner  on  the  Yuba 
River  Mr.  Russell  returned  home,  crossing  Central 
America  and  continuing  his  journey  to  New    York 


bj'  water.  The  coach  and  four  with  which  t!io 
journey  across  Central  America  was  made  was  pic- 
turesque, if  not  modern.  The  vehicle  consisted  of 
two  large  wheels  cut  from  the  redwood  tree,  set  on 
a  sapling  for  an  axle,  while  the  bed  of  the  coach  was 
of  rawhides  and  the  top  a  canopy  of  leaves  sup- 
ported by  saplings.  This  rude  conveyance  was 
drawn  by  Mexican  oxen.  Mr.  Russell  saw  many 
wonderful  sights,  but  was  not  averse  to  making  his 
home  in  the  Prairie  State  when  his  tour  was  com- 
pleted. He  settled  in  DeKalb  Countj^  after  having 
passed  some  time  in  the  East,  and  continued  his  in- 
surance business,  investing  some  money  in  a  valu- 
able farm.  This  he  sold  in  1866  at  which  time  he 
located  in  Galesburg,  whence  he  removed  to  Can- 
ton in  the  summer  of  1872.  As  general  insurance 
agent,  liis  duties  have  extended  over  the  greater 
part  of  the  United  States  and  it  is  a  distinct  com- 
pliment to  Illinois  that  after  so  much  wandering  he 
invariablj'  returned  here. 

Mr.  Russell  represents  some  of  the  best  compan- 
ies in  America,  among  them  being  the  Ohio  Farm 
ers.  Glens  Falls,  Jersey  Citj',  State  Investment,  of 
Calif(>rnia.  Denver,  of  Colorado  and  the  ^Etna  Life 
Insurance,  of  Hartford,  Conn.  He  is  still  as  actively 
engaged  in  business  as  ever,  employing  office  help 
in  the  carrying  on  of  his  labors.  His  home  is  a 
happy  one,  presided  over  by  a  native  of  Water- 
town,  N.  Y.,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Cath- 
erine Hall.  She  became  his  wife  in  1845,  the 
marriage  rites  being  celebrated  in  DeKalb  County, 
this  State.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  have  four  chil- 
dren, named  respectively,  Viola.  Emma,  Frank  and 
AVili. 

Mr.  Russell  is  a  Royal  Arch  JIason,  and  has 
taken  the  council  degrees.  He  does  not  belong  to 
an\-  church,  but  is  a  very  moral  man  and  lives  re- 
ligion in  his  dail^'  habits  as  nearlj-  as  possible. 
Being  a  self-marle  man  he  is  well  prepared  to  un- 
derstand the  trials  and  hardships  of  which  life  is 
too  often  composed,  and  loses  no  opportunity  to 
help  those  less  fortunate  than  himself.  Once  at 
the  bottom  round  of  the  ladder  of  fame  and  for- 
tune, Mr.  Russell  has  climbed  round  by  round,  un- 
til he  stands  to  day  upon  the  topmost  one.  and 
merits  additional  praise  for  having  climbed  with- 
out assistance  of  anv  kind. 


^ 


.*> 


•m     /. 


^iy4^^^. 


a^^^^W^  (^j^jiA^^ 


PORTRAIT  AXI)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALIUTM. 


2  Of) 


ARTIN  BEEBE.  This  untciprising  and 
progressive  farmer,  whose  portrait  is  shown 
*  on  the  opposite  page,  is  the  owner  of  what 
is  known  as  the  Ducl<  Island  Farm,  con- 
sisting of  lifleen  hundred  and  ninety-  acres  of 
land  on  sections  33,  34  and  35,  Banner  Township. 
Nine  luindred  acres  are  under  ciiltivaiion,  pro- 
ducing from  forty  to  fifty  bushels  of  wheat  and 
from  seventy  to  one  hundred  bushels  of  corn  per 
acre.  Mr.  Beebe  is  extensivel}'  engaged  in  rais- 
ing corn  and  iiogs,  although  other  products  are  not 
neglected.  His  residence  on  section  33,  presents 
an  ai)[)earauce  of  comfort  and  homelikeness,  and  is 
accompanied  by  the  numerous  buildings  needful 
to  the  prosecution  of  the  work  of  the  place. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Chemung  County, 
N.Y.,April  6,  1819,  toHezekiah  and  Sarah  (Boyer) 
Beebe.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  removing  with 
his  parents  to  LaGrange  County,  Ind.,  in  1837, 
and  remaining  there  until  1839.  In  December  of 
that  year  he  came  to  this  count}-,  employing  him- 
self at  work  by  the  month  for  two  years.  He 
next  learned  the  trade  of  a  cooper,  at  which  he 
worked  about  fifteen  years.  In  1849  Mr.  Beebe 
bought  a  smsiU  farm  in  Banner  Township,  near 
Utica.  and  in  1860  purchased  the  Island  Farm 
from  John  N.  AVillard,  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Here 
he  has  mada  his  home  since  tiiat  time,  devoting 
himself  assiduously  to  the  pursuit  of  his  chosen 
calling  and  reaping  a  satisfactory  reward  for  his 
perseverance,  intelligence  and  prudence. 

Mr.  Beebe  has  been  twice  married,  the  first  union 
having  been  C(ins\immated  in  1847.  His  bride 
was  Miss  Diana  Sayles,  an  efficient  and  affectionate 
lady,  with  whom  he  lived  happil}'  until  her  death, 
January  8,  18()2.  She  left  five  children,  whose 
record  is  as  follows:  Henry  C!aj-,  born  April  12, 
1851,  married  Clara  Rosecarap;  Clara  A.,  born 
January  28,  1853,  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
}'ears;  Marcus  T.,  born  F'ebruary  I,  1856,  married 
Polly  Harris  and  lives  in  Missouri;  Josephine, 
born  March  28,  1858,  married  William  Ringliouse 
in  October,  1886,  and  now  lives  in  Mason  County; 
Orrin.  born  February'  29,  1861,  married  Miss  Min- 
nie Riloy  and  lives  in  Bucklieart  Township,  this 
county. 

The  second   marriage  of  our  subject   was  cele- 


brated November  24.  1870,  the  bride  being  Miss 
Kinma  l^lem.  who,  while  devoted  to  her  family  and 
their  interests,  finds  time  and  op[)orluiiily  for 
kindly  intercourse  with  her  many  friends.  This 
marriage  has  resulted  in  the  liirlh  of  the  following 
sons  and  daughter:  John,  born  .luly  27,  1873; 
Amos,  January  1,  1875;  Hector,  .lune  24,  1877; 
Frederick,  July  28,  1879;  Carrol.  January  14, 
1882:  Sheldon,  September  5,  1884;  Mary  Belle, 
December  22,  1887. 

When  he  became  old  enough  to  vote.  Mr.  Beebe 
was  an  old-line  Whig,  and  on  the  formation  of  the 
Republican  party  identified  himself  with  it,  but 
is  now  a  member  of  the  Greenback  party.  lie  is 
not  an  active  participant  in  political  affairs,  pre- 
ferring to  give  his  attenti':)n  to  his  personal  pur- 
suits and  the  joys  of  domestic  and  social  life.  He 
is  respected,  as  his  merits  deserve,  by  all  who  are 
acquainted  with  his  character  and  attainments. 


■ — -5- 


^^ 


^^  W.  HOBBS,  now  living  in  Mound  Town- 
-  ship,  McDonough  County,  was  one  of  the 
JK  earl}'  pioneers  of  this  county,  who  was  for 
many  years  closely  identified  with  its  industrial  in- 
terests, as  one  of  its  most  successful  farmers  and 
skillful  mechanics,  and  is  eminently  worthy  of  a 
place  among  its  representative  men  in  this  I'.io- 
ORAPHICAL  Album. 

Mr.  Hobbs  was  born  in  Maryland,  not  far  from 
the  city  of  Baltimore,  in  1817.  When  he  was  a 
child  his  parents  took  him  to  the  pioneer  wilds  of 
Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  of  which  they  were  early 
settlers.  In  his  youth  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
blacksmith  by  the  name  of  James  Simeral,  and 
during  the  term  of  his  apprenticeship  received  his 
board  and  clothes.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  went  to  work  with  a  noted  mechanic,  Joseph 
Fields,  and  toiled  hard  for  the  meagre  sum  of  82 
a  month,  from  which  he  had  to  clothe  himself, 
and  his  board.  He  followed  his  trade  for  two 
years,  and  then  made  a  trip  to  New  Orleans  on 
the  river.  He  afterward  worked  in  Washington, 
Pa.,  the  year  of  the  cholera,  until  all  emplo3ment 
was  suspended  on  account  of  the  dreaded  disease. 


266 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


In  1834  he  came  North  from  New  Orleans,  whither 
lie  had  been  sojourning,  and  norlied  in  George- 
town, Oliio,  until  1835,  when  he  came  to  Illinois. 
He  landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Spoon  River,  in 
company  with  two  blacksmiths  and  two  clothiers 
who  had  come  from  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Hobbs  and  Joseph  McCoy,  who  came  with 
liira.  worked  at  the  blacksmith's  business  that 
year  in  Monmouth.  We  may  mention  in  this  con- 
nection that  our  subject  still  has  the  old  anvil 
with  which  he  worked  in  that  place  over  Qfty-fire 
years  ago.  It  iiad  been  bought  by  his  father-in- 
law  from  a  person  in  the  East,  and  when  it  was 
sold  with  the  other  effects  of  the  old  gentleman, 
Mr  Ilobbs  bought  it  at  the  rate  of  twenty  cents  a 
pound.  It  is  of  English  manufacture  and  is  of  the 
best  make.  Our  subject  and  his  partner  pursued 
their  calling  very  profitablj-  at  Jlonmouth,  and  at 
the  end  of  the  first  six  months  had  ^106  each.  The 
former  very  judiciously  invested  his  when  ho 
came  to  Harris  Township  from  Monmouth  in  the 
spring  of  1836,  in  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  of  land. 
He  still  worked  at  his  calling,  however,  in  tiie  vil- 
lage of  Marietta,  where  he  lived,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  time  of  his  residence  in  Lewistown  during 
the  war,  until  aliout  nine  years  ago,  when  he  sold 
out  and  removed  to  his  present  place  of  residence 
in  McDonough  County.  He  had  three  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  Fulton  County,  and  a  full  section 
in  McDonough  Count}',  which  he  had  purchased 
wiien  it  w.as  cheap.  He  engaged  extensively  in 
raising  stock  and  carried  on  the  business  in  part- 
nership with  Mr.  Wilson.  At  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  they  had  five  hundred  head  of  cattle,  and 
as  pasture  was  plentiful  and  cheap,  they  made 
money  fast.  This  count}-  is  greatly  indebted  to 
our  subject  for  what  he  did  toward  improving 
stock  in  the  early  days  bj'  the  introduction  of 
horses,  cattle  and  hogs  of  a  high  grade.  He  be- 
lieved in  raising  none  but  good  stock,  and  when- 
ever he  made  a  purchase  alw.ays  bought  the  best  in 
the  market. 

When  Mr.  Hobbs  came  here  he  had  an  idea 
that  if  he  should  be  able  to  get  forty  acres  of  land 
he  would  be  well  off,  and  when  he  obtained 
eighty  acres  he  considered  himself  quite  rich. 
With   characteristic  enteri)risc   he  decided  that  he 


would  have  an  orchard,  and  he  senf'to  'an  old 
Quaker  friend  to  have  him  send  him  a  lot  of  fruit 
trees  such  as  he  thought  he  would  want.  His  friend 
sent  him  one  hundred  apple  trees  and  a  variety  of 
pears,  which  he  planted,  and  they  afterward  be- 
came famous  for  their  fine  fruit.  From  one  of  his 
trees  our  subject  often  sold  as  much  as  $50  worth 
of  fruit  each  year,  and  his  orchard  was  regarded  as 
one  of  the  finest  in  all  the  country  around. 

Our  subject  was  married  April  20,  1837,  to  Miss 
Eliza  Humphrey,  and  their  wedded  life  of  more 
than  fift}'  years  duration  luas  been  one  of  great 
felicity.  Mrs.  Hobbs  is  a  most  excellent  woman, 
of  many  Christian  virtues,  and  is  a  true  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Humphrey,  of  Ohio.  His  brother, 
John  Humphrey,  of  Warren  County,  111.,  was  a 
Colonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hobbs  are  fine  people,  and  are  in  every  way  worthy 
of  the  high  regard  in  which  they  are  held  by  the 
people  among  whom  thej-  have  settled.  They  have 
had  six  children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  of 
whom  the  following  is  recorded  :  George  F.  was  a 
young  married  man  of  thirty-six  3'ears  when  he  died, 
his  wife  having  died  before  him;  John,  who  is 
married,  owns  and  occupies  a  large  tract  of  land 
which  his  father  purchased  in  Cass  County,  Mo.; 
Jane  married  James  Walhice,  a  druggist  at  Lewis- 
town,  and  they  have  one  daughter;  Addison,  who 
bought  of  his  father  the  old  home  place  of  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  l\'ing  near  Marietta,  is  mar- 
ried and  has  two  sons  and  four  daughters;  Martha 
married  A.  J.  Franklin,  a  merchant  of  Los  Angeles. 
Cal.,  and  the}'  have  three  children;  William,  at 
home,  living  on  the  farm  near  his  father,  is  mar- 
ried and  has  three  children. 


-^5=?- 


ENRY  I.  WEAVER  is  numbered  among 
I)  the  enterprising  stock  farmers  of  Deerfield 
Township.  He  sells  but  a  portion  of  grain 
but  devotes  the  entire  produce  of  his  faira 
to  the  stock  which  he  raises  and  buys.  His  home 
is  on  the  old  homestead,  which  consists  of  eighty 
acres  on  section  3,  all  under  good  cultivation,  well 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUiM. 


'267 


improved  and  abundantly  supplied  with  whatever 
is  needful  in  order  to  successfully  prdseiule  the 
owner's  occiii):ition.  Mr.  "Weaver  is  a  representa- 
tive of  a  family  long  known  and  highly  honored  in 
this  eoiuity.  where  settlement  was  made  by  his 
grandparents  in  the  spring  of  1835.  During  the 
period  of  mure  than  half  a  century  that  has  elapsed 
since  then,  the  record  of  the  family  and  tlH>se  who 
have  married  into  it  has  been  one  of  exceptional 
morality.  Not  only  have  they  been  free  from 
haliitnal  profanity,  drunkenness  and  other  vices, bnt 
they  have  also  escaped  arrest  for  any  cause  how- 
ever slight,  and  have  lived  in  peace  and  harmony 
with  those  about  them. 

William  Weaver,  grandfather  of  our  subject, was 
born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  in  1791.  His  wife, 
Mary  Cornwell,  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
Mav  14,  1797,  and  their  marriage  rites  were  cele- 
brated at  Cannonsbury.  In  April,  1H35,  the  couple 
located  on  section  2,  Deerfield  Township,  this 
county,  where  the  wife  died  April  19,  1855,  and  the 
husband  April  1 1, 1879.  In  the  family  of  this  good 
couple  was  a  son  Joshua,  whose  birth  took  place  in 
Green  County,  Pa.,  December  30,  1820.  After 
reaching  years  of  maturity  he  won  for  his  wife 
Eliza  A.  Martin,  who  was  born  in  Muhlenburg 
County,  Ky.,  May  19,  1826,  but  at  ihe  time  of  her 
marriage  was  living  in  this  county.  The  wedding 
took  place  in  Deerfield  Township  October  21,  1^51, 
and  the  union  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  sons 
and  one  daughter.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joshua  Weaver 
are  now  living  in  Ellisville. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch  is  the  third  son  born  to  thecou|)le  just  men- 
tioned, and  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day 
March  G,  1859.  He  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  the 
township  among  whose  citizens  he  has  high  rank, 
and  to  her  public  schools  owes  his  educational  train- 
in".  He  remained  an  inmate  of  his  parents'  home 
until  his  marriage,  when  he  established  himself  on 
the  homestead,  buying  the  land  from  his  father. 
The  lady  whom  he  won  for  his  helpmate  and  com- 
panion and  with  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage 
December  20,  1882,  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Marmry  K.  Mitchell.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Mathew 
H.and  Calphurnia  (Wheeler)  Mitchell,  and  like  her 
husband,  was  born  in  Deerfield  Township,  her  natal 


day  having  been  May  24,  1863.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Montgomery  County,  this  Slate,  and  her 
mother  in  New  York. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  ^\'eaver  of  this  sketch  are  the  par- 
ents of  three  bright  boys — IIari-y  Dale,  born  Au- 
gust 12,  1883;  Joshua  Clare,  born  April  13,  1885; 
Ross,  born  September  26,  1889.  Mr.  Weaver  is  a 
Republican  and  takes  suflicient  interest  in  politics 
to  be  at  the  jioUs  every  election  daj-  and  cast  a 
straight  ballot.  lie  has  served  in  the  capacity  of 
Township  Supervisor  and  School  Director.  He  and 
his  wife  belong  to  Ellisville  Lodge,  No.  401,  I.  O. 
G.  T.,  and  are  members  of  the  Methodist  flpisco- 
pal  Church.  Mr.  Weaver  is  Recording  Secretary  of 
the  congregation  at  the  Sharon  Church  and  ."super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-sehool,  and  lakes  a  deep 
interest  in  church  work.  He  and  his  wife  are  highly 
regarded  by  the  members  of  the  community,  per- 
petuating as  they  are  the  excellent  record  of  the 
Weaver  familj-. 


ILLIAM  MELLOR,  a  well-known  member 
of  the  bar,  practicing  his  profession  in  A'er- 
^y/  mont.  was  a  brave  olllcer  in  the  late  war  in 
which  he  did  noble  service  for  his  adopted  eountr\\ 
He  has  long  taken  a  prominent  part  in  Ihe  civic 
and  political  life  of  county  and  town,  and  has 
filled  with  abilit}',  many  olllccs  of  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility. 

Royton,  a  place  near  Manchester,  England,  was 
where  our  sul)ject  w.as  born  May  23,  1830.  His 
father,  William  ]Mellor,was  a  native'  of  ibe  same 
town  and  was  a  son  of  another  William  Mellor, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  that  town  and  his  father 
and  great-grandfather  were  born  in  the  villnyo  of 
Mellor,  three  miles  from  Royton.  The  grcai-great- 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  miller  and  man- 
aged a  mill  on  the  River  Irk,  and  spent  his  entire 
life  there.  The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
seems  to  have  inherited  his  father's  trade  and  made 
his  living  by  it  in  his  native  village  of  Melloi-,  of 
which  he  was  a  life-long  resident.  The  grandfatlier 
of  our  subject  w.as  reared  to  agriciilluial    [)uisuits, 


268 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  after  marriage  removed  to  Raj'ton,  en ojaged  iu 
farming  near  there,and  there  made  liis  Lome  until  lie 
was  gathered  to  his  fathers. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Royton.  He  removed  to  Manchester  in 
1833  and  engaged  in  the  cotton  brokerage  business 
until  his  death  in  1812.  He  married  Susannah  Kaye. 
She  was  born  near  Royton  and  was  a  daughter  of 
James  J.  Kaye,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  as  were 
his  ancestors  for  many  generations.  He  was  a  far- 
mer and  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  town  of  his 
birth.  Mrs.  Mellor  died  in  Manchester  in  1851. 
8he  and  her  husband  reared  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren as  follows :  Susannali, Betsey,  Hannah.  Travis, 
William  and  James.  Travis  and  William  were  the 
only  members  of  the  family  who  ever  came  to 
America.  Travis  settled  at  Bushnell.  this  State, 
and  still  resides  there. 

William  Mellor.  of  this  sketch,  attended  school 
near  iliddleton  and  received  an  excellent  educa- 
tion. In  1847,  he  carae  to  America,  accompanied 
bj'  his  bride,  setting  sail  from  Liveipool  in  the 
good  ship  "Enterprise"  of  the  Black  Ball  line,  and 
landing  at  New  York,  in  the  month  of  August. 
They  came  directly  to  Illinois  to  join  his  brolhei. 
coming  bj-  the  Hudson  River  and  Erie  Canal  to 
Buffalo,  and  thence  bj'  Lake  Erie  to  Pennsj'lvania, 
where  the}'  traveled  on  the  canal  to  Beaver,  that 
State,  and  from  there  to  Alleghany,  Ohio,  and 
thence  to  the  Mississippi  and  uji  that  river  and 
the  Illinois  to  Sharp's  landing  in  Schuyler  Count}-, 
and  from  there  by  team  to  McDonough  County. 
Mr.  Mellor  was  employed  in  farming  there  until 
the  fall  of  1848,and  in  the  spring  of  1849,caine  from 
there  to  Vermont,  and  began  life  here  as  a  clerk 
for  Stephens  it  Wynans.  He  was  with  them  three 
and  one-half  years  and  then  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  as  a  member  in  the  6rm  of  Heizer 
<fe  Co.  In  1857  the  firm  was  dissolved  and  onr 
subject  after  that  traveled  in  the  Southern  States, 
selling  nursery  stock  until  1859.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Vermont  and  was  engaged  in  clerking 
forllenr}-  Mershon  until  the  war  broke  out. 

During  his  travels  in  the  South.  ^Ir.  Mellor  had 
noted  its  attitude  toward  the  North,  and  on  his  re- 
turn in  a  public  speech  he  had  warned  the  people 
of  coming  hostilities,  and  after  the  rebellion  broke 


out,  watched  its  course  with  interest.  In  April, 
1862,  he  offered  his  services  to  defend  the  Stars 
and  Stripes,  enlisting  in  Company  F.  One  Hundred 
and  Third  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  in 
as  a  private  at  Peoria,  October  2,  and  a  few  days 
later  was  elected  Second  Lieutenant  of  his  company 
and  before  leaving  that  cit}'  was  recommended  as 
Quartermaster.  He  went  to  Tennessee  with  his 
regiment  and  spent  the  winter  there.  He  was  then 
detailed  a  member  of  Gen.  Steele's  staff  at  La 
Grange,  Tenn.,  and  was  with  him  until  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Gen. Corse,  who  appointed  him  as  a  mem- 
ber of  his  staff.  He  occupied  that  position'until  the 
General  was  wounded  at  Missionary'  Ridge,and  after 
that  was  one  of  Gen.  Woolcot's  staff  until  April  7, 
1864.  On  that  day  while  with  a  foraging  expedi- 
tion at  ilud  Creek,  near  Stevenson.  Ala.,  Lieut. 
Mellor  was  taken  prisoner  bj'  the  rebels,  who  took 
him  to  Libb}',  from  there  to  Atlanta, and  thence  to 
Andersonville,  where  he  was  confined  six  weeks. 
From  that  prison  he  was  sent  to  Marion.where  he  was 
incarcerated  until  August,  1864.  Savannah,  Ga., 
was  his  next  destination,  and  after  that  he  was  taken 
to  Charleston.  S.  C  where  he  was  exchanged  with 
other  sick  soldiers,  and  on  his  arrival  at  Annapolis, 
Md.,  was  given  a  furlough. 

In  Februar}-,  1865,  Lieut.  Mellor  was  ordered  to 
Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  to  report  for  duty,  and  was 
made  Adjutant  of  the  parole  camp  there, which  po- 
sition he  held  until  March,  1865.  In  tliat  month 
he  was  appointed  Quartermaster  at  the  parole 
camp,  Benton  Barracks,  Mo.  and  acted  in  that  ca- 
pacity there  until  May.  1865,  where  he  was  honor- 
abl}'  discharged  from  further  military  service. 

Our  subject  returned  to  Vermont,  and  gave  his 
attention  to  the  study  of  law,  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  had  a  good  general  practice  until  1886. 
Since  that  time  his  business  has  been  in  connection 
with  railroads,  securing  right  of  way  etc. 

In  June,  1847.  Mr.  Mellor  married  Charlotte 
Cowan,  a  native  of  Manchester,  England,  and  a 
daughter  of  William  and  ^largaret  Cowan,  who 
were  also  of  English  birth.  He  and  his  wife  are 
very  pleasantly  situated,  and  of  their  marriage  three 
children  have  come — George,  Robert  and  Luella. 
George  married  Belle  Argo,  and  the\-  have  one 
child — Pearl;  Robert,  married    Maggie  Ringland, 


PCJRTKAir  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


269 


and  lln'V  have  three  children — MabeL  Marj"  and 
William;  LuoUa,  married  George  McCnbe,  and  tliey 
have  one  son — William  B. 

Mr.  Mellor  was  formerlj'  a  Democrat,  but  has 
been  a  Repultliean  since  the  war.  He  has  served 
as  Town  Clerk.  Collector  and  Cornmissioncr  of 
of  Highways  and  lias  represented  Vermont  on  the 
County  Board  of  Sui)ervisors.  He  served  eight 
years  as  :i  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Kquiliza- 
tion.  has  heeii  delegate  to  numerous  county  and 
district  conventions,  and  has  been  Chairman  of  the 
County  Central  Committee. 


—Hi 


lEORGE  K.  LINDZEY.  How  frequently  is 
(— -,  it  the  case  that  natural  ability  and  energj' 
combined  accomplish  truly  wonderful  re- 
sults, raising  a  man  from  the  obscurity  of  povert3- 
to  the  importance  and  publicity  that  great  wealth 
brings.  Truly,  what  is  commonly  called  '-self- 
made  men,"  are  nsuall.y  those  that  occupy  the  high- 
est positions  both  in  National  and  .State  affairs,  and 
reach  higher  positions  in  the  commercial  world 
than  those  wliose  childhood  was  surrounded  by 
every  opportunity. 

The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  commenced 
life  with  virtually  nothing,  so  far  as  finances  go; 
and  has  b}-  dint  of  good  judgment,  pleasing  ad- 
dress and  energy,  amassed  quite  a  comfortable  for- 
tune. At  this  writing  he  has  retired  from  active 
business,  and  passes  his  d.ays  at  his  handsome  resi- 
dence on  Main  Street  in  Farmington.  His  health 
is  poor  indeed,  and  it  was  partially  for  this  reason 
that  he  concluded  to  settle  in  this  cit}-,  hoping  the 
pDre  atmosphere  and  pleasant  society  found  here 
would  benefit  him. 

Mr.  IJndzoy  was  born  in  Worcester  County,  m 
the  State  of  Massachusetts,  being  the  son  of  Will- 
iam Lindzey,  and  his  natal  day  fell  upon  the  12th 
of  February,  1843.  His  earliest  recollections  are 
of  Greenville,  a  little  cotton  manufacturing  vil- 
lage about  ten  miles  from  Providence,  where  he 
attended  school  for  a  time.  However,  the  greater 
part  of  his  education  was  received,  in  the  common 


schools  of  Fairview  Township,  and  much  of  his 
youth  was  spent  on  a  farm. 

December  2,  18.S0,  our  subject  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mi.ss  Martha  Williams,  of  Hillsbo- 
rough, Ohio,  daughter  of  Addison  and  Margaret 
(Noble)  Williams.  Her  graudfallier,  Daniel  Will- 
iams,  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  but  emi- 
grated to  Ohio  at  an  early  date.  He  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent.  Her  father  was  born  in  Highland 
County,  Ohio,  and  in  that  State  marrieil.  The 
mother  died  in  ISoO.  at  the  age  of  thirty-two,  leav- 
ing five  children,  only  two  of  whom  reached  ma- 
turity, viz.:  INIartha  (Mrs.  Lindzey),  and  .lohn  N., 
who  is  a  carpenter  and  lives  in  Decatur,  111.  He 
married  Miss  Martha  Lynn,  of  Sullivan,  111.  Soon 
after  sustaining  the  sad  loss  of  his  beloved  com- 
panion, Mr.  Williams  moved  to  Iowa,  but  in  a 
short  time  removed  to  the  State  of  Indiana,  where 
he  married.  His  daughter  was  brought  up  by  her 
paternal  grandparents,  and  when  they  died  she 
went  to  live  with  an  aunt,  Mrs.  Ca"oline  Rogers, 
ne:ir  llillsboro,  Ohio.  Jhs.  Liudzey's  father  served 
through  the  late  war.  He  w.as  severely  wounded  at 
Richmond,  where  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  allowed 
to  languish  aw.a}-  in  Andersonville  Prison,  in  the 
spring  of  the  year  that  witnessed  the  restoration  of 
peace  throughout  the  country. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  never  been  blessed 
with  children.  They  are  both  exceedingly  popu- 
lar in  the  community  in  which  they  reside,  and 
possessing  all  the  comforts  of  life,  watch  the  3ears 
glide  swiftlj- by.  They  settled  here  in  181)0,  tak- 
ing possessing  of  the  residence  they  had  built  dur- 
ing the  preceding  year.  Mr.  Lindzey  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  is  still 
a  strong  supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  j  He  is 
generally  respected  for  bis  strict  integrity  and  high 
sense  of  honor,  both  in  the  great  and  small  affairs 
of  life.  He  owns  a  considerable  amount  of  real 
estate  in  Farmington  and  other  places.  He  is  besides, 
interested  in  stock- raising,' owning  some  extra  fine 
horses  and  cattle. 

Our  subject's  father,  W^illiam  Lindzey,  was  an 
Englishman  b}'  birth  and  education,  and  for  many 
years  after  reaching  manhood  worked  in  the  cotton 
and  woolen  manufactories  of  that  country.  After 
coming  to  the  United  States  he  continued  his  work 


270 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  these  maiiuf:Kloiies  through  the  Eastern  cities, 
moving  from  place  to  place  in  the  States  of  Con- 
necticut and  Rhode  Island;  and  in  the  fall  of  1850 
removed  from  the  latter  State  to  Illinois,  making 
the  trip  bj-  boat  and  rail  to  New  York  Cit3',  and 
then  up  the  Hudson,  and  finally  bj-  waj'  of  the 
Great  Lakes,  Illinois  Canal  and  Illinois  River  to 
the  mouth  of  Copperas  'Creek.  After  reaching 
this  State  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Fairview  Township.  He  next  re- 
moved to  Yates  City,  where  he  owned  real  estate. 
His  death  occurred  in  the  year  1876,  after  he  had 
.Tttained  his  seventy -second  birthday.  AVilliam 
L'lidzey  was  married  in  England  to  ]Miss  Hannah 
Dix.  and  after  the  birth  of  three  children  came  to 
America,  as  above  stated.  Thej^  were  the  parents 
of  ten  children,  named  as  follows:  John,  Caroline, 
Emma,  Matilda,  Hai-riet,  Hannah.  James,  George, 
and  two  who  died  while  j'oung. 

To  such  men  as  our  subject  the  United  Slates 
owes  her  present  enviable  reputation  in  commer- 
cial circles — men  who,  not  afraid  of  personal  hard 
ship  and  the  trials  that  in  an  active  career  without 
financial  assistance  only  too  naturally  come  to  each 
life,  are  strong  and  brave  enough  to  carry  out 
Hamlet's  advice,  an'l  ••by  opposing  troubles,  end 
them." 


RANCIS  R.  BRO'SYN  is  one  of  those  worthy 
citizens  who  have  won  a  comfortable  fortune 
b}'  the  exercise  of  unflagging  industrj',  wise 
ecouomj-  and  good  judgment  in  the  conduct  of  the 
business  to  which  the\-  have  devoted  themselves. 
Ilis  home  in  Lewistown  Township  is  one  of  the  most 
attractive  of  the  farm  residences  within  its  bounds, 
and  everywhere  upon  the  estate  one  sees  evidences 
of  the  qualities  which  have  won  for  its  owner  his 
worldly  success  and  good  standing  in  the  com- 
munity-. 

Mr.  Brown  is  of  P'rench  stock,  his  grandfather, 
John  Brown,  having  been  a  native  of  France,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood.  Accompanied  by  two  brothers 
he  came  to  America,  making  his  first  location  in 
Maryland,  where  he  resided  a  number  of  years.  At 
the  time  of  the  early  settlement  of  Kentucky,  he 


bought  a  tract  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  sixt}' 
acres  of  timber  land  between  Flemingsburg  and 
Maysville  and  made  that  his  home  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  There  was  a  cabin  on  the 
place  and  he  erected  a  large  hewed  log  house  where 
he  kept  an  inn.  He  was  a  slave-owner  in  Maryland 
and  having  taken  his  chattels  with  him  to  Kentucky, 
they  cleared  the  land.  He  himself  practiced  his 
profession  of  a  ph3-sioian.  His  wife,  a  native  of 
Wales,  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Lurania  Rollins. 
She  also  died  on  the  homestead,  her  remains  being 
deposited  beside  those  of  her  husband  in  Fitch's 
Churchyard,  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of  Flem- 
ingsburg. 

Among  the  eight  children  reared  b}'  the  couple 
above  mentioned  was  a  son,  Joshua,  whose  birth 
occurred  ten  miles  below  Baltimore,  Md.  He  re- 
ceived a  fine  education  in  his  native  State  but  did 
not  adopt  professional  life.  He  was  a  young  man 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Keutuck}',  where,  in 
1819,  he  was  married  to  Rhoda  Hughes.  This  lady 
w.TS  born  in  Virginia,  being  a  daugliter  of  John  and 
Fannie  llughf  s.  who  were  numbered  among  the  ear- 
liest settlers  of  Fleming  County.  Ky..  their  location 
being  four  and  a  li.alf  miles  from  Flemingsburg. 
Mr.  Hughes  bought  a  tract  of  timber  land  which 
he  cleared  and  improved  as  fast  as  possible,  making 
it  his  home  'mtil  death.  For  many  years  after  his 
arrival  the  Indians  were  much  more  numerous  than 
the  whites,  and  the  settlers  were  obliged  on  numer- 
ous occasions  to  repair  to  the  stoek.ades  to  avoid 
death  at  the  hands  of  the  sav.ages.  AVild  game  of 
all  kinds  was,  of  course,  abundant. 

The  father  of  our  subject  built  a  cabin  on  his 
father's  homestead,  where  he  resided  four  j-ears 
after  his  marriage,  then  bought  a  quarter  section  of 
timber  land  on  the  Horseshoe  Bend  in  Mason 
County.  He  cleared  quite  a  tract  of  land  and  was 
doing  well  financiall}'  when  called  upon  to  pav  a 
security  debt  which  ruined  him.  causing  the  loss  of 
his  farm.  Going  to  Mt.  Carmel  he  built  a  double 
hewed  log  house  and  shop,  and  engaging  in  the 
shoemaker's  trade  continued  there  four  3'ears.  In 
Fleming  County  he  met  with  the  loss  of  his  de- 
voted companion  who  died  when  her  son.  our 
subject,  was  eighteen  months  old.  The  bereaved 
husband  and  father  after  atime  removed  loClermont 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


•271 


County.  Oliio,  where  he  was  manieil  the  secoml 
time,  to  Miss  Catherine  Nocsiiiger.  and  after  some 
years  to  Fiiltou  County,  111.,  thence  lo  Jackson 
County,  Iowa,  where  he  entered  into  rest. 

Tiic  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in 
Fleming  County,  Ky.,  July  7,  1821.  and  was  live 
years  old  when  his  fatlicr  removed  to  Ohio.  In 
that  State  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1814,  when 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  this  State,  coming 
tliithcr  by  means  of  tlie  Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Illi- 
noisKivers  and  disembarking  at  Liverpool  Landing 
on  the  12tli  of  October,  with  ¥2.37^}  cents  in  his 
pocket.  He  had  visited  this  section  the  preceding- 
spring  and  traded  liis  horse,  saddle,  biidle  and  gun 
for  a  tract  of  Government  land  upon  which  a  cabin 
stood.  Here  he  took  up  his  residence  with  his 
sister,  who  made  him  a  comfortable  home  until  he 
took  a  wife.  It  was  necessary  for  liiui  to  find  em- 
pl03'ment  and  he  was  soon  at  work,  splitting  rails 
at  twenty-tive  cents  per  hundred.  At  this  he  em- 
ployed the  hours  of  daylight,  clearing  his  land  at 
night;  when  there  was  no  moon  he  would  work  bv 
the  light  afforded  by  a  burning  brush  heap. 

In  181(3  Mr.  I'.rown  sold  his  claim  for  $100  and 
rented  a  farm  in  I'utnam  Township.  At  tliat  lime 
there  was  no  railroad  communicalion  in  this  vicin- 
ity and  the  river  towns  were  the  markets  to  which 
all  produce  was  hauleil.  frequently  over  veiy  hard 
roads.  Wheat  sold  as  low  as  twenty-five  cents  per 
bushel  and  other  produce  at  proportionate  rates, 
and  yet.  by  dint  of  pi'udence  and  unflagging  in- 
dustry, men  prospered.  Mr.  Brown  after  operating 
as  a  renter  twelve  years,  purcliased  one  hundred 
and  thirty-three  acres  of  bind  included  in  his 
present  farm  which  now  consists  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy-three  acres. 

The  capable  .and  devoted  companion  lo  whose 
wistlom  in  the  management  of  hou.sehold  affairs  and 
good  counsel,  Mr.  Brown  owed  much  during  his 
struggling  years,  was  Nanc}'  Laws,  a  native  of  Cul- 
peper  County,  Va.,  and  daughter  of  .Samuel  and 
Polly  (Rector)  Laws.  Their  mairiage  rites  were 
celebrated  in  the  spring  of  18l.i,  and  for  a  jxM-iod 
of  nearly  half  a  century  they  shared  each  other's 
joys  and  sorrows.  Mrs.  Brown  wiis  called  hence 
June  17,  1890,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  seven 
months  and  seventeen  days.     She  was  the  mother 


of  live  cliilili-eii.  four  of  whom  are  now  living, 
namely:  Martin,  who  lives  in  Kansas;  Rhoda  A., 
wife  of  Ijorenzo  I).  Boyer;  (ieorge  W.,  whose  home 
is  in  l>ewisl(.iwn  Township;  Martha  K.,  wife  of 
Eugene  Churchill,  who  resides  ii;  Buckhearl  Town- 
ship. 

ORRISON  DARLAND  is  one  of   the  old- 
est settlers  in   the  county   and   ranks  with 
the   leading   farmers,  allhough   he   is   now 
'  retired    from    active    labor,    tlic    manage- 

ment of  the  estate  being  in  the  hands  of  his  sons, 
lie  lias  been  a  very  hard-working  man  and  well  de- 
serves the  rest  he  is  enjo3'ing  and  the  competence 
he  has  secured.  He  owns  a  valuable  tract  of  land 
in  Young  Hickory  Township,  comprising  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  sections  1  o  and  25, 
and  another  tract  of  forty  acres  on  section  11. 

Our  subject  is  the  fourth  child  of  Isaac  and 
•lane  (Morrison)  Darland.  His  father  was  Ijorn  in 
Kentucky,  grew  to  manhood  there  and  then  made 
his  way  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Preble  County.  There 
he  married  the  good  wom.an  who  shared  his  joys 
and  sorrows  for  many  years.  Like  liimself,  she 
was  a  native  of  the  Blue  (irass  Stale.  After  iiis 
marriage  Jlr.  Darland  cleared  a  farm,  which  was 
his  home  until  the  death  of  his  wife,  when  he  be- 
came an  inmate  of  the  households  of  his  c  hildren. 
He  spent  two  years  in  this  county,  but  returned  lo 
Ohio  prior  to  his  demise. 

Politicall3-,  he  was  an  old-line  Whig.  Tln'  mem- 
l)ers  of  the  parental  family  arc:  John,  who  died 
in  Ohio;  Benjamin,  now  living  in  Marble  Rock, 
Iowa;  Harrison,  who  died  in  Ohio;  our  subject; 
Xan  Lew,  who  (lied  in  Iowa;  Nathan,  a  resident 
of  Kansas;  Isaac,  who  died  in  that  State;  Hannah 
and  Catherine,  who  died  in  Ohio.  Van  Lew  be- 
longed to  an  Iowa  regiment  in  the  Civil  AVar  and 
contracted  a  disease  from  which  he  dicrl  soon  alter 
his  return  lo  his  home. 

Our  subject  was  born  near  Paris,  Preble  County, 
Ohio,  November  8,  1812.  His  school  privileges 
were  limited,  consisting  of  attendance  in  the  win- 
ter in  the  old-fashioned  log  schoolhouse,  where 
instruction    was    su|)|)lied    under  the  subscription 


272 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


system.  He  was  eavly  set  to  work  on  the  farm, 
and  being  unusu.illy  large  and  strong  for  his 
years,  had  to  put  his  slioulder  to  the  wheel  in 
quite  heavy  labor.  Being  obliged  to  chop,  burn 
and  clear  timber,  he  early  became  an  adept  at 
using  the  ax.  He  remained  with  his  father  long 
after  he  was  of  age  and  was  the  last  of  the  boys  to 
leave  the  home  fireside.  The  idea  finally  grew 
upon  him  of  visiting  the  broad  prairies  of  Illinois, 
of  which  he  had  heard  so  much,  and  of  selecting  a 
location  in  which  to  make  himself  a  home.  He. 
therefore,  in  1835,  came  on  horseback  through  the 
Indiana  and  Illinois  mud  to  this  county,  where  he 
soon  purchased  land. 

Mr.  Darland  located  near  Fairview  on  a  quar- 
ter section,  and  bu3'ing  another  horse,  set  to  work 
to  improve  his  estate.  He  built  a  rude  log  house 
and  other  necessary  buildings,  and  when  the  land 
was  somewhat  improved  had  an  opportunity  to  sell 
it  to  advantage.  He,  therefore,  disposed  of  it  and 
bought  an  equal  amount  east  of  Fairview,  this 
also  being  raw  land.  Here  he  used  cattle  in  break- 
ing the  sod  and  cultivating  the  soil.  In  those 
early  days  the  market  was  Copperas  Creek  Laud- 
ing, to  and  from  which  all  produce  and  goods  must 
be  hauled.  The  principal  crops  at  that  time  were 
wheat  and  rye,  whereas  at  present  the  fields  are 
mostly  covered  with  corn.  Mr.  Darland  split  hun- 
dreds of  rails  with  which  to  fence  his  farm,  and 
otherwise  exerted  his  powerful  physical  forces, 
which  were  far  above  the  average. 

About  1845  Mr.  Darland  sold  his  property  in 
Fairview  Township  and  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  his  present  estate,  already  somewhat 
improved.  He  added  to  the  permanent  work  which 
had  been  done.  He  now  has  a  growing  orchard  of 
five  acres  of  apple  and  peach  trees,  which  he  set 
out  on  land  grubbed  by  himself  at  noons,  when,  as 
he  says,  he  was  resting.  Energj-  and  perseverance 
secured  the  meed  of  success,  and  year  by  year  the 
circumstances  of  our  subject  improved.  In  1870 
he  bought  an  additional  quarter  section  adjoining 
his  first  purchase  in  the  township,  paying  §40  per 
acre.  This  he  has  also  improved,  making  two 
farms  with  the  necessary-  buildings.  His  forty-acre 
tract  is  timber  land.  He  has  always  raised  a  good 
grade  of  cattle  and   hogs,  and  has   also  bred  some 


very  line  drafi  anil  diiving  horses.  He  is  an  ex- 
cellent judge  of  horse  tlesli,  and  his  farm  has  been 
well  supplied  with  equines.  About  a  decade  since 
he  retired  from  active  life,  and  his  sons  are  car- 
rying on  the  work  which  he  so  well  instituted. 

The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Darland  took  place  in 
Fairview  Township,  June  2,  1838.  His  bride  was 
Miss  Ann  Shreeves,  who  was  born  in  Franklin 
Count}',  December  19,  1809.  Her  father,  Thomas 
Shreeves,  is  numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of 
this  county.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Ann  Darland  oc- 
curred October  26,  1850.  .She  left  &ve  children — 
Milton  I.,  Mar}'  J.,  Benjamin  M.,  Marion  Foster 
and  Thomas  S.  Mary  J.  is  now  the  wife  of  Asa 
White,  of  Young  Hickory  Township;  Benjamin  M. 
enlisted  in  Company  B.,  One  Hundred  and  Third 
Illinois  Infantry,  during  the  first  year  of  the  war, 
was  taken  sick,  sent  home  on  a  furlough  and  died 
about  a  year  after  his  eni-ollment.  The  other  chil- 
dren died  here. 

January  26,  1851,  Mr.  Darland  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mrs.  Jane  ( Rest)  Henry,  the  cere- 
mony taking  place  in  Young  Hickory  Township. 
The  bride  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Rest,  was  born 
near  Connellsville,  Pa.,  February  24.  1820,  and 
lived  in  her  native  place  until  nineteen  years  old. 
She  had  no  school  advantages  and  is  self-educated, 
and  has  likewise  acquired  a  good  knowledge  of  the 
domestic  arts.  Her  manners  are  those  of  a  friendly, 
gracious  woman,  who  meets  with  due  respect  from 
her  acquaintances.  In  1838  she  accompanied  her 
parents  to  this  county,  coming  overland  and  being 
four  weeks  on  the  way.  She  remained  at  home 
until  her  marriage  to  Jacob  Henry,  July  2,  1841. 
The  husband  was  born  in  >iew  Jersey,  came  to  this 
county  with  his  uncle  in  the  early  days,  and  engaged 
in  farming.  He  often  hauled  wheat  to  Chicago,wlien 
two  weeks  were  consumed  in  the  trip.  After  mar- 
riage Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  located  on  Spoon  River, 
in  Young  Hickory  Township,  where  the  husband 
died  in  1846.  He  owned  a  good  farm,  but  the 
administrator  took  such  advantage  of  the  widow 
that  she  lost  the  little  estate.  She  had  two  children, 
a  son  and  a  daughter.  John  enlisted  in  Company 
B,  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois  Infantry,  in 
1862.  At  Chattanooga  he  was  shot  in  the  leg.  ne- 
cessitating   the    amputation  of    that    nienilicr.     A 


ii 


t 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


275 


seconrl  amputation  became  necessary,  and  this 
caused  his  ih'ath.  Tlie  daugliter,  Hiuinah.  raairied 
J.  S.  McFailand  and  lives  in  London  Mills. 

Tlie  present  Mrs.  Darland  is  the  mother  of  four 
cluldren  bj-  her  last  union.  The  first-born,  .lo- 
sopli,  a  prominent  farmer  in  Fairview  Township,  is 
represented  elsewhere  in  this  work;  Eliza  and  Ellen 
are  deceased;  Morrison  W.,  an  enterprising  _vouth, 
is  in  charge  of  the  home  farm.  Mrs.  Dorland  is 
a  member  of  the  Christian  (liurch.  Some  facts 
regarding  her  ancestry  may  be  found  in  the  biog- 
iai)liy  of  Mrs.  Lewis  Shofers,  wiiich  is  included 
in  this  Album. 

Mr.  Darland  has  been  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways, School  Director  and  Trustee  at  various 
limes.  He  has  served  on  grand  and  petit  jnries. 
In  politics  he  stanehly  supports  Democracj',  never 
failing  to  east  his  vote  for  the  candidates  who  are 
pledged  to  uphold  its  principles. 

^  ACOr.  BROWN.  The  life  of  this  gentleman, 
whose  portrait  is  represented  on  the  oppo- 
site page,  and  who  is  one  of  the  wealtiiiest 
farmers  of  the  county,  furr^ishes  a  good  les- 
son to  youths  who  must  begin  their  careers  as  he 
did,  with  no  means.  A  perusal  of  the  following 
paragraphs  will  indicate  by  what  means  he  has  con- 
quered adverse  circumstances,  and  gained  his  pre- 
sent proud  position  among  his  fellow-men.  He  is 
l)roliably  of  Irish  ancestry  in  the  paternal  line,  as 
his  grandfather  Brown,  wiio  is  known  to  iiave  been 
a  Revolutionary  soldier,  is  believed  to  have  been  a 
native  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  From  Ills  maternal  an- 
cestors Mr.  Brown  derives  a  capacity  for  iiard  work, 
rigid  economy,  and  persistence  which  almost  in- 
variably eiiaracterize  those  of  Germ.an  lineage. 

Grandfather  Brown  is  numbered  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Ohio,  wiiere  he  followed  farming  until 
his  death.  There  his  son,  George,  tiie  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  and  reared,  following  in  the 
father's  footsteps  sis  a  tiller  of  the  soil.  He  held 
various  local  offices  in  the  township  in  which  he 
lived,  was  Democratic  in  politics,  and  quite  radical 
in  his  views.     At  the  time  of  his  dealii,  which  oc- 


curred in  Licking  County,  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  lived  to  the  advanced 
age  of  four-score  and  ten  years.  His  wife  was 
Nancy  Lamb,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to 
America  with  her  parents  when  eighteen  years  old. 
She  was  living  in  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  when 
married  to  Mr.  Brown.  She  was  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church  until  her  death,  which 
occurred  when  she  was  seventy-one  years  old.  She 
bore  him  twelve  children,  and  reared  eleven  to  ma- 
turity, namely:  Raciiel,  Jane,  Jackson,  William, 
Susan,  Jacob,  Mar}-  Ann,  Nancy,  Joseph,  Sarah  and 
Washington. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
John  Lamb,  a  (Tcrman  who  emigrated  to  America 
when  in  middle  life.  He  was  almost  penniless  when 
he  reached  this  country,  but  settled  in  Ohio,  and 
industriously  following  a  farmer's  life,  accumulated 
considerable  property.  He  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age, 
honored  and  respected  as  a  worthy  citizen,  and  con- 
sistent church  member.  He  and  his  wife  were 
buried  at  Moorefield,  Harrison  County,  Ohio. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice,  w.as  born 
February  24,  1826,  in  Harrison  County,  Ohio, 
reared  on  a  farm,  and  spent  his  boyhood  in  home 
duties,  and  attending  school.  The  building  in  which 
he  pursued  his  studies,  was  a  rude  log  schoolhouse 
with  a  large  open  firepl.ace,  puncheon  .seats,  a  log 
out  out  for  a  window,  and  no  desk,  but  a  slab  fast- 
ened to, the  wall,  and  extending  around  the  room 
for  a  writing  table.  Mr.  Brown  began  life  on  his 
own  account  when  of  age,  his  first  emijloyment  be- 
ing farm  work  at  ^4  per  month.  After  receiving 
those  wages  eight  months,  he  was  able  to  obtain  -^7 
per  month.  In  IMarch,  1848,  he  came  to  this  county 
via  the  rivers,  landing  at  Havana  with  but  §5  in  his 
pocket.  His  capital  was  industry,  and  he  soon 
found  use  for  it  with  Nathan  Strode,  for  whom  he 
worked  nine  months  at  ^13  per  month. 

For  three  years  after  his  arrival  here  5Ir.  Br<;wn 
worked  on  farms  by  the  day  or  month,  saving  $2.50 
of  his  earnings,  and  becoming  the  possessor  of  a 
good  horse  besides.  With  the  money  he  made  the 
first  payment  on  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  21 , 
Isabel  Township,  getting  seven  years'  time  on  the 
balance  of  the  ><700,  at  which  the  place  was  valued. 
Long  before  this  time  had  expired  he   was  able  to 


276 


PORTRAIT  AND  P.IOO  UAl'HICAL  ALBUM. 


pay  off  his  indebtedness,  and  buy  other  property. 
He  has  purchased  land  from  time  to  time  until  he 
now  owns  nearly  twelve  hundred  acres,  the  greater 
part  of  which  is  under  a  higli  state  of  cultivation. 
His  first  residence  was  an  18x20  foot,  one  story 
frame,  in  which  he  lived  until  I860,  when  he  built 
his  present  mansion,  one  of  the  finest  in  the  countj'. 
It  also  is  a  frame,  well  designed  and  finely  built, 
the  cost  having  been  64,010  in  cash,  besides  the 
owner's  own  labor.  Mr.  Brown  built  his  main  barn 
In  1860,  and  at  a  later  date  erected  two  others  and 
two  granaries.  He  has  farmed  verj-  extensively, 
and  raised  a  great  deal  of  stock,  winning  his  great- 
est success  in  grain,  wool,  and  hogs. 

51  r.  Brown  secured  for  his  life  companion.  Miss 
Priscilla  Cornell,  between  whom  and  himself  mar- 
riage rites  were  celebrated  August  23,  1853.  Mrs. 
Brown  was  born  in  Meigs  County,  Ohio,  October 
26,  1834,  and  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
(Westfall)  Cornell.  Both  parents  were  born  in 
Virginia,  whence  the  mother  went  to  Ohio  with  her 
parents  in  an  early  day.  Mr.  Cornell  removed  to 
the  Buckeye  State  upon  attaining  his  majoi'ity,  and 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  farmers  in  Meigs 
County.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  a  Republican  in  politics.  Mrs.  Cor- 
nell was  also  a  Methodist.  She  died  at  the  early 
age  of  twent3'-four  years,  leaving  three  children — 
Priscilla,  Lj'dia.T.,  and  Richard. 

Tlie  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  consists  of 
ten  children  living,  and  one  deceased:  Thomas  A. 
was  born  June  19,  1854;  Marj'  E.,  June  17,  1856; 
Nancy  E.,  March  11,  1858;  George  N..  December 
10,  1860;  William  R.,  November  27, 1862;  Robert 
E.,  December  24.  1864;  Rosetta  J.,  April  21,  1867; 
Harvey  R.  July  3,  1869;  Calvin  J.,  September  20, 
1871;  Harry  M.,  June  7,  1874;  Frederick  A.,  April 
19,  1880.  Harry  died  May  25,  1888,  in  his  four- 
teenth year.  The  mother  of  this  interesting  famil}' 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  has  manj' 
friends  throughout  the  community,  and  in  home 
and  social  life  has  been  useful  in  her  day  and  gen- 
eration. The  father,  honest  in  his  dealings,  intel- 
ligent, reliable  and  kindl}',  maj-  well  be  considered 
one  of  the  most  worthy  citizens  of  the  county.  He 
has  held  various  local  offices  in  his  township,  is  in- 
terested in  divers  good  works,  and  ready  to    bear 


such  a  part  as  he  can  in  the  progress  of  the  coun- 
try. Prior  to  the  Rebellion,  he  was  a  Democrat, 
but  since  that  time  has  been  a  Re|)ubliean. 


|>;ILLIAM'  ATEN  was  a  pioneer  of  this 
county,  and  is  one  of  the  most  highly  es- 
fj  teemed  residents  of  Woodland  Township, 
with  whose  agricultural  growth  he  has  been  closely 
connected  for  more  tiian  forty  years.  In  the  mean- 
time he  has  developed  a  choice  farm,  pleasantly 
located  on  section  7,  from  the  wilderness  that  he 
found  when  he  came  here,  and  has  placed  it  under 
substantial  improvement. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  that  section  of  West 
Virginia  known  as  the  Pan  Handle,  October  8, 
1821.  His  father,  William  Aten,  was  a  native  of 
New  Jersej',  while  his  grandfather,  Aaron  Aten,  is 
supposed  to  have  been  a  native  of  Delaware. 
Richard  Aten,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  probably  a  native  of  Long  Island.  The 
first  representative  of  the  Aten  family  to  come  to 
America  came  from  Belgium,  and  landed  on  these 
shores  in  1741.  The  great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject ran  a  ferrj'  on  the  Delaware  River,  and  lived 
to  be  quite  an  old  man.  Aaron  Aten  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  War  six  months,  and  took  part  in 
the  battles  of  Braudywine  and  Germantown.  He 
was  once  wounded  in  the  leg.  He  farmed  in  Dela- 
ware until  1792,  and  then  moved  to  Western  Penn- 
sylvania, and  settled  at  the  point  where  Beaver, 
Washington  and  Alleghen}^  Counties  come  together. 
He  made  the  trip  over  the  mountains  with  a  team 
and  wagon,  and  was  one  of  the  very  first  settlers 
in  that  part  of  the  State.  He  erected  a  log  cabin 
and  cleared  a  farm,  on  which  he  spent  the  remnant 
of  his  life,  d^'ing  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
He  was  a  very  religious  man,  and  was  first  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  and  later  of 
the  Presbyterian. 

The  father  of  our  subject  passed  his  early  life  on 
a  farm  in  Pennsylvania,  and  after  marriage  moved 
across  the  line  into  West  Virginia.  He  bought  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  there,  and  cleared  half  of  it. 
He  was  a  man  of  persevering  industr3%  and  by  thrift 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


277 


and  euoiiom}-  became  quite  well-to-do.  He  was  a 
faithful  raemher  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His 
death  occurred  on  his  homestead  in  West  Virginia 
at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  .Jane  (Anderson) 
Aten,  his  wife,  was,  so  far  as  known,  a  native  of 
Virginia.  She  was  a  kind  motherly  woman,  and  a 
member  of  the  Seceders*  Church.  She  died  at  the 
age  of  flfly-two  years.  Seven  of  the  eight  children 
wliom  she  bore  grew  to  maturity:  Aaron  II.,  John 
('..  Richard,  Koliert.  William,  Mary  (Mis.  Mc- 
CliHg)  and  Nancy.  William  Anderson,  the  maternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, and  when  a  young  man  cane  to  this  country 
and  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  engaged  in 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Seceders'  Church.  He  died  in  Pennsylvania, 
just  as  he  had  attained  tiie  meridian  of  life. 

William  Aten,  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Hancock  County,  Ya.,  and  at- 
tended the  pioneer  schools  of  the  period,  taught  in 
log  schoolhouses,  with  slab  benches,  open  fire- 
places and  greased  paper  windows.  When  a  young 
man  he  served  two  years  at  the  tailor's  bench,  and 
so  injured  his  health  that  he  made  atrip  South  to 
recuperate.  He  spent  two  years  in  that  region, 
and  then  returned  Northward.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  began  life  for  himself,  and  after  that 
spent  one  year  on  the  old  home  place,  and  then 
came  Westward.  He  landed  in  this  county  in  the 
month  of  March.  1844,  and  entered  three  forty- 
acre  tracts,  walking  to  (^uincy,  111.,  a  distance  of 
ninety  miles,  to  make  the  entry  at  the  land-oflice. 
Two  of  these  forty -acre  tracts  were  in  \'ermont 
Township,  and  one  in  Astoria.  He  erected  a 
hewed  log  house  on  his  land  in  the  former  place, 
and  cleared  several  acres  of  his  hoiliestead.  I'our 
3'ears  later  he  sold  out,  and  bought  the  one  hun- 
dred and  sixtj'  acres  on  section  7.  in  Woodland 
Township  on  which  he  now  resides.  A  log  cabin, 
a  log  barn,  and  a  few  acres  cleared,  constituted  all 
the  improvements,  and  all  else  that  has  been  done 
to  make  it  what  it  is  to-d.ay,  one  of  the  neatest  and 
most  attractive  farms  in  the  localit}',  is  the  work 
of  his  own  hand.  He  lived  in  the  old  logcal)in  four 
years,  and  then  replaced  it  by  another  more  commo- 
dious, in  which  he  dwelt  until  1873,  when  he 
erected  his   present   substantial,  roomy  brick   resi- 


dence. He  has  been  an  indefatigable  worker,  and 
has  prospered  abundantly.  He  has  always  kept  a 
book  account  of  his  sales  of  produce,  stock,  etc., 
and  in  the  forty  years  he  has  lived  on  this  place 
has  sold  over  $40,000  worth  of  produce. 

Maj'  14,  1846,  was  the  date  of  the  marriage  of 
our  subject  with  Eli/.id)eth  Pittenger,  who  w.as  born 
in  \'irginia  in  1824.  They  have  had  ten  children, 
namely:  Melissa  J.,  Sarah  C,  Elizabeth,  Emma, 
.Tohn  P.,  William  N.,  Frank,  Henry  M.,  Ida  JI.  and 
Mary  E.  Mr.  Aten  and  his  wife  have  been  con- 
nected with  the  Presbyterian  Church  since  1841, 
and  he  has  been  an  Elder  since  1854.  The  sin- 
cerity of  their  Christian  faith  is  exemplified  in  their 
daily  lives,  which  are  guided  by  the  highest  princi- 
ples of  right.  Politically,  Mr.  Aten  was  reared  a 
Democrat,  and  was  a  follower  of  that  part\-  imtil 
18(50.  He  then  changed  to  Republicanism  on  ac- 
count of  his  hatied  of  slavery,  and  remained 
with  the  Republican  part}'  until  six  years  ago,  when 
he  identified  himself  with  the  Prohibitionists.  He 
is  a  thoroughly  upright,  moral  m;m,  and  is  zeal- 
ous in  all  good  works  to  promote  the  religions  and 
social  welfare  of  his  township.  Mr.  Aten  has  a  wide 
acquaintance  on  account  of  his  man_y  years  resi- 
dence in  this  county,  and  occupies  a  warm  (jl.ace  in 
the  hearts  of  the  entire  community,  by  whom  he  is 
affectionately  known  as  "Uncle  Billy." 


ORSEN  BEARCE,  the  owner  and  occu|)ant 
of  a  well-improved  farm  in  Lewistown 
Township,  is  numbered  among  the  intelli- 
gent, industrious  and  prosperous  .agriculturists 
of  this  productive  count}'.  His  home  farm  com- 
prises one  hundred  and  tweni}'  acres  upon  which  a 
line  brick  house  has  been  erected,  together  with  a 
full  line  of  frame  barns,  granaries,  sheds,  etc.  iAIr. 
Bearcc  owns  another  Irjict  of  improved  land,  con- 
sisting of  eighty  acres  on  section  10,  and  a  forty- 
acre  tract  on  section  4. 

Eli  A.  Bearce.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Connecticut,  his  father,  .losiah  Bearce,  being 
|)resumably  a  native  of  the  same  State.  The  latter 
spent  his  last  3'ears  in  New  York  of  which   his   son 


278 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


lia'i  become  a  resideut.  Eli  Benree  remained  in  his 
native  State  until  sixteen  years  ok),  when  heaccom- 
paniel  Dr.  Beecher  to  New  York,  intending  to 
stud}'  medicine  with  that  gentleman.  On  the  death 
of  the  Doctor,  which  occurred  soon  after,  the  j'oung 
uian  abandoned  his  intention  and  turned  his  talents 
to  account  in  teaching  school  during  the  winter  and 
farming  during  the  remainder  of  the  year.  He  was 
married  in  the  Empire  State  iu  1816,  and  continued 
to  reside  there  until  1821.  when  he  determined  to 
emigrate  to  the  West.  He  built  a  flatboat  at  Olean 
Point,  loaded  his  goods,  and  with  his  wife  and  two 
children  floated  down  the  Alleghany  and  Ohio 
Rivers  to  Sliawnectown,  111. 

A  forty-acre  tract  of  land  in  New  York  had  been 
traded  by  Mr.  Bearce  for  a  cjuarter  section  now  in- 
cluded in  Fulton  County.  His  means  were  very 
limited,  however,  and  he  did  not  think  best  to  un- 
dertake life  in  tlie  wilderness,  therefore  renting  a 
tract  near  Shan'neetown  he  remained  there  three 
years.  In  April.  1S21,  he  made  his  way  to  Fulton 
County  with  a  team,  but  even  then  did  not  locate 
on  the  land  for  which  he  had  traded.  He  rented  a 
fariu  near  Lewist^wn  which  at  that  time  contained 
one  store,  a  log  jail,  log  courthouse,  its  few  inhabi- 
tants living  in  log  houses. 

At  the  close  of  the  season  Mr.  Bearce  traded  a 
yoke  of  oxen  and  a  wagon,  for  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  two  and  one-half  miles  north  of  the  village 
.ind  in  1825  built  a  log  house  thereon  to  which  he 
removed  his  family.  Indians  were  still  more  num- 
erous than  whites  throughout  this  section,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  deer,  wild  turkeys  and  other 
game  was  abundant.  There  were  no  railroads  for 
many  years,  the  river  towns  being  the  nearest 
markets.  The  pioneer  labors  of  'Sir.  Bearce  were 
brought  to  a  close  by  his  death,  February  18,  1857. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  \Var  of   1812. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
w.as  Sarah  Austin.  She  was  a  native  of  the  Emjjire 
Stateand  spent  her  last  years  with  her  children.  She 
reared  seven  children,  the  second  of  whom  is  the 
subject  of  this  biographical  notice.  Hannah  mar- 
rit'd  Jacob  Shaw ver  and  now  lives  in  Lewistown;  Lu- 
cinda  is  the  wife  of  Jonathan  Bordner,of  Lewistown 
township; Maria,  who  is  now  deceased,  w.as  the  wife 
of  Moses  Bordner,  who  died  in   Lee  Township    in 


1889;  Franklin  is  now  living  near  Clarinda,  Iowa; 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  James  U'interbottom,  their 
home  being  in  Kansas. 

Orsen  Bearce  was  born  in  Monroe  County,  N.  Y., 
April  1,  1819,  and  w.is  therefore  two  years  old 
when  he  became  a  resident  of  Illinois.  He  was 
reared  on  the  farm  in  the  development  of  which  he 
early  liegan  to  bear  such  a  part  as  his  strength 
would  permit.  His  studies  were  carried  on  in  the 
pioneer  schools  first  taught  in  the  log  house  with 
its  homemade  furniture,  the  only  desk  being  a  board 
around  the  side  of  the  building,  at  which  the  larger 
scholars  did  their  writing.  The  facts  noted  in  re- 
gard to  his  parents'  home  and  surroundings  are 
sufficient  to  indicate  the  manner  of  life  under  which 
he  became  persevering,  industrious  and  vigorous. 
He  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty- 
three  years  old,  although  he  had  previously  begun 
the  improvement  of  a  portion  of  the  farm  which 
he  now  occupies.  His  first  purchase  was  of  eighty 
.icres,  to  which  he  soon  added  forty  acres,  the  whole 
being  heavily  timbered  when  bought  by  him.  Its 
present  beautiful  appearance  and  good  value  is  a 
standing  monument  to  the  qualities  which  he  has 
exhibited  since  boyhood. 

March  23,  1842,  Mr.  Bearce  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Betsy  Brown,a  native  of  Licking  County% 
Ohio,  who  p.assed  away  September  9,  1852.  after  a 
comparatively  brief  wedded  life.  She  was  the 
mother  of  five  children  whose  record  is  as  follows: 
Icy  Ann  married  Jonas  Evans  and  now  lives  in  Ne- 
braska; Catherine,  who  is  now  dead,  was  the  wife  of 
John  Hunter;  Sarah  L.  married  Aaron  Orrindale, 
their  home  being  near  Bradford,  Stark  County: 
Frances  married  Henry  Ryan  and  lives  iu  Lewis- 
town  Township;  Leonard  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Bearce  was  again  married.  April  3,  1853,  his  com- 
panion on  this  occasion  being  Miss  Jane  Mc- 
Neil, a  native  of  Lewistown  and  daughter  of  one 
of  the  hardy  pioneers  of  this  county.  Her  father 
was  John  McNeil,  a  native  of  Hillsboro,  N,  H.,who 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Indiana,  where  he  was 
married  when  about  twenty-one  years  old  to  .Sarah, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Smith)  Young- 
man,  pioneers  of  the  Hoosier  State.  Mr.  McNeil 
after  locating  in  this  county  followed  his  trade  of 
a  carpenter  in  Lewistown.  finally  opening  a  cabinet 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


279 


shop  which  he  operated  some  j'ears.  but  eveiilually 
biiyiiiij;  a  farm  north  of  town  and  turning:  his  at- 
tention to  agriculture,  lie  died  on  liis  estate  in  Fel)- 
ruary,  l.SfJT.  lie  was  originally  a  Whig  and  later  a 
Re|)ublican  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  lielonged 
to  the  Methodist  Kpiscojial  Church. 

The  parents  of  Jolui  McNeil  were  Daniel  aud 
Martha  (Parker)  McNeil,  the  father  being  a  farmer 
in  his  native  New  England  many  years.  After 
spending  some  time  in  Indiana  he  finally  became  a 
pioneer  of  this  count}',  locating  near  Astoria  where 
he  continued  his  agricultural  labors  for  a  long 
period.  His  death  took  place  at  the  home  of  his 
son  in  Lewistown.  His  wife  was  born  in  London- 
derry, N.  H.,  being  a  daughter  of  Alexander  and 
Nancy  (Dickey)  Parker,the  latter  of  whom  was  the 
daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Dickey,  who 
settled  in  Londonderry  immediately  after  their 
emigration  in  1725.  Mrs.  Daniel  McNeil  died  on  the 
farm  near  Astoria  when  full  of  years. 

Our  subject  and  his  present  wife  have  ten  chil- 
dren: Reuben  now  lives  in  Ltwistown  Township, 
established  in  a  home  of  his  own ;  Eliza  is  the  wife 
of  Frank  Lee,  her  home  being  in  the  same  town- 
ship; Annie,  John,  Charlie,  Jacob,  Nellie,  Frank, 
and  tvvo  who  died  in  infancy  complete  the  family 
circle.  Mr.  Bearce  was  formerly  a  Whig  but  has 
been  a  Republican  since  the  formation  of  the  party. 
He  is  a  member  of  Lewistown  Lodge,  No.  104,  F. 
&  A.  M.  lie  is  a  believer  in  the  doctrine  of  univer- 
sal salvation. 


^^E 


E^ 


^f^RANCIS  M.  WILLIAMS.  Prominent 
TsSi'  among  the  citizens  of  Fulton  County  wiio 
\  have  materially  contributed  to  its  prosper- 

ity, is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is  one  of  its 
ablest  and  most  brainy  farmers  and  stock-raisers, 
and  has  been  a  conspicuous  figure  in  its  civic  life 
for  many  years.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  one  of 
the  largest  and  best  equipped  farms  in  Harris 
Township,  and  here  he  and  his  family  have  one  of 
the  best  appointed  and  most  attractive  homes  in 
this  part  of  the  State. 

Our  subject   is  the  representative  of  an  old  pio- 


neer family  of  Illinois,  and  many  incidents  of  Lis 
early  life  here  are  of  interest  and  are  incorporated 
in  this  biography.  He  was  born  in  Adams 
County,  Ohio,  December  1,  1833.  His  parents, 
John  and  Nancy  (Smullcv)  Williams,  were  natives 
of  the  same  place.  The  Williams  family  originated 
in  Wales,  and  the  Smalley  family  was  of  mingled 
Irish  and  Dutch  extraction.  His  mother  was  the 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Nancy  Smalley,  who  came 
from  the  East,  crossing  the  Alleghanys  with  pack 
horses.  David  Smalley,  the  father  of  Isaac,  who 
was  the  descendant  of  an  old  American  family, 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  was  a  per- 
sonal actpiaintance  of  Gen.  W^asliington,  and  it  is 
said  that  in  early  life  he  had  many  a  bout  with  him 
in  wrestling,  but  it  is  not  stated  which  was  the 
best  man.  John  WMUiams  was  the  son  of  John  and 
Mary  "Williams,  who  went  from  Maryland  to  Ohio 
in  a  very  early  day.  John  Williams,  Sr.,  had  two 
sons  in  the  War  of  1812. 

In  1836  John  Williams,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our 
subject  came  to  this  State  with  his  family,  and  lo- 
cated in  Winnebago  County,  near  where  the  city 
of  Rockford  now  stands,  there  being  then  but  one 
house  on  the  present  site.  He  had  come  from 
Ohio  with  three  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  prairie  schooner, 
and  making  good  time,  was  but  six  weeks  on 
the  road.  He  squatted  on  a  piece  of  land,  and 
when  he  first  settled  there  was  surrounded  by  In- 
dians who  came  to  his  house  to  beg.  All  the  fam- 
ily had  to  eat,  except  some  wild  meat,  which  was 
very  scarce,  was  cornuical  made  by  pounding  corn 
in  an  old  iron  kettle  with  a  wooden  pestle.  Mr. 
Williams  made  a  little  addition  to  their  fare  by 
raising  some  buckwheat  on  the  sod,  which  was 
ground  in  an  old-fashioned  coffee  mill.  After  he 
had  lived  there  three  years,  a  man  came  along  with 
a  load  of  hogs  which  he  was  taking  to  Galena,  and 
l\Ir.  Williams  bought  one.  This  was  the  first  ani- 
mal of  the  kind  introduced  into  the  county,  and 
our  subject,  then  a  child  of  five  or  six  years,  made 
of  it  a  great  pet,  and  would  stay  with  it  for  hours 
at  a  time.  His  sole  playmates  in  his  early  youth 
were  the  little  Indians  of  the  Pottawattomie  tribe, 
and  in  pl.aying  with  them  he  became  familiar  with 
their  language,  ami  could  speak  it  quite  well.  He 
can  remember   the   ccreinunics  at    that  time  of  the 


280 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


death  of  a  chief  of  the  tribe, whom  his  men  placed  on 
a  log,  which  they  chipped  off  with  their  tomahawks, 
with  his  gun,  tomahawk,  pipe  and  tobacco  around 
him.  The3"  built  a  fence  around  this  novel 
bier,  on  which  the  Sachem  lav  until  his  skeleton 
fell  to  pieces.  Ills  last  resting  place  was  right  on 
the  ground  where  the  city  of  Bclvidere  now  stands. 
Mr.  Williams'  first  trip  to  mill  was  with  an  ox- 
team  and  cart  loaded  with  corn,  and  he  journeyed 
to  where  the  city  of  Joliet  now  stands.  He  was 
gone  from  home  three  weeks,  as  he  iiad  to  go  into 
camp  and  wait  his  turn,  so  many  had  preceded 
him.  His  wife  was  much  worried  about  his  long 
absence  and  almost  gave  him  up  as  dead,  as  she 
heard  nothing  of  hira  from  the  time  he  started  out 
until  his  return.  Their  place  was  only  about  four 
miles  from  the  battle  ground  of  Stillnian's  defeat, 
which  occurred  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  They 
left  there  in  1844.  and  removed  to  McLean  County 
near  where  the  town  of  Lexington  now  is  and  eigh- 
teen miles  from  Bloomington.  In  the  fall  of  1847 
the  family  came  to  the  faim  where  our  subject  now 
lives  and  here  his  parents  passed  their  remaining 
years,  he  dying  in  1868  and  she  in  1873.  They 
'had  six  children,  all  of  whom  survive  except  one, 
John  Jefferson,  who  died  when  young.  The  others 
are:  Sarah  Jane,  our  subject,  Elizabeth,  Isaac  N., 
and  Andrew  Allen. 

F.  M.  Williams,  of  this  biographical  review, 
gained  his  early  education  as  best  he  could.  He 
being  the  eldest  child,  much  depended  on  him  in 
helping  his  father  carry  on  his  farming.  But  he 
wiis  ambitious  to  train  his  mind,  he  being  studious 
and  scholarly,  and  he  attended  one  term  at  the 
Farroington  Academy,  then  entered  Hedding  Col- 
lege, at  Abingdon,  where  he  pursued  a  fine  course 
of  studj-.  He  was  thus  well  equipped  for  his  chosen 
calling,  that  of  farming,  and  he  returned  to  the 
homestead  and  resumed  the  pursuit  of  agriculture. 
In  1862  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Foster,  a  native  of 
this  county,  born  near  Fairview,  and  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Hannah  Foster.  Her  parents  came 
here  from  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  were  very 
early  settlers  of  this  section  of  the  State.  Of  this 
marriage  ten  children  have  been  born  to  our  sub- 
ject and  his  amiable  wife,  of  whom  eight  are  now 
living  and  are  with  their  parents.     They  are  named 


as  follows:  Florence  D.,  who  has  been  well  edu- 
cated and  carefully  trained  for  a  teacher,  to  which 
profession  she  has  devoted  herself  for  three  j'ears, 
and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  in  the  county; 
Odus  C,  an  enterprising  young  man;  Harry  L., 
Charles  C,  Idola  A.,  Adda  V.,  George  Emerson, 
and  Chalmers  C,  the  youngest  member  of  the  fam- 
ily. Mary  May,  the  third  child,  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years;  Luella  died  in  infancj*. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Williams  moved  to  Lee 
Township,  and  bought  seventj-  acres  of  land  in  its 
native  wildness.  which  he  brought  under  the  plow 
in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  and  he  ad<led  thereto 
one  hundred  and  sixty-six  acres,  the  most  of  which 
he  developed.  In  1866  he  bought  his  father's 
place,  after  disposing  of  his  Lee  Township  prop- 
ert}'.  This  homestead  then  comprised  two  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  acres,  and  he  has  since  added  two 
hundred  and  fort^'  to  it,  a  good  share  of  which  he 
has  under  a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  and  Tie  has 
here  one  of  the  finest  places  to  be  found  in  the 
township.  He  has  greatly  increased  its  value  since 
it  came  into  his  possession  bj-  the  man3'  substantial 
improvements  that  he  has  made,  including  the 
commodious  residence  that  he  erected  in  1884, 
which  is  one  of  the  handsomest  dwellings  in  this 
locality.  It  is  neatly  and  tastefuUv  furnished, 
marking  the  presence  of  an  intelligent  and  cultured 
household,  and  among  its  choicest  adornments  is 
the  well-selected  library  of  the  best  authors  of 
modern  times  and  many  of  the  past.  Mr.  Williams 
owes  his  present  prosperous  circumstances  solely 
to  his  own  persistent  labors.  He  began  life  as  a 
teacher  after  leaving  college,  and  in  that  way 
earned  his  first  $400,  which  he  judiciously  invested 
in  land,  on  which  he  located  at  the  time  of  his 
marriage.  He  thinks  that  his  first  thousand  dollars 
was  the  hardest  to  acquire. 

In  his  career  our  suliject  has  shown  himself  to  be 
possessed  in  a  marked  degree  of  those  faculties  th.at 
are  lequisite  to  success — sagacity,  far-reaching 
forethought  and  practical  tenacity  of  purpose. 
Underlying  all  these  traits  are  those  high  principles 
that  have  gained  him  the  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
citizens,  and  have  caused  them  to  elect  him  to  im- 
portant offices  of  trust  and  responsibility.  He  is 
Democratic  in  his  political  aflSliations,  and  while  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


281 


Lee  Township  was  Collector  two  terms,  and  Supir- 
visor  for  .1  like  leiiijlli  of  time.  Since  lie  has  been  a 
resident  of  Harris  he  has  represented  tlie  towiisliip 
on  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  four  terms. 
During  his  official  career  lie  was  instrumental  in 
making  appropriations  for  l)uilding  iron  bridges 
across  Spoon  River,  Shaw's  Creek  and  Pearsol's 
Branch.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  at  the 
time  of  the  Chicago  fire,  wiien  the  railway  sinking 
fund  was  appropriated  for  the  use  of  food  and 
clothing  for  the  suflerers.  As  there  was  no  money 
in  the  treasury  which  they  could  legally  use  to  meet 
the  demand,  our  subject  made  a  motion  to  restore 
the  -original  fund  to  the  county  treasury,  wliich 
was  done.  He  was  one  of  the  committee  that  pur- 
chased a  portion  of  the  land  for  the  County  Poor 
Farm.  Mr.  Williams  has  been  a  life-long  Ciiristian, 
and  a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  since  he  was  twelve  years  old,  and  he 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  Sunday-school  and 
in  all  religious  matters.  He  has  been  School  Di- 
rector, of  wliich  office  he  is  still  an  incumbent,  and 
has  been  a  School  Trustee  for  man}'  j-ears. 


"itSi^  AVID  B.  THOMPSON.  It  affords  us  pleas- 
ure to  place  before  our  readers  an  outline 
of  the  iiistory  of  this  young  geiillenian 
wlio  is  one  of  the  enterprising  dealers  of 
London  Mills.  His  grandfather  Thompson  was 
burn  in  P>nglaiid  and  emigrated  to  New  Jersey.  He 
married  a  Scotch  lady  who  bore  a  family  among 
whom  was  a  son,  Robert  1).  The  latter  was  bom  in 
Warren  County.  N.  .1.,  and  until  thirteen  years  old 
lived  in  his  native  State.  He  then  went  to  Clermont 
County,  Ohio,  with  his  parents,  traveling  in  the 
oldlirae  fashion  with  a  wagon  and  team.  He  hel|)ed 
clear  a  farm  and  soon  began  dealing  in  horses. 
While  still  but  a  youth  he  would  buy  horses  and 
drive  them  to  New  Jersey  for  sale.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  ran  an  hotel  at  Ivlcnton  some  fifteen  years 
and  also  carried  <jn  a  farm. 

In  December.  1855,  Robert  Thompson  came  to 
Central  Illinois  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  nine 
children.      The  family  and   household    goods    were 


brought  in  three  wagons.  Mr.  'i'hoinpson  settled  in 
Chesiiut  Townsiiip,']  Knox  County,  ^buying',  land 
wliich  he  improved  and  addetl  to  from  time  to  time 
until  he  owned  five  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres  in 
one  body.  He  dealt  in  slock,  feeding  and  shipping 
in  quite  large  numbers.  He  still  owns  three  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five  acres  of  farm  land  which  is 
furnished  with  good  buildings  and  other  improve- 
ments. In  1888  he  bought  a  residence  at  Maquon 
and  retired  to  that  town  to  spend  his  days  in  leisurely 
enjoyment.  He  hasjUwaj-sjbecn  interested  in"  the 
educational  advancement  of  the  country  and  has 
liberally  'supported  [schools  and  churches.  His 
suffrage  is  given  to  Democratic  principles  and  cau- 
didates. 

Mr.  Thompson  has  been  twice  married,  his  first 
wife  having  been  Sarah  Sloan,  who  was  born  and 
died  in  Ohio.  His  second  wife  was  Amy  J.  Bear- 
more  who  was  born  in  Warren  County,  N.  J.,  and 
reared  and  educated  there.  Her  father  was  born  in 
England  but  died  in  New  Jersey.  Mrs.  Am}- 
Thompson  died  in  Maquon,  May  13,  1889.  She  was 
the  mother  of  seven  children,  four  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity.  Of  these  our  subject  is  the  first-born. 
The  others  are,  Charles,  now  a  farmer  in  Oklahoma; 
Mrs.  Ella  Gibson,  died  in  Audubon  Count}',  Iowa, 
June  29,  1890,  and  Lillie  M.,  who  is  still  with  her 
father.  The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Thompson  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  eleven  children,  eight  of 
whom  lived  to  mature  years.  The  oldest,  James, 
lives  in  Butler  County,  Kan.,  is  a  Methodist  Episco- 
pal minister  and  a  merchant;  Elizabeth  is  now  Mrs. 
Applcgaie,  of  Johnson  County,  Iowa;  William  went 
to  Iowa  many  years  ago,  was  a  prominent  stockman 
there,  became  wealthy  and  in  1883  removed  to 
Butler  City,  Kan.,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits; Thomas  B.  is  a  farmer  in  Lucas  County,  Iowa; 
Mrs.  Alice  Hogan  lives  in  Warren  County,  this 
State;  Mrs.  Melvinia  Freemole  lives  in  Butler 
County,  Kan.;  Robert  resides  in  Davis  County," 
Iowa;  Mrs.  Jane  Dillie  lives  in  Brown,  Dak. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  born  Jan- 
uary 14,  1855,  near  Edenton,  Clermont  County, 
Ohio.  The  following  December  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  this  State  and  was  reared  in  Chestnut 
Townsliii),  Kno.K  County.  Like  many  farmers' 
sons  he  was  early  set  to  work  and   when   ten    years 


282 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


old  began  to  plow  corn  and  bei>r  a  pai-t  in  other  la- 
bors, being  able  to  fill  the  place  of  a  full  hand  in 
the  harvest  field  when  fourteen  ^ears  old.  He  has 
helped  break  ))rairie  with  oxen,  and  has  a  consider- 
able knowledge  of  the  labors  necessary  in  develop- 
ing a  new  country.  His  school  privileges  were 
somewhat  limited,  but  he  has  always  endeavored  to 
keep  posted  regarding  general  topics  of  interest, 
and  fit  himself  for  accurate  calculations  in  business 
affairs. 

Young  Tliompsou  remained  with  his  fatiier  until 
he  was  of  age,  then  rented  a  farm  belonging  to  his 
Ijareuts  for  five  years.  At  ihe  expiration  of  that 
period  he  made  Warren  Count}'  his  home  one  year, 
still  pursuingthe  calling  of  a  farmer.  In  February, 
1882,  he  came  to  London  Mills,  bought  an  old 
building,  converted  it  into  a  store  and  put  in  a 
stock  of  hardware.  The  following  Ma\-  he  built  a 
frame  store,the  first  large  one  in  the  town, which  was 
20x40  feet.  Into  this  he  put  his  goods  but  in  Jul}' 
sold  out  and  rented  the  store.  He  then  engaged  in 
the  sale  of  agricultural  implements  and  finding 
his  new  enterprise  a  success,  put  his  goods  into  his 
own  building  in  1884.  There  he  carried  on  his  busi- 
ness until  1 886,  when  he  sold  the  building  and  opened 
an  establishment  on  his  present  site.  He  bought  an 
eighth  of  a  block,  put  up  a  building  with  sheds  for 
machinery,  and  now  sells  all  kinds  of  agricultural 
implements,  including  windmills  and  pumps,  has  a 
good  trade  in  buggies,  and  also  carries  harness. 
Having  begun  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder,  he  has 
worked  his  waj'  upward  step  b}'  step  until  he  has 
reached  a  position  of  prominence  among  business 
men.  He  owns  several  town  lots  upon  which  he 
has  built  residences,  one  being  occupied  by  himself. 

Mr.  Tliompson  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Clara  A.  Nichols,  in  Knoxville,  March  26,  1879. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Galesburg,  received  an  ex- 
cellent education  there  and  was  engaged  in  teach- 
ing for  eight  years.  She  is  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Mary  Nichols,  formerly  of  Sweden.  She  is  not 
only  well  educated,  but  possesses  a  noble  Christian 
character  and  bears  a  prominent  part  in  the  various 
progressive  and  elevating  movements  of  society. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  have  one  child,  a  bright 
boj'  named  Robert  D. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  now  Justice  of  the  Peace  and 


serving  his  second  term  as  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways. He  was  a  member  of  the  fii'st  Village  Board 
of  Trustees,  of  which  he  was  President  one  year, 
and  has  been  Treasurer  of  the  village.  He  belongs 
to  London  Lodge,  No.  734.  I.  O.  O.  F.,  is  Past 
Grand  and  has  twice  been  a  deleg.ate  to  the  Grand 
Lodge.  He  firmly  believes  that  the  principles  of 
Demo(;racy  are  best  adapted  to  the  welfare  of  the 
Nation  and  therefore  supports  them  with  his  vote 
and  personal  influence.  He  has  won  a  prominent 
position  in  social  circles,  as  well  as  in  municip.al  and 
business  affairs.  Mrs.  Thompson  is  Secretary  of  the 
Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  of  London 
Mills  and  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 


\|]OHN  C.  MOORE  came  to  Fulton  County  as 
early  as  1843,  and  as  one  of  its  pioneers  has 
'  done  his  share  of  the  hard  labor  necessary 
to  develoj)  its  agricultural  resources.  His 
work  has  been  blessed  to  him.  and  he  is  now  passing 
his  declining  years  in  honorable  retirement,  enjoy- 
ing the  competence  tjat  he  has  gathered  together. 
Mr.  Moore  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa., 
December  17,  1817.  He  was  reared  and  received 
his  schooling  in  his  native  place,  and  in  the  early 
years  of  a  stalwart  manhood  made  his  way  to  Ful- 
ton County,  and  cast  in  his  lot  with  its  early  settlers. 
He  first  located  on  section  27,  Bernadotte  Town- 
ship, where  he  bought  ninety  acres  of  land  which 
he  improved  into  a  good  farm  and  there  reared  his 
children.  After  his  last  wife  died  he  took  up  his 
residence  with  his  j'oungest  son  and  is  still  a  wel- 
come inmate  of  his  home.  He  still  owns  the  old 
homestead,  his  son-in-law,  Anthony  C.  Ernst,  rent- 
ing the  place.  It  is  provided  with  the  necessarj' 
buildings  and  the  soil  is  admirably  tilled,  making 
it  a  verj'  productive  and  valuable  piece  of  propertj'. 
AVhen  he  first  came  here  he  was  extensively  engaged 
in  raising  sheep  and  in  1843-44  herded  eleven  hun- 
dred on  the  branch  of  the  Spoon  River. 

Mr.  Moore  was  not  married   until  after  he  came 
to  this  county.     In  1845,  he  married  Elizabeth  J. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALRUM. 


285 


Walters,  ami  their  iiiiinn  brought  to  them  four 
children,  two  sons  ami  two  daughters,  of  whom  the 
following  is  recorded:  Mary  Ann,  tlie  oldest,  born 
November  16,  1845,  died  and  was  buried  in  the 
Walters  Cemetery,  in  Hernadotte  Township;  Walter 
T.,  tlie   next  in  order  of   birth,  was  born  April  C, 

1847,  married  Mary  L.  St.  Clair,  and  tiiey  live  in 
McDonongh  County,  11!.;  Martlia  L.,  born  in  March, 

1848,  married  Anderson  Clark,  and  they  lire  on  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  belonging  to 
them  in  McDonougli  County;  William  II.,  born 
October  6,  1851,  married  ^larllia,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Lucy  J.  McMillan,  and  they  reside  on 
their  own  farm  of  one  liundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Bernadotte  Township.  Mrs.  Moore,  tlie  motiier  of 
tliese  children,  departed  this  life  June  28.  1852,  and 
was  buried  in  the  Walters  Cemetery. 

Our  subject  married  for  his  second  wife  Miss 
Mary  Jane  Scott.  They  had  four  children  born 
to  them,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  as  follows: 
John  I.,  born  August  5,  1853,  deceased  ;  Nancy  A., 
born  November  10,  1855,  married  Anthony  C. 
Ernst,  and  they  live  on  the  old  homestead  on  section 
27;  .Samuel  R.,  born  June  2,  1858,  married  Lucinda, 
daughter  of  Dr.  J.  M.  and  Mary  E.  Steel,  and  they 
reside  on  their  own  farm  of  ninety-six  acres  on 
section  27,  of  Bernadotte  Township;  Alice,  born  in 
January,  1862,  died  in  the  month  of  Jiilj-,  the  same 
year.  Mrs.  Moore's  death  occurred  in  August, 
1862,  and  her  mortal  remains  were  placed  in  Wal- 
ters Cemetery.  Tlie  maiden  name  of  Mr.  Moore's 
third  wife  was  Ellen  C.  McCullough.  She  lived 
until  March  2,  1880,  and  then  passed  away,  and  is 
now  sleeping  her  last  sleep  in  Walters  Cemetery. 

Our  subject  has  led  a  peaceful,  quiet  life.  He 
has  never  been  on  but  one  jury  and  that  was  Itefore 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  he  never  had  a  lawsuit  in 
this  country  and  has  never  testified  as  a  witness. 
He  has  aimed  to  deal  justly  by  his  fellow-men  and 
has  been  honorable  in  his  dealings.  He  was  for 
several  years  a  School  Director  and  Road  master. 
The  first  vote  he  ever  cast  was  for  Gen.  Harrison 
in  1840.  He  now  gives  his  support  to  the  man  and 
not  to  the  pai  ty,  and  has  not  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  ])olitics  of  late  years.  He  is  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  contributes 
liberally  to  thesu[)porl  of  the  (iospel.     Our  subject 


comes  of  a   long-lived   and   hardy   race  and  has  a 
I    sister  living  at  an  advanced  age.      He  has  eighteen 
I    grandchildren  and  one  great-grandchild  to  perpetu- 
ate his  name. 


)HOMAS  BERRY.  Among  the  residents  of 
Fulton  Cotmty  who  have  prosecuted  their 
life  work  successfully  and  are  now  enjoying 
the/ruits  of  their  prudence  and  encrg3-,surrouiided 
with  comforts,  able  to  journey  through  scenes  of 
beauty  and  grandeur  and  indulge  in  other  recrea- 
tions suited  to  their  years  an<l  according  with  their 
tastes,  is  tlie  gentleman  above  named,  whose  por- 
trait a|)pears  on  the  opposite  page  and  who  is 
well  and  favorabl}-  known  to  many  of  our  read- 
ers. He  is  now  occupying  a  pleasant  home  in 
Table  Grove,  having  disposed  (_)f  his  large  estate  to 
his  children  for  a  sullicient  consideration  to  affoi'd 
himself  and  familj'  a  maintainancc  during  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives.  The  residence  which  he 
built  in  1882  is  an  ornament  to  the  village,  and  is 
the  center  of  social  and  domestic  joys,  being  pre- 
sided over  by  an  estimable  woman  and  brigliteiicd 
b^-  the  presence  of  two  daughters. 

Mr.  Berry  is  a  native  of  England,  Ijorn  at  Stan- 
ford, Berkshire,  July  12,  182G.  He  was  seven 
years  of  age  when  iiis  parents,  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
Berr}',  emigrated  to  Canada,  where  they  made  their 
home  seven  3'ears,  thence  removing  to  McDonough 
County,  III.  After  a  short  time  they  bought  a  farm 
five  mdes  north  of  Table  Grove  and  while  they 
were  living  upon  it  our  subject  received  six  months' 
schooling.  Being  the  youngest  of  tlie  family,  he 
was  indulged  when  he  desired  to  remain  away  from 
school  and  so  received  but  a  meagiv  education.  At 
the  age  of  twenty  years  he  began  working  at  Ver- 
mont, in  a  mill  which  his  brother  and  himself  had 
bought  and  repaired  so  that  they  were  able  to 
grind  wheat  and  corn,  and  saw  lumber.  This  es- 
tablishment was  operated  by  our  subject  some  four 
years. 

During  this  time  .Mr.  lierr^'  led  to  the  Inmeneal 
Miss  Nellora  II.  Harris,  their  marriage  rites  being 
celebrated  in  the  spring  of  1851.   The  cajjable   and 


286 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


affectionate  wife  survived  until  January  20,  1879, 
six  chiklreii  being  born  to  lier,  four  of  wlioin  now 
survive.  Tliese  are:  Prudence  E.,  who  still  re- 
sides with  lier  father;  James  J.,  who  with  liis  wife 
and  two  children — Archie  and  Alice— occupies  the 
old  liomestead;  Clara  C,  wife  of  Jolin  L.  Powell, 
Assistant  Cashier  in  the  State  National  Bank,  of 
Wichita,  Kan.,  and  the  mother  of  two  children — 
Clarence  B.  and  Herbert  L.;  Nellora  A.,  who  oc- 
cupies lier  wonted  place  at  the  home  fireside. 

When  Mr.  Berry  disposed  of  his  interest  in  the 
mill  he  purchased  a  farm  in  McDonough  Count}', 
within  a  half  mile  of  the  Fulton  County  line  and 
three  miles  from  his  present  residence.  Tliere  was 
a  log  house  on  the  place,  about  forty  acres  of  which 
were  surrounded  by  a  very  poor  fence,  but  ere 
longtiie  entire  quarter  section  was  in  a  fine  state  of 
cultivation,  and  improved  with  tlie  buildings, 
fences,  etc.,  which  an  energetic  man  always  ))laces 
about  liim.  The  estate  was  added  to  until,  when 
he  retired  to  town  life,  Mr.  .Berry  owned  five  luin- 
dred  acres  of  most  excellent  land. 

A  second  matrimonial  alliance  was  contracted  by 
Mr.  Berry.  November  6, 1870,  his  bride  being  Miss 
Hannah  C,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Phebe  A. 
(Allen)  Beers.  Mr.  Beers  was  a  native  of  Oliio  in 
which  State  he  also  breathed  his  last.  Jlrs.  Berrj- 
was  born  in  Knox  Count}-,  that  State,  and  grew  to 
womanhood  in  possession  of  much  useful  knowl- 
edge, excellent  principles,  and  great  kindliness  of 
heart.  She  is  a  graud-daugliter  of  John  and  Cliar- 
ity  Allen,  of  New  Jersey,  her  grandfather  having 
been  a  Revolutioiiarj-  soldier. 

In  1885  i\Ir.  Berry  with  liis  entire  family,  inckid- 
ing  a  son-in-law,  a  daughter-inlaw  and  two  grand- 
cliildren,  visited  the  exposition  at  New  Orleans  and 
tlien  journeyed  by  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  to 
California,passing  afongthe  Rio  Grande  River  and 
slopping  at  various  places  of  interest,  among  which 
were  the  city  ofMonlerey,  the  Yosemite  ^'alley,and 
the  Big  Tree  groves  .at  Mariposa  County,  Cal. 
They  camped  three  weeks  at  the  hot  spring  at  San 
Juan,  and  continued  to  Oregon  overland,  staging  it 
one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  over  the  roughest 
road  in  America,  and  returning  to  their  honie  over 
the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  The  stage  in  wliich 
they   journeyed  w.as  drawn    by  six   horses,   but   in 


going  up  hill  could  not  make  as  good  time  as  a  man 
could  In'  walking.  This  slowness  was  more  than 
com|)cnsated  for.however,  by  the  rush  with  which 
they  came  down  the  slopes,  the  speed  and  danger- 
ous surroundings  of  rocks  and  precipices  being  suf- 
ficient to  make  the  hair  of  the  passengers  rise.  The 
six  months  and  ten  ilays  spent  in  travel  and  recre- 
ation is  a  period  upon  which  the  family  can  look 
back  with  unmixed  delight, as  no  accidents  marred 
their  pleasure. 

During  the  days  of  slaverj-  as  an  American  in- 
stitution, our  subject  and  his  brother  Henrj-  were 
ardent  abolitionists  and  many  a  poor  refugee  did 
they  assist  over  the  Quiney  route  of  the  under- 
ground railroad.  The  general  plan  was  to  take 
the  refugees  from  Quincy  in  the  daj'-time  in  a  close 
covered  carriage,  stopping  the  first  night  be^youd 
Ellison's  .Station.  Thence  they  would  journey  on 
horseback  by  night,  halts  being  made  at  Henrj' 
Berry  "s,  Lavinus  Sperry's  and  Bernadotte.  They 
would  cross  the  river  by  fording,  continuing  their 
journey  on  foot  by  easy  stages,  whence  tliey  would 
be  shipped  to  Canada  on  board  any  lake  craft  which 
could  be  secured. 

On  one  occasion  our  subject  had  piloted  two 
fine  looking  mulattocs  who  told  him  their  master 
had  failed  and  that  they  were  mortgaged  to  St. 
Louis  firms.  The  da>-  after  they  had  passed  Henry 
Berry's,  two  sheriffs  from  St.  Louis  came  thither 
looking  for  such  "property."  The  motlier  of  our 
subject  was  blind  and  the  sheriffs  pretended  to  her 
that  tliey  were  abolitionists  desirous  of  buying 
land  near  the  Berrys,  whom  they  knew  to  be  of 
that  stripe.  They  questioned  her  regarding  runa- 
ways but  having  been  satisfied  from  whisperings 
that  she  liad  heard  that  all  was  not  right,  she  gave 
them  no  satisfactory  answers.  They  finally  asked 
if  any  consideration  would  induce  hir  to  tell  tliem 
where  the  fugitives  were.  She  replied  that  if  she 
had  the  whole  world  she  would  give  it  for  her  eye- 
sight, but  slic  would  not  betray  a  slave  or  assist  in 
restoring  him  to  bondage.  After  watching  the 
bridge  over  Sjjoon  River  two  days  and  nights  the 
sheriffs  departed,  their  expected  prey  being  by  this 
time  many  miles  away  on  their  ro.ad  to  freedom. 

A  somewhat  amusing  incident  connected  with 
the  underground  railroad  was  the  remark  of  a  very 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALHUM. 


287 


black  but  intelligent  man  who  was  brought  to  Mr. 
Horry's  very  late  one  ni!;lit.  Wliilo  the  horses 
were  being  pri'ii.ired  mother  Rerry  gave  him  food, 
and  when  doing  so  remarked  thai  it  was  raliier 
late  at  night  to  be  traveling.  The  fugitive  quietly 
responded  "it  suits  my  complexion  better."  Henry 
Berry  was  once  arrested  for  helping  fugitive  slaves, 
the  laws  being  very  stringent,  but  the  only  thing 
that  could  be  proven  against  liim  was  that  he 
had  said  he  saw  the  "nigger"  kick  a  dog.  As  at 
the  time  he  was  lieli)iug  a  negro  to  Missouri  in  or- 
der tliat  he  might  rescue  his  wife,  it  was  thought  a 
queer  w.iy  in  helping  to  rescue  a  man  to  take  him 
directly  toward  bondage.  This  man  mack'  three 
different  trips  before  he  managed  to  get  liis  wife 
away  from  slaver^-,  coming  on  foot  from  Canada 
and  undergoing  man}'  perils.  Hewas  very  light  and 
could  easily  pass  for  a  white  man  under  ordinary 
circumstances. 

For  years  Mr.  Berry  worked  for  tiie  good  of  tlie 
Uepul)lican  party,  but  lie  is  now  laboring  ar- 
dently for  prohibition,  standing  high  in  the  coun- 
cils of  that  political  party  and  being  a  member  of 
tlie  rroliibition  Club. 


SAAC  B.  WITCHELL,  Postmaster  of  Vermont, 
is  well  known  as  an  old  settler  of  this  place 
ili  and  is  greatly  respected  for  those  qualities  of 
head  and  heart  that  have  won  hiiu  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  associates.  He  is 
popular  in  his  otiicial  capacity  and  is  discharging 
the  duties  of  his  position  witli  eharacleristic  (idelity 
and  greatly  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 

A  native  of  Ohio.  .Mr.  Witchell  was  born  in  Bel- 
luont'County,  June  12,  1818.  He  is  a  son  of  .lolin 
Witchell,  who  wr.s  a  native  of  Scotland.  The  fatlier 
of  the  latter,  bearing  the  same  name  .as  himself,  was 
likewise  of  Scottish  birth.  He  was  reared  and  mar- 
ried in  the  land  of  the  heather  and  removed  from 
there  to  England.  He  established  himself  in  the 
banking  business  in  Leeds,  ami  in  1 806,  emigrated 
to  America  and  was  an  earlj'  settler  of  Belmont 
County,  Ohio.  He  bought  an  improved  farm  and 
resided  there  some  years.     He  then   sold    his  place 


and  invested  his  money  in  a   stock  companj'  and 

so  lost  all  he  li.ad.  He  returned  to  England  and 
died  in  liecds.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Mary  Tatehau,  was  also  a  native  of  Scotland,  and 
she  too  died  in  Leeds.  Thev  reared  three  children 
— Mary,  Ann  and  John. 

The  latter  was  eleven  ^ears  old  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  America.  He  was  bred  on  a 
farm,  and  lived  with  his  parents  until  fifteen  years 
old.  He  was  then  sent  to  the  Weston  school,  a  t^»ua- 
ker  educational  institution,  and  when  not  devoting 
his  time  to  his  books  was  engaged  in  working  on 
a  farm.  He  lived  there  three  or  four  years,  ac- 
quiring a  substantial  education,  and  then  re- 
turned home.  He  engaged  in  farming  in  Belmont 
Count3\  and  resided  there  with  the  exception  of 
three  jears  spent  in  Guernsey  County,  until  1836. 
In  that  year  he  started  with  a  three  horse  team  for 
Indiana,  taking  his  wife  and  children  with  him,and 
after  his  arrival  located  at  Richmond.  Two  3'ears 
were  spent  there,  and  then  he  removed  to  Henry 
County,  where  he  bought  an  improved  farm  on 
which  lie  made  his  home  until  181.'3.  when  he  sold 
out  and  went  to  Jay  Count}-.  Three  years  later 
he  came  to  ^'ermont,  settled  in  the  village  and  re- 
sided there  some  years.  Kansas  was  his  next  des- 
tination and  going  there  in  1859,  he  passed  nearly 
four  years  in  that  State.  Returning  to  this  place, 
he  died  here  about  1870.  Prior  tonu)ving  to  Kan- 
sas he  and  his  wife  went  to  England  where  they 
spent  one  year. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Bathsheba  Foulk.  Her  native  place  was  in 
Bucks  County.  Pa.  Her  father,  Iska  Foulk,  is 
thought  to  have  been  born  in  Scotland.  He  was 
marrieil  in  Pennsylvania,  to  .lane  Barton,  a  native 
of  that  State.  He  was  a  farmer  and  weaver,  de- 
voting a  part  of  his  time  to  each  em|)loyuient.  He 
died  in  Belmont  County,  Ohio.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  departed  this  life  in  ^■ernlont  in  1880.  She 
reared  three  children,  Jane,  Mary  and  Isaac. 

Isaac  M'itchell  was  about  seventeen  years  old 
when  he  went  to  Indiana  with  his  jiarents.  and  he 
continued  to  live  with  them  until  18)0.  In  that 
year  he  came  to  ^'ermont  and  found  here  a  small 
hamlet,  and  the  surrcuiuding  country  sparsely  set- 
tled and  covered  with   liml)ei  in  wlilcli  deer,   wild 


288 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


turkeys  and  other  game  roamed  at  will.  Mr. 
Witc'liell  began  life  here  as  an  engineer  in  a  steam 
gristmill,  which  position  he  held,  four  j'ears.  After 
that  he  operated  an  engine  at  his  father-in-law's 
mill  three  years.  He  then  built  a  sawmill  in  con- 
nection with  his  fatherin-law  and  managed  it  suc- 
cessfully some  years.  He  subsequently  gave  his 
attention  to  selling  and  repairing  boilers  through- 
out the  country.  He  was  thus  profitably  engaged 
ten  years,  and  since  then  has  carried  on  various 
kinds  of  business. 

In  the  year  1843,  our  subject  secured  a  good  and 
faithful  wife  in  the  person  of  Sarah  A.  Burr.  She 
was  a  native  of  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  and  :i 
daughter  of  Jesse  and  Martha  Burr.  Her  death 
July  11,  1865,  was  a  severe  blow  to  her  family, 
for  she  was  a  true,  womanly  woman,  possessing 
many  excellent  traits  of  character,  that  gained  her 
the  respect  and  consideration  of  all  with  whom  she 
came  in  contact.  The  following  six  of  the  nine 
children  born  of  her  marriage  with  our  subject  were 
reared  to  maturity:  Adeline,  Burr,  Eva,  John, 
Martha  and  Walter. 

Mr.  Witchell  was  in  early  life  a  Whig,  and  in 
in  1840,  cast  his  vote  for  Gen.  Harrison.  He  was 
in  full  sympathy  with  the  organizers  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  formed  fell  into 
the  ranks  and  has  remained  true  to  it  ever  since 
He  was  appointed  Postmaster  in  March,  1889.  His 
selection  for  the  imp(jrtant  office  was  a  wise  one 
and  received  the  hearty  api)roval  of  all  his  fellow- 
citizens.  For  fifty  years  he  has  been  a  strong 
Temperance  man  and  has  used  his  influence  in 
forwarding  the  cause.  He  has  taken  an  important 
part  in  the  government  of  the  village,  and  for 
three  years  was  President  of  the  Village  Board.  He 
is  prominent  in  local  politics  and  was  Chairman  of 
the  township  Republican   Committee   thirty    years. 

In  an  account  of  the  Asiatic  cholera  epidemic 
that  raged  in  Fulton  County  in  1851,  the  unremit- 
ting and  arduous  services  of  our  subject  in  caring 
for  the  sick  and  dying  received  honorable  mention. 
While  many  fled  from  the  scene  of  affliction, lie  was 
one  of  the  faithful  few,  who  heroically  stood  at 
the  post  of  duty  to  the  bitter  end.  Night  and 
d.ay  from  June  until  September,  with  character- 
istic self-sacrilicc,  and  pitying  kindness,  he  admin- 


istered to  the  afflicted,  doing  all  that  he  could  to 
allay  their  distress,  and  he  tenderly  assisted  in  the 
burial  of  the  dead.  He  witnessed  many  sad  scenes 
with  an  aching  heart.  Men  who  assisted  in  bury- 
ing a  victim  of  the  dread  disease  in  the  morning, 
were  often  stricken  with  the  cholera  and  would  he 
dead  before  night.  About  seventy  died  in  this 
neighborhood  in  a  few  weeks  time,  our  subject  be- 
ing one  of  the  small  number  who  escaped. 


EWIS  LLOYD  JONES,  a  prosperous  far- 
))  mer  and  mine  owner  of  Orion  Township, 
having  a  fine  farm,  underlying  which  is  a 
valuable  strata  of  coal,  is  one  of  the  prominent  citi- 
zens of  Fulton  County  and  is  active  in  its  public 
life.  He  is  of  Welsh  origin  and  antecedents,  born 
in  Mertli3r-T3'dfil,  Glamorganshire,  Wales,  March 
16, 1827.  His  parents,  Thomas  and  Hannah  (Lloyd) 
Jones,  were  natives  of  the  same  town,  and  there 
they  spent  their  entire  life,  dying  at  an  advanced 
age.  The  father  was  a  miner  by  occupation.  They 
had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing is  the  record:  Thomas,  born  October  31, 
1820,  now  lives  at  Dutch  Gap,  Luzerne  County, 
Pa.;  Benjamin,  born  September  11,  1822,  is  now  a 
resident  of  Australia;  William,  born  January  16, 
1825,  was  killed  by  one  of  his  subordinates  while 
in  English  Government  employ;  Lewis  L.,  our 
subject;  Catherine,  born  January  31,  1829,  died  at 
home  unmarried;  Noah,  born  Februaiy  1,  1830, 
went  to  California  and  engaged  in  gold  mining, 
and  was  there  murdered  in  1853  or  1854;  Ruth, 
born  January  1,  1833,  married  Thomas  Jenkins,  and 
died  near  Scranton,  Pa.;  Ebenezer,  born  December 
10,  1834,  now  resides  in  Mason  County,  Mo.;  Na- 
honii,  born  November  30,  1836,  married  John 
Blamey,  and  lives  in  Scranton,  Pa.;  Myriam,  born 
September  1,  1838,  is  married  and  lives  in  Scran- 
ton, Ps.;  Joseph,  born  March  20,  1841,  now  lives 
in  Canton;  Hannah,  born  September  26,  1843,  mar- 
ried William  Jones,  and  lives  in  Russia. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  received  a  limited 
education  in  his  native  town,  where  he  subsequently 
followed   the   occupation    of    a  miner  until   1849. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALIUM. 


28 'J 


Ambitious  to  see  more  of  life  and  to  better  his 
tinaiicial  cMUnlition.  in  the  opening  years  of  a  vigor- 
ous manlioud,  he  left  liis  old  home  on  the  ifith  of 
February,  in  the  year  just  mentioned,  and  em- 
barking on  a  sailinji-vessel  at  Liver|iool,  Kngland, 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  this  country,  landing  at 
New  Orleans  about  the  ICtli  of  the  following 
Ai)ril.  From  there  he  proceeded  up  the  Mississip])! 
and  JMissouri  Rivers  to  Council  liluffs,  and  thence 
went  by  ox-team  to  I'tah,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  the  succeeding  eight  years.  He  was,  how- 
ever, not  satisfied  with  the  country  and  his  pros- 
pects there,  and  he  then  came  eastward  as  far  as 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  for  five  or  six  years  was  en- 
gaged in  mining  in  that  vicinity.  He  next  came 
to  Canton,  in  this  State,  and  followed  the  same  call- 
ing there  until  1870.  In  that  j^ear  he  bought  the 
place  where  he  now  resides  on  section  .SO,  Orion 
Township.  It  comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty 
.acres  of  excellent  farming  land,  whicli  is  well 
cultivated  and  is  amply  supplied  with  neatand  sub- 
stantial buildings,  and  is  in  all  respects  a  well- 
ordered  farm.  After  locating  on  this  place  Mr. 
Jones  soon  began  to  prospect  for  coal,  and  finallj' 
developed  a  five  foot  vein  of  excellent  quality, 
which  he  has  continued  to  work  up  to  the  present 
time,  and  derives  from  that  source  a  good  income. 
Some  years  he  has  employed  as  many  as  thirty 
miners,  but  at  present  is  working  only  five  or  six 
men  in  the  winter  season. 

While  in  Utah  Mr.  Jones  was  married,  in  No- 
vember, 1849,  to  Elizabeth  (Morgan)  Davis,  widow 
of  .lames  Davis,  who  is  a  native  of  the  same  town 
as  himself,  and  came  to  America  in  the  same  ves- 
sel on  which  he  crossed  the  Atlantic.  She  has 
been  to  him  a  true  wife,  and  is  thoroughly  devoted 
to  his  interests.  Of  their  family  the  following  is 
noted:  Lewis  M.,  now  a  farmer  in  Sheridan 
Count}',  Neb.;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Ephraim  Grim, 
of  Canton;  Catherine,  deceased;  Thom.is,  of  Can- 
ton ;  Margaret,  wife  of  George Gilmore,  of  Canton; 
David,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Hannah,  who 
married  Albert  Kiser,  and  lives  near  the  homestead. 
Hannah  was  adopted  when  a  babe  of  a  year  old. 
William  Davis  Jones,  a  son  of  Mrs.  Jones  by  her 
first  marriage,  lives  at  home  and  assists  our  sub- 
ject in  the  management  of  the  farm. 


Since  Mr.  Jones   has  resided   here  he  has  been 

prominently  identified  with  its  public  and  political 
lite,  and  is  a  sound  and  consistent  Democrat.  He 
is  a  man  of  much  energy,  tact  and  businesis  capac- 
ity, and  his  fellow-townsincn  have  not  failed  to 
recognize  his  superior  merits  and  (pialitications.  and 
have  caHed  him  to  responsible  oltices.  He  has 
lilk'd  the  i)Osition  of  .Supervisor  for  four  years,  and 
is  now  prominently  mentioned  b}'  his  party  for 
County  Treasurer.  Mr.  .lones  is  a  member  of  the 
Josephite,  or  anti-))olygamist  branch  of  the  Mormon 
Church,  and  is  consideri^d  one  of  the  most  substan- 
stantial  as  well  as  one  of  the  best-respected  citi- 
zens. 

— im^ — 


EMERSON  CLARK,  senior  jmrtner  in  the 
firm  of  E.  Clark  cfe  Hro.,  proprietors  of  Clark 
-J)  Bros.  Meat  Market,  Farmington.  is  undoubt- 
edly the  most  successful  nnin  in  his  lino  in  this  town 
if  not  in  the  county,  and  he  is  tlic  oldest  butcher 
here.  He  is  regarded  as  a  man  of  exceptional  in- 
tegrity and  standing  in  the  financi.al  world,  and  he 
is  [trominent  in  Masonic  circles  and  in  the  public 
life  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Clark  was  born  in  Randolph,  Mass.,  June  8, 
1817.  He  is  the  son  of  Elislia  V.  Clark,  a  native 
of  the  same  town  as  himself.  His  mother,  Mehita- 
ble  N.  Thayer,  was  born  in  CJuincy,  Mass.  When 
he  was  a  young  man  the  father  was  a  shoemaker  for 
some  years,  and  then  went  to  (Juincy,  where  he  was 
engaged  .as  a  butcher  from  1S14  to  1846.  In  the 
latter  year  he  returned  to  Randolph,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  the  same  tr.ade  there.  In  1866  he  de- 
cided to  act  on  the  suggestions  and  solicitations  of 
his  old-time  friend,  Alvin  Kidder,  (of  whom  see 
sketch  on  another  page  of  this  work)  to  come  to 
Farmington  and  embark  in  the  meat  business  here. 
Accordingly  he  removed  with  his  entire  family 
from  bis  Eastern  home  to  this  State.  He  was  then 
in  very  ordinary'  circumstances,  but  he  acquired  a 
competence  from  his  business  as  proprietor  of  a 
meat  market,  and  in  1877  sold  out  to  his  son  of 
whom  we  write. 

The  earl}'  boyhootl  and  manhood  of  our  subject 
were  passed  in  his  natire  Massachusetts  town,  and 


290 


PORTRAIT  a:SD  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALliUM. 


lie  icceived  his  educalion  in  its  public  schools.  He 
began  to  work  at  llie  butcher  business  while  3-et  a 
young  man.  and  accumulated  sufficient  capital  to 
buy  his  father  out,  as  before  mentioned.  The  first 
three  years  after  he  purchased  the  business  he 
operated  it  alone,  but  in  1880  he  formed  a  partner- 
sliip  with  his  brother,  and  since  that  time  it  has 
been  carried  on  under  the  firm  name  of  E.  Clark  & 
Bro.  In  1887  the  brothers  built  their  present  tine 
brick  store,  which  is  20x60  feet  in  dimensions,  is 
fitted  with  all  modern  improvements,  having  ample 
conveniences  for  the  preservation  of  fresh  meats, 
etc.  In  no  business  does  Farniington  assume  such 
a  metropolitan  air  as  in  the  meat  market  line,  and 
certainly  the  establishment  of  E.  Clark  tt  Bro.,  with 
its  neat  fixtures,  would  do  justice  to  cities  of  far 
greater  pretensions. 

The  firm  entered  into  the  poultry  and  egg 
business  in  1880  in  connection  with  their  meat 
trade,  and  they  operate  in  Chicago  and  various 
other  points  in  this  State  and  in  Iowa,  buying  and 
dressing  poultry  at  four  different  places.  Mr.  Clark 
is  rapidl}"  becoming  a  wealth}'  man.  for  besides  his 
meat  business,  he  has  mone}'  invested  in  real  estate 
at  Sioux  Citj",  Iowa,  and  at  various  other  places  in 
the  AVest. 

Our  subject  is  very  liappy  in  his  domestic  rela- 
tions, having  married  in  1872.  Sliss  Emma  Waite, 
who  is  to  him  all  that  a  loving  and  devoted  wife 
can  be,  and  to  their  two  children,  Bessie  W.  and 
Eugene  A'.,  is  a  tender  and  wise  mother.  Their 
pleasant  residence  is  a  commodious,  two-story  frame 
dwelling,  finely  located  on  the  south  side  of  Xer- 
non  Street.  Farmington. 

Mr.  Clark  is  one  of  the  most  important  factors 
in  promoting  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the 
village  of  Farmington.  he  being  a  progressive,  lib- 
eral, public-spirited  man,  and  in  social  and  educa- 
tional matters  he  is  pre-eminent.  He  joined  the 
Masonic  fraternitj'  in  the  winter  of  1868-69.  He 
took  the  chapter  degree  at  Yates  Cit}-  in  1870- 
71.  He  took  the  order  of  Knighthood  at  Gales- 
burg  in  1880  and  has  taken  nine  degrees  in  all  and 
is  one  of  the  State  lecturers  of  the  order.  In  poli- 
tics he  gives  his  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party. 
He  has  never  sought  office  but  at  the  solicitation  of 
his  fellow-citizens  he  has  at  three  or  four  different 


times  within  the  past  twelve  years  taken  the  posi- 
tion of  Township  Clerk,  of  which  office  lie  is  at 
present  an  incumbent;  and  he  is  also  serving  as 
City  Clerk  of  Farmington,  whicli  position  he  has 
held  six  3ears.  from  187.j  to  1880,  and  was  chosen 
a  second  time  in  1889. 


e)^»" 


lELT.  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  CONE. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  circumstances  in 
may  make  or  m.ir  the  prospects  of  a 
man  to  a  certain  extent,  but  a  determined  spirit 
will  bend  even  the  force  of  circumstances  to  its 
will.  The  career  of  Lieut.  Cone  since  his  arrival 
upon  the  stage  of  human  action  is  abundant  [iroof 
of  this  trite  saying. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  is  the  fifth  son  of  Jo- 
seph Cone,  founder  of  Farmington,  and  a  man  of 
extensive  fame.  He  was  born  in  Harrington, 
Conn.,  July  10.  1821.  and  received  an  excellent 
education,  attending  the  common  sciiools,  and 
afterward  the  academj-  of  his  native  place.  He 
was  onl\'  a  bo}'  of  tliirtcen  summers  when  he  came 
with  his  father  to  Illinois,  and  continued  to  live  at 
home  up  to  the  time  of  his  marriage.  After  his 
arrival  in  tliis  State  lie  attended  school  at  the  Peo- 
ria Academy,  which  was  at  that  time  under  the 
charge  of  the  Rev.  David  Page.  Possessing  great 
natural  ability  and  a  fondness  for  study,  our  sub- 
ject found  no  difliculty  in  mastering  the  depths  of 
•■hidden  lore." 

Lieut.  Cone  w.as  twice  married.  In  1850  he  was 
united  in  hymeneal  bonds  with  Miss  Harriet  Berge. 
daughter  of  Deacon  Luther  Berge.  a  famous  Abol- 
itionist and  temperance  man.  and  well  known  to 
the  pioneers  of  Illinois.  To  our  subject  and  wife 
have  been  born  four  children,  viz.:  Cordelia,  who 
died  while  in  infancy;  Frank,  who  died  when  six 
j'ears  old;  Everett  Luther,  who  resides  at  home; 
and  George  C,  who  is  a  student  at  the  I'niversity 
of  Illinois,  at  Champaign. 

Our  subject  owns  much  real  estate,  and  has  lived 
in  several  different  places,  and  carried  on  a  [iros- 
perous  dry-goods  business  at  Elmwood  for  about 
seven  years.     But  while   he  was   enjoying   life  at 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUISI. 


291 


timt  lime  the  war  lnoke  mil.  and  he  eiilisteil  in  Com  ■ 
panj'  I,  of  tiie  Scvent\-seveiilh  Illinois  Infantry,  in 
tlie  fall  of  1862.  Fie  was  under  command  of  Col. 
Grier,  who  afterward  became  a  (Jener.-il.  The 
coinpany  was  mustered  in  at  Peoria,  and  after  a 
brief  time  spent  there  in  drilling  they  left  for  the 
frontier,  and  our  subj"et  was  elected  Sergeant  by 
the  company.  Their  |)rospcctive  point  was  Lex- 
ington, K}-..  and  th"\-  marched  from  Covington  to 
Lexington,  from  there  to  Louisville,  and  from  tliat 
citj-  took  a  boat  for  Jlemphis  and  ^'ieks")urg■.  and 
were  present  at  the  battle  of  \ieksburg.  Thej- 
were  eng.aged  at  Port  Gibson,  Haines  Bluff,  Arkan- 
sas Post,  where  they  took  six  thousand  prisoners. 
Champion  Hill  and  Black  Kiver  Bridge.  For  val- 
iant service  ou'-  subject  was  promoted  to  be  Lieuten- 
ant. In  the  battle  of  Vickshurg  he  was  shot 
tbrought  his  left  ankle,  and  was  on  crutches  for 
eight  months,  and  was  honorably  discharged  on 
account  of  physical  disal)ility  at  New  Orleans  in 
November,  1863.  He  returned  home  scarcely  more 
than  ,1  physical  wreck,  but  with  a  war  record  of 
which  an\'  man  may  be  justl\'  proud.  In  politics 
he  is  in  sympathy  with  the  Republican  part}-,  but 
is  no  office-seeker.  In  1863  he  went  to  Memphis 
and  bought  mill  property  there,  but  sold  same  and 
never  received  pay  for  it,  and  this  transaction 
pract'cally  ruine<l  him  financially.  He  is  noted 
for  integrity,  and  is  a  man  of  great  moral  force, 
and  is  slightly  inclined  towards  the  Swcdenborgian 
religion. 

-   oo?    - 

^|7  EWIS  SCHAFER.  This  gentleman  may 
I  (@  truly  be  called  a  self-made  man,  as  will  be 
/1L^^  seen  by  the  perusal  of  his  history.  He  oc- 
cupies a  finelj'-improved  farm  in  Young  Hickory 
Township  and  ranks  among  the  highly-respected 
citizens  of  the  county  by  reason  of  his  intelli- 
gence, his  sterling  character  and  reliable  citizen- 
ship. He  is  an  enterprising  farmer,  prudently 
changing  his  crops  in  order  to  keep  up  the  fertility 
of  the  soil,  and  devoting  the  greater  amount  of  his 
land  to  grain  without  neglecting  other  articles  of 
produce.  He  raises  graded  hogs,  cattle  and  Nor- 
man horses,  and  has  his  estate  well  supplied  with 


orchards  and  groves.  Neat  fences  enclose  and  sub- 
divide tiie  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  which  he 
owns,  and  good  buildings  are  f.avorably  located 
upon  it.  The  land  is  well  supplied  with  springs, 
has  been  tiled  wherever  necessary  and  improveil  in 
cvevy  \mvt. 

Jacob  Schafer,  the  father  of  our  sulijcct.  was 
born  in  Ilesse-Darmstadt,  (lermany,  and  reared  on 
a  farm.  When  seventeen  3  ears  old  he  was  drafted 
into  the  army  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  who  at  that 
time  invaded  Hesse  Darmstadt.  He  marched  to 
JNloscow.  Russia,  suffering  much  en  route,  as  he  be- 
came footsore  and  otherwise  practically  unfit  for 
the  journey.  After  three  3-ears  of  army  life  he 
became  one  of  Napoleon's  bod^'-guard.  In  the 
fifth  year  he  was  wounded  in  the  heel  and  his  horse 
killed.  He  Lay  b}'  the  side  of  the  dead  animal 
twelve  hours,  when  a  loose  horse  passed  and  he 
m.inaged  to  secure  the  animal.  He  had  his  foot  in 
the  stirrup  ready  to  mount  when  a  shell  took  off 
the  horse's  head.  Mr.  Schafer  thought  it  wise  to 
'•l.ay  low"  until  assistance  arrived,  when  he  was 
taken  to  the  hospital.  He  partially  recovered  from 
his  wound,  and  was  then  honorably  discharged, 
lie  drew  a  pension  of  §78  a  year.  He  was  a  per- 
sonal friend  of  Louis  Napoleon,  and  never  could 
bear  to  hear  an^'  one  speak  ill  of  him. 

In  the  town  of  Naunheim,  where  he  made  his 
home,  Mr.  Schafer  held  oflice  and  was  in  prosper- 
ous circumstances.  As  the  time  approached  when 
his  oldest  son  would  be  obliged  to  enter  the  army 
according  to  the  German  laws,  he  sold  his  property 
and  in  1832  bade  adieu  to  his  native  land.  He  left 
Bremen  on  an  English  sailing-vessel,  and  thirty- 
six  days  later  landed  in  Baltimore  with  his  wife 
and  four  children.  He  went  to  Bedford  County, 
Pa.,  bought  an  unbroken  tract  of  land  and  settled 
down  in  the  woods.  He  built  a  log  house,  cleared 
his  farm,  .and  had  it  nicely-  improved  when  stricken 
with  paralj'sis.  He  breathed  his  last  in  1834,  at 
the  age  of  forty-four  years.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  His  wife,  formerly  Eliza- 
beth Conrad,  was  the  (hiughter  of  a  farmer  in 
Hesse  Darmstadt.  .She  remained  with  her  older 
daughter  until  1849,  then  came  to  this  State  and 
died  in  Fairview  Township  in  the  fall  of  1851. 
She   w.as  then   sixt3--six  j-ears   old.     The   parental 


292 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


family  consisted  of  Mrs.  Margeret  Schaff,  who 
died  in  Cooper  Countj\  Mo.,  in  1872;  Jacob,  who 
died  in  Fair  view  Township,  this  county,  in  1852; 
Elizabetii,  wife  of  Dr.  Smith,  of  Medway:  and  our 
subject. 

In  Naunheim,  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  the 
eyes  of  our  subject  opened  to  the  light  July  18, 
1825.  At  the  usual  age  he  began  attending  school, 
continuing  his  studies  until  the  family  emigrated. 
While  on  the  way  to  America  he  narrowly  es- 
caped drowning,  being  on  deck  when  a  huge  wave 
liroke  over  the  vessel,  sweeping  him  away  from 
his  mother.  lie  clutched  at  the  ropes  and  so  es- 
caped a  waterjf  grave.  He  saw  icebergs  and  whales 
and  experienced  an  ocean  storm  of  three  daj-s 
duration.  After  three  n-eeks  spent  in  Baltimore 
he  became  an  inmate  of  the  log  house  in  the 
forests  of  Bedford  County,  Pa.,  where  he  remained 
until  the  death  of  the  father  broke  up  the  family. 
When  he  was  ten  years  old  he  went  to  live  with  a 
Lutheran  preacher,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Yeager,  with 
whom  he  made  his  home  for  some  years.  He 
worked  hard  on  the  farm  and  in  the  winter  would 
spend  a  day  in  school  and  then  remain  out  two 
days  ti)  tramp  out  grain  with  a  iiorse,  or  do  other 
work.  When  fourteen  years  old  he  was  apprenticed 
to  his  brother  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  tailor,  and  at 
tlie  age  of  twenty  was  set  free. 

Prior  to  tliis  lime  young  Schafer  had  but  a  few 
months'  schooling,  and  he  at  once  entered   school. 

After  close  application  for  two  mouths  his  health 
compelled  him  to  leave  school,  and  he  secured  a 
clerkship  in  Jlartinsburg,  remaining  there  until 
1848.  He  then  started  West  with  his  brother, 
intending  to  go  to  Booneville,  Mo.  They  came 
down  the  Ohio  River  to  St.  Louis,  when  the  Mis- 
souri was  found  to  be  very  low,  and  they  came 
n|i  to  Copi)eras  Creek  Landing,  111.  Our  subject 
liked  the  appearance  of  the  countrj",  determined 
to  remain,  and  the  da}'  after  his  landing  hired  out 
to  John  W.  Sliinn,  merchant  and  druggist  in 
Canton.  He  remained  in  the  employ  of  that  gen- 
tleman a  year,  and  then,  in  partnership  with  his 
brother,  began  farming  in  Fairview  Township. 
The  connection  continued  until  the  brother's  death. 

For  some  time  our  subject  continued  to  clerk, 
being  employed  by   Majile  <V  Piper,  but  the  illness 


of  his  brother  took  him  to  the  farm,  where  he 
afterward  remained.  Wild  game  was  then  plenti- 
ful, deer  abounding  in  great  numbers.  In  1854 
he  rented  a  farm  in  Young  Hickory  Township,  but 
two  j'ears  later  removed  to  McDonough  Count}', 
buying  eighty  acres  of  raw  land  not  far  from  (Jood 
Hope.  His  nearest  neighbor  on  the  west  was  five 
five  miles  awa}'.  He  improved  the  land  with 
good  buildings,  making  it  his  home  until  1863, 
when  he  sold  out  and  returned  to  this  county. 
He  then  bought  sixty  acres  of  his  present  estate, 
which  was  partly  improved,  and  upon  which  he 
continued  the  work  which  had  [^been  begun.  His 
labors  included  grubbing  from  the  timber  and 
the  breaking  of  uncultivated  portions.  In  1878 
he  bought  seventy  acres,  also  parti}'  improved, 
and  now  has  both  tracts  in  excellent  condition. 
The  estate  is  four  miles  from  London  Mills,  ly- 
ing partly  on  section  23,  and  partly  on  section  22. 

In  Young  Hickory jTownship,  September  1.  1853: 
marriage  rites  were  solemnized  between  31.  Schafer 
and  Jliss  Susan  Rest.  This  estimable  lady  was 
born  near  Connellsville,  Pa.,  July  5,  1832,  and  in 
1838  accompanied  her  parents  to  this  county. 
The  removal  was  made  with  two  wagons  drawn 
by  horses,  and  consumed  a  considerable  period  of 
time.  INIrs.  Schafer  was  reared  and  educated 
here,  attending  the  common  schools,  where  her 
writing  exercises  were  done  with  a  quill  pen  and 
her  text  books  were  by  authors  now  unknown 
to  pupils.  She  learned  to  hackle  flax,  si)in,  weave 
and  perform  other  household  duties,  which  were 
then  considered  necessary  parts  of  a  girl's  educa- 
tion. 

Mrs.  Schafer  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  John  and 
Barbara  (Striker)  Rest,  natives  of  Germany,  who, 
after  coming  to  America,  located  in  Fayette  County, 
Pa.  There  their  son  Jacob  was  born  February  15. 
1795.  AVhen  of  a  suitable  age  he  learned  the 
trade  of  a  clock-maker,  but  later  engaged  in  mill- 
ing. He  remained  in  his  native  State  until  Octo- 
ber, 1838,  when  he  came  West  with  his  family, 
settling  in  Fairview  Township,  this  county.  He 
remained  in  his  native  State  until  October,  1838, 
when  he  came  West  with  his  family,  settling  in 
Fairview  Township,  this  county.  After  a  few 
years  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty   acres  on 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


293 


section  23,  Young  Hickory  Townsliip,  lechiimed 
the  land  from  its  raw  condition  and  placed  it 
under  good  improvements.  He  prospered  finan- 
ciall}-,  becoming  quite  well-to-do.  He  was  quite  a 
famous  hunter  and  fisherman.  He  killed  many 
deer,  frequently  bringing  down  two  in  a  day. 
lie  was  originally  a  member  of  the  Whig  party, 
but  in  later  years  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  act- 
ive in  religious  work,  being  a  Class-Leader  and 
chorister  in  the  New  Light  Christian  Chnvch.  He 
helped  to  build  the  first  sclioolhouse  in  the  neigh- 
borhood and  a  house  of  worship.  He  died  in 
1872,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years. 

'rhf>  wife  of  Jacob  Rest  and  mother  of  Mrs. 
^Schafer  was  Mary  Orban,  who  was  born  in  Vny- 
elte  County,  Pa.,  and  died  in  Kllisville  in  1874, 
when  nearlj'  four-score  years  old.  She  had  twelve 
children,  of  whom  we  note  the  following:  John  is 
now  living  in  Fairview  Township;  Mrs.  Barbara 
Hamilton  died  in  Liveriiool  Township;  IMrs.  Jane 
Dorland  lives  in  Young  Hickory  Township;  Henry 
makes  his  home  in  Iowa;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  White 
died  in  Y'oung  Hickory  Township;  Mrs.  Nancy 
Hendricks  lives  in  Texas;  Mrs.  ^lary  Hendricks 
lives  in  the  same  State;  Mrs.  Caroline  Irons  lives 
in  Young  Ilickor}'  Township;  the  next  on  the 
family  roll  is  the  wife  of  our  subject;  Mrs.  Julia 
A.  Beer  died  in  Deerfield  Township;  Jacob  died 
in  Young  Hickory  Township;  Mrs.  Rowena  Palmer 
died  in  Iowa.  Jacob  served  his  country  during  the 
Civil  War  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois 
Infantry-. 

The  family  of  our  subject  and  his  good  wife 
consists  of  three  children — Mary  E.,  Frank  P.  and 
Webster  L.;  Jacob  B.  died  January  26,  1860.  They 
also  have  as  inmates  of  their  household  two 
orphan  children  of  a  sister  of  i\lr.  Schafcr,  the 
younger  of  whom  was  three  years  old  when 
their  father  dietl.  Other  members  of  the  family  did 
not  seem  to  concern  themselves  about  the  chil- 
dren, and  our  subject,  who  had  known  what  it 
was  to  be  left  fatherless,  sent  his  younger  son  for 
them.  They  now  have  a  good  home  and  are  as 
lovingly  cared  for  as  were  the  children  who  are 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schafer's  by  ties  of  blood.  Their 
daughter  was  married  to  Anderson  Matler,  who  died 
in  the  year   1889.  and   has   one  daughter — Phebe 


B. ;  she  follows  the  profession  of  school-teaching 
and  is  self-su|iporting.  Frank  Shafer  married  Lib 
Shoemaker  and  lives  on  a  part  of  his  father's 
farm;  Webster,  who  has  attended  the  college  at 
Bushnell,  is  still  a  member  of  the  home  circle. 

In  1849  Mr.  Schafer  taught  a  rate  bill  school 
in  Young  Hickory  Township,  in  1853  taught  again, 
and  in  1864  held  his  third  and  last  school.  He  has 
been  School  Director  and  Trustee  for  yeais,  was 
Collector  one  jear  and  has  been  Township  Clerk 
ten  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellow's 
lodge,  at  EUisville,  in  which  he  has  passed  through 
the  Chairs.  His  son  Frank  is  also  identified  with 
it.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  has  fre- 
quently served  as  a  delegate  to  county  conven- 
tions and  as  a  member  of  the  Central  Committee. 
Mrs.  Schafer  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church. 


♦^^ 


z^ 


^^  HARLES  S.  PHELPS,  a  highly  respected 
j|(  ^1,  resident  of  Lewistown,  is  extensively  iden- 
^^'  tilled  with  the  agricidtural  interests  of  this 
county.  He  is  a  fine  representative  of  an  honored 
pioneer  family  and  is  a  native-born  citizen  of  this 
State  who  has  materially  contributed  to  its  wel- 
fare. 

Mr.  Phelps  was  born  at  Oquawka,  July  17,1836. 
His  father,  Cupl.  William  Phelps,  was  born  No- 
vember 1,  1809,  in  Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y., 
of  which  his  father,  Ste[)hen  I'helps,  a  native  of 
New  England,  was  an  early  settler.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject  continued  in  his  [)ioneer 
home  a  few  years  and  then  again  took  up  the 
westward  march  and  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  the 
Sangomoo  Country,  as  Sangamon  County  was  then 
called.  That  was  long  before  the  Capital  was  lo- 
cated at  Springfield,  and  settlements  were  few  and 
far  between  in  that  wild  region.  Mr.  Phelps' 
stay  in  that  region  was  only  for  a  short  time  and 
he  then  came  to  Lewistown  and  was  a  pioneer  mer- 
chant here,  opening  a  store  with  a  small  stock  of 
goods  which  he  had  brought  from  .St.  Louis.  The 
Indians  were  numerous  in  this  section  of  the 
country,  and  a  great  deal  of  his  trading  was  done 
with  them.      He  was  a  man  of  much  enterprise, and 


294 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


became  quite  prospered,  and  as  the  town  and 
country  settled  up,  his  business  was  extended,  and 
he  carried  it  on  successrull\-  until  his  dcatii  about 
1840,  when  a  prominent  and  valued  citizen  was 
removed  from  the  community-.  He  was  quite  eon- 
spicious  in  i)olitical  and  public  affairs,  being  a 
Whig  in  part3'  affiliations,  and  at  an  early  daj' 
he  served  as  one  of  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  about  ten  years 
old  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois. 
Some  time  before  he  attained  his  majority  his  father 
give  him  his  time  in  the  winter  season,  and  he  in- 
heriting a  commercial  spirit,  engaged  in  trade  with 
the  Indians,  and  thus  early  became  acquainted  with 
their  modes  of  living,  customs  and  characters. 
Later  when  the  Indians  were  removed  from  here 
he  went  vvith  them  to  that  portion  of  Dakota  now 
in(  luded  in  the  State  of  Iowa,  and  remained  among 
them  several  years.  By  kind  treatment  he  gained 
their  confidence,  learned  their  language,  and  be- 
came good  friends  with  Keokuk,  Black  Hawk  and 
other  noted  chiefs.  In  18.30,  President  Jackson 
jjresented  Keokuk's  wife  with  a  handsome  pres- 
ent, consisting  of  an  elegant  cabinet.  She  after- 
wards gave  it  to  Mrs.  Phelps,raother  of  our  subject, 
who  gave  it  to  him  and  lie  treasures  it  as  a  valued 
memento. 

During  those  early  times,  for  awhile  Mr.  Phelps 
commanded  a  boat  on  the  Mississippi  River,  and 
was  at  one  time  Captain  of  the  steamer  "Pavillion." 
He  was  one  of  the  early  explorers  of  the  lead  re- 
gions around  Galena.  lu  1846  he  returned  to 
Lewistown  and  bought  quite  large  tracts  of  farm 
lands  in  the  vicinity  and  engaged  extensively  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  remained  a  resident  here 
until  1885,  then  went  to  Hastings,  Neb.,  and  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  visits  here,  spent  his  last 
years  there,  his  death  occurring  October  16.  1889. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Caroline  Kelse}' 
and  she  was  also  a  native  of  Cattaraugus  County, 
N.  V.  Her  father  Simeon  Kelsey,  is  supposed  to 
been  have  a  native  of  the  same  State.  He  came 
to  Illinois  in  an  earl}-  day  and  was  a  prominent 
pioneer  of  Lewistown.  He  dealt  in  stock,  and 
was  quite  prospered.  He  made  several  trips  to  the 
lead  mines  near  Galena,  for  the  purpose  of  inves- 


tigating their  merits,  and  invested  money  in  them. 
He  made  his  home  in  Lewistown  until  death  closed 
his  mortal  career. 

Much  of  the  first  ten  years  of  the  life  of  our  sub- 
ject was  passed  among  the  Indians  in  Iowa, 
which  was  at  tliat  time  principally  inhabited  b}' 
the  aboriginies,  tliere  being  but  few  white  settlers 
excepting  along  the  streams.  During  his  childhood 
his  motlier  was  sick,  so  he  was  reared  b\-  a  squaw. 
He  learned  to  talk  in  the  Indian  language  and  be- 
came expert  with  the  bow  and  arrow,  and  often 
shot  deer,  antelope  and  other  wild  game  that  was 
then  plentiful  in  that  region.  When  lie  was  ten 
years  old  his  parents  returned  to  Fulton  Count}', 
and  he  attended  the  city  schools  at  Lewistown 
where  he  laid  the  basis  of  a  solid  education.  He 
subsequently  pursued  a  two  j'ears'  course  of  study 
at  the  Catholic  College  at  St.  Louis.  After  leav- 
ing that  institution  he  went  to  Fannin  County, 
Tex.,  for  a  visit,  and  was  induced  to  utilize  his 
learning  b}-  teaching  a  term  of  school,  which  was 
conducted  on  the  subscription  plan,  there  being  no 
free  schools  there,  and  was  taught  in  a  log  cabin. 
In  the  spring  he  went  to  New  Orleans  and  thence 
came  by  way  of  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers 
as  far  as  Havana,  this  State.  He  theu  established 
himself  in  business  as  a  grain  dealer  at  Point  Isa- 
bella, and  carried  it  on  there  with  good  financial 
success  until  18G9. 

In  that  year  Mr.  Phelps  returned  to  this  county 
and  has  since  given  his  attention  to  agriculture  on 
this  fertile  soil.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  a  valuable 
farm,  finely  located  one  and  one-half  miles  from 
the  city,  and  containing  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  highly  cultivated  and  capable' of 
yielding  large  harvests.  It  isampl}^  supplied  with 
well-ordered  buildings,  with  good  modern  machin- 
ery and  eveiy  appliance  for  conducting  farming 
operations  after  the  best  methods.  In  1886,  Mr. 
Phelps  removed  to  Lewistown  and  has  lived  there 
ever  since  in  one  of  the  attractive  residences  in 
the  city. 

To  the  lady  who  presides  over  his  pleasant  home, 
and  renders  it  one  of  coziness  and  happiness,  onr 
subject  was  united  in  marriage  in  1858.  Mrs. 
Phelps'  maiden  name  was  Louisa  Pickering,  and 
she  was   born  in  Ohio.     Her  parents,   Dillon  and 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


•iilf) 


Ann  Pickering  wore  natives  of  Ohio  and  Marj'Iand 
respectively.  IMr.  :uk1  Mis.  Pliilps  have  two  ciiil- 
(hcn,  Mary  L.  anil  Fiank.  Mary  L.,  married  James 
T.  Kwan.  and  lives  in  Lewislown  Township;  Frank, 
wild  lives  on  the  homo  farm  married  Florence 
Smith,  and  llioy  have  four  children,  viz:  Captain 
Charles,  Merlon.  Bernard,  and  a  babe  as  yet  un- 
named. 

Mr.  Phelps  is  n  man  of  excellent  business  liabits 
and  stands  well  in  financial  circles.  He  takes  an 
intelligent  interest  in  politics  and  is  a  faithful  ad- 
herent to  the  Republican  party.  He  was  enroll- 
ing; oilicer  during  the  war  and  was  twice  wounded 
while  faithfully  discharging  his  duties.  He  is  .at 
the  present  time  .Tustice  of  the  Peace,  aud  is  fill- 
ing that  ofiice  with  characteristic  ability.  He  and 
his  wife  are  people  of  social  importance  and  Mrs. 
Phelps  is  an  esteemed  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 


OHX  FOUTCH.  It  is  impossible  for  those 
who  are  reared  amid  the  comforts  of  our 
present  civilization,  to  fully  realize  the  strug- 
gle through  which  the  pioneers  passed  in 
opening  up  the  countr}'  which  is  now  considered  a 
vast  garden  spot,  capable  of  supplying  the  wants  of 
its  numerous  inhaliitants  and  thousands  of  dwellers 
in  other  parts  of  the  world.  The  picture  presented 
by  our  imagination,  vivid  as  it  seems  to  us,  bears 
but  a  faint  resemblance  to  the  reality,  yet  even  this 
suflices  to  thrill  our  hearts  with  gratitude  to  all 
those  who  bore  a  part  in  work  on  the  frontier.  The 
subject  of  this  sketcli  is  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
the  county  and  lias  just  reason  to  be  proud  of  his 
labors  and  tlic  success  be  lias  achieved.  His  home 
is  in  Isabel  Township,  tiic  estate  comprising  four 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  improved  land  and  the 
residence  being  a  beautiful  brick  structure  as  at- 
tractive and  well  built  as  any  in  the  town.f,hip. 

Our  subject  is  a  lineal  descendaiit  of  Abram 
Foutch,  a  native  of  the  Jsew  England  States,  who 
served  from  the  beginning  to  the  clo.se  of  the  Revo- 
lution and  laid  down  his  arms,  covered  with  scars. 
He  then  settled  in  Virginia,   resuming  his  former 


occupation  of  farming,  but  after  a  considerable 
time  removed  to  Indiana  tosjieiid  his  last  days  with 
his  son  John,  n"ar  Connersville.  He  breathed  his 
last  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninet3'-six  years. 

The  above-mentioned  John  Foutch  was  born  and 
reared  on  a  farm  in  Virginia  .and  shortly  after  his 
marriage  crossed  the  mountains  on  pack  horses  to 
Bourbon  County,  Ky.  There  he  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers,  taking  up  Government  land  upon 
which  he  built  a  small  log  cabin,  making  it  his 
home  about  ten  years.  He  next  located  in  Western 
Ohio  near  the  Indiana  line,  but  after  a  short  time 
changed  his  abode  to  the  other  -side,  in  Franklin 
County,  Ind.  Here  again  he  was  one  of  the  lirst 
settlers.  Various  wild  animals  roamed  through  the 
country,  deer  being  [ilentiful  and  bears  frequently 
.seen.  On  leased  land  Mr.  Foutch  built  a  cabin 
from  buckeye  logs  and  in  the  course  of  time  be- 
came the  owner  of  a  large  farm,  on  which  he  pur- 
sued extensive  operations.  In  the  summer  of  182.'! 
he  sold  it  and  became  a  resident  of  Sangamon 
County,  111.  The  journey  to  the  new  home  was 
made  with  an  ox-team  and  consumed  twenty-one 
days.  The  route  la^'  through  a  wilderness  with 
here  and  tliere  a  section  that  had  been  opened  up 
to  settlement,  and  the  family  slept  in  the  wagon  or 
under  a  tent  at  nigiit. 

Jlr.  Foutch  purch.ased  Government  land,  erected 
a  log  cabin  which  was  afterward  supplanted  by  a 
commodious  brick  house,  and  carried  on  farm  work 
until  he  had  passed  the  age  of  four-score,  when  he 
closed  his  eyes  in  death.  He  had  seived  under 
Gen.  Harrison  in  Indiana  during  the  Indian  War. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  as  was  his 
wife,  whose  consistent  Christian  character  made  her 
highly  respected.  Mis.  I<"out<'h,  formerly  Nancy 
Whirril,  was  born  in  .Maryland  and  died  in  Sanga- 
mon County,  when  about  three-score  and  ten  years 
old.     She  was  the  mother  of  ten  children. 

In  the  famil}'  of  the  couple  just  mentioned  our 
subject  is  numbered.  He  was  horn  in  Bourbon 
County,  Ky.,  October  2.5,  1806,  and  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  boyhood  in  Indiana,  working  on 
the  farm  as  his  strength  would  permit  and  attending 
the  pioneer  schools.  The  schoolhouscs  were  con- 
structed of  round  logs  and  had  rough  slab  benches 
with  wooden  pin  legs  for  scats.    The  windows  were 


2 .10 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


made  bj'  cutting  unfa  log  on  each  side  of  the  build- 
ing and  pasting  greased  pajjcr  over  the  liole.  The 
writing  desks  were  slabs  resting  on  pins  driven  in 
the  wall  and  extended  around  the  sides  of  the 
rooms.  The  schools  were  supported  by  tuition  p?id 
by  each  pupil,  and  the  teacher  boarded  round. 
Young  Foutch  was  seventeen  years  old  when  he 
came  with  bis  parents  to  this  State  driving  a  team 
on  the  wa}'.  After  reaching  Sangamon  County  lie 
spent  four  or  five  years  in  breaking  prairie  with  a 
huge  plow  drawn  by  three  or  four  j'oke  of  oxen. 
As  he  was  the  oldest  child  at  home  the  brunt  of  the 
work  fell  upon  him.  During  the  first  years  of  his 
residence  here  he  frequenll}'  saw  sixt}'  and  seventy 
head  of  deer  in  a  herd. 

When  he  had  attained  his  majority  young  Foutch 
began  working  for  himself  and  took  to  himself  a 
companion  in  life.  His  marriage  was  solemnized 
in  Sangamon  County  and  there  he  farmed  until  the 
spring  of  1832,  when  he  came  to  this  count}-  and 
settled  on  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  still  occu- 
pied by  him  ou  section  22,  Isabel  Township.  He 
had  purchased  this  land  with  a  soldier's  warrant 
tnid  settled  upon  it  with  virtuallj-  nothing  in  the 
way  of  capital.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
and  says  that  the  other  pioneers  were  as  poor  as 
himself.  Indians  still  roamed  in  considerable  num- 
bers over  this  section  of  the  State  and  various  wild 
animals  were  plentiful.  Mr.  Foutch  killed  many  a 
deer  and  wild  turkey,  and  also  brought  down  coons, 
his  great  recreation  being  hunting,  in  which  he  took 
delight. 

The  original  dwelling  on  the  homestead  was  a 
little  hewed  log  hut  put  up  by  Mr.  Foutch,  having 
a  hole  for  a  wind(jw  but  no  glass,  a  board  being 
used  for  a  shutter.  During  the  first  few  years  our 
siil>ject  did  teaming  and  any  other  work  he  could 
liiid  by  which  to  earn  an  honest  dollar,  while  en- 
deavoring to  cultivate  the  land  he  had  obtained 
and  bring  it  to  a  condition  that  would  supply  his 
wants.  The  farm  was  all  prairie  and  the  large 
timber  which  now  covers  a  portion  of  it  has  been 
grown  since  he  took  possession.  Other  important 
changes  have  taken  place  since  the  days  when  he 
was  obliged  to  go  to  Springfield  to  get  his  grist 
ground,  among  them  being  -the  nearness  of  good 
mills,  markets  and  neighbors.     Mr.  Foutch  has  been 


an  unusually  hardworking  man  and  has  carried  on 
extensive  agricultural  operations,  but  of  late  years 
he  has  retired  from  the  toils  of  life.  He  has  added 
to  his  original  purchase  from  time  to  time  until  he 
has  a(;quired  his  present  large  acreage. 

The  first  marriage  of  our  subject  was  solemnized 
in  the  fall  of  1826,  his  bride  being  Miss  Johoda 
Ka}'.  That  worthy  woman  died  in  middle  life  after 
having  borne  four  children,  two  of  whom,  James 
and  Francis  M.,  grew  to  maturity.  Mr.  Foutch 
was  again  married  May  8.  1817,  to  Miss  Letitia 
Ferris,  who  still  lives  to  share  in  all  his  joys  as 
she  has  previously  done  in  his  struggles.  She  is 
the  mother  of  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  grew 
to  maturity  and  six  are  still  living.  The  survivors 
are  John,  Thomas,  Mrs.  Louisa  Lacost,  Charles, 
Edward  and  Mrs.  Anna  Loarsh.  Those  who  died 
in  maturit}^  were  William  ;  Abraham  L. ;  and  David, 
who  died  March  31,  1890,  aged  thirt3--four  years. 

Mrs.  Foutch  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  this 
State,  Jul}^  17,  1817,  and  is  one  of  nine  children 
comprising  the  family  of  David  and  Louisa  (Little) 
Ferris.  Her  parents  were  born  in  Tennessee  and 
are  numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of  Franklin 
County,  this  State,  where  the  father  died  at  the  .age 
of  fifty  j-enrs  and  the  mother  at  the  age  of  four- 
score. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foutch  have  been  members 
of  the  New  Light  Church  for  manj-  3ears  and  are 
regarded  as  efficient  and  consistent  members.  M.--. 
Foutch  is  a  Republican  and  ha?  held  some  of  the 
minor  offices  in  the  township. 


^^ 


'qiOHEFH  KRISCIIKE.  proprietor  of  a  meat 
market  in  Canton,  is  one  of  the  prosperous 
business  men  of  the  city,  and  is  prominent 
is^j/'  in  its  public  life.  He  was  born  in  Austria, 
January  20,  1828,  in  the  village  of  Gropolbusdorf. 
He  was  second  in  a  family  of  three  children  of 
Ignatz  and  Regina  Krischke.  In  1833.  by  the 
death  of  his  father,  Joseph  was  left  an  orphan.  He 
lived  among  strangers  eleven  j-ears.  and  from  the 
age  of  six  years  until  he  was  eleven  years  old  he 
attended  the  village  school.     At  that  time  he  began 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


297 


working  out  fof  a  butcher,  serving  witli  him  an 
apprenticesliip  of  tlirec  years.  After  that  lie  trav- 
eled as  a  journeyuian  from  184C  until  1854,  work- 
ing in  various  places.  In  the  month  of  September, 
the  latter  year,  he  ambitiou-^ly  resolved  to  try  bis 
fortunes  in  a  fc'^eign  country,  and  coming  to  the 
United  States,  lauded  in  New  York  City,  and  from 
there  made  bis  way  to  Chicago,  where  be  spent 
two  weeks.  When  he  landed  in  this  country  lie 
was  quite  ignorant  of  the  English  language,  but  he 
finally  acquired  a  substantial  knowledge  of  it  and 
uses  it  with  lluenc)'.  From  Ciiicago  he  went  to 
LaSalle,  where  he  spent  two  j'cars,  and  then  we 
hear  of  him  at  Ft.  Madison,  Iowa,  where  nine 
months  of  his  life  were  passed.  In  the  month  of 
October,  1857,  he  retraced  his  steps  eastward  as 
far  as  Canton,  and  here  ho  entered  the  employ  of 
Frank  Moyer,  the  proprietor  of  a  meat  market. 
He  was  with  him  ten  months,  and  acquired  the 
knack  of  liandling  meat  to  tiie  best  advantage  and 
a  thorough  knowedge  of  the  trade  in  all  its  details. 

Thus  well  equipped,  Mr.  Ivrischke  embarked  in 
the  butchering  business  on  his  own  account,  Octo- 
ber 15,  1858.  in  a  shop  on  the  west  side  of  the 
square.  He  subsequent!}'  built  his  large  brick  store, 
and  occupies  the  rear  of  it,  and  has  here  a  neat  and 
well  fitted  up  establishment,  and  carries  an  exten- 
sive line  of  good  meats  of  all  kinds.  He  is  well 
patronized  by  the  citizens  of  Canton,  and  has  built 
up  a  lucrative  business.  His  building  is  two  sto- 
ries in  height,  fronting  south,  and  he  rents  all  that 
part  which  he  does  not  occupy.  It  is  in  a  good 
location,  and  his  market  is  one  of  the  princii)al 
ones  of  the  place. 

Mr.  Krischke  was  married  in  Jul}-,  1858,  to  Miss 
Mary  Johnson,  of  Canton.  She  is  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  born  in  Lewis  County.  Her  father, 
Shepherd  Johnson,  was  an  early  settler  of  Fulton 
County,  coming  here  in  1854.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Krischke  have  eight  children  living,  three  boys  and 
five  girls,  whom  they  have  named  Frank,  Charley, 
Edward,  Alice.  Maj',  Elizabeth,  Stella  and  Jlaudc. 

Our  subject's  business  capacitj',  energy  and 
sound  sense  have  been  duly  recognized  b}-  his  fel- 
low-citizens .as  valuable  traits  in  a  civic  official, 
and  they  have  often  called  him  to  oflices  of  trust 
and  rcsponsibilit)'.      In  1887  ho  was  elected  M.ij'or 


of  Canton,  and  while  in  that  ollico  he  guarded  the 
intorosls  of  the  city  with  vigilance.  He  served  as 
Alderman  several  terms,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
present  City  Council,  representing  the  Third  Ward. 
Ho  belongs  to  Morning  .Star  Lodge,  No. 734,  A.  F.  iV 
A.  M.,  also  to  Canton  Chapter,  No.  fi8,  R.  A.  M.,  and 
to  Canton  Council,  No.  23.  In  politics,  he  is  rather 
conservative  as  to  National  and  .State  matters,  giving 
hi.s  support,  however,  to  the  Democratic  party,  and 
he  has  often  served  as  delegate  to  county-  con- 
ventions. He  began  life  with  limited  means,  but 
by  industry,  thrift  and  tact  has  acquired  a  hand- 
some property.  His  residence  at  No.  208,  Lewis- 
town  Street,  is  one  of  the  pleasant  homes  of  Can- 
ton. 

THEODORE  C.  ENGLE  is  classed  among  the 
intelligent,  keen,  and  thoroughly  wide- 
VV^=s!^  awake  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  this 
county  who  are  contributing  so  much  to  its  material 
prosperity.  He  is  the  son  of  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
this  section,  and  is  the  proprietor  of  the  fine  old 
homestead  that  his  father  developed  in  Bernadotte 
Township.  It  is  located  on  section  1,  and  is  one  of 
the  model  farms  in  this  vicinitj"  as  it  is  kept  up  to 
the  highest  point  in  every  respect,  is  supplied  with 
neat  and  well-ordered  buildings  and  evuvy  variet}' 
of  the  most  approved  mo;lern  niachincrv  and  is 
well  stocked. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Jesse  and  Mary  B., 
(llelllngs)  Engle,  were  natives  of  Philadelphia 
Count)',  Pa.  The  father  was  born  in  If^OS,  and 
died  in  this  county  in  1868,  and  all  that  is  mortal 
of  him  is  now  lying  in  Lewistown  cemeterj".  The 
mother  was  born  in  the  cits'  of  Philadel|)hia  in  1  806, 
died  in  this  county  and  is  lying  besiile  her  husband. 
They  were  pioneers  of  Fulton  County,  coming 
here  as  early  as  1838,  and  did  their  share  of  the 
work  of  its  development.  They  were  greatly  re- 
spected for  their  sterling  worth  and  manj'  excellent 
qualities  of  head  and  heart. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  September  26,  1835.  He  obtained 
the  most  of  his  scliooling  in  the  district  schools  of 
Bernadotte  and  Lewistown  Township,  and  spent  one 


298 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


3'ear  at  the  Farmington  Academy,  where  he  pursued 
a  good  practical  course  of  stud}'.  He  was  scarce!}' 
more  than  two  j'ears  of  age  wlien  his  parents  came 
to  this  county,  and  he  remained  with  them  until  he 
•married  in  Februar}',  1856,  and  established  a  home 
of  his  own.  He  was  at  that  time  wedded  to  Miss 
Harriet  F..  daughter  of  Ira  and  Frances  Hill.  Of 
tiiat  marriage  four  daughters  were  born:  Mary  F., 
Alice  E..  Emma  C.  and  Carrie.  The  first  wife  of 
our  subject  died  February  12,  18G1,  and  all  that 
was  mortal  was  deposited  in  Lewislown  cemetery. 

The  second  marriage  of  our  subject  was  witii 
Temperance  L.,  a  d.aughter  of  Jacob  and  Marj-  Har- 
wich. Ten  children  resulted  from  that  marriage, 
two  girls  and  eight  boys,  of  whom  there  are  three 
boys  and  one  girl  now  living,  namely:  Robert  E.. 
Henr}-  P.,  Everett  .and  DoUic.  Our  subject  and  his 
wife  sustained  great  sorrow  in  the  death  of  their 
remaining  children  who  were  named  Frank  N., 
Harry,  Ada,  Charley.  Oliver  P.  and  John  L.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  January  19,  1881. 
December  17,  1884,  Mr.  Engle  was  married  to  bis 
present  wife,  Caudace  Barrett,  who  presides  well 
over  his  home  and  looks  carefully  after  the  com- 
forts of  the  inmates  of  the  household. 

After  his  first  marriage  our  subject  resided  a  part 
of  the  time  in  Bernadotte  Township,  and  a  part  of 
the  time  in  Lewistown,  and  whs  engaged  in  various 
kinds  of  business,  principally  farming.  After  his 
second  marriage  he  settled  on  the  old  homestead 
where  he  now  resides.  This  is  a  beautiful  and  well- 
kept  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fort^'-four  acres.and 
the  substantial  improvements  that  he  has  made 
upon  it  add  greatly  to  its  attractiveness  and  value. 
He  has  erected  a  commodious  and  well-built  two- 
stor}'  frame  house,  26x16  feet  in  dimensions,  with 
an  L,  20x24  feet;  also  a  roomj'  frame  barn,  oGx  10 
feet  in  dimensions,  besides  granaries,  corn  cribs 
and  all  other  necessary  improvements  to  make  it  a 
first-class  farm.  Mr.  Engle  has  a  steam  thresher,  a 
clover  huller,  feed  mill,  a  self  binding  mower,  a 
pulverizer  and  manv  other  pieces  of  fine  farming 
machinery.  About  one  hundred  yards  from  his 
house  Mr.  Engle  has  a  steam  brick  and  tile  factorj' 
and  he  also  owns  a  sawmill  and  is  conducting  the 
manufacture  of  brick,  tile  and  lumber  with  char- 
acteristic energj-  and  with  the  success  that  had  at- 


tended all  his  enterprises.  He  pays  some  attention 

to  stock-raising  and  has  eleven  fine  horses,  for  one 
of  which,  a  three-fourths  Percheron  stallion,  he 
once  refused  *400. 

As  will  be  seen  by  the  perusal  of  this  sketch,our 
subject  is  one  of  the  most  active  and  enterprising 
business  men  and  agriculturists  in  this  part  of  the 
count}'  and  he  has  already  accumulated  a  com- 
fortable competence.  He  is  not  connected  with  any 
church  organization,  but  his  life  is  one  of  upright- 
ness and  morality,  and  is  guided  by  high  principles. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  since 
1858. 


m 


f  OHX  G.  PORTER  was  a  pioneer  of  this 
count}',  and  for  more  than  forty  years  has 
been  an  important  factor  in  promoting  its 
agricultural  and  industrial  interests,  and  in 
advancing  its  upbuilding.  He  is  a  skillful  farmer 
and  is  managing  a  large,  finely  improved  farm, 
and  at  the  same  time  is  conducting  a  good  busi- 
ness as  a  stonemason,  bricklayer  and  plasterer.  His 
interests  are  centered  in  Woodland  Township, where 
he  has  made  his  home  ever  since  he  came  to  the 
county. 

Mr.  Porter  was  born  in  County  Tyrone,  in  the 
Xorth  of  Ireland.  August  12.  1812.  His  father, 
John  G.  Porter,  was  also  a  native  of  that  p.art  of 
Ireland.  He  was  the  boss  mason  for  Bishop  Porter, 
who  occupied  next  to  the  highest  bishopric  in  Ire- 
land for  thirty-three  ye.ars.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject had  charge  of  the  men  who  took  care  of  the 
parks  and  pleasure  grounds,  and  in  one  park  there 
were  two  thousand  deer.  Mr.  Porter  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  of  England  and  died  true  to  the 
faith  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  Early  in  life 
he  had  married  Mary  Hanna,  who  was  born  in 
County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  was  also  a  member  of 
the  Church  of  England.  She  lived  to  be  fifty-five 
years  old.  Her  father  lived  to  the  venerable  age 
of  ninety  years. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  eight  children.  He  was 
given  excellent  educational  advantages  in  his  boy- 
hood as  he  attended  school  very  steadily  during 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


299 


the  week,  and  Siinflay-school  every  Sunday.  Wlioii 
lie  w.is  fourteen  years  of  age  his  uncle,  John 
Ilanna,  a  rosidcnt  of  Quebec,  Canada,  urged  liim 
to  couiu  to  Aniciica  and  make  his  home  with  him. 
The  bright,  adventurous  lad  eagerly  accepted  his 
uncle's  invitation,  but  on  the  first  day  of  the  voy- 
age he  was  so  sea-sick  that  he  heartily  wished  him- 
self back  on  terra  firina  and  offered  the  captain  of 
the  vessel  $250  to  land  him.  at  which  the  cai)tiiin 
laughed.  He  was,  however,  kindlj'  cared  for  by  the 
lady  passengers  on  board  the  ship,  and  his  misery 
was  brought  to  a  close  at  tin;  end  of  six  weeks, 
when  the  vessel  arrived  in  harbor  at  Quebec.  Mr. 
Porter  staid  with  his  uncle  in  that  city  one  year, 
and  lielped  him  in  his  store.  His  next  venture 
was  to  go  to  New  York  Citj-.  where  he  bound  him- 
self for  a  period  of  five  years  for  his  board  and 
clothes  to  learn  the  four  trades  of  bricklaying,  stone- 
masonry,  stonccutting  and  plastering.  He  served 
throughout  the  entire  length  of  his  ai)prenticefihip 
and  thoroughly  mastered  each  calling.  He  worked 
at  thcui  in  New  York  City,  Harlem,  Brooklyn, 
and  many  other  places,  and  received  very  high 
wages.  He  sagaciously  judged  that  in  a  newly -set- 
led  country  like  the  State  of  Hlinois,  a  young  man 
of  calibre  and  ability  woidd  find  a  fine  opening  for 
the  exercise  of  his  various  callings,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1846  he  emigrated  to  this  county.  He 
traveled  the  first  four  hundred  miles  of  his  jour- 
nc}'  in  a  stage  over  the  mountains,  and  while  at  a 
way  station  sipping  a  cup  fif  tea  his  hand  satcliel 
and  ii200  were  stolen.  From  Pittsburg  he  trav- 
eled by  water  to  St.  Louis,  and  thence  up  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Illinois  Rivers  to  this  jiart  of  tlic 
countrv. 

Our  subject  had  previously  traded  some  land  in 
Genesee  County,  N.  Y.,  for  land  here,  and  on  his 
arrival  he  bought  more  land,  making  in  all  four 
hundred  and  eight}'  acres.  The  two  first  years  that 
he  lived  here  were  spent  partly  at  his  trades  in 
St.  Louis  and  partly  in  developiiig  his  land  here. 
Three  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  his  estate  la\' 
in  Warren  County,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Woodland  Township.  He  settled  on  the 
latter  quarter,  which  was  all  lieavily  timbered,  and 
he  built  a  small  frame  house  and  a  log  stable.  He 
cleared  about    forty  acres  of   that    place,   and   then 


disposed  of  it  iit  an  [advance  on  the  original  price, 
and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section 
11,  the  same  township.  He^has  worked  at  improv- 
ing his  farm  and  at  his  various  callings  ever  since, 
and  has  prospered  well.  He  now  has  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  finely  cultivated,  supplied  with 
ample  buildings  and  every]  convenience  for  carry- 
ing on  agriculture. 

Mr.  I'orler  was  first  married,  in  1837,  to  Miss 
Eliza  Guyan.  She  died  childless  in  middle  life. 
His  second  marriage,  which  wassolemnizeTl  in  1842, 
was  with  Kliza  A.  Snodgrass,  who  was  born  in  Har- 
rison County,  Jnd..  .July  24.  1824.  Of  this  mar- 
riage ten  children  have  been  born,  eight  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity:  Sarah  J.  (IVIrs.  Shields),  Julia 
(Mrs.  Atkins),  John  W.,  William  A.,  Emory  D., 
Alexander  (deceased),  Catherine  A.  (Mrs.  Martin), 
and  Addison  G.  Blr.  and  Sirs.  I'orter  have  been 
members  of  the  Christian  Church  for  thirtj'-Qve 
j'ears.  In  politics  he  has  given  an  unswerving  alle- 
giance to  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  an  honest, 
intelligent  man,  has  true  Irish  wit,  and  is  a  favor- 
ite with  all. 


NDREW    J.     HORTON,    who    represents 
Woodland  Township  on  the  County  Board 
of  Supervisors,  is  a  farmer  by  occu|)atioii. 
(§/'  He  was  an  ofiicer  in  the   late  war  and   won 

a  military  record  that  reflects  honor  on  the  soldiery 
of  this,  his  adoi)ted  .State.  He  was  born  in  New 
Castle  Township,  Coshocton  County.  Ohio,  October 
28,  1835.  His  father,  AVilliam  Horton,  was  a  na 
live  of  the  same  county  and  was  born  in  1811.  He 
was  a  son  of  Thomas  Horton,  who  was  a  Virginian 
by  birth.  Ezra  Horton,  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  also  a  native  of  \'irginia.  The 
Hortons  came  originally  from  Ireland. 

Ezra  Horton  was  a  farmer  and  he  emigrated  from 
his  old  A'irginia  home  to  Ohio,  in  a  very  early  day 
and  settled  on  the  present  site  of  Mohawk  village, 
he  being  one  of  the  first  settlers  there.  There  his 
remaining  years  were  passed  and  he  died  at  a  ripe 
old  age.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  accom- 
panicil    his   l);uents  Iv  Ohio   when  a  boy.      He    was 


300 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


there  reared  and  became  a  very  extensive  farmer 
in  Cosliocton  County,  and  owned  considerable  land 
there.  His  farm  was  well  improved,  had  a  fine 
large  brick  house  and  two  large  liarns,  and  was  well 
supplied  witli  fruit  troes  of  all  kinds.  Mr.  Horton 
sold  his  place  there  and  came  to  this  county  in  the 
month  of  October,  18o3,  and  purchased  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  just  south  of  Sum- 
mum,  Woodland  Township,  where  he  resided  until 
death  roundi'd  out  his  carrer  in  1801.  at  upwards  of 
eighty  years  old.  lie  was  a  stanch  Democrat  in 
politics. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Coshocton  County,  and  learned 
the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  When  a  young  man  he 
came  to  Fulton  County,  arriving  here  October  22, 
1853,  making  the  trip  with  four  teams  ani  a  wagon, 
having  left  his  old  home  October  1.  He  had  pur- 
chased the  northwest  quarter  of  section  20,  Wood- 
land Township,  before  coming  here,  and  he  then 
settled  on  it.  He  also  entered  forty  acres  of  Gov- 
ernment land  across  the  road  and  bought  fort}' 
acres  joining  it.  He  farmed  extensively  and  w.as 
greatly  prosi)ered.  He  sold  a  part  of  his  original 
purchase  to  our  subject  and  his  brother,  and  bought 
out  the  heirs  to  his  father's  estate  near  Summum, 
which  he  subsequently  sold  a  few  years  later  for  $70 
an  acre.  He  then  invested  in  lands  in  Hancock 
County,  111.,  and  as  land  greatlj'  depreciated  during 
the  panic  of  1873  he  lost  heavily.  He  afterwards 
bought  property  in  Astoria  and  lived  there  five 
years.  He  then  made  his  home  with  his  son  Jeffer- 
son until  his  death,  which  occurred  very  suddenly. 
He  was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views  and  was 
active  in  the  pulilic  life  of  the  township,  holding 
various  local  oflices.  He  married  Sarah  Dennis,  a 
native  of  Knox  County,  Ohio,  who  is  still  living. 
She  is  the  mother  of  thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom 
are  living:  .lane,  Sabina,  Polh^  Louisa,  Alwilda, 
Andrew  J.,  Washington,  Thomas  J.,  and  Abram. 
Four  are  deceased. 

Andrew  .T.  Horton  was  reared  in  Coshocton 
County,  Ohio,  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age. 
He  attended  school  some  but  as  soon  as  large 
enough  to  work,  he  lived  out.  The  first  summer 
that  he  worked  for  others  his  only  p.a3'ment  was  his 
board  and  clothes.    The  second  summer  he  received 


$8  per  month.  After  coming  here  he  worked  on 
his  father's  farm  until  the  war  broke  out.  He  was 
then  in  the  prime  and  vigor  of  early  manhood,  and 
on  August  22,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
Eighty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  in 
as  Third  Sergeant.  He  fought  bravely  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Perry ville  and  Stone  River  and  at  the  latter 
place  was  taken  prisoner  by  Gen.  Wheeler's  men, 
and  was  held  from  December,  1862,  until  the  latter 
p.art  of  March,  1863,  when  he  was  exchanged  at  St. 
Louis.  He  joined  his  regiment  in  time  to  take  an 
.active  part  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  and  he 
was  engaged  in  several  lively  skirmishes  following 
that  battle  and  then  came  the  battles  of  Kenesaw, 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  the  taking  of  Atlanta.  Our 
subject  did  good  service  in  several  skirmishes  that 
were  fought  with  the  enemy  on  the  way  from  At- 
lanta to  Savannah.  His  courageous,  self-reliant 
spirit,  his  devotion  to  his  duty,  and  the  ability  with 
which  he  executed  all  orders  won  the  approval  of 
his  superiors  and  gained  him  deserved  promotion 
to  the  position  of  First  Lieutenant.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  June  15,  1865,  having  won  honors  as  a 
soldier  and  an  ollicer  of  which  he  and  his  may  well 
be  proud.  During  his  service  he  was  never  in  a 
hospital  or  in  a  wagon  or  on  horseback,  except  for 
about  three  hours  ride  in  a  wagon. 

After  his  return  from  the  seat  of  war,  our  subject 
purchased  the  eighty  acres  of  land,  on  which  he 
now  resides,  of  his  father.  He  has  given  his  atten- 
tion exclusivel}'  to  farming  ever  since,  and  besides 
raising  grain  is  rearing  stock  with  good  profit.  He 
is  pr.actical  and  wide-awake  in  the  management  of 
his  agricultural  affairs  and  the  neat  and  finely  im- 
proved appearance  of  his  farm  betokens  thrift  and 
good  care  on  the  pait  of  tlie  owner. 

June  25,  1857,  Mr.  Horton's  marriage  with  Miss 
Polly  Horn  was  duly  celebrated.  Mrs.  Horton  was 
born  in  Knox  Count}^  Ohio,  May  14,  1837,  and 
came  to  this  county  with  her  parents  in  the  early 
days  of  its  settlement.  Five  of  the  six  children 
born  to  her  and  our  svibject  are  living:  Thomas  .T., 
Julia,  Mrs.  Hare;  Charles,  deceased;  Sallie,  Will- 
iam and  Dolly.  Mrs.  Horton  is  a  very  capable 
woman  and  during  her  husband's  absence  at  the 
time  of  the  war,  she  and  her  two  oldest  children 
were   left  at  home  and  she  very  ably  managed   af- 


<?— ^-'^-0^       U^''y<-^-t.-'<--''i.yU/ 


"^.t, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


3oa 


fairs  and  siip[iortefl  them  comfortably.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Churrii  and  an  earnest 
worker  in  the  fold. 

Mr.  Ilorton  is  one  of  onr  best  citizens,  and  is  de- 
servedly i)0|)nlar  with  all  who  know  him.  His  fel- 
low-citizens, aiipreciating  the  fact  that  a  man  of 
his  calibre  and  understanding,  would  make  a  good 
civic  ollicial,  have  elected  him  to  represent  AVood- 
land  Township  ou  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors 
and  he  is  now  serving  his  third  terra  in  that  im- 
portant office.  He  has  also  held  the  position  of 
Road  Commissioner  for  twelve  years  and  has  done 
good  service  for  his  township  in  the  minor  oflices. 
Politically  he  is  a  sound  Democrat  and  uses  his  in- 
tluence  for  the  interest  of  the  party. 


■^-^^I^f-^- 


^^>ZIAS  G.  STRONG,  M.  D.  This  honored 
member  of  the  medical  profession,  whose 
reputation  has  been  established  in  Canton 
for  many  years,  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State. 
His  father,  Ozias  Strong,  Sr.,  was  a  farmer  and 
likewise  a  prominent  attorney,  serving  as  a  magis- 
trate at  Wilkcsville  forty  years.  There  he  breathed 
his  last  when  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 
His  father,  Horatio  Strong, was  of  English  and  Irish 
descent,  and  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  his 
mother  was  of  Scotch  descent.  His  wife  boie  the 
maiden  name  of  Annis  Gregory,  and  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  of  Scotch  ancestry. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  the  parental  acres,  in 
Meigs  County,  Ohio,  August  12,  1818.  He  was 
reared  on  the  farm,  (irst  attending  the  common 
schools  and  then  entering  Athens  Academy,  at 
Athens,  Ohio.  He  began  studying  medicine  with  Dr. 
J.  H.  Smith,  of  Meigs  County,  and  after  taking  a 
course  of  lectures  at  Starling  Medical  College,  Co- 
lumbus, began  his  practice  in  his  native  county. 
After  three  years  residence  there  he  removed  to 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  continued  his  professional 
labors  for  a  short  time,  subsequently  removing  to 
Hannibal  to  engage  in  mercantile  pursuits.  He  en- 
tered into  partnershi[)  with  Messrs.  Smith  &  Dick, 
and  under  the  firm  name  of  Smith,  Dick  &  Co.  a 
large  business  was  (■unducte<l  for  three  years.     Dr. 


Strong  went  to  LaGrange  to  engage  in  the  tobacco 
business,  his  partners  having  sold  out  and  left  him 
to  sustain  a  heavy  loss.  During  his  residence  in 
Hannibal  he  was  Marshal  and  also  Collector  of 
City  Revenue,  having  been  elected  to  those  offices 
in  1853. 

After  his  removal  to  LaGrange  Dr.  Strong  was 
elected  Recorder  and  Police  Magistrate.  During 
these  years  he  had  changed  his  views  in  relation 
to  the  practice  of  medicine,  abandoning  the  theo- 
ries of  the  Allopathic  school  and  becoming  a  con- 
vert to  those  of  Homeopathy.  After  private  prepar- 
ation he  entered  the  Homeopathic  Medical  College, 
at  St.  Louis,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1858,  Immediately  opening  an  office  in  Canton, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  devoted  himself 
assiduously  to  the  duties  of  his  profession,  build- 
ing up  a  large  practice  and  proving  unusually  suc- 
cessful in  the  diagnosis  and  treatment  of  diseases 
His  practice  has  amounted  to  more  than  $80,000' 
and  near  •?!  00,000,  a  large  sum  for  a  place  of  this 
size.  His  labor  is,  of  course,  not  confined  to  the 
town  itself,  but  includes  a  large  extent  of  the  sur- 
rounding country. 

Dr.  Strong  luas  been  twice  married,  his  first  com- 
panion having  been  Miss  Bethena  E.  Pavey,  of 
Hannibal,  Mo.,  whose  death  took  place  in  this  city. 
She  left  five  children — Jared  D., George  W.,  Charles 
H.,  Jesse  W.  and  Lizzie  L.  George  W.  is  now 
manager  of  a  large  book  concern  in  Buffalo,  N.Y.; 
Charles  H.  is  a  graduate  of  the  Homeopathic  Col- 
lege in  New  York,  and  is  now  practicing  medicine 
in  Providence,  R.  1.;  Jesse  W.,  proprietor  and  edi- 
tor of  the  Canton  Republican,  having  ])urchased 
the  paper  September  18,  1890,  is  mentioned  at 
greater  length  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Lizzie  is 
the  wife  of  C.  H.  Atwater,  of  (Juincy,  III. 

The  present  wife  of  Dr.  Strong  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Maggie  Linabery.  She  was  born  in  Mor- 
ris County,  N.  J.,  and  came  West  with  her  parents 
in  childhood,  growing  to  maturity  in  this  county. 
The  qualities  of  her  mind  and  heart  fit  her  for  a 
useful  career,  and  she  has  as  many  calls  upon  her 
attention  as  suffice  to  keep  her  hands  and  brain 
employed.  First  of  all  are  her  home  duties,  and 
beyond  this  her  influence  extends  throughout  a 
Wv'd  circle. 


304 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Dr.  Strong  is  a  member  of  the  American  Institute 
of  Homeopathy,  and  has  been  identifier!  witii  the 
Masonic  fraternity  for  many  years.  He  is  rather 
conservative  in  prilities,  affiliating-  witii  Lhe  Demo- 
cratic party.  Not  only  is' his  professional  reputa- 
tion one  of  the  btst,  but  by  reason  of  his  faithful 
discharge  of  his  duties  as  a  private  citizen  his  ex- 
cellent charaeter^'and  great  intelligence,  he  is  looked 
upon  with  great  respect  by  his  professional  associ- 
ates and  his  fellow-citizens  in  general. 

The  attention  of  the  reader[^iSj  directed  to  the 
lithographic  portrait  of/Mr.  Strong,  which  may ^"be 
found  on  another  page. 


^,EV.  WILLIAM  BURGESS.  Pastor  of  the 
Congregational  Cliurch,  Canton.  While 
there  are  many  avenues  by  which  mental 
ability  leads  to  distinction,  there  is  scarcely 
one  of  more  benefit  to  humanity  as  a  family,  than 
that  of  caring  for  the  immortal  soul.  A  pastor's 
dutv  entails  upon  him  a  great  deal  of  responsibility', 
fur  not  only  must  he  guide  people  safel3'  through 
the  shoals  of  this  world,  but  prepare  them  for  a 
safe  passage  into  the  unknown  world.  Among  the 
men  who  have  labored  early  and  late  to  accomplish 
this  purpose,  and  to  be  of  inestimable  benefit  to 
frail  humanity,  ranks  the  Rev.  William  Burgess. 

Our  subject  was  ushered  into  life  at  Norwich, 
England,  on  May  26.  1843,  being  the  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Elizabeth  (Taylor)  Burgess.  The  father 
died  when  our  subject  was  only  nine  years  of  age, 
and  thus  he  is  a  self-made  man  in  the  true  sense 
of  that  term.  Being  very  desirous  of  entering  the 
ministry,  he  was  aided  in  the  accomplishment  of 
this  ambition  by  a  philanthropic  gentleman  of  his 
native  place.  Dr.  Burgess,  after  completing  his 
education  and  being  fully  prepared  to  preach  the 
Gospel  as  a  Methodist  minister,suddenly  discovered 
when  in  his  twentieth  year,  that  he  could  not  en- 
tirely agree  with  this  denomination  in  their  doc- 
trines, and  so  renounced  for  a  time  the  idea  of 
preaching. 

Our  subject  upon  reaching  his  twenty-first  year 
began  a  lecturing  lour  thiough   the  United  King- 


dom, preaching  social  reform  and  temperance,  and 
also  giving  extensive  lectures  upon  historical  sub- 
jects. For  a  period  of  seventeen  years  he  continued 
to  lecture,  in  the  meantime  contributing  to  several 
journals  in  England,  and  in  1875,  became  the 
founder  and  editor  of  the  Medical  Enquirer,  at 
Liverpool.  The  chief  object  was  to  resist  the 
thought  of  nece;sary  vice,  and  he  was  unusuallj' 
well  qualified  to  discuss  this  great  question  in  all 
its  manifold  aspects.  When  the  end  was  accom- 
plished the  publication  ceased  after  a  three  year's 
run.  It  had  a  free  distribution  and  w.as  supported 
bj'  several  wealthy  men.  Its  effect  was  to  repeal 
the  law  which  it  antagonized,  the  late  disclosures  in 
the  Pall  Mall  Gazelle  being  brought  .about  by  the 
agit.ation  and  by  the  efforts  of  the  Medical  En- 
quirer. A  leading  paper  in  speaking  of  the  Rev. 
Burgess  as  a  lecturer,  says,  "He  has  a  pleasnnt  and 
attractive  appearance,  is  a  bright,  ready  and  lively 
speaker,  has  a  clear  ringing  voice  and  commands 
the  attention  of  his  audience  at  the  beginning.  His 
delivery  is  good,  his  manner  earnest,  and  he  handles 
his  subject  as  one  perfectly  at  home." 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  moved  with  his  family 
to  America  in  September,  1880, locating  at  Toronto. 
His  first  act  was  to  found  the  Canada  Citizen,  a 
social  reform  paper  which  is  slill  running.  After 
taking  cljarge  of  said  paper  for  aliout  two  years,  he 
sold  out  his  interest  in  same  and  accepted  a  call  to 
the  ministry.  After  being  ordained  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  Church  at  Listowel,  Ontario,  he 
published  a  book  called  '-Land.  Labor  and  Liquor." 
Our  subject  remained  in  charge  of  that  church  un- 
til January  ls88,  and  in  1890,  he  came  to  Canton, 
111,,  and  is  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  in  this  city.  He  is  editing  a  paper,  The 
Church  Bells. 

Rev.  Mr.  Burgess's  mother  died  in  Liverpool  at 
an  advanced  age,  the  father  having  died  raanj'  years 
before  as  above  stated.  They  were  the  parents  of 
five  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest.  The 
otiiers  are,  Edward,  editor  of  a  paper  called  Day- 
light, a  radical  sheet  published  in  Norwich,  Eng- 
land; Amelia,  Lydia  and  Emma,  the  latter  of  whom 
is  deceased. 

Mr.  Burgess  was  married  in  Norwich  in  1865,  to 
Miss  Frances  A.  Miles,  a  native  of  that  town.     To 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


305 


them  have  been  born;eighl;ehil(hTn.  viz:  William 
Edw.'inl,  pailianientai'V  corresponilenl  of  the  Mon- 
treal Herald;  Emma,  Arthur,  Frank,  Roscoe, 
Queenie,  Lillie  and  Wilfred.  Our  subject  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Temple  of  Temperance,  and 
has  a  linejmedal  which  was  presented  to  him  on  his 
coming  to  the  States  from  Canada.  He  is  at  worjc 
on  a  new  book,  Ciie^title^of  which  will  probably  be, 
"The  Wreck  of  Wealth."  He  is  an  indefatigable 
worker,  and  almost  brilliant  orator. 

IRAM  PRESTON.  There  is  in  the  business 
world  onlj-  one  kind  of  man  who  can  success- 
fully combat  the  many  disadvantages  and 
trials  and  come  boldly  to  the  front,  and 
that  is  the  man  of  superior  intelligence  and  force 
of  character,  and  one  who  also  is  the  happy  pos- 
sessor of  that  energy  that  seems  somehow  to  be  the 
magic  wand  that  transforms  a  poor  beginning  into 
a  flattering  ending.  And  to  tliis  class  belongs  Hir.im 
Preston,  a  man  who  by  strict  integrity',  shrewdness 
of  judgment  and  good  management  has  risen  to  the 
top  round  of  the  ladder  of  fortune. 

Mr.  Preston  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Me., 
■January  23,  1817,  being  the  son  of  Peter  and  Mary 
(Winslow)  Preston,  natives  of  Massachusetts.  His 
parents  were  married  in  the  State  of  Maine.  The 
father  was  reared  on  a  farm  near  Martha's  Vine- 
yard, but  when  a  young  man  went  to  Maine  and 
|)urchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  F'ranklin 
County,  where  he  devoted  his  whole  time  and  at- 
tention to  farming  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  after  he  had  reached  his  eighty- 
savenlh  year.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Cluuch,  and  in  politics  was  first  a  Whig  and  after- 
ward a  Democrat.  The  mother  died  in  the  same 
place  when  eighty -six  years  old  and  was  also  a 
faithful  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  To 
tlieir  union  were  born  eight  children,  all  of  whom 
reached  matiuity,  viz.,  Sally,  Ezekial,  Mary  Ann, 
Lucinda,  Hiram,  Jane,  Percilla,  and  Hannah.  Only 
three  of  this  number  are  living  at  the  present  time. 
Mr.  Preston  attended  school  in  his  native 
county  during  tlie  winter   months   and    worked   on 


the  farm  in  the  sunmu'r.  The  schoolhouses  of 
those  times  were  exceedingly  rustic  in  appearance, 
but  turned  out  many  pupils  who  in  after  life  prof- 
ited by  the  rudiments  of  knowledge  planted  there 
and  became  famous.  When  twenty  years  of  age  he 
commenced  a  business  career  for  himself  and  at 
first  worked  out  for  others,  receiving  §10  each 
month  for  his  services,  and  continiifd  this  means 
of  livelihood  until  he  cine  to  this  county.  He 
owned  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  which  was  cov- 
ered with  heavy  timber,  aiul  in  the  fall  of  1839  he 
sold  this  property  in  Maine,  having  cleared  it,  and 
came  to  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  came  to  Chicago 
b3'  water,  rail  and  stage,  and  walked  from  that 
point  to  Brimfield,  Peoria  County.  He  settled  near 
Brimfield,  where  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land.  He  at  once  built  a  frame  house  and 
commenced  to  clear  up  his  property,  which  was  in 
a  very  wild  state.  The  following  year  he  sold  out 
and  came  to  F\dton  County,  and  bought  forty  acres 
of  land  in  Buckheart  Township  that  had  a  saw  and 
grist  mill  on  it.  He  lived  there  twelve  years  and 
made  a  great  success  both  of  the  farm  and  of  the 
mill,  but  after  selling  that  place  he  came  to  Liver- 
pool Township  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  laud  on 
section  11,  where  he  now  lives.  He  built  bis  pres- 
ent handsome  frame  house  in  1  SGI,  and  has  both 
farmed  and  raised  stock  ,on  an  extensive  scale. 
Lately  he  retired  from  labor  and  rents  most  of  his 
land. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  married  Miss  Tryphena 
Ilathawaj'  in  1841.  She  was  a  native  of  Maine  and 
lived  to  be  sixty-five  years  old,  A  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church  and  a  devout  Chris- 
tian, her  death  was  a  very  peaceful  one,  she  pass- 
ing away  in  her  home  here  and  being  laid  to  rest 
in  a  private  burial  ground  In  this  township.  To 
our  subject  and  his  wife  vvere  born  seven  children, 
viz:  Lydia,  F^dwin,  Charles,  Winslow,  Frank  and 
Ostin. 

Mr.  Preston  was  again  married  in  1881  to  Han- 
nah Ilathawaj',  sister  of  his  lirst  wife,  who  was  born 
on  the  9th  of  May,  1828.  Mrs.  Preston  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church.  Our  subject  is  a  prom- 
inent man  in  this  community  and  has  held  many 
public  offices  of  trust.  For  the  pasi  twenty  six 
years  he  has  been  School  Treasurer,  and  for  a  period 


306 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


of  twenty-two  years  had  charge  of  the  postofflce  at 
Maple's  Mill,  an  oflSce  which  lie  resigned  in  1880, 
and  besidesyHiis  he  was  Town  Clerk  for  sixteen 
j'ears.  facts  that  convej-  some  idea  of  the  high  es- 
teem in  which  he  is  held  and  tell  something  of  the 
popularity  ho  has  always  enjoyed.  In  political  be- 
lief he  is  a  Democrat. 

*,  I^ILLIAM  BRI:BNER  has  lived  in  the  vi- 
\/\Jl'  cinity  of  Farmington  for  tlie  past  thirty- 
V5^  live  years,  and  is  one  of  the  most  active 
and  stirring  men  to  be  met  with  in  this  vicinity. 
lie  began  life  as  a  stonemason  and  has  progressed 
from  the  position  of  a  wage-worker  to  that  of  a 
contractor  and  builder,  the  owner  of  a  good  prop- 
erty, and  has  finail}-  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing. Mr.  Brebner  is  one  of  nine  children  born  to 
John  and  Ann  (.Smith)  Brebner,  whose  home  was  in 
Scotland.  He  is  the  oul^-  one  of  the  family  that 
has  come  to  America.  His  living  brothers  and  sis- 
ters bear  the  names  of  Ann,  Alexander.  Margaret, 
John,  Adam,  Elizabeth  and  Marj-,  one  having  died 
in  earlj'  life.  The  mother  died  at  the  age  of  forty- 
six  and  the  father  lived  to  be  scventj'-seven  years 
old.  They  were  in  comfortable  circumslaucts,  the 
occupants  of  a  good  farm. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Aberdeenshire,  Scotland, 
March  29,  1828,  and  although  brought  up  on  a 
farm,  received  excellent  educational  advantages. 
When  sixteen  years  old  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
stonecutter  and  after  serving  three  years  began 
work  as  a  journeyman  in  the  country  about  thirty 
miles  from  Aberdeen.  Having  heard  much  regard- 
ing the  gold  fields  of  California,  he  made  up  his 
mind  to  go  thither  and  seek  his  fortune.  In  the 
month  of  April,  1853,  he  sailed  from  Glasgow  on 
the  "Marchioness  of  Clydesdale,"  arriving  in  New 
York  after  a  voj'age  of  thirtj'-flve  days.  He  con- 
tinued his  journe_y  as  far  as  Canada,  where  he  had 
friends,  and  finding  wages  good  there  abandoned 
his  intention  of  visiting  California. 

Mr.  Brebner  worked  at  his  trade  in  the  Dominion 
until  the  1st  of  April,  1854,  when  he  came  into  the 
States  and  made  his  wav  to  Peoria  where  not  a  rail- 


road had  yet  been  built.  Not  being  able  to  find 
work  to  suit  him  he  went  to  the  northern  part  of 
the  State  and  worked  at  Dixon.  Rockford  and  Ga- 
lena for  various  periods.  In  the  spring  of  1855, 
he  returned  to  the  central  part  of  the  State  and  lo- 
cating at  Farmington  became  a  contractor  of  ma- 
sonry. He  was  thus  engaged  until  e.irly  in  the 
'70s  when  he  turned  his  attention  to  agriculture. 
He  owns  ninety  acres  of  land  in  Trivoli  Township. 
Peoria  County,  which  he  has  successfully  operated. 

Mr.  Brebner  was  married  in  1857,  to  Miss  Caro- 
line Nelson  who  bore  him  three  children — William, 
John  and  Frank.  The  firstborn  died  in  iufanty. 
John  married  Tenny  Cole,  and  has  two  children — 
Caroline  and  James  F. ;  their  home  is  at  Liberty 
Center,  Iowa,  and  the  husband  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Frank  resides  in  East  Portland,  Ore.  Our  sub- 
ject was  married  a  second  time,  March  1,  1865,  his 
bride  being  Miss  Susan  Potter.  This  union  has 
been  blest  by  the  birth  of  three  children — Fanny 
E.,  May  and  Walter  S.  Fanny  E.  is  now  in  a  Chi- 
cago hospital,  pursuing  the  work  which  will  fit  her 
for  the  duties  of  a  professional  nurse.  She  has  al- 
read}'  demonstrated  her  S3'mpathetic  nature  and 
aptitude  for  the  care  of  the  sick  and  suffering,  by 
work  done  at  tlie  time  of  the  Chats  worth  disaster. 
She  was  on  board  the  ill-fated  excursion  train,  and 
having  escaped  serious  injury,  spent  some  time  in 
care  of  those  who  were  less  fortunate  than  herself. 
Her  heroism  and  devotion  to  the  injured  ones  was 
noted  in  the  columns  of. the  newspapers  in  flattering 
terms.  The  second  child  of  the  present  Mrs.  Breb- 
ner died  young.  Walter  S.  is  now  learning  the  car- 
penter's trade  at  Galesburg. 

Mrs.  Susan  Brebner  is  the  j'oungest  child  horn 
to  William  and  Rachel  (Wells)  Potter.  Her  pa- 
ternal grandfather  was  an  Englishman  and  both  her 
parents  were  born  in  New  Jersey.  They  came  to 
the  Prairie  State  in  1837,  and  settled  in  this  county 
six  miles  east  of  Canton  where  thej'  purchased  about 
ninety  acres  of  land.  Mrs.  Potter  died  when  her 
daughter  Susan  was  an  infant.  Mr.  Potter  subse- 
quently married  a  lady  from  New  York  City,  and 
in  1847,  purchased  a  farm  in  Trivoli  Township, 
Peoria  County,  three  miles  east  of  Farmington.  He 
died  there  in  May,  1877,  at  the  age  of  eight3--one 
years.     He  had  served  in  the  War  of   1812.     The 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


307 


brothers  and  sisters  of  Mrs.  Brebner  are,  Hamilton, 
whose  homo  is  in  Canton;  Harriet,  wife  of  Cahin 
Brcrd  who  died  in  Canton;  Alice,  wife  of  Jacob 
.Siivernail  of  tlie  .same  town;  Isa.ac,  wiio  died  nn- 
mari'ied  ;  llannali.  widow  of  .lacob  Wiliiison.  who 
lives  in  Toulon;  Plieho  A„  who  wasilrowned  in  tlie 
Ohio  River  by  falling  overboard  from  a  boat; 
Jenny,  wife  of  Edward  Emmons  wluise  home  is  in 
Rockford. 

Mrs.  Brebner  is  a  native  of  this  .State.  She 
attended  the  i)ulilic  schools,  completing  her 
education  at  Farmington.  She  kee|>s  herself  well  in- 
formeil  regarding  topics  of  general  interest,  faith- 
fully discharges  the  duties  which  lie  before  her,and 
wins  many  friends  by  her  good  qualities. 

Mr.  Brebner  cast  his  first  Presidential  vole  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  having  taken  out  his  natinaliza- 
tion  papers  soon  after  he  came  to  the  State.  He  is 
a  stanch  member  of  the  Republican  party,  under- 
stands well  the  political  issues  of  the  day  and  firmly 
believes  that  he  is  right  in  his  judgment  regarding 
them.  For  six  years  he  did  efficient  service  as  a 
school  officer,  and  on  onj  occasion  was  a  candidate 
for  Supervisor  of  Trivoli  Township,  but  was  beaten 
in  the  race  by  three  votes. 


|AXDOLPII  HALL.  In  recalling  the  labors 
which  have  made  of  this  count}'  a  region 
ii  \V  noted  for  its  agricultural  resources,  we 
*^p)  feel  a  glow  of  admiration  for  all  who  bore 
a  part  in  the  scenes  of  the  early  days,  and  take  great 
pleasure  in  noting  prominent  incidents  in  their 
lives.  One  of  the  oaily  settlers  of  Farmers  Town- 
ship is  the  worthy  gentleman  above  named,  who 
has  abundanll}-  shown  his  industry  and  good  judg- 
ment by  the  accumulation  of  an  excellent  estate, 
well  supplied  with  the  imi)rovements  which  make 
life  in  the  country  enjoyable,  and  add  to  the  value 
of  property.  He  possesses  the  hospitable  spirit  and 
cordial  manners  which  belong  to  all  natives  of  tlie 
Blue  Grass  State,  and  which  are  also  distinguishing 
characteristics  of  the  pioneers  in  any  sections  of 
the  country.  Honorable  in  his  (healings,  well-in- 
formed  regarding  topics  of  general   interest,  and 


able  to  relate  many  an  interesting  event  in  connec- 
tion with  the  early  setlleniunt  of  the  township,  his 
companionship  is  desinible  and  hi.s  reputation  ex- 
cellent. 

The  birth  i>f  Mr.  ibill  Look  place  in  Wnsliiiigton 
County,  Ky.,  September  4,  lb2;5,  and  his  residence 
in  Illinois  began  when  he  was  a  youlli  of  fifteen 
years.  At  that  period  in  his  lil'c  he  accompanied 
his  parents,  Joel  and  Mary  (Clark)  Hall,  to  Mc- 
Donough  County,  iheir  home  for  a  few  3'ears  being 
in  the  vicinity  of  Macomb.  In  1843  they  removed 
to  Pennington's  Point.  Three  years  later  our  sub- 
ject was  united  in  marriage  with  ]\Iiss  Alraeda  L. 
Woods,  a  capable  and  efficient  woman  who  has 
nobly  borne  her  |)art  in  building  up  the  prosiierity 
of  the  family  and  fitting  its  younger  members  for 
usefulness  and  honor.  The  happy  union  has  been 
blessed  bj'  the  birlh  of  five  children. 

The  eldest  son,  Platte,  w.as  stricken  down  within 
a  few  days  of  his  majority,  and  the  bright  promise 
of  his  future  swallowed  up  by  death.  The  older 
daughter,  Mary  Cornelia,  is  the  wife  of  Josiah 
Hammer,  of  McDonough  County :  she  has  one 
daughter,  Delia,  who  married  Frank  Harlan,  and 
also  has  one  child.  As  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Hall  is 
yet  living,  baby  Mabel  is  the  fifth  generation  of 
females  in  the  family  now  living.  Three  of  these 
were  born  in  McDonough  Count}',  Mrs.  Hall  in 
Erie  Count}',  Pa.,  and  Mrs.  Woods  in  the  Empire 
State.  A  picture  representing  the  five — INIrs.  Cor- 
nelia Woods,  Mrs.  Alincda  Ilall,  Mrs.  Mary  Ham- 
mer, Mrs.  Delia  Harlan  and  little  Mabel — is  of 
great  interest,  not  only  to  the  family  but  to  all 
visitors  whom  they  receive.  The  second  son  of  our 
subject  and  his  good  wife  is  Millard  DeWitt,  who 
with  his  wife,  son  and  daugliter.  resides  in  Table 
Grove.  In  McDonough  County  lives  the  youngest 
son,  Leonard  Grow,  with  his  wife  and  one  child. 
The  second  daughter  and  fourth  child  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hall  is  Genevra,  wife  of  F'raiik  Ward,  of 
Table  Grove,  their  family  including  several  chil- 
dren. 

Our  subject  bought  the  first  improved  farm  of 
eighty  acres  in  McDonough  County.  His  house 
was  built  bj'  himself,  he  hewing  the  logs  and  split- 
ting the  shingles,  which  were  of  black  walnut 
from  his  own  land,  forty  acres  of  which  was  timber. 


308 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


The  house  was  16x22  feet  in  dimensions.  A  few 
years  after  it  was  constructed  Mr.  Hall  covered  it 
with  boards,  wliich  were  sawed  bi"  liis  brother-in- 
law  in  a  portable  mill  on  the  place.  To  the  origi- 
nal eight}-  acres  he  added  until  his  estate  amounted 
to  two  hundred  acres,  all  of  which  had  been  re- 
claimed by  himself  from  its  primitive  condition, 
except  about  thirty  acres  which  was  plowed  when 
he  purchased  it.  He  resided  upon  the  farm  until 
1882,  when  he  left  it  to  lake  possession  of  a  com- 
fortable home  in  Table  Grove.  In  the  early  days 
Mr.  Hall  hauled  wheat  to  Beardstown,  about  twenty- 
five  miles  distant,  and  thought  himself  fortunate 
when  he  could  get  fifty  cents  per  bushel,  nearly 
half  of  which  was  consumed  by  the  expenses  of  re- 
maining overnight.  The  first  hogs  driven  to  that 
place  sold  for  §2  per  hundred,  which  was  considered 
a  high  price,  good  dressed  pork  having  previously 
been  disposed  of  in  Macomb  for  $1.25  per  hun- 
dred. 

The  early  settlers  generally  owed  all  they  raised 
to  the  neighboring  storekecper.thcir  sole  trouble  be- 
ino-to  turn  the  products  of  their  farms  over  to  their 
creditor,  the  1st  of  January  being  the  usual  time 
of  settlement.  By  a  special  arrangement  they 
sometimes  obtained  a  little  money  with  which  to 
pay  taxes.  All  grain  was  cut  with  a  cradle,  and  it 
was  generally  tramped  out  with  horses.  Mi-s.  Hall 
vividly  remembers  seeing  the  wheat  thrown  in  a 
pile,  and  horses  driven  around  it  until  the  thresh- 
ing was  completed.  The  first  chimneys  were  of 
sod  built  on  the  outside  of  the  log  houses,  and  all 
cooking  was  done  at  an  open  fire,  except  in  rare 
instances. 

Mr.  Hall  is  one  of  four  sons  and  seven  daughters 
born  to  his  parents,  all  of  whom  are  now  living  in 
this  section  of  the  Stale  in  convenient  visiting  dis- 
tance. He  is  the  only  Republican  in  his  father's 
family,  but  his  own  sons  and  sons-in-law  belong  to 
the  same  party  as  himself. 

Salem  Woods,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Hall,  emigrated 
from  the  Keystone  State  to  JIcDonough  County  in 
1831,  prior  to  the  Black  Hawk  War,  in  which 
father  Hall  took  part.  Mr.  Woods  was  a  harness- 
maker  in  Erie,  Pa.,  and  having  traded  for  a  piece 
of  land  somewhere  in  the  Vv'est,  started  on  foot  to 
look  uj)  his  new  estate.     He  made  his  way  over  the 


mountains  and  through  the  wilderness  to  the  vicin- 
ity in  which  he  supposed  his  land  to  be,  but  was 
then  at  a  loss  to  locate  it.  He  heard  a  rooster  crow, 
and  going  whence  the  sound  came,  found  the  home 
of  Stewart  Pennington,  who  helped  him  to  locate 
the  land,  of  which  he  had  a  plat  and  description. 
He  then  returned  to  the  East  and  brought  his  wife 
and  family,  the  journey  being  made  in  a  wagon. 
The  boards  from  the  roof  of  his  wagon  were  used 
as  a  door  to  the  first  house  he  built  on  his  farm. 
This  home  was  of  logs,  notched  and  fastened  to  the 
sleepers  with  wooden  pins,  no  nails  being  used  in 
its  construction.  The  floor  was  of  split  logs.  Mr. 
Woods  had  the  first  cook  stove  in  the  county,  it 
being  shipped  from  the  East  to  Chicago,  whither  it 
was  brought  in  a  wagon  by  the  owner  and  Harvey 
Harris.  An  old  fashioned  chest  with  a  lid,  which 
was  made  to  ship  goods  in,  is  still  preserved  in  the 
famil}'. 

Mrs.  Hall  is  the  only  daughter  of  her  parents, 
but  they  have  likewise  four  sons.  One  of  these, 
Edward,  was  born  in  this  State,  and  still  lives  on 
the  farm  on  which  he  first  saw  the  light.  Mr. 
Woods  was  an  Abolitionist  of  the  deepest  dye,  and 
he  and  his  children  naturally  became  Republicans. 
They  are  of  the  Universalist  faith. 


lif^^HOMAS   DEEMS,   a  native-born   citizen  of 
this  count}',  is  now  one  of  its  foremost  busi- 

^^'  ness  men,  he  being  one  of  the  leading  gro- 
cers of  Lewistown,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Deems 
&  Slack.  He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Lewistown 
Township,  July  21,  1841,  and  come  of  a  respected 
pioneer  family  of  this  section  of  the  Slate. 

John  Deems,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  Washington  County,  Pa.,  born  on  a  farm 
five  miles  north  of  Brownsville,  November  18, 
1809.  He  was  a  son  of  Adam  Deems,  who  is  su|)- 
posed  to  have  been  a  native  of  the  same  locality. 
The  father  of  the  tatter,  Martin  Deems,  is  thought 
to  have  been  born  in  Germany,  and  was  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  Washington  County.  He 
secured  a  title  to  quite  a  tract  of  land,  the  bounda- 
ries being  defined   by  blazed    trees.     He   made  his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BrOGRAPMICAL  ALBUM. 


300 


home  there  until  desith  closed  his  mortal  career. 
He  reared  a  family  of  six  sons  and  two  daughters. 
His  son  Adam  grew  to'man's  estate  on  the  old 
homestead  in  his  native  county  amid  its  primitive 
pioneer  scenes.  There  were  no  railways  there  for 
many  years  aft.^r  his  birth.  Alany  of  tlie  farmors 
were  distillers  and  used  to  ship  their  liquor  and 
produce  on  flatboats  to  New  Orleans,  and  theie 
disposed  of  the  boat  and  its  contents  and  walivcd 
back  to  their  homes,  many  weeks  being  consumed 
in  the  journey.  All  communication  with  the  East 
was  by  teams.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  al- 
ways lived  in  the  place  of  his  birth  and  engaged 
in  farming  there  until  his  demise.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Sarah  Rolland,  who  was  born 
in  the  same  county  as  himself.  Her  parents,  Henry 
and  Mary  Rolland,  were  pioneers  of  that  section  of 
the  country,  making  their  removal  thither  from 
Eastern  Pennsj'lvania  with  pack-horses.  The  grand- 
mother of  our  subject  survived  her  husband  many 
years  and  died  in  Fulton  County,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three. 

John  Deems  was  nineteen  j'ears  old  when  he 
left  his  native  county  to  join  his  brother  Thomas 
in  JIuskingura  County,  Ohio,  where  he  served  an 
apprenticeship  of  three  years  to  learn  the  trade  of 
a  blacksmith.  After  he  had  acquired  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  his  calling  he  worked  for  Ids  brother 
three  J'ears,  and  then  formed  a  partnership  with  him 
which  continued  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time  he  went  to  Sidney.  Shelby  County,  and 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  that  place  and  es- 
tablished himself  there  as  a  blacksmith  on  his  own 
account.  All  the  iron,  which  was  procured  at  Pitts- 
burg, was  brought  to  that  place  by  the  waj'  of  the 
Ohio  River  and  Cincinnati,  and  thence  by  canal  to 
Pickaway,  twelve  miles  distant.  Mr.  Deems  wrought 
all  the  horse  shoes  and  the  nails  that  he  used,and  the 
charcoal  that  he  burned  in  his  furnace  was  also  of 
his  own  manufacture.  He  continued  in  business 
there  until  tlie  fall  of  1810. 

In  1839  the  father  visited  Fulton  County  on 
horseback  and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  timber  land,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  east 
of  the  village  of  Lewistown.  After  making  his 
purchase  he  sold  his  horse  and  returned  by  stage 
to  his  home  in  Ohio.   In  tlie  fall  of  1840  he  started. 


with  his  wife  and  three  children,  with  two  horses 
and  a  wagon  for  their  future  dwelling-place  in  the 
Prairie  State.  They  spent  the  first  winter  in  Lewis- 
town,  and  during  that  time  he  built  a  house  on 
his  land  and  at  once  began  the  improvement  of 
the  latter.  For  some  years  Liverpool,  a  point  on 
the  Illinois  River,  was  the  most  flourishing  town  of 
the  county,  and  was  the  market  for  all  the  grain 
raised.  Mr.  Deems  improved  the  greater  part  of 
his  land,  bought  eighty  acres  adjoining  and  re 
sided  there  until  1884,  and  then  moved  to  town  to 
his  present  home,  where  he  now  lives  in  honorable 
retirement. 

Mr.  Deems  was  married  in  October,  1841,  to 
Plirebe  Brown.  She  was  born  in  Virginia,  in  Au- 
gust, 1809,  and  was  but  an  infant  when  her  parents 
removed  to  the  primeval  wilds  of  Muskingum 
County,  Ohio,  where  she  was  reared.  She  died 
January  1,  1887,  at  a  venerable  age.  She  was  the 
mother  of  eight  children,  whose  names  are  Amanda, 
Joseph,  Eliza,  Thomas,  Lorena.  Mary,  George, 
and  Cornelia.  Joseph  served  in  the  late  war  in 
Company  A,  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infantr\',  three 
years  and  was  twice  severely  wounded.  He  now 
lives  in  Lewistown. 

The  gentleman  whose  life  is  recorded  in  these 
lines  received  the  preliminaries  of  his  education  in 
the  pioneer  schools  of  this  his  native  county.  The 
first  one  that  he  attended  was  taught  in  a  log 
scboolhouse,  and  the  seats  were  rude  benches 
made  of  slabs  with  wooden  pins  for  legs.  There 
were  no  desks,  but  holes  were  bored  in  the  logs, 
wooden  pins  were  inserted  and  boards  laid  on  top 
of  them,  extending  the  length  of  each  side  of  the 
house,  which  were  used  by  the  larger  scholars  on 
which  to  write.  Our  subject's  education  was  further 
extended  by  the  excellent  course  of  study  that  he 
pursued  in  Fulton  Seminary  in  1860  and  1861. 
and  in  1865  he  was  a  student  at  Hedding  College, 
at  Abingdon. 

Mr.  Deems  took  part  in  the  great  war  that  was 
waged  between  the  North  and  the  South  in  the 
opening  years  of  his  manhood,  and  is  a  fine  repre- 
sentative of  those  noble  citizen-soldiers  who  sacri- 
ficed much  and  risked  their  all  in  their  devotion 
to  their  countr3\  August  8,  1862,  he  threw  aside 
all  personal  aims    and   ambitions   and  enlisted    in 


310 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois  In- 
fantry, was  mustered  into  service  at  Peoria  Octo- 
ber 2,  and  in  November  of  that  year  went  with  the 
regiment  to  Tennessee,  where  lie  and  his  comrades 
were  quartered  for  the  winter.  From  there  they 
were  sent  to  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  and  guarded  the 
rear  of  the  Federal  army, preventing  Johnston  from 
reinforcing  the  rebels  during  the  memorable  siege 
of  that  city.  After  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  our  sub- 
ject's regiment  went  to  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  en- 
gaged in  battle  with  Johnston's  troops  at  that 
place;  went  thence  to  Black  River,  where  the  sol- 
diers rested  until  the  fall,  when  they  inarched  to 
Chattanooga  to  take  part  in  the  battle  of  Missiou- 
arv  Ridge, where  Mr.  Deems  was  transferred  to  Com- 
pany H,  Twenty-third  Regiment  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps.  He  was  sent  to  Benton  Barracks,  they 
being  on  detached  dut^',  and  remained  until  he  was 
mustered  out,  June  20,  18G5. 

At  the  close  of  his  service  our  subject  came 
back  to  Lewistown  and  quietly  resumed  bis  studies 
at  Heading  College,  remaining  in  that  institution 
during  the  fall  and  winter  terms.  In  the  spring 
of  1866  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Lewistown,  and  was  thus  eniplo3'ed  until 
1869,  when  on  account  of  ill-health  he  was  obliged 
to  relinquish  it.  The  ensuing  two  j^ears  he  re- 
mained on  his  father's  farm  and  spent  one  j'ear  in 
Kansas.  Returning  to  Lewistown,  he  became  a 
(;lerk  for  Ross  &  Hinds,  remaining  with  them  one 
year,  and  then  acting  in  the  same  capacity  for 
Phelps  &  Proctor  for  a  period  of  eight  years.  At 
the  expiration  of  that  time  he  once  more  resumed 
business  on  his  own  account  and  has  continued  it 
with  marked  success.  In  1886  he  formed  a  part- 
nersliip  with  his  present  partner,  J.  S.  Slack,  under 
the  tirm  name  of  Deems  &  Slack.  They  have  hero  a 
commodious,  finely-appointed  store,  and  carry  a 
full  line  of  groceries,  china,  glass,  woodenware, 
etc.,  and  deal  to  some  extent  in  fruits  and  produce, 
besides  having  a  bakery  in  connection  with  their 
grocery.  By  strict  attention  tt)  their  business  in 
all  its  details,  by  promptness  and  method,  and  by 
courteous  treatment  and  fair  dealings  with  their 
customers,  the}-  have  built  up  a  large  trade  and 
are  well  patronized  liy  the  best  people  of  the  citv. 

Mr.  and   Mrs.  Deems  have   here   a  very  cliarrn- 


ing  home,  and  of  their  happy  wedded  life  have 
come  two  children— Jessie  and  Mary.  Mrs.  Deems' 
maiden  name  was  Laura  Benton,  and  her  mar- 
riage with  our  subject  was  contracted  in  Septem- 
ber, 1880.  She  is  a  native  of  this  county,  born  in 
Bernadotte  Township,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Harsha 
J.  and  Marian  (Lee)  Benton,  natives  of  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  and  Springfield,  111.,  respectiveh-.  and 
pioneers  of  this  section  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Deems  thoroughly  •  identifies  himself  with 
whatever  will  best  promote  the  highest  interests  f)f 
this,  his  native  county,  his  liberalit}'  helping  for- 
ward man}'  schemes  for  its  improvement,  and  he 
is  numbered  among  its  most  loyal  citizens.  His 
record  as  a  soldier  is  kept  in  remembrance  by  his 
connection  with  Thomas  Lay  ton  Post,  No.  121, 
G.  A.  R..  He  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  being  a  member  of  Fulton  Lodge, 
No.  51.     In  politics  he  is  a  decided  Republican. 


'>^:^?H^^5^^-^- 


'*>^:9- 


•^.^HOMAS  COOK  has  lived  in  Fulton  County 
'''^^  since  1858  and  during  that  lime  has  ac- 
quired a  solid  reputation  as  a  straightfor- 
ward, honorable  man, and  as  a  thrifty, hard  working, 
capable  farmer.  Since  1874  he  has  been  a  factor 
in  the  agricultural  life  iu  this  section  of  the  country, 
and  has  managed  his  well-equipped  farm  on  sections 
20  and  22,  with  skill  and  profit  since  it  came  into 
his  possession  at  that  time. 

He  is  a  native  of  Kilmena Parish,  County  Mayo, 
Ireland,  where  he  was  born  in  1823.  His  parents 
were  also  natives  of  that  place  and  he  resided  with 
them  until  1849.  In  that  year  he  married  Bridget, 
daughter  of  Hubert  and  N'ancy  (Moran)  Golden, 
who  was  born  in  the  same  year  and  the  same  place 
as  himself. 

Our  subject  soon  left  his  3'oung  bride  in  their 
native  village,  that  he  might  cross  the  waters  and 
make  a  more  comfortable  home  for  her  in  Amer- 
ica. After  landing  on  these  shores  he  made  his 
way  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,whence  he  went  a  short  time 
afterwards  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  remained 
about  five  years  engaged  in  steamboating.  When 
he  had  been  there   two  years  and  was  comfortably 


JP^S 


!4-^- 


^^^-^^-2^       ^O 


-^ 


^C/'ThC^ 


WRITTEN    AT  SI  YEARS. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


313 


fixeil  his  wife  juinocl  liim.  and  in  1858, they  came  to 
this  county  and  hicnted  in  Lewislown,  which  was 
tlien  a  very  small  place.  While  llieie  Mr.  Cook 
engaged  in  various  kinds  of  business  and  flnallj^ 
bought,  in  the  year  1874,  one  hundred  and  four 
acres  of  land  on  sections  20  and  22.  Heinadotte 
Townshi().  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  seventy- 
live  acres  of  his  land  under  fine  cultivation,  has  a 
good  iiouse,  liarn  and  otiier  necessary  buildings 
that  go  to  make  up  a  good  and  well-improved 
farm.  He  has  a  self-binder,  a  mower, and  all  other 
modern  machinery  that  is  in  use  on  a  first-class 
farm.  His  farm  is  well-stocke  I  with  cattle,  horses 
and  hogs  of  standard  gr.'ides. 

Jlr.  and  Jlrs.  Cook  have  had  six  children  boTn  to 
thc-n  of  whom  three  died  young  and  tliree  are  liv- 
ing— Thomas,  Mary  and  Bridget.  Mr.  Cook  has 
worked  hard  in  the  accumulation  of  his  properly 
and  has  received  valuable  aid  from  his  wife  who  is 
a  cheerful,  ca|)ableand  willing  helpmate.  He  is  of  a 
peaceable,  kind  and  obliging  disposition  and  has 
never  had  a  law  suit  in  his  life  or  was  he  ever  on 
a  jurv.  He  has  always  attended  strictly  to  his  own 
affairs,  letting  other  people's  business  alone  and  al- 
ways gets  along  well  with  his  neighbors.  He  be- 
grudges happiness  to  no  one,  is  no  man's  enemy 
and  has  no  enemies  of  his  own,  but  on  the  contrary 
has  ni.iny  friends.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat;  in 
religion  a  Catholic. 


ENRY  CONE.  To  show  the  mettle  of  the 
111  man  it  is  not  necessary  to  enter  the  marts 
of  a  crowded  cit^',  take  a  place  among  the 
dwellers  on  the  tented  field,  or  journey  far 
from  home  and  friends  in  order  to  make  wonderful 
discoveries.  Opportunities  are  not  lacking  even 
amid  the  peaceful  surroundings  of  pastoral  life,  to 
teach  high  living,  high  thinking,  and  sliovv  ener- 
getic action  for  individual  and  public  good.  The 
subject  of  this  biogra|ihical  notice  is  one  who  has 
prospered  by  steady  industry,  and  l)y  ever  keeping 
in  view  the  great  i>rinciple  of  doing  to  others  as  he 
would  be  done  bj'.  He  has  found  abundant  oppor- 
tunities  during  the  course  of  his  long  life,  to  |iro- 


mote  the  welf:ire  of  his  fellow-men  by  assisting  in 
their  wortliy  umlertakings  and  by  suggesting  or  in- 
stituting movements  which  ten<i  to  mental  or  moral 
culture. 

'J'he  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  is  tiie  eldest 
of  six  I)rolhers,  whose  father,  .loseph  Cone,  was  the 
founder  of  Farmington,  naming  it  in  iionor  of  a 
Connecticut  town  in  which  he  was  reared.  Their 
mother,  Elizabeth  Candee,  was,  like  her  husband,. a 
native  of  Connecticut.  The  parental  history  is 
noted  at  some  length  in  the  biographical  sketch  of 
Spencer  Cone,  a  brother  of  our  subject,  which  is 
included  in  this  volume.  A  sketch  of  another 
brother,  George  W.  Cone,  a  farmer  near  Farming- 
inglon,  will  also  be  found  in  this  volume.  Besides 
these  the  fraternal  band  included  Joseph,  David  C. 
and  Charles.  Joseph,  a  farmer,  now  lives  at  Ash- 
land, Neb.;  his  wife,  former!}'  Mary  Ann  Miles, 
died  in  1888.  David  married  Harriet  Cutler  and 
had  four  children — Eddie,  George,  Joseph  and 
Hattie;  his  homo  was  in  Kansas  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  in  1885.  Charles  is  a  gold  miner  at  Shasta, 
Cal. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  opened  his  eyes  to  the 
light  in  Oxford,  Conn.,  September  17,  1801).  While 
he  was  still  an  infant  his  parents  removed  to  Har- 
winton,  where  he  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  where 
d.ay  after  daj'  he  followed  the  old  wooden  mould- 
board  plow  on  his  father's  large  estate  of  three 
hundred  acres.  Among  the  stones  of  the  Connecticut 
hillsides  the  barefooted  lad  learned  the  lessons  of 
industry-,  perseverance  and  self-reliance, which  fitted 
him  for  life  upon  the  frontier  to  which  he  accom- 
panied the  other  members  of  the  parental  family  in 
the  spring  of  1834.  The  previous  j'car.  in  com  • 
pany  with  his  father  and  his  brother  Joseph,  lie 
h.ad  visited  the  Prairie  Slate,  prospecting,  a  site  in 
Fullon  County  being  ileterminod  upon. 

Our  subject  courted  and  married  Miss  Sophia 
D.  Hoadley,  the  wedding  ceremony  taking  place 
March  19,  1834,  and  the  young  couple  coming 
Westward  as  soon  as  they  could  pack  their  house- 
hold effects  for  the  journey.  The  Erie  Canal,  Lake 
Erie  and  the  Ohio  Canal  were  traversed  to  Ports- 
mouth, Ohio,  where  the  party  took  boats  for  St. 
Louis  and  Peoiia.  There  they  hired  teams  to  bring 
them    to  what  was  known  as  the    Mercli.ant  Settle- 


314 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIUUKAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ment,  which  they  reached  in  June.  Mr.  Cone  says 
'•A  more  fertile  tract  or  one  supporting  a  more 
luxuriant  vegetation,  no  man's  e3'es  ever  viewed." 
The  father  of  our  subject  bad  paid  $300  ai)ieee  for 
three  squatter's  claims,  upon  which  log  cabins  had 
been  built,  and  in  these  rude  edifices  the  various 
members  of  the  family  were  housed  upon  reaching 
their  destination.  Our  subject  at  once  set  about 
breaking,  fencing,  and  otherwise  preparing  the  land 
for  crops,  swinging  a  maul  from  morning  until 
night,  like  many  another  Illinois  rail-splitter.  Many 
hardships  were  endured  by  the  new  settlers,  but 
Mr.  Cone  says  "I  liked  this  country,  for  I  was  glad 
and  contented." 

The  first  great  sorrow  of  Mr.  Cone's  life  was  the 
death  of  his  first-born,  Elizabeth  C,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  ten  years.  A  still  greater  blow  befell 
him  in  September  184G  when  his  companion  crossed 
to  the  other  shore.  She  left  four  children — Sophia, 
H.  Jennie  H.,  ]S^ellie  M.  and  Luther  Hoadley.  The 
eldest  of  these  married  ■\Villiam  Field,  of  Boston,  at 
one  time  a  dr^'-goods  merchant  in  Farmington  and 
now  a  real-estate  dealer  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal.;  the 
second  daughter  married  Silas  H.ays.  of  Blooming- 
ton,  111.,  and  the}'  also  are  now  living  in  the  Golden 
State;  Nellie  M.  married  Daniel  James,  of  Burling- 
ton, Iowa,  their  home  now  being  on  a  farm  near 
Grinnell;  Luther  II.  remains  at  Farmington,  of 
which  he  is  one  of  the  most  popular  residents. 

Mr.  Cone  was  married  a  second  time,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1847,  his  bride  being  Miss  Mary  Eggleston,  a 
natire  of  Oneida  Count}-,  N.  Y.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  three  children,  of 
whom  the  first-born,  a  son,  Henr3-,died  when  three 
j'ears  old.  Merritt  H.,  a  farmer  near  Farmington, 
married  Miss  Mary  Jack  and  has  three  children ; 
Maggie  E.  married  Morrison  M.  Alsbury,  formcrlj' 
of  Springfield,  their  home  now  being  in  Boston, 
where  both  are  acquiring  fame  in  the  musical 
world,  the  one  as  a  violinist  and  the  other  as  a 
vocal  teacher. 

Mr.  Cone  has  alwaj-s  been  a  farmer  an(!  has 
raised  thousands  of  bushels  of  wheat,  corn  and 
other  cereals,  as  well  as  hundreds  of  dollars  worth 
of  cattle,  hogs  and  horses.  Although  now  eighty- 
one  j-ears  old,  he  is  hale  and  heart}',  in  full  posses- 
sion of  all  his  faculties,  and  as  interested   in  the 


work  going  on  about  him  as  when  he  was  looking 
forward  in  early  youth.  He  attributes  his  remark- 
able health  and  mental  preservation  to  the  fact  that 
he  has  always  been  a  temperate  man  and  of  regular 
habits.  His  description  of  early  pioneer  experien- 
ces is  given  with  historical  accuracy  and  a  fascina- 
tion equal  to  that  of  a  romance.  His  wealth  is  the 
product  of  industry  and  economy,  as  he  has  never 
engaged  in  speculations  of  any  kind.  He  is  known 
as  one  of  the  most  responsitile  men  and  most 
prompt  to  meet  his  obligations,  of  the  State.  He 
and  his  son  Luther  own  in  common  an  estate  of 
about  three  hundred  acres  adjoining  Farmington 
on  the  northeast,  which  is  well  improved,  with 
three  residences,  one  the  old  Joseph  Cone  home, 
which  is  now  occupiedby  our  subject.  Besides  his 
interest  in  this  estate  Mr.  Cone  owns  four  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  in  Thayer  County.  Xeb. 

Mr.  Cone  took  a  very  active  part  with  his  father 
in  bringing  the  Chicago,  Burlington  <fe  Quincy 
Railroad  through  to  Farmington.  They  subscribed 
83,000  in  stock,  which  practically  amounted  to  a 
donation,  and  a  few  years  later  subscribed  liberally 
to  tlie  Elmwood  branch  of  the  same  road.  Our 
subject  got  out  timber  from  his  own  woods,  hewed 
it.  and  built  nearly  all  the  bridges  between  Farm- 
ington and  Elmwood.  All  this  work  and  donation 
proved  a  loss,  as  the  road,  although  graded,  was 
never  completed.  Mr.  Cone  has  always  done  all  he 
could  toward  supporting  the  religious  and  educa- 
tional institutions  of  this  country.  He  has  served 
as  School  Director  and  prides  himself  upon  the  fact 
that  Farmington  has  an  excellent  High  School.  He 
is  of  a  rather  quiet,  retiring  nature,  never  craving 
office  or  putting  himself  forward  in  public  affairs. 
Recognizing  his  impartiality,  his  fellow-citizens 
while  he  was  living  in  Knox  County  were  pleased 
to  elect  him  Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  position 
he  held  four  years. 

The  virgin  vote  of  Mr.  Cone  was  given  to  Gen. 
Jackson.  He  supported  the  Whig  party  and  their 
leaders,  Williiim  Henry  Harrison  and  Henry  Clay, 
for  the  latter  of  whom  he  twice  deposited  his  bal- 
lot. When  the  Republican  p.arty  was  organized  he 
identified  himself  with  it.  voting  for  Gen.  F"remont 
and  afterward  helping  to  elect  Lincoln  in  1860-64. 
He  has  supported  Grant,  Hayes,  Garfield,  Blaine, 


POUTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


315 


and  Hariison  willi  all  the  ardor  of  a  firm  Repub- 
liciiii.  lie  bas  bonu'  a  laroje  part  of  the  expense 
connected  with  the  Iniilding  and  support  of  the 
Congregational  Cluirch  in  Fariuington.  Taking  a 
retrospective  view  of  his  life  he  recalls  mistakes,  as 
who  can  not?  but  rejoices  in  the  fact  that  his  aim 
bas  been  the  -prize  of  the  high  calling"  and  that 
he  has^grown  gray  in  the  service  of  the  Lord. 
That  his  declining  years  may  be  like  the  golden 
rays  of  the  setting  sun,  bright  with  promise,  and 
like  the  autumn  filled  with  sheaves,  Is  the  wish  of 
his  many  sincere  friends,  who  will  be  pleased  to 
notice  his  portrait  on  another  page. 


i^ 


1^=^  AMUEL  FACKLER  comes  of  sterling  pio- 
^^^  neer  stock,  his  parents,  Franklin  and  Caro- 
"^/t)))  ''"®  (I'C!>''.y)  Fackler,  having  been  early 
^==^  settlers  of  this  county  and  his  father  a  pio- 
neer blacksmith  of  Astoria,  the  birthplace  and 
present  residence  of  our  subject.  The  latter  is  now 
numbered  among  the  euterjirising,  progressive,  sub- 
stantial business  men  of  his  native  county,  and  is 
no  unimportant  factor  in  advancing  its  material 
interests.  He  has  a  large,  well-appointed  hardware 
store  in  Astoria,  and  commands  an  (extensive  trade 
not  only  in  tlie  village  but  among  the  citizens  of 
the  outlying  country. 

Mr.  Fackler  was  born  in  this  town,  December  3, 
1842.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  well-known  Franklin 
Fackler,  who  was  born  in  Augusta  County-,  Ya., 
December  3.  1807.  His  father,  .Samuel  Fackler, 
was,  it  is  thought,  born  in  Pennsylvania.  lie  was 
a  tanner  by  trade,  and  carried  on  that  business  in 
Stanton,  Augusta  County,  ^'a.,  wliere  lie  spent  his 
last  years. 

The  father  of  our  subject  went  to  live  with  an 
uncle  in  Loudoun  County  when  he  was  a  boy  and 
he  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith.  He  subse- 
quently returned  to  Augusta  County,  and  there 
took  unto  himself  a  wife  and  followed  his  trade 
there  until  1835.  In  the  ftill  of  that  year,  willi  his 
wife  and  one  child,  he  started  with  a  pair  of  horses 
and  a  wagon  for  the  wilds  of  the  Prairie  .State, 
taking  cooking    utensils    along    and   cooking    and 


camping  by  the  waj'  at  noon  and  night.  The  little 
party  finally  arrived  at  its  destination  in  Fulton 
{/'ounty  after  thirty  days'  traveling.  Mr.  Fackler 
first  located  near  the  present  site  of  Table  Grove. 
The  country  around  was  very  thinly  inhabited,  and 
where  Vermont  now  stands,  a  thriving  and  nour- 
ishing village,  there  was  but  one  house.  Mr.  Fack- 
ler built  a  log  cabin,  in  which  his  family  found 
shelter  the  ensuing  winter,  and  in  the  spring  of 
183G  removed  from  there  to  the  village  of  Wash- 
ington, which  was  the  first  name  given  to  Astoria. 
There  were  at  that  time  only  two  log  houses  and 
one  store  where  now  a  busy  and  prosperous  town  is 
located.  The  father  of  our  subject  erected  a  black- 
smith shop  in  the  village,  which  was  the  first  one 
built  there,  and  he  actively  engaged  at  his  calling 
there  until  the  new  village  was  laid  out  half  a  mile 
distant  and  named  Astoria.  He  then  removed  his 
business  to  the  new  village  and  was  the  first  black- 
smith in  that  place.  He  bought  property  and  built 
a  substantial  dwelling  and  sliop,  and  continued  to 
carry  on  his  trade,  with  the  exception  of  two  years 
when  he  was  engaged  in  farming  near  Summura, 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  December  15.  1887. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Shenan- 
doah County,  Ya.  Her  father,  John  Deary,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  left  an  orphan  at 
an  early  age,  and  after  he  had  attained  manhood  he 
went  to  Augusta  County,  Ya.,  and  there  married. 
He  was  a  shoemaker  and  followed  his  trade  in  Vir- 
ginia until  1835.  In  that  3'car  he  became  a  pioneer 
of  Fulton  Count3-,  buying  a  tract  of  Government 
land  near  Table  Grove.  It  consisted  of  wild  prai- 
rie and  there  was  a  double  log  house  on  the 
place  when  he  purchased  it,  in  which  he  lived  with 
his  family  five  3'ears.  His  wife  dying,  he  then  re- 
moved from  there  to  Astoria  and  bought  a  home  in 
which  he  lived  retired  until  his  death.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Jane  jNIcMullen.  She  was 
born  in  Penns3dvania.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
lived  witii  her  parents  until  her  marriage,  and  was 
earl3'  taught  to  spin  and  weave.  In  the  first  years 
of  her  married  life  she  cooked  by  the  fireplace  and 
clad  her  children  in  homespun  garments  of  her  own 
manufacture.  This  venerable  lady  now  makes  her 
home  with  her  daughter,  Jlrs.  Nelson.  .She  has 
witnessed  almost  the  entire  development  of  this  part 


SIG 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALliUM. 


of  Illinois  from  a]|wilderness  to  a  well  settled  and 
\vealth}-  county'.  The  early  part  of  her  life  was 
passed  amid  pioneer  scenes  and  she  did  not  see  a 
railroad  uniil  she  was  uearlj'  fifty  years  of  age. 
Mrs.  Fackler  reared  the  following  six  cliildren  to 
useful  lives:  James  F.,  who  resides  in  Astoria;  J. 
Thomas,  of  Astoria;  J.  A.;  Mrs.  Nelson,  of  Astoria; 
Samuel,  our  subject;  Lizzie,  Mrs.  Anderson,  who 
lives  in  Henr3'  County,  Iowa;  and  Fannie,  Mrs. 
Jones,  who  resides  in  Astoria.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fack- 
ler were  greatly  respected  b}-  the  people  among 
wiiom  tiiev  lived  for  so  many  years.  The}'  were 
true  Christians,  and  both  joined  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  llieir  j-ounger  days,  though 
ihe  mother  had  been  reared  to  the  Lutheran  faith. 

Samuel  Fackler,  of  whom  we  write,  gleaned  his 
early  education  in  the  pioneer  schools  of  Astoria, 
anil  when  large  enough  commenced  to  help  his  fa- 
ther in  the  shop.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  entered 
upon  his  mercantile  career,  engaging  as  a  clerk  in 
the  general  store  of  W.  H.  Scripps.  He  continued 
in  that  capacitj"^  twenty  j-ears  and  in  1883  resigned 
in  Older  to  engage  in  the  hardware  business.  He 
has  since  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  it,  and  has 
Diiilt  up  one  of  the  most  extensive  and  profitable 
trades  in  this  line  in  this  part  of  the  county.  He 
lias  a  iiandsome.  commodious,  and  convenientlj-  ar- 
ranged store,  and  carries  a  full  stock  of  hardware, 
stoves,  tins,  etc. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Fackler  with  Miss  Belle 
Piice,  a  native  of  Fayette  County,  Pa.,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  Price,  was  solemnized  in  1868. 
Five  children  were  born  of  that  union — George, 
Lillie,  Nellie,  Grace,  and  Bessie.  In  the  month  of 
April,  1884,  the  pleasant  home  of  our  subject  was 
invaded  by  death  and  the  loving  wife  and  devoted 
mother  was  taken  from  the  place  in  the  household 
lliat  she  had  so  nobly  filled.  She  was  a  true,  wo- 
manly woman,  possessing  a  fine  disposition  and 
olh'jr  pleasant  qualities  that  endeared  her  to  man^- 
be3"ond  the  home  circle.  She  joined  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  before  her  marriage,  and  was  al- 
ways a  consistent  member  thereof. 

ftlr.  Fackler  is  a  sagacious,  practical  man  of 
business,  possessing  the  necessary  foresight,  finan- 
cial ability  and  tenacity'  of  purpose,  requisite  to 
success  in  any  walk,  and  his  affairs  are  managed 


with  scrupulous  honesty  and  with  a  conscientious 
regard  for  the  rights  of  others.  His  honorable 
course  in  business,  his  frank  and  courteous  bearing, 
his  warm-hearted  nature  that  makes  his  friendship 
so  desirable,  have  won  him  the  confidence  of  the 
entire  community  and  have  given  him  a  high  place 
in  the  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  associates, either 
in  a  business  or  social  way.  In  him  the  Methodist 
Episcojial  Church,  which  he  joined  before  marriage, 
finds  one  of  its  most  earnest  anti  valued  members, 
who  is  prominent  in  its  affairs  and  who  carries  his 
religion  into  his  every  day  life.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican.  He  has  taken  an  important  part  in  the 
local  Government,  has  served  one  j^ear  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Town  Council,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
School  Board.  He  is  identified  with  Astoria  Camp 
of  M.  AV.  A.,  and  Astoria  Lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W. 


J?I|  LBERTK.  TATE,  editor  and  proprietor  of 
/Uli    the  Astoria  Argus,  is  a  wide-awake  young 
journalist  and   is  successfully  conducting 
>j^  an  excellent  family  newpapei'.     He  is  also 

an  enterprising  man  of  business,  dealing  in  real  es- 
tate and  representing  five  different  insurance  com- 
panies. 

Mr.  Tate  is  a  native  of  this  State,  born  in  Ma- 
comb, McDonough  Count}',  February  28,  1861. 
He  is  a  son  of  the  well  known  Richard  Tate,  who 
was  born  in  what  is  now  Carter  County,  Ky..  July 
5,  183L  His  father,  David  Tate,  was  a  native  of 
the  same  countj'  and  a  son  of  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Kentucky,  who  early  located  in  Green  County, 
and  there  spent  his  last  j'ears.  The  grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  reared  and  married  in  the 
count}-  of  his  nativity,  taking  for  his  wife  Miss 
Nancy  AVilson.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner 
and  engaged  in  that  in  connection  with  farming 
during  his  residence  in  Green  County.  In  1845, 
he  came  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois,  bringing  with 
him  his  wife  and  six  children.  He  stopped  a  short 
time  in  Henderson  Count}-,  and  then  located  in 
McDonough  County,  buying  a  tract  of  land  about 
two  miles  south  of  Macomb.  That  town  was  then 
but  a    hamlet  and  the  surrounding   country    was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


317 


thinly  iiiliiibited.  Mr.  Tate  lived  on  his  t';irin  in 
th.at  vicinity  several  j'ears,  and  then  bought  prop- 
erty in  the  village  of  Macomb,  and  resided  there 
until  1871.  In  that  year  he  sold  his  properly  there 
iinil  moved  to  Arkansas,  lie  lived  a  short  time  in 
lliro,  and  there  shortly  alter  his  arrival  his  wife 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  Mr.  Tate 
subsequently  removed  to  Washington  County,  and 
still  resides  on  the  farm  he  then  purchased,  he  be- 
ing now  quite  an  old  man. 

Richard  Tate  was  fourteen  years  old  when 
his  i)arcnt8  came  to  Illinois.  He  was  bred  to  a 
farmer's  life  on  the  old  homestead,  and  continued 
to  lire  with  his  father  and  mother  until  he  estab- 
lislied  a  home  of  his  own.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
a  tanner  and  brick  moulder,  and  after  he  assumed 
the  cares  of  married  life  he  settled  in  Macomb  and 
was  occupied  at  his  trades  some  years.  lie  finally  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railroad  Company  in  the  contractor's  de- 
partment, and  has  remained  with  that  company  most 
of  the  time  .since.  He  married  Kmeline  Hall,  who 
was  born  in  ^laxwell,  Washington  County,  Ky., 
October  17,  1837,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Joel  and 
Mary  (Clark)  Hall.  Two  children  have  tilessed  the 
marriage  of  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tate,  Eflie  and  our  sub- 
ject.    Their  (laughter  resides  with  them. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  this  sketch  is  written 
was  reared  in  Macomb,  and  received  excellent  ed- 
ucational advantages  in  its  public  schools.  When 
he  w.as  fourteen  years  old  he  commenced  to  work 
on  a  farm  at  $Io  per  month.  He  was  thus  em- 
ployed for  a  few  months  in  the  fall  and  then 
clerked  in  a  fruit  store  a  few  weeks.  August  10, 
1875,  he  <'ntered  the  oUice  of  tlse  Macomb  Eagle 
and  for  four  years  thereafter,  served  an  appren- 
ticeship to  learn  the  printer's  trade.  After  that 
he  went  to  Chicago  and  was  employed  in  the  oflice 
of  the  Tiiitcs  four  months  and  then  worked  on  the 
Prairie  Farmer  a  few  months  and  subsequently  was 
engaged  in  a  job  office  on  Dearborn  Street.  He  re- 
mained in  Chicago  about  a  year  and  we  next  hear 
of  him  in  a  printing  office  in  Warsaw,  where  he  was 
emplo3'ed  six  months.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
time  he  returned  to  IMacomb  and  studied  dentistry 
awhile.  He  abandoned  that,  hf)wever,  and  resumed 
the  printer's  trade  in  the  oflice  of  the  daily  liejMbli- 


can-Eef/ister  at  Galesburg.  From  there  he  went  to 
Bushuell  and  worked  in  the  oflice  of  the  Gleaner. 
On  account  of  ill  health  he  gave  up  oflice  work  for 
awhile  and  went  to  Iowa,  whither  he  was  sent  by 
the  l^nion  Publishing  Compan}',  of  Springfield,  to 
assist  in  compiling  county  histories.  A  j'ear  later 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Illi)wis  State  Journal, 
and  six  months  after  that  went  back  to  Macomb  as 
foreman  in  the  oflice  of  the  Macomb  Eagle. 

He  retained  that  position  one  year,  and  then 
bought  the  Astoria  Argus,  and  has  edited  and 
published  this  paper  ever  since.  His  experience 
in  various  printing  offices  and  on  various  papers, 
was  invaluable  to  him  in  his  new  work,  and  laid  a 
solid  foundation  for  his  career  as  a  journalist.  His 
paper  is  well  managed,  and  is  published  in  a  neat 
and  attractive  form,  is  bright  and  interesting  and 
keeps  aptice  with  the  times.  For  a  young  man  of 
his  energ}'  and  capacity  for  work,  his  labors  as  an 
editor  are  not  sufficient  to  take  up  his  time,  so  our 
subject  has  branched  out  in  other  directions,  and, 
as  before  mentioned,  is  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business,  .as  agent  for  five  different  companies,  and 
he  also  makes  money  by  his  dealings  in  realty. 

Mr.  Tate  was  wedded  to  Miss  Bertha  Farr,  .Sep- 
tember 25,  1884.  Mrs.  Tate  is  a  native  of  Astoria 
Township,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Nina  Farr. 
The  names  of  the  children  that  have  been  born  to 
our  subject  and  his  wife  in  their  pleasant  hotne  are  : 
Mildred  F.  and  Albert  Dean.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tate 
are  people  of  high  personal  character,  and  are 
greatly  esteemed  by  the  entire  community.  They 
are  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Tate 
belongs  to  Astoria  Lodge  No.  100,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.  and  Astoria  Camp,  M.  W.  A.  No.  381. 


^*. ..,-.'.,^,.**..'^".V.i  . A- 


ENOCH  THOJIPSON  is   one   of   those  pro- 
gressive wide-aw.ake  farmers,  who  find  both 
■  pleasure  and  ijrofit  in   cidtivating  the  soil, 

and  by  means  of  dignity  and  abilitj'  tend  to  raise 
the  standard  of  their  chosen  occupation.  Beside 
agricultural  pursuits,  he  is  also  interested  in  stock- 
raisini;,  and  owns  a  valuable  estate  on    section   2(), 


318 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Pleasant  Township.  He  is  a  native  of  Coshocton 
County,  Ohio,  being  born  there  on  the  1  7th  of  Maj-, 
1836. 

His  parents,Joshua  and  Emily  (Williams)  Thomp- 
son, were  natives  of  New  Jersey'  and  Maryland  re- 
spectivelj',  the  former  being  of  Scotcli  descent.  A 
kinsman  on  the  maternal  side  figured  prominently 
in  tiie  Revolutionar}'  War,  and  his  Grandfather 
Williams  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Coshoc- 
ton Count}',  building  one  of  the  first  houses  in  that 
section  of  the  State  of  Ohio.  His  father  was  twice 
married  and  had  ten  children,  of  whom  the  follow- 
ing .ire  living  at  this  date:  Margery-,  wife  of  W. 
Richards  of  Iowa;  Permeiia,  wife  of  John  Potter, 
of  Putnam  County,  Mo.;  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs. 
Foster  and  living  in  Coshocton  Count}-,  Ohio; 
George,  who  resides  in  Warsaw,  Ohio;  Lydia,  wife 
of  William  Bourel  of  Richland  Count}-,  III.,  and 
Enoch,  whose  sketch  now  claims  attention. 

Mr.  Thompson  reached  manhood's  estate  in  his 
native  place,  and  at  an  early  age  commenced  to  do 
work  of  various  kinds.  His  education  was  some- 
what limited,  and  his  knowledge  has  been  gained 
chiefly  by  reading.  In  the  winter  of  1857,  he 
moved  to  McDonough  County,  this  State,  and  for 
more  than  a  year  engaged  in  farm  work.  He  then 
went  to  Putnam  County,  Mo.,  then  in  a  few  months 
back  to  JlcDonough  County,  and  later  to  Schuyler 
County,  111.,  but  after  six  months  in  the  latter  place 
came  to  Fulton  County,  and  has  since  continued  to 
reside  here. 

Our  subject  enlisted  in  the  late  war  on  the  19th 
of  August  in  the  year  1861,  in  Company  H,  Third 
Illinois  Cavalry,  and  became  part  of  the  Western 
Army,  first  under  Gen.  Fremont,  then  Gen.  Hal- 
leck,  and  later  under  Gen.  Curtiss.  He  performed 
the  duties  of  the  ordinary  cavalryman,  and  took 
part  in  many  skirmishes.  He  served  until  Septem- 
ber 25,  1862,  at  which  time  he  returned  to  his  pres- 
ent place  of  residence. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  married  September  15,  1864, 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Thompson,  native  of  Woodland 
Township,  and  daughter  of  Anthony  and  Lucy 
(Shields)  Thompson,  natives  of  Coshocton  County, 
Ohio  and  Harrison  County,  Ind.  Her  father  moved 
to  Fulton  County  some  time  in  the  '40s,  having 
ridden  the  entire  distance  from  his  native  State  on 


horseback,  and  w.is  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Wood- 
land Township.  Her  gr.ind parents  came  to  Fulton 
County  in  the  fall  of  1830,  settling  in  Woodland 
Township.  To  her  parents  were  born  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  six  are  living,  viz:  Mary  (wife  of 
our  subject);  Benjamin  F.;  Nancy,  wife  of  John  W. 
Hagan;  Sarah  C,  wife  of  W.  H.  Smith;  Minerva  J. 
wife  of  Harvey  Shelley;  Martha,  wife  of  Thornton 
A.  Bourel.  Her  father  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  was  a  most  succcssful^agricullurist. 

To  our  subject  and  [wife  has  been  born  one 
daughter,  Julia  C.  He  settled  on  his  present  farm 
in  1865,  continuing  to  reside  here  since" that"_date. 
He  has  cleared  the  land  and  cultivated  the  soil  un- 
til his  farm  is  very  valuable.  Mr.  Thompson  is  a 
very  popular  man  and  has  held  public  offices  from 
time  to  time.  At  present  he  is  serving  as  Highway 
Commissioner.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
party  and  true  in  all  respects  to  his  party  princi- 
ples. He  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post  at 
Summum,and  is  well  known  and  much  respected  by 
all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance.  Mrs. 
Thompson  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  both  she  and  her  husband  endeavor  at 
all  times  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  commun- 
ity. 


ARON  LINGENFELTER.     All  the  loyal 
Americans  will  agree  that  the  old  soldiers 
who   sacrificed    home   comforts,    endured 
(^'  hardships,  and  braved  dangers  during  the 

days  of  the  Nation's  peril,  are  deserving  of  remem- 
brance. The  historian  cannot  detail  the  lives  spent 
on  the  tented  field,  but  he  can  mention  the  chief 
evtnts  by  which  the  gallant  soldier  secured  victory, 
too  often,  alas,  at  the  price  of  manly  vigor  and 
missing  limbs.  AVerc  there  no  other  reasons  than 
his  army  life,  we  should  be  glad  to  present  to  our 
readers  an  outline  of  the  history  of  Aaron  Lingen- 
felter.  a  worthy  farmer  of  Banner  Township,  liv- 
ing on  section  19. 

Mr.  Lingenfelter  was  born  in  Blair  County,  Pa., 
November  8,  1841,  being  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Sarah 
(CKaar)  Lingenfelter.  The  parents  removed  to  this 
county  in  the  spring  of   1848,  locating  on  section 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


319 


18,  Bueklieart  Township,  where  our  subject  grew 
to  his  twentieth  j'ear,  spending  his  dajs  in  llie  man- 
ner usual  to  farmers'  sons,  and  studying  in  the  dis- 
trict school.  On  August  9,  1861,  he  responded  to 
his  eountrj-'s  call,  and  enlisted  in  Compan}'  A., 
Fifth-fiflh  Illinois  Infantr)',  Capt.  Presson  and  Col. 
Stewart  being  his  commanding  officers.  The  regi- 
ment formed  a  part  of  the  Seventh  Division  of  the 
Array  of  the  Tennessee  until  November,  when  the 
Fifteenth  Army  Corps  was  organized,  and  it  was 
incori)orated  therein.  It  took  part  in  thirty-two 
battles,  and  was  under  Are  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  days. 

The  first  engagement  in  which  our  subject  par- 
ticipated was  Shiloh,  where  the  battle  was  opened 
by  the  Fifty-fifth,  .Sunday  morning,  April  6,  1862, 
on  the  extreme  right.  The  regimental  loss  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  wastwo  hundred  and 
seventyrcight  men.  The  next  contest  was  Russell 
Mouse,  in  June,  followed  by  the  siege  of  Corinth, 
lasting  twenty  days,  after  which  a  march  was  made 
to  Memphis,  and  camp  life  enjoyed  while  the  re- 
organization was  taking  place.  We  next  find  the 
Fifty-fifth  moving  down  the  Mississippi  and  taking 
part  in  tlie  battle  of  Chickasaw  Bayou,  whence  it 
was  compelled  to  withdraw  after  a  four-days  en- 
gagement, during  which  Capt.  Shleieh  was  killed. 

Going  up  the  Arkansas,  Ft.  Heinman  was  cap- 
tured after  a  contest  of  two  days,  January  10  and 
11,  1863,  and  the  regiment  then  took  transports  to 
Milliken's  Bend,  in  front  of  Vicksburg.  On  April 
27,  the  boys  went  to  Haines  Bluff  to  draw  the  at- 
tention of  the  confederate  forces  while  Gen.  Grant 
crossed  at  ( irand  (iulf,  sixty -five  miles  below  the 
city.  On  May  IJ  thej'  followed  at  the  same  cross- 
ing, and  fought  in  the  battle  of  Champion  Hill, 
then  went  on  to  take  part  in  the  siege  of  Jackson. 
Miss.,  returning  to  participute  in  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg. After  the  fall  of  that  city,  the  corps  went  to 
the  relief  of  Gen.  Thomas  j\,t  Chattanooga,  crossing 
the  Tennessee  on  pontoons,  and  floating  down 
stream  at  midnight.  The  battle  was  fi^ught,  then 
Burnside  re-inforced  at  Knoxville,  and  Larkins- 
ville,  Ala.,  visited,  when  the  term  for  whicli  Mr. 
Lingenfelter  had  enlisted  expired. 

In  April,  18C4,  Mr.  Lingcrfeltcr  re-enlisted  for 
three  jears  or  during  the  war.      He  received  a  fur- 


lough of  thirty  days,  and  visited  his  father  and 
friends  in  the  North,  rejoining  his  comrades  at 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  June  20.  Up  to  this  time  he 
had  escaped  injury,  and  had  been  present  at  ever}' 
roll-call,  except  when  on  furlough.  At  Kenesaw. 
June  27,  he  received  two  wounds,  one  in  the  leg 
and  one  in  the  side,  but  as  -they  were  only  flesh 
wounds,  be  remained  with  his  company.  July  22, 
he  had  his  left  forefinger  shot  ofi"  while  the  company 
was  retaking  a  batterj',  and  the  gallant  captain, 
J.  M.  Augustin,  lost  his  life. 

Mr.  Lingenfelter  subsequently  took  part  in  all 
the  engagements  on  the  march  to  the  sea,  begin- 
ning in  November,  1864.  At  Statesboro,  Ga.,  he 
was  one  of  five  men  sent  on  a  foraging  expedition, 
and  was  captured  by  the  confederates.  When  An- 
dersonville  stared  him  in  the  face  he  made  his  es- 
cape to  the  Union  lines,  being  shot  at  b}'  the  guard, 
the  ball  hitting  a  handkerchief  in  his  pocket,  and 
making  twenty-two  holes  in  it. 

After  the  capture  of  Savannali  the  reginient 
marched  north  through  the  Carolinas,  and  on 
March  21,  1865,  Mr.  Lingenfelter  received  the  gun- 
shot wound  that  disabled  him  for  life.  He  was 
shot  through  the  right  shoulder,  by  reason  of 
which  the  right  arm  is  now  four  inches  shorter  than 
the  left.  The  wound  prevented  our  subject  from 
any  further  active  participation  in  armj'  service, 
and  after  remaining  in  different  hospitals  until  July 
22,  he  was  discharged,  when  his  time  lacked  but 
eighteen  days  of  four  years.  Mr.  Lingenfelter 
never  drank  a  drop  of  liquor  until  after  he  was 
wouiKlcd.     He  draws  a  pension  of  $3G  pei    monlli. 

Mr.  Lingenfelter  returned  to  this  county  July 
•29.  and  resumed  the  arts  of  peace,  hampered  in  his 
efft)rts  by  his  crippled  condition,  but  full  of  en- 
ergy, determination  and  grit.  He  has  been  able  to 
live  comfortablj',  to  school  his  children  well,  to  im- 
prove his  place,  and,  better  than  all  else,.has  gained 
tli(>  confidence  and  esteem  of  those  about  him.  He 
owns  eighty  acres  of  fine  land,  that  in  the  qualit}- 
and  quantit}-  per  acre  of  its  crops  will  compare 
favorably  with  any  in  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Lingen- 
felter always  votes  the  Republican  ticket.  He  has 
been  School  Director  three  years,  and  discharges 
his  duty  in  a  satis factorj'  manner.  The  family 
worshii>  in  the  ^Iclhodist  Kpiscoinil  Church. 


320 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


In  charge  of  the  household  economy  of  the  Lin- 
g(!nfelter  estate  is  a  capable  and  loving  woman, 
formerly  known  as  Miss  Charity  Hedge.  She  be- 
came tiie  wife  of  our  subject,  Marcli  17,  1870,  and 
is  tiie  mother  of  tiiree  children:  Lizzie  C,  born 
.Sei>tember  22,  1S72;  Ernest,  November  24,  1874; 
and  Minerva  M.,  September  19,  1881. 


/^  ONRAD  MARKLEY.  Among  llie  early  set- 
jl(  ^^  tiers  of  this  county  was  tlie  Marlvle^'  familj', 
^^^  and  its  present  representative,  the  subject  of 
tliis  biography,  is  now  one  of  its  wealtiiy  and  most 
prost)erous  farmers.  He  was  an  important  factor 
in  the  })ioneci'  labors  that  laid  tlie  solid  foundation 
of  tlie  present  prosperity  of  tliis  section  of  the 
countrj',and  having  accumulated  a  liandsome  prop- 
erly is  enabled  to  spend  liis  declining  years  free 
from  the  hard  work  and  cares  of  his  early  life,  in 
one  of  the  most  comfortable  homes  of  DeerBeld 
Township,  of  wliich  lie  has  been  a  lu'omincnt  resi- 
dent many  ye.irs. 

Tlie  paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  born  in  German}',  while  liis  maternal  great- 
grandfather was  a  native  of  Fruace.  His  grand- 
father on  his  fatlier's  side  was  born  in  Somerset 
County,  Pa.,  and  his  grandfather  on  his  mother's 
side  was  born  in  the  Mohawk  River  Valley,  in  New 
York.  Tlie  parents  of  our  subject,  Jonathan  and 
Elizabeth  (Cline)  Markley,  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. The}'  migrated  to  this  county  in  1834, 
arriving  at  Canton  on  the  1st  of  October.  They 
located  on  section  31,  Fairview  Township,  and  re- 
mained until  the  fall  of  1841.  They  then  removed 
to  Eliisville,  where  the  father  died  in  1842.  After 
her  husband's  death  the  mother  of  our  subject  re- 
turned to  the  old  homestead  in  Fairview  Township 
RiKi  thence  went  to  Kansas,  where  her  death  oc- 
curred in  1874. 

Conrad  Markley  was  born  October  10,  1817,  in 
an  humble  pioneer  home  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio. 
His  education  was  conducted  in  a  primitive  log 
schoolhouse  of  the  early  times.  He  was  a  stalwart 
youth  of  seventeen  years  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  their  new  home  in  this  county.      He  re- 


mained with  them  until  he  married,  March  31, 1842, 
Ruth,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Amanda  (Cone) 
Foster,  becoming  his  wife  on  that  date.  Mrs. 
Markley  is  also  a  native  of  Ohio  and  was  born  in 
Madison  County,  ,lnly  15,  1823.  Her  marriage 
with  our  subject  has  been  blessed  by  ten  children, 
of  whom  the  first  two  were  twins  and  died  very 
young.  The  others  are  as  follows:  Amanda,  wife 
of  John  Walick,  of  Montgomery  County,  Kan., 
Louie,  wife  of  George  W.  Lippy,  also  of  Montgom- 
ery County,  Kan.;  Lewis  Cass,  vvho  married  Lauia 
Aldiidge  and  lives  in  Sumner  County,  Kan.;  Mar- 
garet A.  is  the  wife  of  Josiah  Cattron,  of  Hickory 
Township;  John  A.,  who  is  a  bachelor  residing  on 
a  farm  in  Kansas  and  does  his  own  housework; 
Tliomas  F.,  who  married  Josephine  Turner  and 
lives  in  Hickory  Township;  Andrew  Jackson,  a 
bachelor  living  in  Kansas;  Josiah  V..  who  lives  with 
his  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Markley  reared  their 
children  carefully,  giving  them  good  educational 
advantages,  and  he  has  given  them  a  good  start  in 
life.  He  gave  each  of  his  boys,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two,  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Kansas,  a  goud  team, 
wagon  and  harness  and  $100,  and  did  equally  well 
by  his  daughters.  One  boy  sold  his  eighty  acres  to 
his  brother  for  iB3,000.  The  younger  son,  who  re- 
sides at  home,  receives  a  good  income  from  the 
rental  of  his  eighty  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  iSIarkley  resided  on  his  mother's  farm  for  four 
years  after  he  was  married.  When  he  first  began 
his  career  as  a.i  independent  farmer  he  had  nothing 
but  his  wife,  to  whose  capable  and  devoted  assist- 
ance he  owed  much  of  his  after  prosfierity,  and  nil 
his  personal  property  was  vested  in  a  cow.  He  had 
besides  about  $600  security  debt  to  ixay.  In  the 
Sjjring  of  1848,  having  worked  hard  and  accom- 
plished much,  he  came  out  even  with  the  world 
and  with  a  team,  wagon  and  harness,  the  latter  be- 
ing a  contrivance  made  by  himself,  with  chain  tugs 
and  an  old  strap  for  back-  band.  The  wagon  was  also 
a  [irimitive  affair,  manufactured  partly  in  Canton 
and  partly  by  himself  and  his  friends.  "With  this 
outfit  he  started  to  build  up  a  home,  locating  on 
section  2,  Deerfleld  Township,  where  he  now  resides. 
He  has  met  with  more  than  ordinary  success  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  calling,  and  has  now  a  finely  im- 
proved  homestead  of  two    hundred    acres,  eighty 


9^x^6// 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


323 


acres  on  section  2,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  on  section  31,  Fairview  Township.  He  is 
now  taking  the  world  eas)'.  mailing  oiccasionai 
visits  to  his  children  in  Kansas.  He  still  lias  iiis 
farm  under  his  management,  though  he  does  hut 
little  work  himself,  lie  and  his  good  wife  living  in 
peace  and  contentment  and  enjoying  the  fruits  of 
tlu'ir  united  labors. 

Mr.  Marklcy  is  one  of  the  old  settlers  here,  and 
the  only  man  now  living  in  this  township  who  w.'is 
here  when  he  came,  is  Charles  B.  Edmonson,  wiiose 
sketch  will  be  found  on  another  jiage  of  this  work. 
He  has  so  conducted  himself  both  in  pulilic  and  in 
private  life  as  to  honor  the  citizenship  of  this  place 
and  has  borne  an  important  part  in  its  civic  life.  He 
has  held  the  oth'ce  of  Supervisor  for  many  years, 
was  Assessor  for  a  number  of  years,  and  Road  Com- 
missioner and  School  Director.  He  cast  his  first 
vote  for  Martin  Van  Huren.  ami  has  alwaj's  stood 
stanchly  by  the  Democratic  I'arty. 

,  UDLEY  M.  SIIIPP  is  one  of  the  shrewdest 
and  most  intelligent  agriculturists  of  Isa- 
bel Township,  as  is  shown  b}-  the  success 
which  has  crowned  his  efforts.  His  home 
is  on  section  27,  and  his  real  estate  comprises  over 
six  hundred  acres  of  the  very  best  land.  He  oi)er- 
ates  about  five  hundred  acres,  wiiicli  furnishes  him 
a  field  for  very  extensive  operations  in  the  crops 
best  suited  to  the  situation  and  the  soil  on  which 
he  works.  ^Inch  of  the  laml  is  in  the  Spoon  River 
bottom  and  ^Ir.  Sliipp  was  the  first  to  begin  the 
construction  of  a  levee  to  protect  the  land  against 
overflow.  The  levee  has  now  been  extended  by 
other  farmers  until  it  is  five  miles  in  length.  Mr. 
Shiiip's  portion  of  it  cost  him  liHtOO.  Tl-.e  enter- 
prise was  begun  by  him  in  l.sG7.  and  he  was  the 
first  man  in  this  vicinity  to  raise  cro[)S  on  the  bot- 
tom. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  John  Shipp, 
jirobiibly  born  in  \'irginia,  whence  he  removed  to 
Kentucky  in  a  very  early  day,  when  panthers  and 
bears  were  numerous  there.  He  was  verj-  fond  of 
hunting  and    in  the  luirsuit  of    that  pleasuie  had 


several  narrow  escapes  from  being  killed  by  pan- 
thers. On  one  occasion  he  was  resting  on  a  log  in 
the  woods  when  he  heard  a  crackling  in  the  brush 
behind  hira  and  turned  just  in  time  to  raise  his 
trusty  rifle  and  shoot  a  panther  which  was  spring- 
ing n[)ou  him.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  distiller  of 
peach  brandy  and  apple  jack.  He  lived  to  be  more 
than  fourscore  years  old,  breathing  his  last  in  Hart 
County,  Ky. 

Walker  Shipp,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Taylor  County,  Ky.,  reared  on  a  farm  there  and 
continued  to  make  the  county  his  home  until  1835. 
He  then  located  in  Hart  County  in  a  section  where 
deer  were  plentiful,  and  the  memory  of  our  subject 
includes  the  sight  of  his  father  shooting  those  ani- 
mals. Mr.  Shipp  came  to  Central  Illinois  in  the 
winter  of  18(>4,  and  lived  with  our  subject  from 
that  time  until  his  death,  which  took  place  when  he 
was  (ift3'-eight  years  old.  He  was  a.  Democrat  un- 
til the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  after  which  he 
gave  Ills  allegiance  to  the  Republican  part}'.  He 
was  an  earnest  Christian,  identified  with  the  Ba()- 
tist  Church. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  known  in  her 
girlhood  as  Rebecca  Mardis.  Like  her  husband  she 
was  born  in  Taylor  County,  Ky.,  and  was  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  She  passed 
away  at  the  age  of  sixtj'-fivc  years,  in  the  Indian 
Territory,  where  she  was  living  with  a  daughter. 
She  was  the  mother  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom 
wrew  to  maturity  although  three  have  now  crossed 
the  river  of  death.  The  subject  of  this  notice  is  the 
first-born.  The  others  are,  Marion  F.,  .Tohn  R.,  Ma- 
linda,  Sally,  James  M.,  JMrs.  Ellen  Jackson  and 
Mrs.  Harriet  Seaj'.  Malinda,  Sally  and  Harriet  are 
deceased. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  life 
history  was  born  in  Taylor  County, Ky.,  October  1 1 , 
1832,  and  accompanied  his  parents  to  Hart  County 
when  he  was  two  years  old.  He  attended  school  in  the 
primitive  log  cabin  with  its  slab  benches,  greased 
paper  windows  and  writing  desks  around  the  walls, 
where  each  scholar  jiaid  a  quarterly  fee  for  tuition 
and  the  teacher  boarded  round.  His  school  attend- 
ance was  mainly  during  the  winter  months  and  the 
summers  were  devoted  to  work  on  the  farm  in 
which  he.  as  the  oldest  of  the  familw  bore  a  promi- 


324 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


nent  part.  Young  Shipp  was  but  twenty  jears  old 
when  he  married  and  began  life  for  himself.  He 
purchased  over  one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  La 
Rue  County  and  began  housekeeping  in  a  hewed 
log  dwelling.  A  year  later  he  sold  the  property 
and  moved  on  his  father's  place  in  Hart  County 
where  he  farmed  until  1855. 

In  October  of  that  year  Mr.  Shipp  started  for 
this  count}-,  making  the  trip  with  a  team  and  wagon, 
but  wlien  he  reached  Richland  Count}',  this  State, 
the  roads  were  so  bad  that  he  remained  there  dur- 
ing the  winter,  coming  o.i  here  in  the  spring.  He 
settled  near  Petersburg  and  began  working  in  a 
sawmill  in  which  be  subsequently  bought  an  inter- 
est. The  venture  proved  a  poor  investment  and  he 
finall}'  sold  out  his  interest  and  removed  to  Havana, 
remaining  there  a  short  time  and  then  hiring  out 
on  a  farm  at  120  per  month.  The  next  j'ear  he 
raised  a  crop  on  shares  and  continued  so  to  do 
about  five  years. 

In  1864,  Mr.  Shipp  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty-four  acres  on  section  24,  Isabel  Township, 
where  twenty-five  acres  had  been  broken  and  a  log 
cabin  built.  He  replaced  the  rude  dwelling  by  a 
somewhat  better  one  made  of  hewed  logs,  which 
was  his  home  twelve  years.  Four  years  after  his 
first  purchase  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  adjoining  on  the  same  section,  and  in  1872 
purchased  the  land  be  now  lives  upon  on  section  27. 
Still  later  he  added  eighty  acres,  having  prospered 
greatly  in  his  undertakings  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil 
and  in  raising  large  numbers  of  animals.  The  fine 
frame  dwelling  now  occupied  by  his  family  was 
put  up  by  him  in  1881.  In  construction,  design 
and  situation  it  ranks  among  the  very  best  in  the 
township.  It  stands  on  a  high  hill  overlooking 
the  valley,  thus  giving  it*  occupants  a  beautiful 
view  over  hill  and  dale,  valley  and  plain,  where 
fields  of  yellow  grain,  orchards,  groves  and  tasteful 
farm  buildings  present  a  charming  picture  to  the 
eye. 

Mr.  Shipp  has  been  twice  married.  The  first 
union  was  consummated  December  15,  1850,  the 
bride  being  Miss  Mary  E.  Seay  who  was  born  in 
Kentucky  in  1834.  She  became  the  mother  of  three 
children  upon  svhom  were  bestowed  the  names  of 
Charles  J.,  George  W.  and  John  VC.  The  youngest 


of  the  group  is  the  onl}-  one  now  living.  The 
mother  died  March  21,  1883,  strong  in  the  faith  of 
the  Baptist  Church  of  which  she  had  long  been  a 
member. 

Mr.  Shipp  contracted  a  second  matrimonial  alli- 
ance October  31.  1883,  when  he  was  united  to 
Sarah  E.  Landis.  a  native  of  this  count}',  born  in 
Bernadotte  Township,  October  9,  1852.  The  pres- 
ent Mrs.  Shipp  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Phebe 
(Littlejohn)  Landis,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Landis  were  early  settlers  in  this  county 
and  the  husband  died  on  their  farm  in  Bernadotte 
Township,at  the  age  of  fifty-two  years.  Mrs.  Landis 
is  still  living.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Free  Meth- 
odist Church.  The  second  marriage  of^  our  subject 
has  been  blest  to  himself  and  wife  in  the  birth  of 
three  children — Dudley  L.,  Bruce  and  Flossy  D. 

Mr.  Shipp  brings. tojthe  consideration  of  all  sub- 
jects presented  to  his  mind,  the  shrewdness  and 
cautious  judgment  that  have  characterized  his  agri- 
cultural c3reer.~[^He  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  po- 
litical doctrines  of  the  Republican  party  and  there- 
fore casts  his  vote  with  that  element.  He  has  helil 
the  offices  of  Road  Commissioner  and  School  Trus- 
tee for  fourteen  years,  and  has  also  been  the  incum- 
bent of  other  minor  offices.  He  belongs  to  Lewis- 
town  Lodge,  Xo.  51.  I.  0.  O.  F.  He  is  identified 
with  the  Baptist,  and  Mrs.  Shipp  with  the  Metho- 
dist Church. 

Elsewhere  in  this  volume  will  be  noticed  a  litho- 
graphic portrait  of  Mr.  Shipp. 

— #-#- 


¥ 


ILLIAM  TEMPLE  TOLER,  M.  D.,  de- 
1/  ceased,  was  for  many  years  one  of  the 
'5^^  most  prominent  physicians  of  Fulton 
County,  and  at  his  death  his  profession  w.is  de- 
prived of  one  of  its  noblest  representatives,  and 
the  citizenship  of  the  community  suffered  a  sad 
loss.  He  was  a  resident  of  Astoria  during  nearly 
the  whole  of  his  professional  life,  and  had  built  up 
in  this  village  one  of  its  most  beautiful  and  at- 
tractive homes. 

Dr.  Toler  was    a   native  of  Virginia,  born   near 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


5-2  •) 


the  city  of  Richmond,  November  27,  1827.  For 
the  history  of  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Mary  (Hun- 
ton)  Toler,  sec  biography  of  Dr.  15.  C.  Toler,  wliich 
may  be  found  on  anotlier  page  of  this  volume. 
Our  subject  laid  a.  solid  foundation  for  his  medical 
education  under  the  tuition  of  his  father,  who 
trained  him  carefullj-  in  the  English  branches  and 
in  the  classics.  He  commenced  to  study  for  his 
profession  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  O'Neal,  of 
liath.  III.,  and  subsequently  entered  the  Louis- 
ville, Jvy..  Medical  College,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1851.  He  began  his  career  as  a 
physician  at  Otto,  tiiis  county,  wlience  he  came 
three  years  later  to  Astoria.  For  nearly  thirty 
j-pars  he  activel}-  pursued  his  high  calling  here, 
having  a  large  practice,  extending  even  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  county.  He  became  noted  for 
his  rare  skill  in  the  treatment  of  difficult  cases, 
and  was  considered  the  finest  physician  in  this  sec- 
tion of  tiie  country,  standing  at  the  head  of  his 
profession. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1882,  Dr.  Toler's 
great,  warm  heart  was  stilled  forever,  and  bis 
weary  brain  and  over-taxed  body  found  rest  in 
death.  He  was  mourned  by  many  far  be\ond  his 
sorrowing  home  circle,  as  he  was  the  beloved 
physician  and  cherished  friend  in  many  a  house- 
hold where  his  presence  had  brought  healing,  or 
had  soothed  the  last  hours  of  the  dying.  He  was 
rarely  adapted  to  his  profession  by  nature  and 
temperament,  possessing,  as  he  did,  refined,  sym- 
pathetic feelings,  a  high  sense  of  honor,  a  clear 
brain,  stcnily  nerve,  and  other  essentials  of  the 
true  physeian.  His  daily  intercourse  with  others 
was  marked  by  a  genial,  courteous  temper  and 
considerate  kindness.  Though  he  was  a  quiet  and 
unassuming  man,  he  w.as  an  influence  for  much 
wood  in  the  conununity  where  so  much  of  his  life 
was  passed,  as  his  every  deed  and  act  were  guided 
by  the  liigiiesl  principles  of  truth,  integrity  and 
morality.  He  w.as  a  Christian  man  in  every  sense 
of  the  term,  and  his  place  in  the  Christian  Church 
of  Astoria,  where  his  name  was  the  synonym  of 
love  and  charity,  can  never  be  filled.  He  was  one 
of  its  leading  incuil)ers,  was  foremost  in  its  every 
good  work,  and  for  years  was  an  Elder  of  the 
cliuich.     We  (■.'uinot  tliink  tliat  such  a  life  can  come 


to  naught,  but  we  reverently  believe  that  he  has 
now  entered  -'upon  broader  fields  of  action  and 
duty,  where  nobler  struggles  shall  task  the  strength 
and  more  precious  crowns  award  the  victor,  where 
the  hopes  and  dreams  of  earth  shall  be  turned  to 
sight,  and  the  broken  circles  of  life  be  rounded  to 
the  perfect  orb." 

Dr.  Toler  and  Miss  Sarah  A.  Morrow  were  mar- 
ried in  the  month  of  April,  1857.  Mrs.  Toler  was 
born  in  North  Carolina  May  M,  1831.  Her  father, 
Arthur  Morrow,  was  a  native  of  either  Nortli  Caro- 
lina or  Virginia.  He  married  Jani^  Campbell,  who 
was  born  in  the  former  State.  They  lived  in 
North  Carolina  until  about  1832,  and  then  came  to 
Illinois,  making  the  removal  thither  with  teams, 
cooking  and  camping  by  the  waj'  at  night.  The3' 
first  settled  in  Greene  County,  and  subsequently 
took  up  their  residence  in  Mason  County,  of  which 
they  were  pioneers.  In  1851  Mr.  Morrow  came  to 
Fnlton  County  with  his  family,  and  after  living  a 
number  of  years  in  Waterford  Township  he  came 
to  Astoria  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  here. 
His  wife  died  in  Mason  County.  They  reared 
eight  children,  two  sons  and  six  daughters. 

Mrs.  Toler  was  ver}'  young  when  her  parents 
brought  lier  to  Illinois,  and  she  remained  with 
them  until  her  marriage,  receiving  a  careful  train- 
ing in  household  duties  that  eminently-  fitted  her 
to  preside  over  a  home  of  her  own.  She  is  a  true, 
generous-hearted,  womanly  woman,  and  holds  a 
warm  place  in  the  affections  of  those  about  her. 
She  is  one  of  the  valued  members  of  the  same 
church  with  which  her  husband's  name  is  indissol- 
nbly  connected.  Three  of  the  children  born  of  her 
marriage  with  our  subject  are  now  living — Temple 
E.,  Alice  E.  and  John  C.  Temple,  a  merchant  of 
Astoria,  married  Miss  Emma  McHue.  and  they 
have  two  children — Mabel  and  William;  Alice 
married  George  Rice,  a  merchant  of  Astoria,  and 
tiiey  have  two  children — Bessie  and  Ilattic.  John 
C,  a  druggist  at  Galesburg,  111.,  has  been  twice 
muried.  He  was  first  wedded  to  Miss  Dolla  Kost, 
who  died,  leaving  one  child,  Mildred.  He  was 
subsequently  married  to  Mrs.  Eva  (Kost)  Merrill. 
a  sister  of  his  former  wife. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Toler  in  the  kindness  of  their  he.uts 
adopted  liieir  niece.  Miss   Lizzie  Morrow,  when  she 


326 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  an  infant,  and  reared  her  as  tenderly  as  if  she 
were  their  own  daughter.  She  married  Charles 
Home,  a  resident  of  San  Diego.  C.il. 

Dr.  Toler  was  a  man  of  much  practical  business 
talent  and  financial  ability,  and  by  the  judicious 
investment  of  his  money  acquired  a  valuable  prop- 
perty.  and  became  one  of  the  wealth}'  men  of  As- 
toria. He  was  prominent  in  social  circles  as  a 
member  of  Astoria  Lodge,  No.  100,  A.  F.  A-  A.  M. 


-€-*-^ 


^-^ 


JOHN  F.  RANDOLPH.  This  county  is  pre- 
eminently  the  home  of  the  agriculturist,  and 
ever3-where  Ihrougliout  its  expanse  the  ej-es 
of  the  traveler  rest  upon  thoroughly  culti- 
vated fields,  fine  orchards,  substantial  buildings  and 
all  the  appurtenances  which  indicate  well-directed 
and  successful  efforts.  The  estates  which  are  held 
bj'  its  many  farmers  are  not,  as  a  general  thing,  so 
wide  in  extent  as  those  of  the  dwellers  in  the  prai- 
rie Stales  beyond  the  Mississippi,  but  are  more  val- 
uable on  account  of  their  exceeding  fertility  and 
fine  improvements.  One  of  the  largest  landowners 
in  this  countj-  is  John  F.  Randolph,  who  is  the 
fortunate  possessor  of  eiglit  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Joshua  and  Canton  Townships.  His  dwell- 
ing stands  on  section  19,  Canton  Township,  and  is 
a  commodious  and  well-built  structure,  accompan- 
ied by  the  various  outbuildings  which  are  neces- 
sar}-  to  carr}-  on  the  work  in  which  the  owner  is 
eng.aged.  Besi<le8  this  fine  property.  Mr.  Randolph 
owns  other  real  estate  in  Canton,  where  he  has 
erected  a  brick  building  known  as  Randolph's 
Block. 

The  fatiier  of  our  subject  also  bore  the  name  of 
John  F.,  and  was  born  in  Yates  Countj-,N.  Y.  He 
married  Nancy  Rawalt,  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
State,  and  their  first  home  was  made  in  Utica,  Ind. 
They  remained  there  a  few  years,  the  husband  be- 
ing engaged  in  teacliing  and  running  a  flatboat 
down  the  river  to  New  Orleans.  In  September, 
1835,  the}-  came  to  this  county,  settling  in  Joshua 
Township,  where  tiie}-  continued  to  live  until  called 
hence.  Mr.  Randolph  became  the  owner  of  a  large 
tract  of  land,  and  was  one  of  tiie   most  extensive 


agriculturists  of  those  early  days.  As  a  pioneer  la- 
borer in  the  development  of  the  county,  and  an 
active  participant  in  all  matters  of  public  import- 
ance, he  proved  a  benefactor  to  the  community  in 
which  he  lived.  For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the 
throe  County  Commissioners.  He  and  his  wife 
were  of  a  religious  turn  of  mind,  and  Mr.  Randolph 
was  an  enthusiast  regarding  the  doctrines  of  Swe- 
denborg. 

Our  subject  was  the  fourth  in  a  family  of  ten 
children,  five  sons  and  five  daughters.  He  was 
born  in  Utica.  Ind..  M.iy  26,  1833.  and  was  there- 
fore a  child  of  two  ^-ears  when  brought  to  this 
count3^  His  earliest  recollections  are  of  the  pio- 
neer surroundings  and  his  earliest  labors  were  those 
of  a  frontiersman's  son.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
Joshua  Township,  and  after  the  death  of  his  father, 
which  occurred  in  Aprd,  1845,  virtually  had  charge 
of  the  farm.  He  continued  to  reside  thereon  with 
his  mother  until  his  marriage,  when  he  settled  on 
the  location  he  still  occupies  in  Canton  Township. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Randolph  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Louisa  Havermale.  She  was  born  in  the  Buck- 
e3'e  State  INIarch  3,  1836,  and  accompanied  her  par- 
ents, Peter  .and  Maria  (Gardenhour)  Havermale,  to 
this  count}'  about  1845.  Her  parents  lived  for  a 
short  time  in  Farmington  Township,  then  settled  iu 
Joshua  Township,  where  the  balance  of  their  lives 
was  spent.  After  having  passed  many  years  in 
wedded  bliss,  in  death  they  wee  not  long  divided, 
the  wife  passing  away  March  24,  and  the  husband 
March  27,  1888.  The  ceremony  which  united  the 
lives  and  fortunes  of  Mr.  Randolph  and  Miss  Hav- 
ermale took  place  February  14,  1856.  They  have 
five  living  children — Flora,  Thurston,  Viola,  Artie, 
and  Johnie.  The  oldest  of  these  is  now  the  wife  of 
Alba  Page,  and  lives  in  the  State  of  ^Vashinglon; 
Viola  is  the  wife  of  George  Miller,  of  Uanton 
Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randolph  have  lost  one 
child,  Orpha,  wlio  died  when  a  year  and  a  half  old; 
Artie  and  John  are  at  home,  while  Thurston  is  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Wallace.  Idaiio. 

Mr.  Randolph  is  undoubtedly  the  leading  mem- 
ber of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  in  this  county, 
taking  great  interest  in  the  work  of  the  order,  and 
ready  at  all  times  to  assist  in  its  affairs.  He  form- 
erly acted  with  the  Republican  party,  but  is  now 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


327 


identified  with  the  Union  Labor  p.iily,  and  in  sym- 
palliy  with  the  lefonn  movements  in  the  I'nilcd 
States.  He  is  liberal  in  his  religious  views, while  his 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  JMethodist  Cliiireh.  His 
ability  and  interest  in  the  good  of  those  about  bim, 
was  long  sinee  recognized  by  his  neighboi's,  wlio 
called  upon  lum  to  serve  as  Sehool  Director,  in 
■whicli  ofHce  he  has  laliored  for  some  twenty  years. 
The  line  property  belonging  to  our  subject  is  a 
standing  mor.ument  to  the  energy  whieli  he  has  put 
forth  in  the  labors  of  life,  and  the  good  judgment 
which  has  characterized  his  efforts,  while  his  iiigh 
Standing  among  his  fellow-men,  is  an  equally  sat- 
isfactory proof  of  his  worth  as  a  neighbor  and  citi- 
zen. 


!<)  LISHA  K.  SAUNDERS,  commonly  known 
as  Squire  Saunders,  is  a  very   popular  and 
highly  respected  citizen  of  Liverpool  Town- 
sliip,  where  his  marked  ability',  honest  and  indus- 
trious habits  have  won  him  numerous  friends.    Our 
subject  was  born   in  Niagara  County,  N.   Y..  Jan- 
uary 19,  1827,  being  the  son  of  Hiram  and  Pame- 
lia  (Maynard)  Saunders,  natives  of  Yates  County, 
N.  Y.      The  father  was  born  in  1797,  and   died  in 
Canton,  August  9,  1873;  the  mother  was   born  in 
1804,  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  in  Niagara 
Count}',    N.    Y.      The    Saunders    family    were    of 
Scotch  descent,  and  our  subject's  fatiier  was  reared 
on  a  farm  in  Yates  County,   but   when  twenty-one 
years  of  age  took  a  contract  on  the  Erie    Canal, 
where  he  worked  for  three  years.     At  a  later  date 
he  removed   to  Niagara  County,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  for  two  years,  and  then  came  to  Illinois, 
making  the  trip  on  a  raft  down   the  AUegiiany   to 
Pittsburg,  and  the  rest  of  tlie  way  by  steamboat  on 
the  Ohio,  Mississippi   and   Illinois    Rivers,  finally 
landing  at  Galena,  this  State.     He  came  to  Fulton 
County  in  1832,  and  established  a  ferry  across  the 
Rock  River  at  Dixon;    but  when  the  Black  Hawk 
War  broke  out,  he  gave  up  the  ferry,  and  enlisted  in 
the  army  under  Capt.  Nelson  Ball,  and  served  three 
months,  during  which  time  he  participated  in  sev- 
eral skirmishes,  at  New  Boston ,   Little    York,  and 
other  places.     After  the   war  he    settled  down   in 


Henderson  County,  this  State,  and  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  hi  18.^2  he  sold  his 
farm  and  came  to  Fulton  County  with  his  children. 
The  JMaynard  family  so  far  as  is  known  were  of 
Irish  descent. 

Mr.  Saunders  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father  in 
1832,  and  settled  in  what  was  then  known  as  War- 
ren County,  but  is  now  Henderson  C'ounty.  His 
youth  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and  he  attended  school 
tlu'ough  the  winter,  and  worked  at  farming  through 
the  summer.  After  reaching  his  twentieth  year,  he 
commenced  working  for  himself  in  a  brickyard, 
where  he  received  in  compensation  for  his  ser- 
vices S12  per  month.  He  remained  there  three 
months,  and  then  for  one  year  worked  in  a  sawmill 
and  continued  in  this  way  until  after  his  marriage, 
at  which  time  he  settled  in  Putnam  Township  on  a 
rented  farm.  But  after  two  3'ears  he  bought  his 
present  place  on  section  1,  Liverpool  Township,  and 
on  this  estate  he  resides  at  the  present  time.  When 
he  bought  this  land  it  was  covered  with  heavy  tim- 
ber, but  now  it  is  pretty  well  cleared,  and  much  of 
it  is  well  cultivated.  Besides  farming,  he  is  largely 
interested  in  stock-raising. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  married  February 
4,  1855,  to  Miss  Sarah  Beckstead,  who  was  born 
June  3,  1  834,  and  was  a  daughter  of  George  Beck- 
stead,  who  was  a  native  of  Canada.  The  Beckstead 
family  is  of  German  descent.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Saunders  have  been  born  ten  children,  eight  cf 
whom  are  living,  viz.:  G.  Edgar.  John  L.,  Hiram 
D.,  Henry  F.,  Leonard  E.,  Caroline  P.  (Mrs.  War- 
field),  Orelia  (Mrs.  Kendall),  and  Glafa.  Mrs. 
Saunder's  father,  George  Beckstead,  was  born  in 
Williamsburgh,  Canada,  was  married  there  and  re- 
mained in  the  Dominion  until  1834,  at  which  time  he 
came  to  tliis  country,  and  settled  in  Canton,  from 
which  place  he  moved  to  Buckheart  Townshii),  and 
from  there  he  moved  to  the  west  half  of  section  1, 
which  he  i)urchased  and  improved.  He  built  a  saw- 
mill there  about  1848.  and  continued  to  run  it  for 
five  or  six  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  re- 
moved to  Putnam  Township,  where  he  remained 
for  four  years,  and  then  returned  here  and  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Mormon  Church,  and  in  politics  af- 
filiated   with  the  Democratic  party.     He   married 


328 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


3Iiss  DinaL  Meddab,  who  was  also  a  Canadian  by 
iiirth,  and  to  whom  were  born  eight  children,  seven 
of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  viz.;  Mary  E.  (Mrs. 
Pollitt),  Sarah  A.  (Mrs.  Saunders),  John  A.,  Eliza 
J.  (Mrs.  Edwards),  Orelia  A.  (Mrs.  Pollitt),  Martha 
S.  (Mrs.  Uarker),  and  Caroline  (Mrs  Ests). 

Our  subject  is  in  sympathy  with  the  Democratic 
party  in  politics.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Justice 
of  the  Peace  for  fourteen  years;  was  Constable  for 
one  term  in  Putnam  Count3';  was  Assessor  for  one 
term;  and  is  at  the  present  writing,  School  Di- 
rector. 

.=..e-J^ 


n  SAAC  F.  RANDOLl'H.  What  presents  a  pleas- 
anter  picture  than  old  age  gracefully  reached 
\  fitter  a  well-spent  and  prosperous  life?  There 
is  something  very  pleasant  in  looking  back  upon 
the  j-ears  that  intervene  between  childhood  and  age, 
and  living  in  memory  all  the  triumpiis  and  joys  of 
years  spent  in  an  effort  to  l)enctjt  self  and  neigh- 
bors at  the  same  time.  And  such  is  the  case  with 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randolph,  who  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
nine  and  seventy-six  respectively,  are  both  strong 
and  active,  and  comfortably  fixed  in  a  financial 
waj'.  True,  they  have  experienced  the  usual 
amount  of  "ups  and  downs"  that  come  almost  in- 
variably in  a  bu.sy  career,  but  on  the  whole  they 
have  known  much  of  success  and  happiness.  This 
is  in  a  great  measure  due  to  the  fact  that  they  have 
passed  their  days  in  peace,  free  from  the  dissipa- 
tions and  vexations  of  the  gay  world. 

Mr.  Randolph  has  made  his  home  in  this  State 
for  more  than  fifty  years,  devoting  his  attention 
mostl}'  to  agricultural  pursuits.  His  birth  occur- 
red near  Rahway.  N.  J.,  being  the  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Phoebe  (Tucker)  Randoljih,  natives  of  that 
State.  His  grandfather,  Jeremiah  Randolph,  was 
also  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  his  father  came  from 
Scotland  before  the  Revolutionary'  War.  The  lat- 
ter was  a  carpenter  b}'  trade,  and  an  extensive  land- 
owner, and  at  an  early  age  trained  his  son  to  habits 
of  strict  temperance  and  industry. 

Our  subject  remained  at  home  up  to  the  date  of 
his  naarriage,  which  took  place  in  1831.  The  lady 
of  his  choice  was  Miss  .lulia  Holt(:>n,  native  of  New- 


market, N.  J.,  and  daughter  of  Martin  and  Eunice 
(Bartow)  Holton.  The  Holtons  were  of  English 
blood,  while  the  Bartows  were  of  German  extrac- 
tion. Mrs.  Randolph's  fatlier  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade,  and  died  in  the  year  18.51,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one,  while  on  a  visit  in  Illinois.  Her  mother 
died  when  seventy-seven  years  of  age,  and  to  her 
marriage  were  born  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom 
reached  maturity,  viz:  Elizalieth,  Ephraim,  Sarah, 
Precilla,  Julia,  Eunice,  and  Joseph. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  March  29, 
1 811,  being  one  of  the  Qve  children  born  to  his 
parents  who  grew  to  mature  years,  the  others  be- 
ing: Sarah,  Charlotte,  Louisa,  and  Phcebe.  After 
their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randolph  made  their 
home  on  farms  in  Elizabeth  and  New  Market,  N. 
J.,  until  1839,  at  which  time  they  removed  to  Illi- 
nois, making  the  journey  in  a  wagon.  This  trip, 
though  long  and  tiresome,  was  quite  enjoyable  ow- 
ing to  the  fact  that  three  other  wagons  filled  with 
relatives  of  Mr.  Randolph  came  with  them.  They 
started  from  New  Jersey  in  November,  and  did  not 
reach  Farmington  until  Januarj-  3,  1840.  Mr. 
Randolph  bought  land  in  Trivoli  Township,  Peo- 
ria County,  the  estate  embracing  thirty  acres,  and 
built  a  nice  house.  However,  he  traded  property 
several  times,  and  Snally  became  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  naturally  had  the 
trouble  common  to  pioneers  who  must  break  up 
and  cultivate  the  soil  on  new  land. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randolph  have  been  born  three 
children,  viz:  j\Iary  A.,  Louisa  C,  and  Margaret 
E.  Mary  A.  married  Jacob  Berdine,  a  farmer  of 
Hancock  County,  111.,  and  has  four  children — Ran- 
dolph, Anna  L.,  Flora,  and  Charles.  Of  these  Anna 
L.  married  Millord  McFarland,  a  blacksmith  at 
Powelton,  and  has  one  child,  Robert;  Flora,  who 
is  now  Mrs.  John  Thornbur,  resides  in  Hancock 
County,  and  has  three  children — Grace,  Harry,  and 
one  unuamed;  Charles  is  man  led  and  lives  in  Ne- 
braska, and  has  one  child.  Louisa  married  Thomas 
Dunlap,  resides  in  Wyoming,  and  has  four  chil- 
dren— Anna,  Julia  R.,  William,  and  James.  Mag- 
gie marrieil  Crcorge  W.  Smith,  and  makes  her  home 
in  Farmington. 

Mr.  Randoli)h  is  in  sj'mpathy  with  the  l\opub- 
lican   party,  and  a  strong  sui)portcr   of   his   party 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRArillCAL  ALBUM. 


329 


principles.  lie  was  at  one  time  a  Democi'at,  but 
cliangeil  from  that  party  because  he  could  not  agree 
with  them  on  the  slavery  question.  He  lived  at 
Canton  twelve  or  fourteen  years,  and  lias  been 
popular  and  highlj'  respected  in  all  communities 
where  he  has  resided.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ran- 
dolph are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  con- 
tributed liberally  to  building  this  church  at  Farra- 
ington. 


"'v^#^ — 1<«^ 


=^i=t:^'-i~- 


ILLIAM  S.  COOPER.  Among  the  rising 
young  men  of  Fulton  County,  native  and 
to  the  manor  born,  none  is  more  worthy  of 
representation  in  this  Bioghai'iiical  Alhuji,  than 
this  gentleman.  He  comes  of  good  old  New  Eng- 
land Mood,  and  of  Revolutionar}'  stock.  His  fa- 
ther, Francis  A.  Cooper,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
December  4,  1834.  He  removed  with  bis  parents 
to  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  when  he  was  about 
eight  years  old,  and  there  he  was  reared  on  a 
farm.  In  1854,  he  emigrated  to  tliis  county,  and 
being  a  man  of  considerable  education,  and  of  a 
fine,  well-balanced  mind,  his  services  were  gladly 
accepted  as  a  teacher  by  the  pioneers  whom  he 
found  here.  He  also  gave  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing, renting  land  for  about  three  years,  when  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  on  section  22,  Woodland 
Township.  There  were  but  little  improvements  on 
the  place  at  the  time  he  purchased  it,  but  in  the 
years  of  hard  labor  that  followed  he  cleared  and 
improved  the  greater  part  of  it,  and  thus  greatly 
increased  its  original  value. 

Mr.  Cooper  was  married  to  Miss  Angeline  Pot- 
ter, December  9,  1862.  She  was  born  in  Luzerne 
County,  Pa.,  August  26,  1842.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1810.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  came  to  this  county  with  his  family  in  1854. 
He  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Woodland  Town 
ship,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  at  a  ripe  old 
age  in  1865.  He  was  a  man  of  sincere  Christian 
principles,  and  a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist 
Church  nearly  all  his  life.  He  was  decidedly  a  Re- 
publican, in  his  political  views.  The  maternal 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of 
New  J^ngland,  wiiere  he  carried  on  farming.     He 


served  in  the  Revolution.  The  Potter  family  came 
from  England  in  early  Colonial  times. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics, and  was  active  in  local  affairs.  He  held  the 
olKce  of  Clerk  of  the  township,  and  other  minor 
ofiices.  His  death,  April  21,  1866.  called  hence 
one  of  our  most  stable  and  respected  citizen.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  is  still  living,  and  makes  her 
home  on  the  old  homestead.  She  is  a  woman  of 
true  Christian  piety,  and  a  valued  member  of  the 
Ba[itist  Church.  She  has  two  children,  William  S., 
!ind  Francis  A. 

William  S.  Cooper  was  born  December  2,  1863. 
He  has  farmed  the  home  place  for  ten  years,  and  is 
raising  some  stock  of  good  grades.  He  has  just 
completed  a  fine  frame  house,  which  has  cost  him 
*1,000.  He  is  decidedly  with  the  Democratic  party 
in  polities,  and  is  now  serving  his  third  year  as 
Clerk  of  Woodland  Township.  His  clear,  intelli- 
gent mind,  his  tact  and  business  qualifications,  emi- 
nently fit  him  forthisofflce.  He  is  finely  educated, 
having  been  a  close  student  of  books  since  he 
gleaned  his  early  education  in  the  district  schools. 
He  is  a  fine  penman,  and  this  gift  was  assiduously 
cultivated  while  he  was  in  attendance  at  the  Val- 
paraiso Business  College  during  the  winter  of 
1889-90.  He  is  still  a  student  in  that  college,  and 
will  complete  his  course  and  be  graduated  the  com- 
ing winter. 


EREMIAH  P.  WOLF.  A  prominent  place 
among  the  agriculturists  of  this  county  is 
the  just  meed  of  the  efforts  of  the  gentleman 
above  named,  who  is  located  on  section  I, 
Canton  Township.  His  farm,  which  consists  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty-five  acres,  is  a  highly  produc- 
tive tract,  the  fertility  of  which  has  been  kept  above 
par  by^  a  wise  rotation  of  crops  and  the  use  of  the 
best  fertilizing  agents.  A  first-class  set  of  Duildings 
has  been  erected  upon  it  and  the  other  improve- 
ments made  which  stamp  it  as  the  home  of  one  who 
believes  in  progress  and  enterprise.  Mr.  Wolf 
lives  surrounded  with  all  the  comforts  of  life  and 
may  well  be  gratified  with  his  financial  standing. 
Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Thomas  F.   and   Joanna 


330 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


(Coleman)  Wolf,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia 
and  llie  latter  of  New  Jersey.  Their  marriage  was 
the  first  celebrated  in  this  county  and  they  were 
the  first  settlers  in  Orion  Township,  to  which  they 
removed  after  having  lived  for  a  time  in  Canton 
Township.  Mr.  Wolf  toolc  an  active  part  in  the 
political  affairs  of  the  vicinity  and  held  numerous 
tfiwnship  offices.  For  many  years  he  was  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace.  He  breathed  liis  last  February  3, 
1863,  in  Orion  Township,  where  the  widow  died 
July  27,  1881.  Both  had  been  active  members  of 
the  Methodist -Church  and  for  many  years  religious 
services  were  held  at  their  home.  Thej'  had  a  large 
family,  nine  of  their  children  living  to  maturity 
and  five  dying  in  early  life. 

Jeremiali  P.  Wolf  was  tlie  fifth  child  in  the  pa- 
rental family  and  born  in  Orion  Township  Decem- 
ber 3,  1841.  His  studies  were  pursued  in  the  log- 
school  house  of  his  native  township,  and  in  com- 
mon with  the  sons  of  other  farmers  he  early  learned 
the  details  of  an  agricultur,al  career.  He  resided 
under  the  parental  roof  until  his  marriage,  first  as 
an  inmate  of  his  father's  household,  and  after  the 
death  of  that  parent,  as  his  mother's  helper  and 
comfort.  After  his  marriage  he  i)urchased  the  old 
homestead  on  which  he  continued  to  reside  until 
December,  1881.  At  that  time  he  sold  the  propert}' 
and  removed  to  Canton  Township  where  he  had 
bought  property  some  time  before. 

The  ceremony  which  transformed  Miss  Emma 
Wise  into  Mrs.  J.  P.  Wolf,  took  place  on  the  farm 
they  now  occupy,  September  25,  1870.  The  estate 
was  then  owned  by  the  bride's  parents,  Samuel  and 
Susan  (Keller)  Wise,  who  were  very  early  settlers 
in  this  count}^  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wise  were  born 
in  Pennsjdvania  and  died  on  their  faim  in  this 
township.  Upon  coming  to  this  section  Mr.  Wise 
had  engaged  in  milling  in  Canton,  but  after  resid- 
ing there  several  years  turned  his  attention  to  agri- 
culture. He  and  liis  wife  belonged  to  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  and  constantly  endeavored 
to  carry  out  the  principles  of  their  faith  in  their 
daily  walk  and  conversation.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Wolf  was 
the  youngest. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  was  born  in  tliis  town- 
ship January  4,  1850,  and  educated  in  the   county 


schools.  She  possesses  one  of  those  noble  char- 
acters which  make  the  name  of  woman  revered 
wherever  it  is  uttered,  and  is  conscientious  in  the 
discharge  of  every  duty  which  she  owes  to  her  be- 
loved companion  and  children.  She  has  borne  her 
husband  seven  children— Luella,  George  W.,  Bertha 
M.,  William  C,  Harry,  Alta  E.  and  Jeremiah  P. 
William  C.  and  Harry  died  in  their  infancy. 

Mr.  Wolf  is  a  representative  Democrat,  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  local  atTairs  and  has  been  called 
upon  to  serve  his  fellow-citizens  in  various  public 
capacities.  He  was  Supervisor  of  Orion  Township 
twelve  years,  htis  held  the  same  office  iri  Canton 
Township  three  years,  and  has  been  School  Director 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  In  1 882,  he  was  elected 
County  Treasurer  and  honorably:  discharged  the 
duties  of  the  office  four  years.  He  and  his  wife  are 
active  and  efficient  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  and  are  highly  esteemed  by  those 
wlio  know  them,  for  their  consistent  and. useful 
lives. 

NOCII  RAWALT.  This  gentleman  belongs 
to  the  number  of  honorable,  industrious 
men,  formerly  living  in  Fulton  County,  who 
have  joined  the  silent  majority  and  rest  from  their 
earthly  labors.  He  was  born  in  Indiana,  November 
IG.  1827,  and  died  in  this  county  October  2,  1885, 
leaving  a  widow  and  seven  children  together  with 
many  friends,  to  mourn  his  loss. 

The  life  of  Mr.  Rawalt  was  marked  with  no 
event  of  unusual  importance  until  after  he  had 
grown  to  manhood.  His  early  days  were  spent  in 
the  usual  manner,  pursuing  such  studies  as  the 
schools  of  the  time  .and  section  gave  command  of, 
and  in  learning  lessons  of  industry  and  energj-  on  a 
farm.  His  marriage  was  solemnized  in  1848  in  this 
county  and  the  same  j'ear  he  and  his  bride  removed 
to  Iowa.  A  home  was  made  in  Warren  Count3', 
but  after  a  sojourn  of  two  years  the  family  became 
residents  of  Jefferson  County, whence  they  returned 
iiither  in  a  few  3-ears. 

Mr.  Rawalt  bought  one  hundred  and  three  acres 
of  land  in  Lee  Township  on  section  6,  built  thereon 
and   im[)roved  the  place.     He  afterward  added  one 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


331 


hundred  and  nine  acres,  making  up  a  beautiful 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  twelve  acres,  all  of  wiiieh 
was  placed  under  cultivation  and  brought  to  a  fine 
condition.  He  was  a  very  hard-working  man  and 
in  connection  with  his  farming  operated  a  thresher 
and  clover-huller  during  the  season. 

In  1863,  Mr.  Rawalt  enlisted  in  Company  F, 
Eighth  Illinois  Cavahy,  and  after  serving  as  a 
valiant  soldier  about  two  years  received  an  honor- 
able discharge  at  Wasliington  and  returned  to  his 
Lome  in  1865.  He  resumed  his  peaceful  occupation 
of  agriculture  and  continued  to  pursue  it  zealously 
and  intelligently  until  called  hence.  He  discharged 
the  duties  of  various  local  offices,  among  them 
being  that  of  School  Director,  Commissioner  of 
Highways  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  was  a 
liberal  contributor  to  every  good  cause  and  won 
the  respect  of  those  sbout  him  by  his  manly  life 
and  cliaracter.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics. 
He  belonged  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  was  in- 
terred with  the  rites  of  the  order  at  Prairie  City. 

Tlie  widow  of  Enoch  Rawalt  now  has  full  control 
of  the  farm  and  business,  and  still  makes  her  home 
on  the  estate  where  she  spent  so  many  j-ears  witli 
her  loved  companion.  She  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Caroline  Miller  and  was  born  in  Alaryiand,  on 
the  hanks  of  the  Potomac  River,  March  30,  1828. 
She  received  her  education  in''Ohio  where  she  was 
reared  to  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  when  she  ac- 
companied her  parents  to  this  State,  where  about 
two  years  later  she  became  the  wife  of  our  subject. 
She  is  the  oldest  cliild  born  to  her  i)arents,  John  and 
Sus.annah  (Hovermill)  Miller,  her  brothers  and  sis- 
ter bearing  the  names  of  John  L,  Benjamin  F., 
Daniel  L.  and  Sarah.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  were 
born  in  Maryland,  married  there  and  after  a  few 
years  of  wedded  life  removed  to  Ohio.  Some  time 
later  tiiey  came  to  tliis  State,  locating  near  Canton 
where  Mr.  Miller  breathed  his  last  in  1864,  and  his 
widow  in  1886. 

There  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rawalt  the  fol- 
lowing sons  and  dauglitcrs:  Warren  married  Effie 
Chayney  and  lives  in  Lee  townsliip;  John  M.  still 
lives  at  the  old  home;  Jones  F.  married  Carrie 
Snider  and  lives  in  Lee  Township;  Bonnie  married 
George  Hopes  who  died  January  2,  1890;  Delia 
and  Charles  still  remain  with  their   mother;  James 


is  at  home.  In  the  possession  and  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  family  there  are  six  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  of  good  land,  all  in  Lee  Township,  and  all 
except  eighty  acres  accumulated  since  the  war.  It 
has  been  done  by  strict  attention  to  business  and 
hard  work,  the  sons  following  in  their  father's 
footsteps  and  Mrs.  Rawalt  herself  having  proved  a 
valuable  assistant  to  her  husband  and  counselor  to 
her  children.  She  is  deserving  of  the  respect  con- 
ferred upon  her  as  one  of  the  most  useful  raemlters 
of  the  community. 


-^^Z 


:^^i^ 


OICHOLAS  McCREARY  lives  in  honorable 
/  retirement  in  one  of  the  many  substantial 
1   homes  in  Canton,  his  residence  l)eing  pleas- 

antlj'  located  on  the  corner  of  Oak  and  Fourth 
Streets.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county, 
was  active  in  its  agricultural  developments  and  ac- 
quired a  handsome  competence  that  enables  him 
to  pass  his  declining  years  in  comfort,  and  free 
from  the  necessity  of  hard  labor  and  care  which 
was  his  portion  in  earlier  life. 

Mr.  McCreary  is  a  native  of  Maryland,  born  in 
Hartford  County,  April  9,  1816.  His  parents  were 
Archie  and  Rachel  McCreary,  the  former  of  whom 
was  also  a  native  of  that  State,  and  there  passed 
his  entire  life  in  pursuit  of  his  calling  as  a  farmer. 
Nicholas  was  but  three  3'ears  old  when  his  father 
died.  His  education  was  obtained  in  private  schools 
as  there  were  no  public  schools  in  his  boyhood.  In 
liis  fifteenth  year  he  was  sent  to  learn  the  trade  of 
manufacturing  fine  wire  cloth  and  all  kinds  of  wire 
goods.  He  followed  that  calling  in  the  city  of 
Wheeling,  Va.,  about  a  month,  then  returned  to 
Baltimore  and  worked  in  a  wire  cloth  mill  until 
1837. 

After  that  Mr.  McCreary  returned  to  Mar3'land 
and  "in  the  city  of  Baltimore  was  married,  January 
16,  1838,  to  Miss  Frances  A.  Hughs,  of  that  city, 
and  a  daughter  of  James  Hughs,  Esq.  The  fol- 
lowing June  Mr.  McCreaiy  packed  all  his  posses- 
sions in  a  one-horse  wagon  and  started  for  this 
part  of  the  country,  which  was  then  known  as  a 
part  of  the  Great  West,  Canton   being  the  oliject- 


332 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ivi;  point  of  bis  journey.  For  nine  weeks  he  and 
his  wife  were  on  the  way,  the  roads  being  so 
bad  that  some  days  they  could  not  travel  more 
than  eight  miles.  Arriving  at  Canton,  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  scliool  land  in  what  is  now 
Buekheart  Township.  He  settled  on  it  and  after- 
ward cleared  his  title  from  the  Government  by  the 
payment  of  §1.25  per  acre.  Three  years  later  he 
sold  that  tract  of  land  and  bought  in  its  place  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Putnam  Township.  He 
moved  with  his  family  to  his  new  farm  Februar3- 
22.  1842,  and  actively  entered  upon  its  improve- 
ment. He  developed  it  into  a  choice  farm,  and 
for  man}-  3ears  was  actively  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  was  an  extensive  feeder  of  hogs  and 
cattle,  from  the  sale  of  winch  he  niade  money 
rapidly.  He  continued  to  live  there  until  1887, 
when  he  retired  to  Canton  to  enjoy  more  at  his 
leisure  the  comfortable  property  that  he  had  accu- 
mulated, and  since  then  he  has  made  his  home 
here. 

The  first  wife  of  our  subject  died  November  27, 
1846,  leaving  four  cliildreu — J.  H.  lives  in  Joshua 
'Sbwnship;  .John  L..  a  resident  of  Missouri;  Pa- 
melia  J.,  wife  of  .John  S.  IMyers;  and  William  H. 
March  18,  1847,  Mr.  McCrcary  was  married  to  his 
present  wife,  who  was  then  Mrs.  Martha  Ashworth. 
She  was  a  widow  at  the  time  she  was  wedded  to 
our  subject  and  her  maiden  name  was  Moran.  She 
was  horn  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  1818. 
Her  father  wss  Richard  L.  Moran.  and  the  maiden 
name  of  her  mother  was  Hannah  Hayden.  Her 
m:iiriage  with  our  subject  has  brought  them  nine 
children:  P' ranees  A.,  deceased ;  Sarah  M.,  wife  of 
Mark  Saunders;  Susannah,  wife  of  S.  L.  Gorham; 
Martha,  widow  of  John  A.  Jameson;  Elizabeth 
Ann;  Julia  E..  now  Mrs.  Lew  R.  Emory;  Kate  L., 
wife  of  M.  L.  Emor}';  Alice,  wife  of  George  Mor- 
row; and  George  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
months. 

Mr.  McCreary  served  as  School  Director  con- 
tinuousl}'  for  a  period  of  twent3--Lwo  years.  He 
and  his  wife  are  devoted  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  ]SIr.  McCrearj'  holds  one 
of  the  offices  of  the  Church  Board,  and  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  Sundaj'-school  work,  and  was  Su- 
perintendent of   the  Sundaj'-school  a    number  of 


years.  While  he  was  a  resident  of  his  farm  he  es- 
tablished the  Pleasant  Grove  Sunda^'-school.  In 
politics  he  is  a  sturdy  Republican.  He  first  voted 
for  William  Henry  Harrison  for  President,  and 
the  last  vote  he  cist  was  in  favor  of  that  gentle- 
man's grandson. 


XDREW  ROCK.  Tn  every  State  of  the 
Union  the  (lerman-American  citizens  are 
to  be  found,  making  their  way  steadih"  on- 
ward in  the  accumulation  of  property  and 
securing  their  moans  bv  honest  industry,  prudent 
economy'  and  untiring  zeal.  In  this  county  a 
prominent  position  among  agriculturists  and  land- 
owners is  held  by  the  gentleman  above  named, 
who  is  a  native  of  Hesse-Darmstadt,  born  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1841.  His  parents,  Simon  and  Elizabeth 
(Shnur)  Rock,  were  born  in  the  same  province  and 
came  to  this  county  in  1855.  They  made  their  first 
home  here  in  Fairview  Township,  but  in  October, 
of  the  same  year,  located  on  section  14,  Deerfield 
Township,  where  they  subsequenth*  died,  the  fa- 
ther July  12,  1889,  and  the  mother  January  17, 
1890. 

Our  subject  gained  a  considerable  part  of  his  edu- 
cation in  his  native  laud,  but  continued  his  studies 
in  this  country.  He  remained  with  his  parents  until 
twentv-oue  3'ears  old,  then  worked  by  the  month 
on  a  farm  until  his  marriage,  February  3,  1863,  to 
Anna,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Catherina  Erb.  Soon 
afterward  he  rented  a  farm  of  his  father-in-law. 
upon  which  he  made  his  home  five  3'ears,  at  the 
same  time  operating  other  lands  which  he  rented. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  sixt3'  acres  on  section  36,  Deerfield 
Township,  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  since 
purchased  eights'  acres  on  section  35,  and  eighty- 
two  acres  on  section  4,  of  the  same  township,  and 
one  hundred  and  fort}-  acres  on  section  1.  Cass 
Township.  This  makes  a  fine  estate  of  four  hun- 
dred and  sixt3'-two  acres  of  good  land,  the  acquisi- 
tion of  which  is  almost  entirely'  due  to  the  personal 
efforts  of  the  owner. 

The  home   farm  of  our  subject  is  furnished    with 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


333 


an  excellent  frame  house,  substantial  barns  and  all 
necessary  improvements,  botli  it  and  tbe  one  in 
Cass  Townsliip  are  well  stocked.  Tiie  latter  is  also 
supplied  witli  a  frame  house,  a  good  barn  and  oUier 
improvements.  When  iMr.  Hock  first  started  to 
work  he  received  but  $5  per  month  and  he  never 
got  more  than  §15.  From  this  sti|)end  be  saved 
money  and  made  his  lirst  outlay  for  real  estate, 
continuing'  to  economize  and  labor  hard  in  order 
to  build  up  a  good  home  for  his  family  and  bestow 
upon-  tiiem  the  man^'  comforts  and  privileges  which 
be  desired.  He  has  always  been  liberal  toward 
those  about  him,  never  turning  from  his  door  a 
man  that  was  in  need  if  it  was  possible  to  assist 
him.  He  is  endeavoring  to  rear  his  children  in 
such  a  manner  that  they  may  also  be  useful  in  the 
world,  and  they  are  already  assisting  him  in  his 
labors. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rock  consists  of  one 
daughter  and  seven  sons,  named  respectively : 
Lewis  W.,  .John  P.,  Simon  E.,  CUiarles  A.,  William 
A.,  Clara  E.,  Franklin  U.  and  George  M.  All  are 
at  home  except  the  eldest,  who  is  married  and  lives 
on  section  4,  of  the  same  townsbii).  The  3-onnger 
boys  are  so  thoroughly  "chips  of  the  old  block" 
that  Mr.  Rock  finds  it  unneccessary  to  hire  help,  as 
they  are  able  to  give  him  all  that  he  needs.  Mr. 
Rock,  altliough  ostensibly  a  Democrat,  is  not  so 
radical  but  that  he  will  vote  for  the  man  who  is 
best  fitted  to  discliarge  tlie  duties  of  office,  even  if 
he  is  numbered  in  other  part3-  ranks.  He  has  been 
Collector  two  years  and  .Supervisor  two  years.  His 
religious  membership  is  in  the  Lutheran  Church, 
where  he  has  held  the  offices  of  Deacon  and 
Trustee. 


ENJAMIN  TAYLOR,  M.  D.,  a  retired 
physician,  practiced  his  profession  in  Ver- 
'!^}))\1I  mont  several  years.  In  1882  he  begun  to 
give  his  attention  to  the  culture  of  fruit, 
and  has  a  fine  fruit  farm  of  forty-seven  and  one- 
tliird  acres  a  half  mile  from  the  citj',  which  he  is 
managing  ver}-  successfully.  He  has  here  a  val- 
uable orchard  of  four  hundred  apple  trees,  two 
hundred  pear  trees,  and  a  few  of  peach,  plum,  etc., 


besides  eleven  acres  devoted  to  small  fruils.  He 
finds  a  ready  sale  for  his  fruit,  which  is  of  a  superior 
quality  and  comprises  many  clioice  varieties. 

The  Doctor  is  a  Pennsylvanian  by  birth,  born  in 
Chester  County,  April  5,  1821).  He  springs  from 
the  same  family  from  which  came  the  lafe  Bayard 
Taylor,  traveler,  poet  and  author,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  United  States  Minister  to  tlie  German 
Court.  Tlie  father  of  our  subject,  whose  given 
name  was  like  his  own,  is  thought  to  have  been 
born  in  the  same  county  as  his  son,  while  his  fa- 
ther, Abraham  Taylor,  was  either  born  in  England 
or  was  a  native  of  this  country  and  born  of  Eng- 
lish parents.  He  was  a  resident  of  Chester  County 
during  his  last  years. 

Benjamin  Taylor,  Sr.,  was  reared  to  agricultur.al 
pursuits,  and  followed  farming  all  her  days.  He 
married  Hannah  Richardson,  who  spent  her  entire 
life  in  Chester  Count3',  surviving  her  husband 
many  years.  Mr.  Taylor  bought  a  farm  in  Penns- 
bury  Township,  Chester  County,  and  there  he  died 
in  1832.  He  and  bis  wife  were  the  parents  of 
tliirteen  children,  of  whom  seven  were  reared, 
namely:  Benjamin,  Eliza,  Xewton,  Clarissa,  Caleb, 
Sarah  and  Hannah.  Newton  served  in  the  Mexi- 
can War,  and  died  two  or  three  days  after  his  re- 
turn from  disease  contracted  in  tbe  army.  Hannah 
married  Emmor  Way,  and  lives  in  Chester  County. 
Caleb  lives  in  Wilmington,  Del. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  next  to  the  young- 
est child  in  the  parental  famil3'.  He  attended 
school  quite  steadily  in  his  youth,  and  later  only 
in  the  winter  seasons,  as  he  had  to  work  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  the  rest  of  the  year.  He  remained  in 
Chester  County  until  18.50,  and  in  the  fall  of  that 
year  emigrated  westward,  coming  by  rail  to  Johns- 
town, Pa.,  thence  by  canal  to  Pittsburg,  from  there 
by  the  Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers  to 
Sharp's  Landing,  in  Schuyler  County,  this  State, 
whence  he  made  bis  way  to  McDonough  County. 
He  there  bought  a  tract  of  wild  land,  located  in 
Eldorado  Township.  At  that  time  the  prairie  was 
sparsely  settled,  as  the  early  pioneers  had  selected 
the  timber  land,  thinking  the  open  prairie  worth- 
less for  agricultural  purposes.  Deer  were  abund- 
ant and  furnished  good  fare  for  the  table  of  the 
settlers.     The  Doctor's    first  work  was  to  erect  a 


331 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


log  cabin  on  his  tract  of  praiiie,  and  he  then  brolie 
forty  acres  of  land  and  sowed  it  to  wheat.  The 
next  year  he  traded  that  place  for  a  tract  of  im- 
proved land  adjoining.  About  that  time  he  de- 
ci(led  to  turn  his  attention  to  medicine,  and 
immediatelj'  entered  upon  his  studies  with  Dr. 
Ebenezer  Clark,  a  pioneer  ph3'sician  of  Industry 
Township. 

In  1855,  our  subject  started  upon  his  career  as  a 
pb3sician.  In  1857,  he  sold  his  McDonough 
Count}'  farm,  and  removing  to  Sheridan  County, 
Mo.,  purchased  a  farm  joining  Keatville,  the 
county  seat.  He  resided  there  until  the  spring  of 
18G0,  when  he  sold  his  place  to  an  advantage  and 
returning  to  Illinois,  established  himself  in  his  pro- 
fession in  Vermont,  and  was  activel}*  engaged  in 
his  vocation  here  several  }'ears.  Though  he  has  now 
nliandoned  his  professional  life,  his  old  friends 
and  patients  often  call  upon  him  to  administer  to 
their  ills,  preferring  his  services  to  those  of  the 
younger  doctors  who  have  taken  his  place. 

In  1853,  Dr.  Taylor  contracted  a  matrimonial 
alliance  with  Miss  Mary  Clark,  a  native  of  the 
S'ate  of  New  York,  and  a  daughter  of  Ebenezer 
and  Julia  Clark.  Of  the  children  of  that  marriage 
tlie  following  five  are  living — Annie,  Marietta, 
Clara,  Elmer  and  Howard.  Our  subject's  union 
with  his  present  wife  was  consummated  in  1870. 
Mrs.  Taylor  was  formerly  Miss  Gabriella  Gibson,  a 
native  of  McDonough  County,  and  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  Gibson.  The  Doctor  and  his 
wife  have  six  children  living,  as  follows:  William, 
Fr.mk,  Jesse,  Lillie,  Maude  and  Blanche. 


F.  HUFFORD,  Attorney-at-Law,  Canton. 
A  life  time  spent  in  pursuing  one  calling- 
will  almost  certainly  result  in  substantial 
success,  especiallj^  jf  energy'  and  persever- 
ance are  applied,  and  such  is  undoubtedly  the  case 
with  Mr.  Ilufford,  who,  frorn  early  boyhood  has 
given  the  stud}'  of  law  his  chief  time  and  attention. 
IMr.  Hufford  is  a  son  of  Francis  M.  and  Hannah 
(Bull)  Ilufford,  and  was  born  in  Buckheart  Town- 
ship, on  the  6tli  of  March,  1858.     While   an    in- 


fant he  sustained  the  sad  loss  of  his  mother;  and 
was  but  four  3'ears  old  when  his  father  was  killed 
in  the  army.  Left  tlius,  in  the  tender  years  of 
childhood,  without  either  of  his  natural  protec- 
tors his  fate  would  indeed  have  been  sad,  but 
for  the  fact  that  an  aunt  took  charge  of  him, 
kindl}'  giving  him  tlie  same  loving  care  and  atten- 
tion that  his  parents  would  have  bestowed  upon 
him.  He  attended  the  district  school  of  his  neigh- 
borhood, and  even  there  evinced  a  natural  aptitude 
for  stud}',  and  when  older  took  an  academic  course 
in  Bushnell  and  Dixon  at  the  Normal  Schools. 
After  graduating  with  honors  from  these  institutes, 
he  entered  the  Bloomington  law  school,  where  he 
graduated  with  a  diploma  in  June,  1887.  Previous 
to  entering  the  latter-named  school  he  had  read 
law  with  Daniel  Abbott,  of  Canton. 

Onr  subject  first  located  in  Quincy  and  there 
practiced  his  profession  most  successfully  for  a  pe- 
riod of  two  3ears,  in  partnership  with  Gen.  M.  M. 
Bane.  Returning  to  Canton,  he  practiced  alone 
until  1890,  at  that  time  entering  into  a  partner- 
ship with  R.  J.  Millard,  the  Brm  name  being,  Huf- 
ford ife  Millard.  The}'  do  a  general  law  business, 
and  are  besides  agents  for  several  good  Fire  Insu- 
rance Companies.  The}'  are  fast  making  a  reputa- 
tion in  the  legal  world,  and  are  recognized  as  one 
of  the  best  firms  in  Canton.  Our  subject  is  a  gen- 
tleman of  superior  moral  worth,  having  gained  the 
confidence  of  all  who  knew  him  from  boyhood  to 
manhood.  He  is  a  member  of  Morning  Star  Lodge 
No.  116,  A.  F.  <fe  A.  M.  at  this  place  and  also  be- 
longs to  Gem  City  Lodge  No.  357,  at  Quinc3-. 

Mr.  Hufford 's  grandfather,  George  Hufford,  was 
of  German  descent.  He  lived  first  in  Virginia,  af- 
terwards in  the  Blue  Grass  State,  and  came  to 
Illinois  settling  in  Fulton  County.  He  had  seven 
children,  viz:  Eliza,  James,  Nancy,  Mary,  Francis 
M.,  Levi  and  Wesley.  Our  subject's  father  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  but  came  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois  while  yet  an  infant.  The  father  was  an  ag- 
riculturist until  the  breaking  out  of  the  w^r,  when 
he  .enlisted  in  Compan}'  A,  Fifty-fifth  Illinois 
Infantry.  He  continued  to  serve  with  this  reg- 
iment up  to  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Shiloh, 
when  he  was  cajjtured  with  Gen.  B.  M.  Prentiss' 
command.     He  died    from   disease    contracted  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


335 


the  service  in  the  hospital  at  IMetnphis,  Tenn.,  on 
the  November  19,  1863.  To  his  nmiriage  two  chil- 
dreu  had  been  born,  viz:  Margery, and  M.  F. 
Mr.  Hufford's  mother  was  a  daughter  of  William 
Bull,  who  was  of  English  descent. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  fully  understands  the 
true  meaning  of  the  word  success,  and  though 
quite  a  young  man  lias  achieved  a  reputation  that 
many  an  older  and  more  experienced  man  might 
envy  iiim.  Realizing  that -'life  is  earnest,"  he  has 
at  all  times  and  under  all  circumstances  endeavored 
to  make  the  most  of  his  talents. 


RA  .7.  GRAHAM,  one  of  the  younger  farmers 
of  the  county,  owns  and  occupies  a  portion  of 
the  parental  homestead  in  Isabel  Township. 
He  was  horn  thereon  August  24,  1850,  reared  amid 
the  surroundings  of  farm  life  and  attended  school  in 
the  logschoolhouse  of  that  period.  The  temple  of 
learning  was  furnished  with  scats  made  of  slabs, with 
wooden  pins  for  legs,  and  the  other  primitive  con- 
veniences which  our  forefathers  so  well  knew.  The 
advantages  for  acquiring  an  education  were  very 
poor  and  our  subject  learned  much  more  at  home 
than  at  school.  As  might  be  expected, he  began  assist- 
ing in  farm  work  as  soon  as  he  was  large  enough 
and  became  proficient  in  its  various  departments  at 
an  early  age. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  our  subject  began 
working  for  himself,  laboring  by  the  month  for 
several  years.  After  the  death  of  his  father  in  the 
summer  of  187.j,  he  and  his  brother,  Jesse  P., 
bought  the  homestead  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres.  They  farmed  it  together  for  thirteen  years, 
sold  off  fifty-six  acres  and  tiien  divided  the  remain- 
der, our  subject  taking  possession  of  the  south  half 
of  the  propcrt}-.  It  is  supplied  with  comfortable 
quarters  for  man  and  beast  and  shelter  for  the 
crops  produced  by  the  industrious  efforts  of  the 
owner.  Mr.  Graham  possesses  considerable  mechan- 
ical genius  and  is  able  to  supply  himself  with  con- 
veniences that  he  might  otherwise  be  denied. 

Although  his  sciiool  advantages  were  not  equal 


to  those  cnjo3'ed  by  the  j'outh  of  this  day,  Mr. 
Graiiam  has  improved  the  opportunities  afforded 
him  to  acquire  information  on  various  topics,  and 
is  classed  among  the  intelligent,  as  well  as  the  hon- 
est, hard-working  citizens.  He  has  held  some  of 
the  minor  ofiices  in  the  township  and  casts  his  vote 
with  the  Democrats.  His  congenial  home-life  is 
secured  through  the  companionship  of  an  estimable 
lad}'  who  became  his  wife  December  24,  1886.  She 
was  born  in  this  county,  near  Smithfleld,  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Gedion  and  Matilda  Graham,  and  bears  the 
given  name  of  Rachel  M.  .Siic  is  a  eousin  of  her 
husband,  therefore  of  equally  good  blood,  and  was 
reared  to  habits  of  usefulness,  developing  her  ex- 
cellent traits  of  character. 

John  and  William  Graham,  father  and  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  were  born  in  Maryland, 
whither  the  preceding  generation  had  come  from 
Ireland.  William  Graham  served  in  the  War  of 
1812  under  Gen.  Harrison.  When  about  in  middle 
life  he  crossed  the  mountains  with  a  team  and 
wagon  and  settled  in  Piqua  Countv,  Ohio.  Six 
years  later  he  removed  to  Ross  County,  in  which 
he'  sj^ient  the  remnant  of  his  days,  dying  at  the  age 
of  sixty-seven  years,  and  being  interred  in  tiie 
cemetery  at  Brown's  Chapel.  His  occupation  was 
that  of  a  farmer  and  his  character  a  reputable  one. 

John  Graham  was  born  October  1,  1804,  and 
was  the  eldest  of  six  children,  the  others  bearing 
the  names  of  George  W.,  Jefferson,  William,  Eliza- 
beth (Mrs.  DeV^air),nnd  Ira  J.  He  was  about  four 
years  old  when  his  pa.rents  removed  to  Ohio,  where 
he  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  attended  the  pioneer 
schools  in  Piqua  and  Ross  Counties.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Faj-ette  County  and  settled  on  a  rented 
farm,  occupying  it  until  1842,  when  he  removed  to 
this  State  and  count}-.  He  made  the  journey  with 
team  and  wagon,  and  upon  his  arrival  here  had  but 
fifty  cents  in  money.  Finding  a  neighbor  who 
seemed  to  be  in  poorer  circumstances  than  himself, 
he  loaned  his  small  amount  of  casii  to  that  gen- 
tleman. 

The  first  settlement  made  by  Mr.  Graham  was  in 
the  Spoon  River  Bottom,  but  a  year  later  he  pur- 
chased three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section 
21,  Isabel  Township.  Deer  and  wolves  were  nu- 
merous in  this   vicinit}-  at  that  tiriie   and   he  did 


336 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


considerable  hunting.  His  land  was  covered  with 
a  heav^-  growth  of  timber,  which  he  cut  down, 
gradually  bringing  the  acreage  under  thorough 
cultivation.  His  first  dwelling  thereon  was  a  log 
house  which  was  occupied  eigiiteen  j-ears.  after 
which  a  fine,  commodious  frame  residence  became 
the  family  home.  Excellent  improvements  of  va- 
rious kinds  were  mpde,  aud  Mr.  Graham  reaped 
the  result  of  his  eflforts  in  abundant  crops;  his 
death  occurred  July  31,  1873. 

Tlie  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Malinda  Thomas,  and  was  born  in  Fayette 
County.  Ohio.  March  23.  1818.  She  is  still  living 
on  the  homestead.  Her  father.  John  Thomas,  was 
of  Scot.cb-Irish  descent,  and  her  mother,  Elizabeth 
(Emberline)  Thomas,  was  the  daughter  of  a  lad3- 
and  gentleman,  who  had  emigrated  from  Germany 
to  this  country.  The  record  of  the  children  of 
John  and  ^lalinda  (Thomas)  Graham  is  as  follows: 
Maliala,  born  February  6,  1837;  William  A.  Janu- 
ary 22,  1839;  Elizabeth  J.,  November  3,  1840; 
Thomas  J..  October  26,  1842;  Mary  E.,  February 
18.  1845;  Francis  M.,  June  22,  1848;  Ira  J..  Au- 
gust 24,  1850;  George  W.,  December  30,  1852; 
Jesse  P.,  ^larch  13,  1855  ;  Jasper  R..  September  23, 
1857;  and  James  O.,  August  18,  1860. 


-^ 


-5- — ■ 


j^ARRISON  AZBELL.  It  is  a' well  estab- 
lished fact  that  a  man  of  natural  ability,  if 
possessed  of  integrity-  and  energy,  can  ac- 
complish almost  anj-  given  purpose  in  life. 
Ever}-  daj'  furnishes  examples  of  men  who  com- 
menced a  business  career  empty  handed,  and  in  a 
brief  period  of  time  accumulated  considerable  for- 
tunes. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Ful- 
ton County,  and  resides  on  section  13,  Pleasant 
Township.  His  birth  occurred  in  Belmont  County, 
Ohio,  February  22,  1836,  he  being  a  sou  of  William 
and  Sarah  (Southers)  Azbell.  His  paternal  ances- 
tors were  from  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  those  on  the 
maternal  side  were  of  E'.iglish  descent.  When  only 
ten  years  of  age,  he  removed  with  his  |)arents  from 
Ohio  to  this  county,  and  the   father  settled   upon 


the  farm  where  our  subject  now  makes  his  home. 
The  place  at  that  lime  embraced  onh'  thirt}'  acres 
of  broken  laud,  and  the  only  dwelling  place  was  a 
small  log  cabin,  but  by  means  of  perseverance  and 
energy  the  father  soon  had  this  land  under  cultiva- 
tion. 

Our  subject's  parents  had  twelve  children,  of 
whom  the  following  arc  living,  viz:  William,  who 
lives  in  Pleasant  Township;  Eliza,  who  is  now 
Mrs.  .Smith,  and  lives  in  Havana,  111.;  Alexander, 
who  lives  here;  Lorenzo,  who  resides  in  Isabel 
Township;  Benjamin  in  Pleasant  Township;  Har- 
rison, our  subject;  Julia  O..  wife  of  J.  H.  Smith, 
who  lives  in  Isabel  Township;  and  Maria,  wife  of 
Thomas  G.  Linderman,  of  Pleasant  Township.  The 
father  died  some  time  in  the  '50s, and  in  his  death  the 
communit\-  lost  a  man  who  had  long  been  engaged 
in  advancing  both  his  own  interests  and  those  of  his 
neighbors.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He 
w.as  widelv  known  throughout  this  looalit}-,  and  en- 
jojed  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  who  knew 
him.     Our  subject's  mother  died  several  years  .ago. 

Mr.  Azboll  grew  to  manhood  in  this  county,  sur- 
rounded on  every  side  liy  nature  clothed  in  her 
primitive  dress,  and  naturallv  passed  through  the 
privations  and  hardships  common  to  pioneer  life. 
But  this  is  a  busy  work-a-d.ay  world,  aud  energy 
soon  counts  in  the  race  of  life.  At  an  early  age  he 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
has  always  found  farm  life  very  agreeable.  True, 
his  education  was  not  very  extensive,  since  the  ad- 
vantages offered  young  people  in  those  days  were 
few,  but  b}-  reading  and  careful  attention  to  the 
events  of  the  day  he  has  educated  himself  very 
highly. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  married  October 
17,  1876,  to  Nancj-  .T.  .Smith,  born  in  Missouri,  and 
daughter  of  Daniel  Smith.  This  union  was  blessed 
with  one  daughter,  who  is  now  deceased.  Mr.  Az- 
bell owns  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
that  is  splendidly  cultivated.  He  also  has  a  fine 
barn  and  a  handsome  residence.  The  barn  is  espe- 
cially attractive,  being  36x54  feet  in  dimension, 
and  one  of  the  best  in  the  township.  His  sjmpp- 
thies  are  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  is  al- 
ways a  strong  advocate  of  those  political  measures 
that   promise  to  benefit  his  count}-  and  .State.     He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


337 


is  a  public-spirited  man,  and  one  who  bas  met  with 
success  in  liis  journey  througii  life.  As  a  success- 
ful agriculturist  he  has  won  an  enviable  reputation 
in  commercial  circles,  and  is  accorded  higb  esteem 
and  confidence.  His  life  furnishes  an  example  that 
busy  "bread-winners"  would  do  well  to  imitate. 

/^  HARLES  HOWARD  is  well  known  tlirough- 
flf^L  out  this  section,  as  he  has  been  a  resident 
^^^  of  this  county  as  boy  and  man  for  nearly 
sixty  years.  He  has  witnessed  with  patriotic  pridf 
the  greater  part  of  its  growth  and  has  assisted  its 
development  in  various  ways,  and  at  one  time  was 
prominent  in  its  political  and  civic  life.  His  home 
is  now  in  Harris  Township,  where' he  has  a  well- 
improved  and  well-appointed  farm. 

Mr.  Howard  was  born  June  26,  1822,  in^Morgan 
County  Ohio.  In  1831  he  came  to  this  State  with 
liis  parents,  Samuel  and  Anna  (Alderman)  Howard. 
Thej'  locatc^d  in  Farmers  Townsliip  and  sold  tliat 
claim  before  the  land  came  into]market,  his  father 
then  buying  a  piece  of  wild  land  on  the  Lewis- 
town  and  Bernadotte  road,  not  far  from  the  village 
of  Bernadotte,  Bernadotte  Township.  Our  sub- 
ject can  well  remember  hearing  tlie  wolves  iiowl 
in  Table  Grove,  when  they  lived  in  their  pioneer 
home  there.  His  parents  were  verj'  poor  and  their 
only  wealth  consisted  in  a  team  of  oxen.  The  first 
summer  of  their  residence  here,  the  crops  failed 
and  in  the  following  winter  provisions  were  high 
and  tlie  family  had  a  hard  time  to  get  along.  The 
wolves  killed  two  of  the  oxen,  so  Mr.  Howard  iiad 
to  abandon  his  land  the  next  summer,  ten  acres  of 
which  he  had  broken,  and  he  sold  his  claim  to 
Robert  Iluglies.  He  then  rented  a  piece  of  land 
near  Isaac  Cadwalleder.  He  and  his  family  win- 
tered there  one  season  and  the  next  winter  he 
bouglit  a  tract  of  land.  He  was  an  honest,  hard- 
working man,  and  in  time  became  better  ofif. 

Our  subject  was  reared  amid  pioneer  scenes,  and 
the  life  of  self-sacrifice  and  hard  toil  early  made 
him  self-reliant  and  resourceful.  After  he  attained 
manhood  he  married  and  established  himself  in 
life,  taking  as  his  wife  Miss  Susan  Clemm,  a  davigh- 


ter  of  Samuel  Clemm.  They  had  two  children — 
Samuel  B.  and  Nancy  E.  Samuel  lives  at  liome 
with  his  parents.  He  married  Miss  Ruth  Hollister 
and  they  have  seven  children.  Nancy  E.  is  the 
wife  of  Sylvester  E.  Mead,  a  farmer  of  Marietta, 
his  farm  adjoining  tlie  town;    they  have  one  child. 

Tlie  marriage  of  our  subject  had  taken  place 
February  13,  1844,  and  lie  had  takey  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Cass  Township.  In  1855  he  removed  to 
Marietta,  selling  his  place  on  the  Spoon  River,  and 
in  that  town  he  entered  into  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness. From  that  he  went  into  politics,  and  wag 
elected  Countj'  Treasurer.  Thereupon  he  went  tc 
live  at  Lewistown,  the  county  seat. 

Mr.  Howard  held  that  important  office  four  years 
and  in  the  management  of  its  affairs  showed  gooc 
financial  ability,  clear  discernment  and  sound  in- 
tegrity. At  the  expiration  of  his  term  he  removed 
back  to  the  village  of  Marietta  and  bought  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  near  by,  and  has 
since  given  his  attention  wholly  to  agriculture, never 
caring  to  mingle  further  in  public  life.  In  politi- 
cal views  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  always  stood 
firmly  by  his  part}'.  In  religion,  he  is  a  strong  Meth- 
odist, and  has  been  a  faithful  member  of  the  church 
ever  since  he  identified  himself  with  it. 


-4»E> — 


'Yl  EWIS  C.  BREEDEN  is  prominent  in  the 
I  (@  social,  literary  and  political  life  of  this 
j^V",  county  as  editor  of  the  Lcwiston  N'ews,  a 
journal  ably  conducted  in  the  interests  of  the 
Democratic  parly;  and  as  Secretar3'  of  the  County 
Central  Democratic  Committee.  He  is  a  native  of 
the  county,  born  in  Woodland  Township,  October 
14,  1861.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Lewis  Bree- 
den,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  from  there  dur- 
ing some  period  of  his  life  he  went  to  Indiana,  and 
thence  came  to  Illinois  in  1848,  and  located  among 
the  pioneers  of  Pike  County.  He  now  resides  in 
the  village  of  Summum,  in  this  county,  and  is  sev- 
enty-eight years  old.  His  life-record  has  been  such 
as  to  secure  him  respect  and  esteem  from  all  who 
know  him.  Ilis  wife, who  is  the  stay  and  comfort  of 


338 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


his   ilecliuiug  years,  was  a  native  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  her  maiden  name  was  Anna  Handee. 

.Toliii  II.  Breedeu,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  the  pioneer  home  of  his  parents  in  Indiana. 
He  was  young  when  he  accompanied  them  to  Pilte 
County,  this  Slate,  and  tliere  he  was  reared  on  a 
farm.  Heiwas  a  studious  lad,  eagerlj^  taking  ad- 
vantage of  jever3'  opportunity  for  securing  an  edu- 
cation, and  while  yet  in  his  teens  tauglit  school. 
He  was  ambitious  to  become  a  doctor,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  commenced  the  study  of  raedi 
cine  and  became  a  student  of  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege, of  Chicago.  At  the  close  of  his  medical 
education  he  established  himself  in  Summum,  and 
has  been  in  active  practice  there  since,  and  is  one 
of  the  leading  pliysicians  of  the  county,  standing 
deservedly  higli  in  his  profession. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Sarah  Stoner.  .She  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  Stoner.  The  wedded  life  of 
iierself  and  Dr.  Breeden  has  been  one  of  mutual 
happiness  and  contentment,  and  has  been  blessed 
to  them  b}'  the  birth  of  three  children,  whom  they 
have  carefully  educated  and  trained  to  useful  and 
honorable  lives,  whose  names  arc  as  follows:  Har- 
vey O.,  Lewis  C.  and  DoUie.  Harvey'  is  pastor  of 
the  Central  Christian  Church  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  biographical  review  is 
liberally  educated.  He  pursued  a  course  of  stud}' 
at  Abingdon  College,  and  then  entered  Butler  Dni- 
versit}'^  at  Irvington.  Ind.,  one  of  the  finest  insti- 
tutions of  learning  in  the  West,  and  was  a  student 
there  for  four  years.  He  inherited  scholarly^  estates 
and  applied  himself  closely  to  his  books,  and  was 
graduated  with  honor  in  the  class  of  1884.  He  was 
well  equipped  for  any  career  that  he  might  choose 
to  follow,  and  as  he  had  a  decided  inclination  to- 
wards journalism,  he  bought  the  office  and  appur- 
tenances of  the  Lewistown  News,  and  has  since  de- 
voted himself  to  the  management  of  the  pajier  in 
connection  with  job  printing.  The  paper  is  well 
conducted,  is  a  bright,  newsy,  original  sheet,  au<l 
has  a  good  circulation  that  is  by  no  means  confined 
to  party  lines,  for  though  our  subject  is  true  to  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  he  is  by  no 
means  unrestrietingiy  aggressive,  and  is  not  offen- 
sive  in   his  defense  of  party  issues.     He  is  one  of 


the  rising  j'oung  men  of  the  county,  with  a  promis- 
ing future  before  him.  He  possesses  pleasant  social 
qualities  and  is  popular  among  his  associates.  He 
is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Kenneth  Lodge,  No. 
140,  Knights  of  Pythias. 

February  2,  1888,  Mr.  Breeden  and  Miss  Susie 
Wertman,  a  native  of  Lewistown  Township,  and  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Wertman,  were  united 
in  marriage.  The  home  that  the}'  have  established 
in  Lewistown  is  pleasant  and  attractive,  and  is  the 
center  of  a  charming  hospitality. 


,  AVID  A.  PHILLIPS.  Everybody  in  Orion 
)))  Township  knows  David  Phillips,  who  re- 
sides on  section  1 ,  where  he  has  a  fine  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres,  which  his  son  man- 
ages while  lie  is  activeh'  engaged  in  wagon-making, 
painting,  etc.  He  is  a  whole-souled,  liberal-spirited 
citizen,  and  his  man}' genial,  pleasant  qualities  make 
him  poi)ular  with  the  entire  community. 

Our  subject  comes  of  fine  old  Revolutionary 
stock,  his  paternal  grandf.ather,  Luke  Phillips'  serv- 
ing in  the  Continental  Army,  seven  years  and  three 
months  during  the  Revolution.  Mr.  Phillips'  par- 
ents. Neliemiah  and  Rhoba  Phillips  were  natives  of 
Rhode  Island.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Hopkins,  and  she  was  a  daughter  of  Stephen  Hop- 
kins, the  grandson  of  Benoni  Hopkins.  John  Brown, 
an  uncle  of  Mrs.  Phillips  was  one  of  the  leaders 
engaged  in  throwing  the  tea  overboard  in  Boston 
Harbor.  The  parents  of  our  subject  had  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  following  six  are  still  living: 
Nancy,  wife  of  lleman  Ilolcomb;  Morgan,  who 
married  Miss  Houghtalen  ,and  resides  in  Peoria 
County;  David  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Rhoba, 
wife  of  Jacob  Bevierof  Stockbridge,  Mich.;  Henry 
"\V.,  who  married  .Susan  Irons  and  lives  in  Ne- 
braska; Achsah,  wife  of  Lorenzo  Brunson  of 
Wayne  County,  Mich. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was 
born  in  the  .State  of  New  York,  October  18,  1820. 
In  early  manhood  he  came  westward  as  far  as  Ft. 
Wayne,  Ind.,  and  in  that  place  it  was  his  good 
fortune  to  meet  with  Miss  Rebecca  I.  Knox,  whom 


/y^^^70'^c^ 


^LCy^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


M\ 


lie  persuaded  to  share  with  him  his  life  and  fortunes, 
and  to  her  he  is  greatly  indebted  for  his  present 
prosperous  circumstances.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  seven  children,  viz:  Albina,  married 
William  Milam  of  Lincoln,  Neh.;  Anetta,  wife  of 
John  Bown  of  Lane  County,  Ore.;  Orlando,  who 
married  Emma  Tindall  and  lives  in  Farmington; 
Ira  Melvin,  who  married  Belle  Loman  and  lives  in 
Peoria  County;  Edgar  A.,  who  married  Ida  Opie 
and  lives  with  his  father;  Sewanl  Lincoln,who  mar- 
ried Cora  Gamble  and  lives  in  Peoria  County,  and 
Mary  E.,  who  resides  at  home. 

When  a  bo}-  Mr.  Phillips  learned  the  trade  of  a 
tanner,  and  afterward  acquired  that  of  a  carpenter 
and  also  wagon-making  and  painting.  He  came  to 
Orion  Township  in  1874,  and  opened  a  shop  for 
the  manufacture  of  wagons  and  also  identified  him- 
self with  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  place  and 
has  a  well-improved  farm.  Mr.  Phillips  is  skillful 
in  his  calling  and  h3'  well  directed  and  incessant 
labor,  has  accumulated  a  comfortable  property,  and 
is  conducting  a  good  business  which  brings  iiim  in 
an  excellent  income.  He  is  a  man  of  stead3'  habits, 
is  a  kind  and  helpful  neighbor  and  is  in  ever}-  way 
to  be  relied  on.  He  is  a  loyal  and  law  abiding  citi- 
zen, interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  country,  and 
has  always  attiliated  with  the  Republican  party 
which  finds  in  him  a  true  supporter. 


-S^^- — 


\Y|  AMES  M.  WHITE.  On  the  opposite  page 
is  presented  a  portrait  of  this  gentleman, 
who  is  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  late  war,  in 
which  he  fought  bravely  and  sacrificed 
much  for  the  sake  of  his  country.  He  is  the  son  of 
a  pioneer  of  this  county,  and  now  resides  with  his 
l)rother  on  tlie  old  liomestead  that  his  father  im- 
proved from  the  wilderness  on  section  11,  Berna- 
dotte  Township. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  William  and  Malinda 
(Januarj-)  White,  were  natives  respectively  of 
Greenbrier  County,  W.  Ya.,  and  Adams  County, 
Ohio.  They  passed  the  early  years  of  their  mar- 
ried life  in  Ohio,  and  caaio  from  there  to  Cuba, 
this  county,  in  18-i'J.     They  lived  there  one  year, 


and  then  located  on  the  farm  of  eight}'  acres,  where 
our  subject  now  lives,  and  here  their  declining 
years  were  passed  in  peace  and  comfort. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was  born 
in  Greene  County,  Ohio,  August  25,  1836.  He  re- 
ceived his  schooling  in  the  district  schools  of  his 
native  State  and  of  Illinois.  He  was  here  reared  to 
the  life  of  a  farmer.  When  the  war  broke  out,  he 
was  among  the  first  to  lay  aside  his  work  and  vol- 
unteer to  aid  in  defending  the  stars  and  stripes.  He 
enlisted  in  the  Fifty  fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
bore  a  gallant  part  in  the  following  battles:  Pitts- 
burg Landing,  Corinth,  Arkansas  Post,  and  in  the 
siege  and  capture  of  Vicksburg,  where  he  was  ac- 
tive in  the  two  charges;  he  also  fought  at  Jackson, 
Miss.,  and  in  many  other  engagements  and  skirm- 
ishes. The  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  in  which 
he  engaged  June  26,  1864,  will  ever  be  memorable 
to  him,  as  it  was  there  he  was  wounded  and  crip- 
pled for  life.  He  was  struck  on  the  right  knee  with 
a  musket  ball  which  shattered  his  leg,  rendering 
amputation  necessary  on  the  same  day.  He  pa- 
tiently endured  the  severe  sufferings  caused  by  the 
operation,  and  was  removed  to  Resaca,  Ga.,  whence 
he  was  taken  to  Rome,  in  the  same  .State,  and  thence 
to  Springfield,  111.  He  remained  in  the  hospital  in 
that  city  until  he  was  honorably  discharged  from 
the  service  June  1,  1865. 

After  his  bitter  experiences  of  life  on  Southern 
battlefields  and  in  the  hospitals,  our  subject  re- 
turned to  his  old  home.  lie  had  won  a  military 
record  that  placed  him  high  among  the  brave  sol- 
diers who  so  nobly  fought  for  the  Union,  and  to 
whose  unflinching  courage  and  steadfast  adherence 
to  the  cause  we  owe  it  to-day  that  our  glorious  flag 
is  waving  over  a  free  and  undivided  country.  He 
served  long  and  faithfully,  and  showed  on  every 
occasion  that  he  possessed  the  true  soldierly  quali- 
ties valued  by  a  leader,  and  proving  to  him  that 
his  men  will  fatie  every  danger  without  question 
and  perform  every  duty  with  conscientious  fidel- 
ity. In  two  years  after  he  enlisted,  he  veteranized 
with  his  regiment,  and  was  with  it  until  he  was  in- 
capacitated for  further  service  by  his  wound. 

Since  tlie  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  White  has  lived 
quietly  on  the  old  homestead  with  his  brother.  He 
is  so  crippled  that  he  is  unable  to  do  much  hard  la- 


342 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


bor,  but  his  sister-in-law  Buds  him  of  great  assist- 
ance in  caring  for  the  children,  and  in  doing  the 
tlioiisand  and  one  nameless  little  acts  that  are  so 
helpful.  He  is  partly  indeianifled  for  what  he  has 
suffered  for  the  sake  of  his  country,  Ity  a  pension 
from  the  (Government.  He  received  $24  per  month 
until  1888,  when  the  sum  was  increased  to  §36  a 
month.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for  President,  for 
liuehanan,  the  only  Democrat  he  ever  voted  for, 
and  is  sorr^-  he  did  so.  He  has  ever  been  a  loyal 
citizen,  both  in  time  of  peace  and  in  time  of  war, 
and  is  well  known  throughout  the  community  as  an 
honest,  upright  and  warm  hearted  man. 


^E 


-,R^    ^  =^ 


'  LEXANDER  SLACK  is  one  of  the  most 
EM  intelligent  and  practical  members  of  the 
farming  community,  that  is  building  up 
and  carrying  on  the  extensive  agricultural 
interests  of  Farmington  Township.  He  is  a  son  of 
.lobn  Slack,  a  native  of  Derbj"sliire,  England, where 
he  carried  on  business  as  a  shuttle-maker  for  many 
years.  He  died  in  the  land  of  his  birth  when  sixty- 
six  years  old.  His  wife  was  Ann  Gardshideand  she 
was  also  a  native  of  Derbyshire.  She  was  his  sec- 
ond wife  and  the  mother  of  eight  children,  of  whom 
tlie  following  seven  grew  to  maturity:  Alexander, 
Deborah,  Moses,  Josiah,  Nathaniel  G.,  Robert, 
Francis  and  Margaret.  Aaron,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  ISIoses  were  twins;  Deborah  is  now 
Mrs.  Hilton  and  resides  in  Abilene,  Kan.;  Moses 
lives  in  California;  Josiah,  a  graduate  of  Rusli 
jMedical  College,  Chicago,  practiced  medicine  at 
Cuba  for  several  years  after  the  late  war  in  which 
he  was  Captain  of  a  company  in  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois  Infantry.  Nathaniel  was  also  a  doctor  and 
practiced  in  Rushville,  111.  some  twenty-five  years. 
He  died  there  in  August,  1887;  Robert  enlisted  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
gave  up  his  life  for  the  country  of  his  adoption; 
Frances  married  .Toab  Shinn,  and  died  in  1878; 
Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Wallace  Shryock. 

Alexander  Slack  was  born  in  a  small  vill.age  by 
the  name  of  Mellor  in  Derbyshire,  F^ngland,  April 
21,  1822.     He  began  to  work  in  the  cotton    mills 


at  the  early  age  of  eight  years.  This  deprived 
him  of  his  schooling,  and  as  he  was  a  bright  boy, 
his  old  schoolmaster,  Mr.  Blackshaw,  who  took  a 
liking  to  him,  expressed  regrets  at  the;  idea  of  his 
having  to  leave  school  at  so  tender  an  age,  but  his 
father's  limited  circumstances  forced  him  to  with- 
draw the  child  that  he  might  help  in  supporting 
the  family.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  our  subject 
married  February  14,  1844,  Miss  Esther  Cross,  a 
native  of  Manchester.  Her  father,  Thomas  Cross, 
was  at  one  time  a  soldier  in  the  English  army,  and 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Waterloo.  His  eyes  were 
injured  and  he  was  a  pensioner  from  the  Royal 
Treasury.  In  later  life  he  became  a  twister  in  a 
factory.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Esther 
Jackson.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
twelve  children:  John,  George,  Charlotte,  James, 
Mary  Ann,  Ann,  Mary,  Esther.  Thomas,  Elizabeth, 
Alice  andSarah. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slack  have  had  two  children:  John 
who  died  in  England  at  the  age  of  one  Syear;  and 
William  H.  The  latter  is  a  resident  of  Farmington 
Township.  He  married  Nettie  Leeper  and  they 
have  four  children — Stella  May,  Albert  Lee,  Lora 
Alexander  and  Arthur  Ray. 

Our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  came  to 
America  in  1846,  landing  in  New  York,  October 
12.  Their  destination  was  Woonsocket,  R.  I.  There 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slack  engaged  as  weavers  in  a  cot- 
ton-mill, and  were  thus  employed  three  j-ears.  He 
did  not  like  the  confinement  necessitated  by  his 
work,  and  wishing  to  become  more  independent  and 
have  more  freedom  of  action,  he  came  to  Illinois 
in  1849  by  the  way  of  the  Erie  Canal  and  the 
Great  Lakes. 

After  he  arrived  in  this  State  he  embarked  on  the 
La  Salle  Canal  and  journej-ed  on  that  until  he  ar- 
rived at  the  Illinois  River,  and  on  that  stream  con- 
tinued on  his  way  to  Copperas  Creek  landing. 
When  he  came  to  his  destination  he  had  x450  in 
his  pocket,  with  which  he  purchased  forty  acres  of 
land  in  Farmington  Township.  He  ha.s  done  well 
at  his  calling  and  now  owns  a  well-improved  farm 
of  eighty'  acres  on  which  he  has  a  substantial  home 
where  he  and  his  family-  enjoy  the  comforts  of  life. 
He  possesses  a  keen  intellect,  is  broad  and  progres- 
sive in  his  views.     He  is  a  close  observer  and  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


313 


careful  reader,  and  is  lhoroiiglil\-  in  sympathy  v.itii 
movements  of  a  political,  social  and  religious  or- 
der. In  regard  to  the  latter  po'nt  he  is  a  free 
thinker,  having  been  brought  around  to  this  state 
of  mind  l)y  long  and  careful  stud}'.  lie  became  a 
voter  in  1856.  and  voted  for  John  C.  Fremont  for 
President.  He  is  at  present  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party  and  is  an  advocate  of  tariflf  re- 
form. 


■S^}^' 


<«  IVILLIAM  G.  SWARTZ.  Among  the  goodly 
\rJ//  number  of  farmers  of  Fulton  County,  who 
V^^  have  won  a  competence  from  the  product- 
ive soil  and  have  retired  to  enjoy  tlie  fruits  of  their 
industr3',  is  the  gentleman  above  named.  He  has 
long  been  a  prominent  citizen  of  Young  Hickory 
Township,  in  which  he  has  acted  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  twenty  four  years.  His  fine  farm  consists 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  sectionl2,  and 
with  its  beautiful  groves,  orcliard,  well-tilled  fields 
and  comfortable  buildings,  is  an  attractive  feature 
in  the  landscajje.  The  acreage  has  been  devoted 
principally  to  raising  corn  and  feeding  cattle  and 
hogs,  which  Jlr.  Swartz  has  both  raised  and  bought 
in  considerable  numbers.  The  cattle  are  of  high 
grade  and  some  fine  horses  are  also  bred  on  the 
place. 

Mr.  Swartz  is  of  German  ancestry  in  the  paternal 
line  and  comes  of  old  Pennsylvania  families.  His 
grandfather  .Swartz  was  a  farmer  in  tliat  State  and 
iiis  father,  Henry  Swartz,  learned  the  trade  of  a 
tanner  and  currier.  He  removed  from  his  native 
county  of  "Washington  to  Pleasant  L'nity,  West- 
moreland County,  wiiere  he  successfully  carried  on 
a  tanyard  and  later  engaged  in  farming.  He  was 
successful  in  worldl}'  affairs  and  a  useful  member 
of  the  community.  At  various  times  he  served  as 
Assessor  and  Collector  and  was  also  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  County  Commissioners  for  years.  As 
Class-Leader  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  he 
assisted  in  religious  work  for  years. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Margaret  Gardner,  and  was  a  native  of 
Westmoreland  County,  Pa.  Her  father,  Christo- 
pher Gardner,  was    born    in    Adams   County,  but 


spent  many  years  of  his  life  at  Pleasant  Unity.  He 
was  a  miller  and  followed  his  trade  and  farming. 
After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Swartz  came 
West,  bought  a  farm  in  tiiis  locality  and  lived 
thereon  until  her  death,  in  1873.  She  was  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Her  children  are  William  G.,  of  whom  we  write; 
Mrs.  Caroline  Phillippi,  who  lives  in  Young  Hick- 
ory Township;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Reamer,  in  Prairie 
City;  Catherine,  who  died  in  Galesburg  in  1873; 
Mrs.  Marj'  Phillippi,  in  Hancock  Count}';  Mrs. 
lAicia  Welty,  in  Young  Hickory  Township;  John, 
of  London  Mills;  Christopher,  who  died  in  1865; 
Henry,  in  London  Mills;  Alexander,  a  civil  en- 
gineer in  California.  John,  Christopher  and  Henry 
t)elonged  to  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Third 
Illinois  Infantrj-,  serving  their  country  from 
1862  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Christopher  was 
Wounded  at  the  battle  of  Missionar}-  Ridge  and 
died  from  the  effects  of  tlie  wound  soon  after  the 
war.     Jolin  held  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Pleasant  Unity,  Pa., 
October  7,  1825.  When  old  enough  to  do  so  he 
learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner  and  currier  and  became 
a  partner  with  his  father.  He  did  not  like  the 
business,  the  work  being  too  heavy  for  his  health, 
which  was  not  the  best,  and  after  the  connection 
iiad  continued  three  years  it  was  dissolved.  Tlie 
young  man  then  began  teaching  school,  but  this 
occupation  proved  no  more  agreeable  to  him  and 
in  the  spring  of  1851  lie  came  West.  Reaching  tliis 
county  and  the  home  of  his  grandfather  Gardner, 
tie  taught  school  one  summer,  then  returned  to  his 
native  State,  spent  the  winter  and  again  came  to 
Illinois. 

Mr.  Swartz  then  bought  eighty  acres  of  the  land 
he  now  owns,  which  was  devoid  of  any  improve- 
ments except  a  log  cabin.  The  new  owner  taught 
a  term,  after  which  he  gave  his  entire  attention  to 
the  improvement  of  his  farm  and  its  thorough  cul- 
tivation. He  has  added  to  his  original  acreage  and 
placed  the  estate  in  the  fine  condition  before  noted. 
The  log  house  in  which  he  first  resided  was  replaced 
in  1859-60  by  a  brick  dwelling,  the  material  for 
which  was  made  by  himself. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Swartz  and  Miss  Elizabeth 
Welty  took   place   in  the  Ke3stone  State,  January 


344 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


15,  1857.  The  bride  was  born  in  Pleasant  Unity 
and  exhibited  the  sterling  traits  of  character  which 
■won  the  respect  of  those  who  knew  her  and  are  held 
in  reverent  rememhrance  by  her  family.  She  entered 
into  rest  May  22.  1890.  The  family  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Swartz  includes  two  living  children  and  a  son, 
John,  who  died  when  sixteen  jears  old.  Anna  V. 
is  the  wife  of  John  B.  Hagaman,  their  home  being 
in  Fairview  Township;  Harry  is  married  and  lives 
in  the  old  home  with  his  father. 

Mr. Swartz  filled  the  office  of  Supervisor  one  term. 
He  isademitted  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  at 
Fairview,and  has  a  letter  from  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  at  Midway,  which  is  now  extinct. 
He  belongs  to  the  Democratic  party,  has  frequently 
been  a  delegate  to  count}'  conventions  and  was 
Central  Committeeman  two  years.  Ilis  fellow-men 
hold  him  in  good  repute  as  a  man  of  honorable 
character,  intelligence  and  usefulness. 


^^^EORGE  W.  CURFMAN  is  a  fine  represen- 
III  (— .,  tativp  of  the  brave  soldiers  who  fought  so 
^^jjj  nobly  in  the  late  war,  and  to  whose  un- 
flinching courage  and  unswerving  loyalty  it  is  due 
that  our  glorious  banner  waves  over  a  free  and 
undivided  countr}-.  He  is  a  highly  respected  resi- 
dent of  Harris  Township,  where  he  is  acting  as  the 
efficient  agent  of  the  Toledo,  Peoria  and  Warsaw 
Railway  Company,  at  the  station  at  the  village  of 
Seville. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  one  of  the  early  pioneer 
families  of  this  count}',  of  which  he  is  a  native, 
born  at  Barker's  Grove,  jVIarch  2,  1843.  His  par- 
ents, Adam  and  Elizabeth  Curfman,  were  natives 
respectively  of  Frederick  County,  Md.  and  Vir- 
ginia, the  former  born  in  1791,  and  the  latter  in 
1806.  They  were  married  in  Franklin  County, 
Ohio,  in  1831,  and  came  immediately  to  this  county, 
and  began  their  wedded  life  in  a  primitive  pioneer 
home  at  Lewistown.  They  located  on  the  banks  of 
Big  Creek,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Ike  Harris 
place,  and  there  Mr.  Curfman  made  his  first  clear- 
ing. He  and  his  wife  lived  there  the  ensuing  year, 
but  during  the  year  of  the  Black  Hawk  War  he  took 


his  wife  and  the  one  child  that  had  been  l)orn  to 
them  in  the  meantime,  to  ]Mason  City  for  safety,  and 
while  there  stayed  in  the  blockhouse  and  watched 
the  Indians.  After  the  close  of  hostilities  with  the 
savages  in  1833,  the  family  removed  to  where  the 
village  of  Marietta  now  stands,  and  there  Mr.  Curf- 
man built  t'ae  first  house  that  was  ever  erected  in 
thai  town.  He  lived  there  two  years  and  then  en- 
tered a  piece  of  land  at  Barker's  Grove,  where  he 
remained  nnlil  about  1845.  when  he  came  to  Harris 
Township,  and  settled  on  section  12.  He  opened 
up  a  farm  here  on  which  he  dwelt  until  1855,  when 
he  sold  it,  having  traded  for  it  in  the  first  pl.ace. 
To  the  last  place  he  purchased  he  had  been  given  a 
forged  deed,  and  the  rightful  owner  subsequently 
took  possession  of  the  land  and  in  his  old  age  the 
father  of  our  subject  was  left  without  a  home,  when 
George  was  a  lad  of  twelve  years.  After  that  mis- 
fortune Mr.  Curfman  went  to  Cass  Township  in 
1858  and  rented  a  farm  and  there  made  his  home 
until  death  closed  his  mortal  career  February  7, 
1882,  at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety-one  years,  he 
having  arrived  at  that  age  the  September  previous. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was  in  all 
respects  an  honest,  upright  man. 

George  Curfman,  of  whom  we  write,  was  reared 
in  this  his  native  county  and  gleaned  his  education 
in  its  district  schools.  When  the  war  broke  out  he 
was  a  youth  of  eighteen  years,  and  with  enthusias- 
tic ardor  and  patriotism  he  resolved  to  give  his 
services  to  his  country,  and  if  need  be  sacrifice  his 
life  for  the  old  flag.  October  19, 18G1,  he  enlisted 
at  Canton  in  Company  D,  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  In- 
fantrj'.  From  Chicago  his  regiment  was  dispatched 
to  the  South  and  our  subject  had  the  honor  of  tak- 
ing an  active  part  in  thirty-three  different  bat- 
tles, among  which  were  those  fought  at  Shiloh, 
Corinth,  Champion  Hills.  Jackson  (Miss.),  Black 
River  and  Vicksburg.  He  was  present  at  the  as- 
saults on  that  city  and  he  fought  at  Missionary 
Ridge,  Kenesaw  Mountains,  did  good  service  at 
Atlanta,  at  Ezra  Church  and  at  Jonesboro.  Mr. 
Curfman  was  one  of  the  brave  men  who  attacked  Ft. 
McCallister  and  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Benton- 
ville,  N.  C,  which  was  the  last  of  the  many  big 
battles  in  which  he  fought.  He  was  an  actor  in 
many  skirmishes,  took   part  with  his  regiment  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


345 


all  its  fights  and  was  under  fire  one  hundred  days. 
He  was  with  Sherman  in  his  march  to  the  sea  and 
througli  tlie  Carolinas  to  Washington  where  he 
tooli  part  in  the  Grand  Review. 

Mr.  Curfman  had  a  long  and  honorable  eareer  as 
a  soldier,  lacking  but  a  few  da>s  of  four  years'  con- 
tinnous  service.  During  tliat  time  he  liad  veteran- 
ized after  three  years  for  anotlier  tliree  years,  or 
during  tlie  war.  He  was  twice  wounded;  once  at 
tlie  battle  of  Keuesaw  by  a  piece  of  shell,  but  he 
pluckily  remained  with  his  regiment,  and  vvas  again 
hit  by  a  musket  ball  the  10th  of  August,  l.S(J4.  in 
front  of  Atlanta.  The  latter  wound  laid  him  up 
for  about  two  weeks,  but  he  sturdily  refused  to  go 
to  the  hosi)ital.  He  still  bears  the  scars  so  bravely 
won  by  him  while  defending  his  country's  honor. 
After  the  Grand  Review  the  rest  of  the  army  was 
mustered  out,  but  the  Second  Division  of  the  Fif- 
teenth Corps,which  included  our  subject's  regiment, 
was  sent  to  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  where  he  and  his 
comrades  continued  in  service  two  months,  and 
were  then  honorably  discharged  and  sent  liome. 

After  his  long  and  hard  experience  of  life  in  the 
army  our  subject  returned  to  Fulton  County,  and 
quietly  resumed  farming,  the  occupation  to  which 
he  had  been  bred.  In  1872  he  obtained  the  com- 
panionship and  help  of  a  good  wife  in  his  labors,  by 
his  marriage  to  Miss  Phrebe  J.  Watson,  of  Smith- 
field,  the  daughter  of  A.  S.  Watson,  a  well-known 
man  of  this  county.  Since  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Curfman  have  lived  in  Harris  Township, where 
he  has  held  the  position  of  agent  for  the  past  five 
years,  at  the  Seville  station  on  the  Toledo,  Peoria 
(k  Warsaw  Railway.  He  also  operates  the  engine 
for  the  pumping  works  in  connection  with  his  other 
duties.  He  is  prompt  and  faithful  in^the  discharge 
of  his  duties,  devoting  his  best  energies  to  looking 
after  the  interests  of  the  (company  that  employs 
him,  and  is  regarded  bj^  the  officials  of  the  road 
as  one  of  their  most  useful  men. 

Five  children  have  blessed  their  marriage  to  our 
subject  and  his  amiable  wife,  whom  they  have 
named:  Charles  C,  Mary  Ellen,  Joseph  Martin, 
John  L.,  and  Lula  May.  Mr.  Curfman  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  but  does  not  care  to  take  a  very 
active  part  in  the  political  life  of  the  town,  though 
the  value  of  his  citizenship  is  never  questioned. 


He  proved  his  loyalty  by  his  conduct  during  the 
war.  He  was  then  often  in  the  midst  of  verv  hotly 
contested  battles,  and  of  one  of  these  the  history 
of  his  regiment  states  that  five  hundred  and  twelve 
men  went  into  the  light,  and  in  two  hours  and 
twenty  minutes,  two  hundred  and  forty-eight  of 
them  had  been  slain  by  the  eneui^'  or  severely 
wounded,  and  twenty-six  were  taken  prisoners. 


•"S=§  '  "^      I— I— I 

]  M.  WATSON.  It  is  imjiossible  in  a  brief 
biographical  sketch  to  render  full  justice  to 
prominent  men,  and  yet  there  are  some  who 
are  so  intimately  and  clearly  identified  with 
the  county's  welfare,  and  whose  names  are  so  fa- 
miliar to  all  that  it  is  only  justice  to  dwell  upon 
what  the}'  have  done  and  the  influence  of  their  ca- 
reer u])on  others,  not  as  empty  words  of  praise,  but 
the  plain  statement  of  a  plain  truth.  To  this  class 
belongs  J.  M.  Watson,  commonlj'  called  "Roe" 
Watson,  Assessor  of  Cass  Township,  who  is  a  young 
man  of  indisputable  abilit}',  and  good  business 
habits,  and  one  alike  popular  in  social  and  mercan- 
tile circles.  He  is  an  active,  wide-awake  farmer, 
and  has  won  great  success  in  pursuing  this,  his  fa- 
vorite occupation. 

Our  subject's  birth  occurred  on  section  29,  this 
township  on  the  19th  of  Jul}-,  1852,  he  being 
the  son  of  John  D.  and  Catharine  (Cameron)  Wat- 
son, natives  of  Indiana  and  Illinois,  respectively. 
His  fatiier  is  numbered  among  the  pioneer  settlers 
in  this  State,  and  experienced  all  the  hardships  and 
privations  incidental  to  a  residence  in  an  unde- 
veloped country.  He  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  beloved  wife  in  1856.  To  them  had 
been  born  three  children,  all  of  whom  reached  rna- 
turit}',  but  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  only  one  liv- 
ing at  the  present  writing.  His  father  was  married 
again  and  now  makes  his  home  in  Oregon. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  the  recipient  of  a 
common-school  education,  but  at  an  early  age  man- 
ifested a  lively  interest  in  educational  matters,  and 
an  amount  of  industry  and  integrity  of  purpose 
that  could  but  result  in  success.  Following  the 
footsteps  of  his  father  he  has  always   devoted    his 


34G 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALIJUM. 


attenliou  to  farming,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
years  during  which  time  he  tried  railroading.  At 
the  early  age  of  twenty-one  he  commenced  to  make 
a  business  record  for  himself,  and  is  now  the  owner 
of  a  valuable  estate  near  Smithfield,  and  also  of  an 
elegant  residence. 

Mr.  Watson  was  married  April  3,  1873,  to  ^liss 
M-ry  C.  Cable,  daughter  of  Solomon  Cable,  and 
immediately  after  his  marriage  settled  upon  his 
present  farm,  which  comprises  one  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  excellent  land  all  in  a  body,  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  which  are  in  a  sfate  of  perfect  culti- 
vation. Besides  agiiculture,  he  is  also  largely  in- 
terested in  stock-raising,  buying  and  selling  all  the 
time. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watson  have  been  born  six  chil- 
dren, viz:  Carrie  B.,  Sadie  C,  Josie  M.,  James  H., 
John  H.,  and  William  E.  all  of  whom  are  living  at 
the  present  date.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of 
SmithCeld  Lodge  No.  103,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and 
has  held  the  office  of  Treasurer,  and  others  of 
equal  importance.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in 
political  issues,  voting  the  Democratic  ticket,  and 
has  at  various  times  been  a  delegate  to  conventions. 
His  interest  in  school  matters  is  very  pronounced, 
and  his  children  are  all  receiving  excellent  instruc- 
tion. Mr.  Watson  is  classed  among  the  pre-eminenllj^ 
successful  agriculturists  of  Cass  Township,  and  has 
lost  no  opportunity  for  improving  his  estate,  or 
contributing  to  the  general  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity who  hold  him  in  such  high  esteem. 


^^EORGE  FOUTS.  This  gentleman  is  the 
ll  (=,  owner  and  occupant  of  a  productive  tract 
^^/^  of  land  on  section  12,  Lee  Township,  which 
he  purchased  and  took  possession  of  in  the  spring 
of  1870.  The  farm  consists  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  and  a  quarter  acres,  bears  the  usual  im- 
provements, and  is  so  managed  as  to  bring  forth 
abundant  crops  of  good  qualitj'. 

Our  subject  comes  of  a  good  familj',  being  a  son 
of  Michael  and  Elizabeth  (Kuhn)  Fonts,  who  were 
natives  of  the  Keystone  State.    From  that  common- 


wealth they  came  to  Ellisville,  this  county,  in  1852. 
The  mother  passed  away  in  1871,  and  the  father 
breathed  his  last  in  Iowa  ten  years  later.  Jlr. 
Fonts  was  an  o\vn  cousin  of  the  well-known  Simon 
Cameron.  Our  subject  is  a  twin  of  John  Fonts, 
now  living  in  Ellisville,  their  natal  day  having 
been  February  18,  182G.  Their  native  place  was 
Huntingdon  County,  Pa.,  and  iu  the  district  schools 
they  were  educated.  In  the  fall  of  1850,  he  of 
whom  wc  write  was  married,  and  immediately  af- 
terward engaged  in  digging  iron  ore  at  SIG  per 
month.  The  man  who  could  obtain  that  remunera- 
tion was  considered  an  extra  hand. 

Our  subject  accompanied  his  parents  to  this 
county  in  1852,  and  locating  at  Ellisville,  worked 
at  the  carpenter's  trade  and  wagon-making  until 
1870.  During  that  period  he  made  three  trips 
across  the  plains,  spending  one  winter  in  Salt  Lake 
City.  He  next  located  on  the  estate  which  he  still 
occupies,  from  the  operation  of  which  he  has  been 
gaining  a  good  maintenance,  and  laj'ing  up  some- 
thing against  a  rainy  day. 

The  good  wife  of  Mr.  Fonts  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, Januar}'  19,  1828,  and  was  known  in  her 
maidenhood  as  Miss  Eliza  M.-  Shaffer.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Lowe)  Shaffer, 
who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  are  now  de- 
ceased, the  mother  having  died  in  1852,  and  the 
father  in  1875.  Mrs.  Fonts  is  the  third  child  and 
eldest  daughter  in  a  group  consisting  of  four  boj's 
and  four  girls.  She  became  the  wife  of  our  subject. 
November  11,  1850.  and  has  striven  hard  to  be  a 
capable  helpmate  and  a  wise  mother.  She  is  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  an  excel- 
lent housekeeper,  and  is  well  liked  by  all  who  know 
her. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fonts  have  had  fourteen  children. 
Three  sons  and  three  daughters  died  when  young. 
The  living  are  Frank  F.,  born  March  3,  1856,  and 
still  living  with  his  parents;  FAla.  M.,  born  M.ay  11, 
1858,  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Staton,  living  at 
Lewistown;  Agnes  S.,  born  December  13,  1859. 
still  at  home;  Clara  A.,  born  October  27,  1861,  and 
living  in  Colorado;  George  W.,  born  August  28, 
1864,  who  married  Amanda  Lathbury,  and  lives  at 
Lewistown;  Robert  Sherman,  born  September  9, 
1866,  now  living  iu  Shelby  City,  Iowa;  Emma  La 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


347 


Rue.  born  December  2.  1869,  a  teacher  in  this 
county-;  Flora  Belle,  born  February  17,  1873.  at- 
tending the  Normal  School  at  Lewistown  with  llie 
expectation  of  being  graduated  in  the  spring. 

Mr.  Fonts  was  a  Whig  nnlil  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party,  when  he  gave  his 
support  to  the  new  inslitulion.  but  he  takes  no  ac- 
tive part  in  politics  of  late.  He  belongs  to  the 
Odd  Fellows  fraternity,  has  held  all  the  offices  in 
the  lodge,  and  has  been  a  representative  to  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  the  State;  is  a  member  of  Ijodge 
No.  78.  He  has  had  his  full  share  of  local  oflices, 
having  been  Koad  Commissioner  of  the  township 
three  years.  School  Director  nine  years. and  I'athmas- 
ter  during  a  long  period.  He  was  also  elected  to  the 
office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  but  would  not  .ac- 
cept. Mr.  Fonts  is  not  identified  with  any  relig- 
ious body,  but  is  a  liberal  contributor  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  church,  and  manifests  a  deep  interest  in 
other  good  works. 


-^¥r 


"JOSEPH  C.  MYERS,  has  met  with  more  than 
ordinary  success  as  one  of  the  most  skillful 
and  wide-awake  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of 
this  county,  and,  while  yet  in  the  prime  of 
life,  has  been  enabled  to  retire  practically  from 
business.  He  has  a  beautiful  home  in  Canton,  oc- 
cupying one  of  the  finest  residence  properties  of 
the  city,  pleasantly  located  on  North  Main  Strset. 
Mr.  Myers  was  born  September  3,  1 844,  in  F'rank- 
lin  County,  Pa.,  He  was  the  fifth  child  in  a  family 
of  thirteen  children  born  to  Henry  and  Maria 
(Eshelraan)  Myers,  natives  of  the  Keystone  State. 
In  1848  they  settled  among  the  pioneers  of  this 
county  ou  a  farm  in  Canton.  They  resided  tliere 
one  year,  then  settled  permanently  in  Farming- 
ton,  where  the  father  gave  his  attention  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  He  is  still  living  on  his  homestead 
there,  and  is  now  in  his  seventy-eighth  year,  hav- 
ing been  born  November  2,  1813.  His  wife  was 
born  September  11,  1817,  a  daughter  of  John  Esh- 
elman,  who  was  a  native  of  Germany.  The  Myers 
family  was  also  of  German  descent. 

Joseph  C.  Myers  of  whom  this  sketch  is  written. 


nas  about  four  years  old  when  his  parents  brought 
him  to  this  county.  He  gleaned  a  good  education 
in  the  Farmington  schools,  and  as  early  as  nine 
years  of  .age,  began  to  help  his  father  on  the  farm. 
When  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  he  began  to  assist 
in  operating  a  tlu-cshing  machine,  which  was  hired 
by  the  farmers  in  the  township.  This  w.as  too  hanl 
work  for  a  youth  of  his  3-ears,  and  it  impaired  his 
health,  which  has  never  been  as  good  as  it  was  be- 
fore. He  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  reached 
his  twentj'-first  year,  when  he  began  farming  on 
his  own  account.  He  bought  stock,  which  he  fed 
and  sold,  and  occasionally  he  sent  hogs  to  the  Chi- 
cago market.  lie  continued  thus  actively  engaged 
in  the  stock  business  for  seventeen  years,  and  dur- 
ing the  past  four  years  of  that  period,  dealt  exten- 
sively in  fine  horses,  matching  and  selling  them  and 
he  h.as  won  the  highest  |)rizes  of  any  man  in  Ful- 
ton Count}'  for  well-matched  and  well-bred  teams, 
and  has  sold  a  span  of  horses  for  ^62.5. 

Mr.  Mj-ers  still  owns  his  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  seventy  .acres  of  choice  land,  situated  on  the 
line,  part  of  which  lies  in  Canton,  and  part  in 
Farmington  Township,  which  he  rents  on  shares. 
It  is  amply  supi)lied  with  neat  and  well-ordered 
buildings,  .and  with  the  finest  of  farming  machin- 
ery. He  still  p.a3S  mucli  attention  to  the  breeding 
of  fine  Poland-China  hogs,  though  he  has  retired 
from  general  farming.  In  1888  he  left  his  home- 
stead, and  coming  to  Canton,  purchased  a  large 
and  fine  residence,  with  its  beautiful  surroundings, 
known  as  the  Harry  Balton  place,  where  he  is  en- 
jo3'ing  all  the  luxuries  and  comforts  that  make  life 
worth  living.  In  his  career  .as  a  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser,  he  has  displayed  more  than  ordinary  capa- 
city, as  he  began  life  with  but  little  means,  and 
even  had  to  go  in  debt  for  his  first  plow,  but  he 
has  conquered  all  the  difficulties  that  lay  in  his 
path,  has  risen  above  adversitj',  and  is  one  of  the 
moneyed  men  of  the  city  of  Canton  to-day.  He  is 
generous  and  public-spirited  as  a  citizen,  is  upright 
as  a  man,  and  in  his  domestic  relations  is  all  that  a 
kind  husband  and  good  father  should  be,  while  his 
neighbors  ever  find  him  friendly  and  obliging.  In 
politics  he  is  rather  conservative,  voting  in  Na- 
tional and  State  matters  with  the  Democrats. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  began  their  pleasant  wedded 


348 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


life  in  the  month  of  January,  1871,  and  to  them 
have  come  two  daughters,  Blanche  L.,  and  Mabel 
lone,  vvho  is  attending  school  in  Canton.  Prior  to 
her  marriage,  Mrs.  IMyers  was  Mary  J.  Swilzer,  of 
Farmington  Township.  She  was  born  and  reared 
in  this  county,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Aba- 
rilla  Switzer,  who  were  early  pioneers  of  the 
county,  coming  here  in  1836. 


^  EVY  McVeigh  DONNELLY,  who  is  ably 
I  /?§)  managing  tlie  large  Leaman  estate  in  Har- 
jjL^^  ris  Township,  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  this 
part  of  the  countj-,  and  is  widely  known  as  one  of 
Its  leading  politicians.  5Ir.  Donnelly  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  the  place  of  liis  birth  in  Licking  County,  and 
the  date  thereof  August  27,  1841.  His  parents 
were  James  and  Evaline  (Jenkins)  Donnelly.  His 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Levy  and  Mary  Jenkins, 
of  Ohio.  .She  died  when  he  was  tiiree  weeks  old. 
and  he  was  reared  by  his  uncle  John  McVeigli. 
He  lived  in  Ohio  until  he  was  thirteen  years  old, 
when,  in  1854,  his  uncle  moved  to  Fulton  County. 
I!!.,  and  settled  six  miles  west  of  Canton,  where 
now  is  the  station  of  Civer.  In  1856,  he  removed 
to  Lee  Township,  where  lie  resided  until  1858,  wiien 
he  bought  a  farm  tiiree  miles  from  Marietta. 

Mr.  Donnelly  grew  to  manhood  on  that  farm, 
.and  wlien  his  uncle  and  aunt  became  so  feeble  from 
old  age  that  they  could  not  care  for  themselves,  he 
cared  for  them  until  tliey  died,  his  aunt  dying  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1862.  and  his  uncle  August  4.  1864. 
The}-  were  very  kind  to  him,  and  he  never  knew 
what  it  was  to  lack  a  mother's  love,  or  a  father's 
care.  Indeed,  he  knew  no  other  father  than  his 
uncle,  as  his  own  had  remarried  after  his  mother's 
death,  and  moving  to  Kansas,  had  died  there.  Our 
subject  chose  to  follow  the  occupation  to  which  ho 
hail  been  reared,  and  has  become  one  of  the  most 
practical  and  substantial  citizens  of  Harris  Town- 
ship. After  marriage  he  lived  in  Marietta  from 
the  fall  of  1868  until  the  fall  of  1883.  During  that 
time  he  started  a  store  there,  which  he  soon  sold 
out,  and  for  eleven  years  was  Constable  of  the 
town.     He  was  first  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 


1879,  and  has  held  that  ofBce  continuously  since 
that  time.  In  1883  he  removed  to  his  present  place 
of  residence  on  the  R.  F.  Leaman  estate,  which  com- 
prises some  seven  hundred  acres  of  land,  on  whicli 
is  a  valuable  stone  quarry  of  fine  sandstone  for 
building  purposes.  Mr.  Donnelly,  is  managing  this 
quarry  for  tlie  widow  of  Mr.  Leaman,  who  resides 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  to  whom  he  makes 
monthly  reports.  Under  his  able  and  energetic 
management,  the  quarry  is  turning  out  a  great 
quantitj'  of  sandstone  that  is  bringing  in  a  hand- 
some income  to  its  owner,  who  gives  our  subject  a 
fine  salary  in  repaj-ment  for  his  services  which  she 
appreciates. 

At  tlie  age  of  twenty,  Mr.  Donnelly  was  married 
to  Miss  Ann  Maria  More\-,  a  daughter  of  Zenas  J. 
and  Anna  Jlorey.  Her  father  came  from  New 
York,  and  her  mother  from  her  l)irth|)lace  in  Ohio, 
and  they  were  married  herein  pioneer  times.  Mrs. 
Donnellj'  is  a  native  of  Fulton  Count}-,  and  is  in 
every  respect  worthy  of  the  regard  with  which  she 
inspires  her  neighbors  and  friends.  Her  marriage 
with  our  subject,  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
six  daughters  and  one  son.  and  one  daughter  and 
the  son  ai-e  now  deceased,  both  dying  in  infancy, 
Anna  P^veiine  at  the  age  of  eighteen  months.  Those 
living  are  Ida  Allealha.who  lives  at  home,  and  is  one 
of  the  finest  educated,  and  best  teachers  in  the 
township,  and  now  presides  over  the  school  in  her 
father's  district;  Tillie  B.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Jo- 
seph M.  Jackson,  of  Peoria,  who  is  an  employe  on 
the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Western  Railroad,  and  they 
have  one  boy.  Earl  D.;  Carrie  Ma\-,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Leroj'  Beers,  a  farmer  of  Webster  City,  Iowa, 
and  they  have  one  boy,  Ezra  D. ;  Nora  Maria  is  a 
miss  at  home  attending  school;  and  Nellie  Luella. 
the  youngest  of  tlie  family,  also  at  home.  ^liss  Ida 
and  her  two  .sisters  next  to  her  are  very  fine  pen- 
men. 

Mr.  Donnell}-  is  gifted  with  the  shrewdness,  keen- 
ness, tact  and  decisive  energy,  that  amply  fit  him 
for  the  important  office  of  Sheriff,  for  which  his 
fellow  Democrats  have  nominated  him,  and  there 
is  no  doubt  that  if  he  is  elected  he  will  discharge 
the  duties  devolving  upon  him  w-ith  masterly  abil- 
ity, promptness  and  impartiality.  In  his  nomina- 
tion for  this  office,  although  there  were  five   other 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


351 


prominent  candidates,  he  received  a  majority  over 
all  at  tiie  primary  meeting  held  by  his  party  Au- 
gust 2,  whifh  shows  his  good  standing  with  his  fel- 
low Democrats.  He  lias  been  up  before  for  this 
office,  hut  having  failed  of  nomination  in  the  cau- 
cus, with  hearty  good  will,  he  would  give  his  sup- 
port to  ihe  fortunate  candidate.  He  is  a  man  of 
agreeable  and  affable  manners,  and  is  popular  with 
his  associates.  In  his  political  views  lie  is  a  de- 
cided Democrat.  He  is  one  of  the  most  active 
politi<!ians,  and  has  always  voted  for  the  good  of 
Ills  party.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  almost  every 
county  convention  for  the  last  twenty  years.  Mr. 
Donnelly  was  reared  in  the  Christian  Church,  and 
has  never  departed  from  its  faith,  its  high  princi- 
liles  early  instilled  into  his  mind,  having  always 
guided  his  life  work.  Our  subject  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  0.  O.  F.  of  Good  Faith  Lodge  No.  752, 
Cuba,  111. 


W^     of  tliis 


j>ILLIAM  W.  BROWN.  On  the  opposite 
is  presented  a  lithographic  portrait  of 
old  settler  of  Fulton  County,  who 
has  been  a  farmer  of  Lewistown  Townsiiip  for 
forty-two  years,  in  the  meantime  clearing  and  de- 
veloiiing  a  fine  farm,  where  he  has  a  comfortable 
home.  His  enviable  position  in  life  is  due  to  his 
own  unaided  efforts,  as  he  was  early  compelled  to 
commence  the  battle  of  life  on  his  own  account. 
Adversity  developed  the  sterling  traits  of  his  char- 
acter, and  while  acquiring  for  himself  a  compe- 
tency he  has  at  the  same  time  assisted  in  the 
development  of  the  resources  of  his  township  and 
county,  her  present  proud  position  among  other 
States  being  due  in  no  small  measure  to  his  pioneer 
labors.  He  is  a  native  of  tiie  Buckeye  State,  and 
w.as  born  in  Hopewell  Township,  Licking  County, 
July  9,  1822. 

The  fatiier  of  Mr.  Brown,  who  bore  the  same 
name  as  himself,  was  a  native  of  Washington 
County,  Pa.,  and  a  son  of  James  Brown,  who  was 
born  near  Dublin,  Ireland.  The  latter  was  reared 
in  the  land  of  his  nativity,  and  coining  to  America 
when  a  young  man.  located  in  Pennsylvania  and 
there  engaged  in  farming  during  the  remainder  of 


his  days.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  bred  to 
the  life  of  a  farmer  and  in  early  manhood  became 
a  pioneer  of  Licking  County,  Ohio.  He  bought 
a  tract  of  Government  land  and  built  a  log  house, 
in  which  humble  home  his  son,  of  whom  we  write, 
was  born.  Thej'  lived  the  primitive  life  necessi- 
tated by  their  pioneer  surroundings,  and  the  mother 
used  to  spin  end  weave,  dressed  her  family  in 
homespun  and  cooked  their  food  before  the  rude 
fireplace.  The  country  was  sparsely  inhabited,  and 
deer,  wolves,  panthers  and  otiier  wild  beasts  roamed 
at  will  through  the  forests.  Mr.  Brown  cleared  a 
farm,  erected  a  substantial  set  of  hewed-log  build- 
ings, and  there  his  life  was  rounded  out  when 
eighty-three  3rears  of  age. 

The  mother  of  our  subject,  who  was  Isabella 
Wills  prior  to  her  marriage,  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey.  She  was  a  daugliter  of  William  Wills,  who 
was  of  Irish  birth.  He  came  to  America  with  two 
brothers,  David  and  Robert,  and  first  settled  in 
New  Jersej'.  From  there  lie  removed  to  Licking 
County,  Ohio,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers 
of  Hopewell  Township.  He  cleared  a  farm  and 
made  it  his  home  until  death  called  him  hence.  His 
daughter,  Mrs.  Brown,  died  on  the  home  farm  in 
Licking  County,  and  now  lies  buried  beside  her 
husband  in  the  Hanover  churchyard.  Both  were 
devoted  members  of  the  Presbyteri.in  Church. 
They  reared  a  family  of  nine  children,  and  five  of 
them  still  live. 

William  Brown,  of  this  sketch,  passed  his  early 
life  in  his  native  county,  and  was  educated  in  its 
pioneer  schools,  that  were  taught  in  a  rude  log 
house  with  home-made  furniture,  split  logs  with 
pins  inserted  for  legs  serving  for  seats,  and  boards 
laid  on  wooden  pegs  that  were  inserted  in  holes  in 
the  wall,  took  the  place  of  desks  on  which  the  larger 
scholars  wrote.  He  lived  with  his  parents  until 
1818  and  then  came  to  Illinois,  accom[)anied  by  his 
bride,  and  after  seventeen  days'  travel  by  team 
arrived  in  Fulton  County.  His  first  purchase  here 
was  of  a  tract  of  forty  acres  of  land  in  Lewistown 
Township,  of  which  two  acres  cleared  and  a  log 
cabin  constituted  the  only  improvements. 

After  living  there  two  years  Mr.  Brown  bought 
two  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  of  timber  land,  in- 
cluding his  present  farm,  located  on  section  36,  of 


352 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Lewistown  Township,  and  section  31,  of  Liverpool 
Township.  Having  no  mone3%  he  was  oblige'!  to 
go  in  debt  for  it.  His  first  work  was  to  cut  away 
the  brush  to  make  room  for  the  log  house  which  he 
built  at  once.  He  has  been  a  resident  here  ever 
since,  and  hy  steady  and  downright  hard  pioneer 
labor  has  cleared  the  greater  part  of  his  land  and 
developed  it  into  a  very  desirable  farm  with  all  the 
necessary  improvements.  His  agricultural  vent- 
ures have  brougbt  him  in  money,  and  he  has  added 
forty  acres  to  his  homestead  and  no^s-  has  two 
hundred  and  fifty-six  acres  of  well  cultivated  and 
pasture  land.  So  many  j'ears  spent  in  this  locality 
have  given  him  an  extensive  acquaintance,  and  all 
who  know  him  respect  him  not  only  as  a  worthy 
pioneer,  but  in  his  character  as  a  good  citizen  and 
a  man  of  many  excellent  traits.  In  his  politics  he 
is  a  sturdy  Democrat. 

Mr.  Brow-n's  marriage  with  Miss  Angeline  Eord- 
ner  was  solemnized  Januarj-  26,  1848.  She  was 
born  in  Dauphin  County,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Christina  Bordner.  For  her  parental 
history  see  sketch  of  Moses  Bordner.  on  another 
page  of  this  Biogr.vphical  Album.  For  more  than 
thirty  years  the  wife  of  our  subject  walked  by 
Ids  side,  faithfully  shared  the  toils  and  sacrifices  of 
their  pioneer  life,  and  heliied  him  to  become  pros- 
perous, and  her  der.th  iu  1884  was  a  sad  loss  to  him. 
Three  of  their  six  children  are  now  living.  Sarali 
M.  married  William  Heikes;  Christina  Isabelle 
married  Franklin  Woods;  James  H.  is  the  name  of 
the  son. 


JV.^Oir- : 


-4f 


< — -«■•>»<:•<■ 


fcHOMAS  W.  WILSON,  a  man  universally 
f,'/sv.  popular,  and  one  who  has  achieved  great 
success  in  life,  furnishes  the  subject  for  the 
present  sketch,  and  we  are  pleased  to  represent  such 
a  public-spirited  and  courteous  gentleman  in  our 
Album.  Many  years  ago  David  Wilson  was  born 
in  the  State  of  Tennessee,  and  after  a  prosperous 
period  of  farming  in  his  native  place,  moved  to  the 
Blue  Grass  State,  settling  in  Knox  County,  after- 
ward removing  to  Harrison  County,  Ind.,  where  he 


died.  He  was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  and 
a  man  well  calculated  to  give  noble  principles  to 
the  younger  members  of  his  household.  At  the 
time  he  removed  to  Kentucky,  his  son,  Joseph,  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  was  a  lad  of  ten  summers,  and 
there  he  continued  to  reside  up  to  the  time  he 
reached  his  twentieth  year.  He  then  went  with  the 
family  to  Harrison  County.  Ind.,  making  the  trip 
b\-  wagon  through  a  wild  country,  and  being  num- 
bered among  the  pioneers  at  that  i>laoe.  He  pur- 
chased land  in  the  woods,  where  he  built  a  rude 
log  cabin,  and  commenced  to  clear  the  land  pre- 
paratory to  cultivating  the  soil.  He  soon  had  his 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  under  good  cultiva- 
tion, and  continued  lo  make  that  his  home  until 
1855,  at  which  date  be  sold  bis  estate  and  removed 
to  Fulton  County,  making  this  trip  by  w.ay  of  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers,  and  in  this  county  he 
died  after  attaining  his  eight}--third  year.  He  was 
married  in  1833.  to  Miss  Mary  Rogers,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  to  them  were  born  two  children,  viz: 
Thomas,  our  subject,  and  Margaret,  who  is  now 
Mrs.   Amos  Kinzer,  and  resides  in  Sedgwick.  Kan. 

Mr.  Wilson  at  an  early  age  attended  school,  and 
received  all  the  educational  advantages  possible  in 
those  days  when  the  schoolhouses  were  rude,  and 
the  information  imparted  in  them  was  meagre  in- 
deed. Indiana  at  that  time  possessed  none  of  the 
advanced  ideas  that  at  the  present  time  make  it  a 
popular  place  for  educational  matters.  He  worked 
on  a  farm  through  the  summer,  thus  becoming  f.a- 
miliar  with  the  duties  of  agricultural  life,  and  when 
twenty  years  of  age.  he  moved  to  Fulton  County, 
where  he  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  on  section  6,  Kerton  Township.  The  land  was 
not  cultivated,  and  nature  r.an  riot,  so  he  had  a 
great  deal  of  hard  work  to  clear  the  ground,  and 
bring  his  property  to  its  present  value.  He  built 
a  log  cabin  18x20  feet  in  dimensions,  and  h.as  con- 
tinued from  time  to  time,  both  to  improve  and  add 
to  his  farm.  He  purchased  fifty-eight  acres  of 
river-bottom  land  on  section  4.  in  1888.  Besides 
farming  he  is  interested  in  stock-raising,  and  is  re- 
garded as  a  most  progressive  and  energetic  farmer. 

Our  subject  on  the  loth  of  February,  1855.  mar- 
ried Miss  JIartha  A.  Deweese,  of  Harrison  County, 
Ind.,  whose  birth  occurred  December  11,  1839,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


353 


who  is  a  daughter  of  John  Deweese.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  removed  to  Indiana  at 
an  early  date,  and  at  the  present  writing  is  imking 
his  liome  in  Ivansas  witli  his  son.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wilson  are  the  happy  parents  of  eighteen  children, 
viz.:  .Sarah  P.,  Joseph  W.,  John  W.,  Mary  S.,  Mar- 
garet E.,  Charles  S.,  Amos  L..  Lafayette.  Nandora, 
Emmett  C.  Laura  B.,  Louis  E.,  Mattie,  Hayes, 
Thomas  J.,  Gertrude.  Abbie  G.,  and  Roseoe  C. 

Mrs.  WilbOn  has  been  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church  since  girlhood,  and  is  a  lovely 
Christian  woman,  and  one  very  popular  with  all 
who  know-  her.  M'.  Wilson  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  has  held  many  otBces  of  pub- 
lic trust,  having  served  as  Road  Commissioner, 
School  Trustee,  and  Collector  for  this  township. 
Indeed,  his  popularity  is  great,  and  extends  through- 
out the  count)'. 


-€-^-^- 


OHN  S.  LEP],  The  agricultural  regions  of 
America  have  given  a  foothold  to  many  a 
poor  30ung  man,  who  bj^  reason  of  his  de- 
termination to  succeed,  his  industrious  habits 
and  his  quick  appreciation  of  favorable  circumstan- 
ces.has  overtaken  Dame  Fortune  and  won  his  crown . 
One  of  this  class,  residing  ic  Lewistown  Township, 
is  the  gentleman  above  named,  who  is  now  num- 
bered amoDg  the  solid  men  of  the  township,  in 
which  he  virtually  commenced  his  career  as  a 
farm  laborer.  His  home  farm  consists  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acies  of  well  improved  cultivated 
and  pasture  land,  upon  which  stands  a  complete 
line  of  good  buildings.  In  addition  to  this  he  is 
the  owner  of  a  tract  comprising  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  on  sections  9  and  16.  and  a  quarter  of 
section  12. 

In  order  to  appreciate  the  efforts  and  qualities 
which  have  led  to  the  success  of  our  subject,  it  may 
be  well  to  say  a  few  words  regarding  his  parents 
and  his  earl)'  home.  His  father,  Barton  Lee,  was 
born  thirteen  miles  from  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  there 
reared  to  manhood.  During  the  early  settlement 
of  the  Blue  Grass  State  he  went  thither,  locating  in 
Lewis  County,  where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  heav- 


ily timbered  land.  There  he  began  a  clearing, 
building  in  the  wilderness  a  hewed  log  house  in 
which  our  subject  opened  his  e3-es  to  the  light 
November  12,  1823.  The  father  cleared  and  im- 
proved his  estate,  continuing  to  reside  upon  it  un- 
til 1842,  when  he  passed  through  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death.  His  good  wife,  formerly  Ruth 
Smith,  a  native  of  Lewis  County,  died  in  1825. 
Eight  of  her  children  were  reared  to  malurity.  but 
the  only  one  now  living  is  oui  subject,  the  young- 
est member  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Lee  was  reared  in  his  native  county,  pursu- 
ing his  education  in  the  subscription  schools,  which 
were  carried  on  in  a  primitive  log  schoolhouse.  As 
soon  as  he  was  large  enough  to  do  so,  he  began  to 
bear  his  share  in  the  farm  work,  continuing  to  take 
a  greater  and  greater  part  therein  as  his  years  and 
strength  increased.  He  worked  with  his  father  until 
the  death  of  the  latter,  and  then  continued  on  the 
home  farm  until  1 846.  At  that  time  he  accompanied 
a  neighbor  to  the  Prairie  .State,  their  journej'  beino- 
made  with  a  four-horse  team.  Here  Mr.  Lee  souo-ht 
employment  in  the  occupation  to  which  he  had  been 
reared  and  was  soon  engaged  by  the  month  as  a 
farm  hand. 

In  1849  Mr.  Lee  was  enaliled  to  purchase  eighty 
acres  of  heavily-timbered  lamL  of  which  twelve 
acres  had  been  cleared  and  upon  which  a  log  cabin 
stood.  There  he  began  housekeeping  in  1850,  in  a 
few  years  being  able  to  purchase  the  eighty  acres 
adjoining,  making  a  good  farm  upon  which  he  re- 
sided thirty-three  years.  He  cleared  the  greater 
part  of  the  first  eighty,  built  good  frame  buildings 
and  surrounded  himself  with  the  comforts  which 
his  energy  had  won  and  his  industry  deserved.  In 
1883  he  rented  this  land  on  section  12,  and  bought 
that  upon  which  he  now  resides.  In  the  meantime 
he  had  purchased  the  other  property  mentioned 
and  placed  his  financial  affairs  on  a  sound  basis. 

November  14,  1850,  the  interesting  ceremony 
occurred  which  gave  Mr.  Lee  a  faithful  and  effi- 
cient companion.  His  bride,  formerly  Miss  Emily 
Walker,  was  born  in  Lewis  Count}',  K3'.,  to  Will- 
iam and  Nancy  Walker.  The  happy  union  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  three  children,  but  one  of 
whom  was  reared  to  mature  years.  This  was  Will- 
iam F.,  who  was  born  in  1851   and  died   in   1888. 


354 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


He  was  educated  in  this  county,  becoming  well 
informed,  and  following  in  his  father's  footsteps  as 
a  man  of  industrious  habits  and  good  principles. 
October  3,  1877,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Eliza  Bearce,  daughter  of  Orsen  and  Jane  Bearce, 
whose  sketch  appears  in  this  volume.  She  is  a  na- 
tive of  Lewistown  Township,  and  is  an  intelligent, 
whole-souled  woman.  She  and  her  four  children, 
Ralph,  Jennie,  Mary  E.,  and  John  Orsen,  live  with 
our  subject, whose  home  is  made  cheerful  and  pleas- 
ant by  her  efforts.  Mr.  Lee  is  a  firm  believer  in 
the  principles  of  Democracy. 


w 


f  ACOB  SH AWVER.  One  by  one  the  old  set- 
tlers of  the  county  are  departing  to  the 
bourne  whence  no  traveler  returns,  leaving 
behind  them  records  more  or  less  worthy  of 
study,  and  examples  more  or  less  worthy  of  emula- 
tion. One  of  this  number  is  the  late  Jacob  Shaw- 
ver.  who  is  well  remembered  bj-  all  who  knew  him, 
ns  n  man  of  great  industry,  good  judgment,  and 
the  personal  character  which  won  a  high  degree  of 
respect  from  those  with  whom  he  associated.  Finan- 
cially speaking,  he  was  a  self-made  man,  having 
begun  his  career  in  life  with  no  other  capital  than 
that  erabrnced  in  his  brain,  his  will  power,  and  his 
physical  ability.  When  removed  bj-  death,  June 
22,  1874,  he  was  the  owner  of  a  fine  estate  of  nearly 
three  hundred  acres  in  Lewistown  Township,  which 
is  still  held  in  the  famil3\ 

Mr.  Shawver  was  of  German  ancestr\-.  a  son  of 
John  Shawver,  who,  so  far  as  is  known,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  himself  born  in 
L'nion  Countv-  November  4,  1804.  His  father 
being  a  farmer,  he  was  reared  with  a  knowledge  of 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  with  the  educational  ad- 
vantages which  at  that  period  of  the  century  were 
possible  in  the  country.  He  learned  the  trade  of 
a  cf)rab-maker,  and  finally  engaged  in  the  business 
for  a  time,  later  turning  his  attention  to  agricul- 
ture. 

Our  subject  removed  from  his  native  State  to 
Ohio,  residing  in  Clarke  County  until  1836,  when, 
in  company  with  his   brother,   he  started   for  Illi- 


nois, their  mode  of  convej-ance  being  a  wagon 
drawn  b^-  four  horses.  He  located  near  Lewistown, 
and  with  his  brother  engaged  at  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  but  ere  long  bought  a  tract  of  timber  land. 
He  began  at  once  to  clear  a  farm,  building  a  log 
house  in  which  he  lived  for  some  years.  He  then 
sold  his  property  and  bought  a  tract  on  section  10, 
Lewistown  Township,  from  his  father-in-law,  mak- 
ing that  his  home  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Shawver  occurred  Septem- 
ber 20,  1838,  his  bride  being  Miss  Hannah  Bearce. 
This  worthy  woman  was  born  in  Monroe  County, 
N.  Y.,  April  3,  1817,  being  a  daughter  of  Eli  H. 
and  Sarah  (Austin)  Bearce.  (See  sketch  of  Orsen 
Bearce  on  another  page  in  this  Album).  She  was 
five  years  old  when  she  came  to  Illinois  with  her 
parents,  and  she  has  lived  to  witness  the  wonderful 
development  of  this  county,  of  which  she  is  one  of 
the  ver}'  oldest  living  settlers.  During  her  early 
years  her  mother  had  no  stove,  doing  her  cooking 
and  performing  other  household  duties  at  the  open 
fireplace.  She  also  spun  and  wove,  and  in  the 
knowledge  of  those  useful  arts  instructed  her  daugh- 
ter, who  became  proficient  with  the  wheel  and  shut- 
tle. In  1889,  Mrs.  Shawver  removed  to  the  count}' 
seat,  where  she  is  ^-et  living.  She  is  the  mother 
of  ten  children,  viz:  Sarah  J.,  Elizabeth,  John, 
Araanda.Jacoh,  Wesle}',  Franklin  deceased  in  child- 
hood, Sophia,  George,  and  Ilarvej'. 

John  Austin,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Shawver,  was  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  and  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  After  residing  in  New  York 
many  years,  he  started  to  move  to  Illinois,  coming 
via  the  rivers.  He  had  been  in  poor  health  for 
some  time,  and  died  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  while  en- 
route  to  his  new  home.  His  wife,  formerly  Miss 
Hannah  Frost,  came  on  to  this  .State,  and  spent  her 
last  years  in  this  county. 

The  farm  formerly  operated  by  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  is  now  occu|)ied  and  carried  on  by  his 
son  George,  who  is  engaged  in  fanning  and  stock- 
raising.  He  was  born  on  the  homestead.  October 
3.  1860.  and  was  but  fourteen  3ears  old  when  his 
father  de|)arted  this  life.  Four  years  later  the  man- 
ngement  of  the  estate  devolved  upon  him,  and  he 
has  since  been  carrying  on  his  labors  there.  He  is 
numbered  among  the  enterprising,  progressive  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


355 


intelligent  young  fanners  of  the  township,  and  is 
looked  upon  with  respect  as  a  worthy  follower  in 
the  footsteps  of  his  progenitor.  At  the  residence 
of  George  W.  and  Elizabeth  Ford,  iu  this  town- 
ship, on  New  Year's  day,  1889,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Ad^lie,  daughter  of  the  host 
and  hostess,  a  young  lady  who  has  many  frieuds  in 
this  section  where  she  is  well  known. 


StjSAAC  N.  WILLIAMS.  The  visitor  in  Lee 
Township  would  not  long  be  in  ignorance  of 
^  the  name  and  character  of  the  gentleman  above 
named,  who  is  numbered  among  her  agriculturists, 
his  home  being  on  section  27.  He  is  one  of  six  chil- 
dren born  to  John  and  Nancy  (Smallev)  AVilliams, 
hor  parents  having  been  natives  of  Adams  County, 
Ohio.  Thence  they  removed  to  Winnebago  County, 
this  State,  residing  thei'e  for  a  decade  and  then  lo- 
cating in  Harris  Towushii),  this  count}'.  Here  the 
father  passed  away  in  1870,  the  mother  surviving 
until  1872.  All  their  cluhtren  are  living  except  the 
youngest  son. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Winnebago  County,  July  12, 
1840.  He  pursued  his  studies  in  the  district  schools, 
supplementing  the  knowledge  there  obtained  by 
one  term  at  the  Bushnell  High  School.  The  at- 
tempts made  against  the  Union  aroused  in  him  a  de- 
sire to  battle  for  his  country,  and  in  1862,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  C,  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infantr}'. 
His  brother  Andrew  was  one  of  the  gallant  sixty 
thousand  who  marched  with  Sherman  to  the  sea 
and  bore  his  part  in  the  principal  battles  of  that 
world-famed  event.  He  remained  with  his  com- 
rades until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  his  dis- 
charge in  May,  1865,  and  returning  to  his  father's 
home  with  an  honorable  record. 

Mr.  Williams  continued  to  make  his  home  with 
his  parents  until  his  marriage,  in  the  fall  of  1870, 
when  he  established  himself  on  the  farm  he  still  oc- 
cupies. His  estate  now  consists  of  two  hundred  and 
eighty -seven  acres  of  excellent  land,  all  under  cul- 
tivation and  well  improved.  Its  present  condition 
is  due  to  the  efforts  of  our  subject,  who  has  had  a 


two-story  frame  house  of  convenient  arrangement 
and  homelike  appearance  erected,  together  with  a 
barn  and  other  outbuildings  such  as  he  finds  useful. 
The  place  is  well  stocked  with  domestic  animals  and 
machinery,  and  general  farmwork  is  carried  on 
successfully. 

On  September  25,  1870,  the  riles  of  wedlock  were 
celebrated  between  our  subject  and  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Orilla  (Wells)  Gantz.  Mrs.  Wil- 
liams was  born  in  Brown  County,  this  State,  April 
2,  1850,  and  is  the  youngest  and  only  living  child 
of  her  parents.  She  had  two  sisters  and  one 
brother.  Her  parents  were  born  in  Ohio  and  re- 
moved thence  to  Brown  County  where  both  died 
about  1869.  Mrs.  Williams  is  a  lady  of  intelli- 
gence, domestic  acquirements  and  excellent  char- 
acter, having  many  warm  friends  and  being  deeply 
loved  by  the  members  of  her  family.  She  has 
borne  her  husband  two  sons  and  two  daughters — 
Budgie,  Mary,  Grace  and  Floyd. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  and  their  two  oldest  chil- 
dren belong  to  the  Good  Tenijdars  Order  and  Mr. 
Williams  is  Lodge  Deputy.  The  particular  society 
with  which  they  are  identified  is  Clieck  Row  Lodge 
of  Lee  Townshi|),  which  numbers  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifteen  members  and  occupies  a  pleasant 
hall,  30x40  feet,  which  is  the  only  hall  known  to 
have  been  built  in  the  country'  by  and  especially 
for  a  lodge.  Mr.  Williams  was  reared  as  a  Demo- 
crat but  now  votes  the  temperance  ticket  on  all  oc- 
casions and  works  earnestly  for  the  advancement  of 
the  Prohibition  part}'.  He  has  held  the  township 
offices  of  Supervisor,  Collector  and  Assessor.  He 
belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  is 
Steward  thereof  and  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school. 


^ 


SAIAH  C.  WORLEY,  Master  in  Chancery,  of 
Fulton  County,  an  honored  citizen  of  Lewis- 
,  town,  and  a  distinguished  veteran  officer  of 
the  late  war,  has  been  for  man\'  years  identified 
with  the  civic  life  of  this  county  and  is  classed 
among  the  ablest  men  who  are  at  the  bead  of  the 
judicial  department  of  its  government. 

Mr.  Worlev  was  born  on  a  farm  near   Carlisle, 


356 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and 
Mary  Worley.  He  was  but  two  3'ears  old  when 
his  parents  moved  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Richland 
County,  and  lie  was  only  seven  yeais  old,  when  he 
had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  father.  His  boyhood 
was  still  further  saddened  by  the  death  of  his  mother 
at  a  Liter  period,  and  he  went  to  live  with  his 
brother  Nathan  for  a  time.  At  the  youthful  age  of 
fourteen  years,  the  manly,  self-reliant  lad  com- 
menced the  battle  of  life  on  his  own  account.  A 
venturesome,  enterprising  spirit  brought  him  from 
Ohio,  to  this  State  in  1849,  and  from  that  time  he 
has  made  his  home  in  Lewistown,  with  the  exception 
of  the  time  he  passed  in  the  South  during  the  war. 
He  was  engaged  at  various  kinds  of  occupation  un- 
til twenty  years  of  age,  wiien  he  accepted  the  posi- 
tion of  assistant  in  the  office  of  the  Circuit  Clerk, 
remaining  there  until  1862. 

The  patriotism  of  our  subject  was  roused  by  the 
great  struggle  that  was  carried  on  between  the  North 
and  South  during  the  late  conflict,  and  August  1, 
1862  he  volunteered  in  defense  of  the  honor  of  his 
country ,enlisting  in  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and 
Third  Illinois  Infantiy.  His  superior  qualifications 
gave  him  the  position  of  Second  Lieutenant  of  his 
company,  he  being  mustered  into  service  in  that  ca. 
pacity.  Later  he  was  promoted  to  be  First  Lieu- 
tenant, and  fought  bravel}*  with  his  regiment  in  the 
battles  of  Vicksburg,  Jackson,  Memphis  and  Mis- 
sionar3-  Ridge,  and  did  valuable  service  while  with 
Sherman  in  his  march  to  Atlanta  and  the  sea, 
fighting  with  the  enemy  in  many  an  important  en- 
gagement of  that  campaign.  From  Savannah, 
Lieut.  Worley  accompanied  the  victorious  army  to 
South  Carolina.  He  was  taken  sick  at  Beaufort  and 
bis  gallant  militar3'  career  was  tliere  brought  to  a 
close,  as  on  consultation  with  Gen.  Howard,  that 
officer  perceiving  the  bad  condition  of  his  health, 
advised  him  to  resign  his  commission,  and  he  did  so. 

After  leaving  the  arm3-,  our  subject  returned  to 
Lewistown.  and  as  soon  as  able  resumed  his  position 
as  Deput}-  Count3'  Clerk,  retaining  it  until  1873. 
His  long  and  valued  services  in  that  capacit3'  earned 
him  merited  promotion  to  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the 
County  Court,  to  which  he  was  elected  in  the  year 
mentioned.  He  held  that  office  b3'  re-election  nine 
years  until  he  was  appointed  in    1883,  Master  in 


Chancery  and  has  been  in  this  position  ever  since. 
Our  subject  has  been  twice  married.  Ilis  first  mar- 
riage which  was  consumaled  in  1 862.  was  to  Amanda 
L.  Clark.  She  was  a  native  of  Lewistown,  and  a 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Am3-  Clark,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  Mrs.  Wor- 
ley departed  this  life  ilay  14.  1888.  Mr.  Worley 
was  married  a  second  time,  June  4,  1890,  taking  as 
his  wife  Emma  Alice  Dyckes.  She  is  a  native  of 
this  county,  born  in  the  town  of  Bernadotte,  and  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Lucinda  D3-ckes,  of  whom 
see  sketch  on  another  page  of  this  volume.  B\'  his 
first  marriage,  Mr.  AVorle3'  became  the  father  of 
two  children,  Am3'  Mabel  and  William  Clark. 

Mr.  Worle3"  possesses  0  thoughtful,  clear  mind,  an 
intellect  well  balanced,  and  executive  talent  of  a 
high  order,  and  his  constant  re-appointment  to  the 
important  office  of  which  he  is  an  incumbent.shows 
the  high  estimate  placed  upon  his  services  as  Mas- 
ter in  Chanceiy.  He  is  a  true  Christian  gentleman, 
I  and  in  him  and  his  amiable  wife  the  Presbyterian 
Church  finds  two  of  its  leading  members.  Politicall3- 
he  is  a  Democrat,  one  of  the  most  intelligent  sup- 
porters of  his  part3'  in  this  vicinity.  He  has  aided 
in  the  management  of  civic  affairs,  as  a  member  of 
the  City  Council  and  of  the  local  School  Board. 
He  belongs  to  Lewistown  Lodge,  No.  104,  A.  F.  i 
A.  M. 


<*,  I^ILLIAM  AVILSON,  M.D.,  the  oldest  physi- 
\/iJl/  '^^^^  '"  London  IMills,  has  been  of  great 
W^  assistance  to  the  communit3'  in  building 
up  the  town.  He  has  been  interested  in  real  estate, 
has  built  a  score  of  houses  and  still  owns  village 
propert3-.  He  has  filled  nearly  ever3'  office  in  the 
township,  taken  a  part  in  the  workings  of  the  social 
orders,  and  in  addition  to  all  this,  has  had  a  large 
practice  in  his  profession.  His  mind  has  been  well 
developed,  his  inemor3'  stored  with  facts  and  prin- 
ciples pertaining  to  the  science  of  medicine,  and 
with  all  the  strength  of  an  energetic  nature  he  has 
made  use  of    his  knowledge. 

Dr.  Wilson  is  the  eldest  of  the  four  children  born 
to  Dr.  Samuel  and  Mahala  (McFarland)    Wilson. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


357 


The  parental  history  will  be  founrl  in  the  slietch  of 
his  brother,  Dr.  H.  L.  Wilson,  in  this  Album.  Our 
subject  was  reared  in  the  village  of  Hermon,  Knox 
County,  where  his  eyes  had  opened  to  the  light 
July  8,  1848.  During  his  youth  he  attended  the 
common  schools  and  Abingdon  College  and  in  1864, 
enlisted  in  Company  K,  Seventh  Illinois  Cavalry, 
was  mustered  in  at  Peoria  and  served  until  July, 
1865.  Soon  after  the  war  he  began  studying  medi- 
cine, his  father  being  his  preceptor.  He  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Iowa  and  entered  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Iowa  City,  and 
was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1875,  as 
physician  and  surgeon.  He  at  once  located  at  Lon- 
don IMills,  being  the  first  physician  to  open  an 
office  here.  He  worked  up  a  fine  practice  and  has 
been  ver}'  successful  in  his  efforts  to  ameliorate  suf- 
fering and  preserve  life. 

The  lady  whom  Dr.  Wilson  won  for  his  wife  and 
with  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  in  Iowa,  in 
1872,  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jennie  A.  Hall.  She 
was  born  in  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  in  1852;  she  i.s  a  lady 
of  culture  and  stands  side  by  side  with  her  husband 
in  her  knowledge  of  medicine.  She  studied  that 
profession  in  the  University  at  Iowa  City,  taking  a 
special  course  the  same  year  as  her  husband.  She 
was  Postmistress  in  London  Mills  from  1887  to 
1889,  and  is  a  popular  member  of  the  societ}-  here. 
Doctor  and  Mrs.  Wilson  have  one  child,  a  son, 
Samuel  A. 

Dr.  Wilson  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd-Fellows  in  this  place  and  to  Joe  Mower  Post, 
No.  107,  G.  A.  R. ;  he  is  also  identified  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity  at  Abingdon.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat  of  the  Jackson ian  order. 


-^^ 


— f- 


ATTHEW  MITCHELL  owns  and  occupies 
a  favorably-located  estate  on  section  27, 
DeerBeld  Townsliip.  The  land  is  carefully 
and  intelligently  tilled,  and  the  place  is 
well  stocked,  there  being  fourteen  he.ad  of  cattle, 
six  of  horses  and  sixty  of  hogs  upon  it  at  this 
writing.  The  usual  farm  implements  and  various 
machines,  including  reapers,  mowers,  etc.,  are  also 


to  be  found  there,  and  the  improvements  which 
have  been  made  bear  evidence  to  the  enterprise 
and  good  judgment  of  the  owner.  The  dwelling 
is  a  well-built,  two-story  frame  house,  16x26  feet 
with  an  L  18x20.  A  large  barn,  2Gx40  feet,  filled 
with  hay,  and  various  outbuildings,  occupy  con- 
venient positions  and  afford  ample  shelter  for  stock 
and  crops. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  second  son  born 
to  Ebenezer  and  Mary  (Shofer)  Mitchell,  whose 
entire  family- consisted  of  five  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter. The  parents  emigrated  to  this  county,  in  1849, 
from  the  Buckeye  State,  locating  on  section  16, 
Deerfield  Township.  The  father  breathed  his  last 
December  13,  1849,  while  still  quite  a  3'oung  man, 
having  been  born  February  28, 1804.  The  mother, 
whose  natal  day  was  March  25,  1814,  survived  un- 
til September  17,  1868. 

Matthew  Mitchell  opened  his  eyes  to  the  liglit 
August  28,  1839,  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio,  and 
received  bis  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
that  county  and  the  township  in  which  his  parents 
located  after  removal.  He  worked  by  the  month 
on  a  farm  until  the  war  broke  out,  when  he  was  one 
of  the  first  to  respond  to  the  call  made  by  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  for  seventy-five  thousand  volunteers. 
August  13,  1861,  he  was  enrolled  in  Companj^  A, 
Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  and,  following  the  for- 
tunes of  his  regiment,  he  took  part  in  many  of  the 
most  important  engagements  of  the  war.  The  list 
of  battles  in  which  he  bore  a  valiant  part  includes 
Shiloh,  Russell  House,  Corinth,  Chickasaw  Bayou, 
Arkansas  Post,  Snyder  Bluff,  Vicksburg,  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg,  Keuesaw  Mountain,  Atlanta,  Ezra 
Chapel,  Jonesboro,  Clinton,  Statesboro,  Ft.  McAl- 
ister.  Savannah,  Duck  Branch.  North  and  South 
Edisto,  Columliia  and  Bcntonville. 

At  the  battle  of  Vicksburg,  May  19,  1863,  Mr. 
Mitchell  received  a  wound  in  the  thigh  from  a 
niinie  ball,  which  laid  him  up  until  the  following 
March.  He  then  returned  to  his  regiment  with 
which  he  was  able  to  continue  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  receiving  his  discharge  on  the  24th  of 
August,  1865.  He  returned  to  this  county  and 
resumed  the  peaceful  occupation  of  a  farmer,  some- 
times operating  a  farm,  and  again  working  by  the 
month    until    after    his   marri.'xge,  when  he  located 


358 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


upon  the  land  he  still  occupies.  The  farm  consists 
of  eigiity  acres,  and  although  not  so  large  as  many 
in  the  count}'  is  capable  of  affording  a  good  main- 
tenance to  our  subject  and  his  faniil}-. 

For  nearly  twent}'  years  an  efflcieut  and  sympa- 
thizing heljimale  sliared  in  the  various  fortunes  of 
our  subject.  This  lady,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Deborah  C.  Glass,  became  his  wife  October  16, 
1870.  She  was  born  in  Deerfleld  Township,  Octo- 
ber 7,  1843,  being  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mar- 
garet (Myers)  Glass.  Her  death  took  place  .January 
31,  1890,  and  her  remains  w^ere  followed  to  their 
resting  place  in  Fiatt  Cemetery  by  many  friends 
who  sympathized  in  the  grief  of  the  afHicted  fam- 
il\-.  The  home  of  Mr.  Mitchell  is  brightened  by 
the  presence  of  six  children,  named  respectivelj", 
John  W.,  Minnie  J.,  Mary  M.,  Rosa  M.,  Bertha  E. 
and  Franklin  M.  The  eldest  daughter  was  born  in 
the  spring  of  1874  and  is  therefore  able  to  fill  her 
mother's  place  as  housekeeper  and  look  after  the 
welfare  of  the  younger  children. 

Mr.  Mitchell  is  a  Republican  but  takes  no  active 
part  in  political  work,  except  to  deposit  his  ballot. 
He  is  an  honest,  upright  man,  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  Church,  is  well  known  in 
the  county  and  well  liked  by  his  acquaintances. 

^'  ILO  HARLAN  is  a  well-known  and  influ- 
ential citizen  of  Young  Hickor}'  Township 
and  bears  a  prominent  part  in  the  various 
affairs  of  the  township.  He  is  social,  be- 
nevolent and  energetic,  has  a  good  war  record  and 
an  established  reputation  as  a  farmer.  He  is  now 
filling  the  office  of  Township  Collector,  and  in 
previous  years  has  held  school  offices.  To  what- 
ever position  he  is  called  he  brings  a  determina- 
tion to  faithfidly  serve  bis  fellow-men  and  deal 
honorably  in  every  particular. 

The  ancestral  history  of  Mr.  Harlan  may  be  read 
in  the  sketch  of  A.  J.  Harlan,  which  occupies 
another  page  in  this  volume.  He  is  -the  third  in  a 
family  of  nine  children  and  was  born  near  Wil- 
mington, Clinton  County,  Ohio,  March  13,  1840. 
He  had  three  miles  to  go  to  school,  but  the  insti- 


tutions of  learning  were  good  and  he  laid  a  fair 
foundation  before  the  age  of  ten  years.  At  that 
time  his  parents,  with  seven  children,  started  for 
Polk  County,  Iowa,  their  method  of  travel  being 
a  team  and  wagon.  They  were  three  weeks  in 
reacliing  this  county,  which  the  father  liked  so  well 
that  he  remained.  He  was  of  a  mechanical  turn, 
able  to  take  up  almost  any  trade,  and  had  on  his 
farm  in  the  Buckeye  State  been  engaged  in  brick- 
making.  After  concluding  to  remain  here,  he  en- 
gaged in  that  work  for  David  Cowman.  In  the 
spring  of  1852  he  continued  on  to  his  previous 
destination  with  two  wagons  drawn  by  oxen,  cross- 
ing the  Mississippi  on  a  ferry  at  Burlington,  and 
spending  two  or  three  months  in  breaking  Iowa 
prairie.  In  July  he  returned  to  Central  Illinois, 
took  up  his  abode  in  Abingdon  and  pursued  vari- 
ous occupations  until  1853.  He  then  farmed  near 
London  Mills,  and  in  the  spring  of  1854  settled 
on  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  the  township 
which  is  still  the  home  of  his  son. 

Mllo  Harlan  attended  the  subscription  schools  in 
the  winter,  sitting  on  a  slab  bench  in  a  log  house 
heated  by  a  fire-place,  and  in  the  summer  drove 
oxen  and  otherwise  helped  on  the  farm.  When  the 
war  broke  out  two  of  his  brothers  enlisted,  and 
when,  in  August,  1862,  a  call  was  issued  for  six 
hundred  thousand  men,  he  volunteered,  becoming 
a  member  of  Company  G,  Eighty-third  Illinois 
Infantr\-.  He  was  mustered  into  the  service  at 
Galesburg.  being  first  sent  to  Cairo,  then  to  Fts. 
Henry  and  Donelson.  The  regiment  was  kept  on 
detached  service  much  of  the  time,  doing  guard 
duty  and  raiding  the  country  in  Kentucky,  Ten- 
nessee and  Alabama.  The}'  had  many  skirmishes 
with  the  enemy  and  took  part  in  the  second  battle  at 
Ft.  Donelson  and  the  second  fight  at  Nashville. 
After  the  former  our  subject  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Corporal.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  took  part  in  the  review  at  Nashville  June  20, 
1865,  was  then  mustered  out,  and  going  to  Chi- 
cago, received  an  honorable  discharge.  Although 
minie  balls  had  pierced  his  hat  he  escaped  bodily 
injury. 

When  ready  to  resume  the  arts  of  peace,  Mr. 
Harlan  took  charge  of  his  father's  farm  and  after 
a  time  bought  out  the  other  heirs.     He  has  made 


£^S 


t' 


y^^-^e.U,yl/L^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


361 


many  iiiiprovements  upon  tbe  place,  among  them 
being  a  comfortable  dwelling;  and  two  barns,  one 
.30x46  feet  and  the  other  30x18  feet  in  dimensions. 
Tbe  latter  is  usedjis  a  shelter  for  the  cattle,  which 
are  yrailed  Shorthorns.  Formerly  Mr.  Harlan  kept 
full-blooded  Short-horns  and  raised  sheep  of  the 
best  wool-producing  breeds.  lie  also,  in  connection 
with  his  brother  A.  J.,  bought  sheep,  cattle  and 
bogs  quite  extensively  for  two  or  three  years,  and 
then  abandoned  that  business  as  it  was  overdone. 
He  raises  quite  large  numbers  of  cattle  and  hogs, 
and  fecdSjdroves  ofjthe  latter.  He  likewise  raises 
Clydesdale  and  Norman  horses  of  high  grade.  His 
estate  comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  3,  situated  about  one  mile  from  London 
Mills.  It  is  fenced  into  convenient  fields  and  cul- 
tivated by  means  of  the  latest  farm  machinery.  It 
is  supplied  with  natural  groves,  evergreens  have 
also  been  sot  out  and  some  raised  from  seed. 

Mr.  Hailan  formerly  belonged  to  the  Odd  Fel- 
low's' Lodge,  at  London  Mills.  He  is  now  identi- 
fied with  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  Fairview.  He  is 
a  member  of  Joe  Mower  Post,  No.  107.  G.  A.  R., 
in  which  he  has  held  every  office  but  Commander. 
He  was  Quartermaster  of  the  Encampment  in  1888. 
It  would  be  hard  to  find  a  stanoher  Repulilican 
than  he,  or  one  better  able  to  give  a  reason  for 
his  political  faith.  He  has  represented  his  associ- 
ates in  count}'  and  Congressional  conventions.  He 
discharges  the  duties  of  citizenship  in  a  reliable 
manner,  and  the  only  fault  his  neighbors  have  to 
find  with  him  is,  that  he  has  never  married.  His 
home  is  not,  however,  devoid  of  woman's  presence, 
as  he  has  his  beloved  mother  with  him. 

• — •>. -o^o.  ■$«^v>■v1S••'>♦«• — 


^/OHN  S.  GREEN..  There  is  always  more  or 
less  curiosity  to  know  the  true  and  inner 
historj'  of  men  who  have  been  long  and 
favorably  identified  with  the  social  and 
business  interests  of  an}'  community,  and  undoubt- 
edly the  biograph}'  of  Mr.  Green  will  prove  inter- 
esting alike  to  old  and  joung.  Brought  up  to  a 
knowledge  of  farm  duties,  he  naturally  chose  the 
avocation  of  a    farmer,   when  it  became  necessary 


for  him  to  select  a  calling  in  life.  His  experience 
has  been  wide  and  varied,  and  although  advanced 
in  3ears  he  is  well  preserved  an<l  quite  active. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  son  of  .John  and 
Sarah  Green,  natives  of  Berlin,  N.  Y.  The  parental 
family  comprised  ten  children,  ns  follows:  Martin, 
Horace,  Maxom,  Steven,  John,  Hampton,  Rob- 
ert, Burton,  Nathaniel,  and  I.,ewis,  all  of  whom 
reached  years  of  maturity.  He  of  whom  we  write 
was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  June  19,  18-21, 
and  passed  his  childhood  upon  a  farm,  wlure  he 
was  taught  habits  of  industry  and  self-denial.  He 
received  excellent  educational  advantages,  prepar- 
atory to  business  life,  but  did  not  of  course  receive 
any  special  literary  training  in  the  common  schools. 
He  was  capable  of  taking  the  finest  collegiate 
course,  and  had  a  natural  inclination  for  study,  but 
belonging  to  a  large  family  and  that  being  a  time 
when  the  education  of  children  was  not  so  thorough 
as  at  present,  he  was  forced  to  content  himself  with 
a  moderate  amount  of  learning. 

When  read}'  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own,  Mr. 
Green  was  united  in  marriage  \yith  Miss  Caroline 
Saunders,  their  union  being  solemnized  (Jctdber  31, 
1847.  Mrs.  Green  is  the  daughter  of  Peleg  and 
Hannah  (Saunders)  Saunders,  both  natives  of  New 
York.  Mrs.  Green  was  born  in  lierlin.  New  Yoik, 
in  18:!1,  and  was  reared  to  womanhood  under  the 
[)arental  roof.  She  earl}'  became  proficient  in  those 
housewifely  qualities  which  add  so  much  to  the  at- 
tractiveness of  a  home,  and  has  proved  a  devoted 
wife  and  wise  mother.  Of  their  six  children  the 
following  is  recorded:  Peleg,  a  farmer  in  Fulton 
County,  111.,  married  Miss  Jane  Burbridge  and 
has  five  children.  Ida  resides  in  Knox  County  and 
is  the  wife  of  Menzo  Rapalee.  They  have  one 
child.  Lenora  was  first  united  in  marriage  with 
Ste|)hen  Greggs,  by  whom  she  had  two  children. 
After  the  death  of  Mr.  Greggs  she  married  John 
Fink,  of  Knox  County.  Burton  married  Miss  Sarah 
Wilcox  and  lives  in  Fulton  County.  Herbert  mar- 
ried Flora  Daikeman,  and  the}'  have  two  children. 
John  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  His  wife  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Ida  Thurman,  and  the}-  have 
two  children.  Mr.  Green  gave  all  his  children  a 
good  start  in  life  and  they  settled  within  three  • 
miles  of  the    parental   homo.      In    l\Lay,    1851,  Mr. 


36'^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Green  and  bis  wife,  in  company  witli  Jacob  Brim- 
mer, came  to  Fulton  County  to  visit  some  relatives 
of  Mrs.  Green,  who  had  located  here.  Mr.  Green 
and  Mr.  Brimmer  were  so  delighted  with  the  soil 
that  they  immediately  purchased  seven  hundred 
acres  of  fine  land  in  Ivnox  and  Fulton  Counties. 
Mr.  Green  then  returned  to  bis  home  in  Jefferson 
Countj-,  N.  Y..  and  disposed  of  his  property  there, 
prior  to  removing  to  Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  1854 
he  returned  to  Fulton  Coiiuty,  accompanied  by  bis 
family.  The  following  spring  he  planted  his  first 
crop,  which  brought  to  him  such  a  fine  harvest  that 
be  became  fully  satisfied  with  the  richness  of  the 
soil.  His  history  since  coming  to  this  place  has  been 
that  of  a  thoroughly  progressive  man  and  what- 
ever he  has  undertaken  has  proved  successful. 

Mr.  Green  is  a  man  of  vast  experience,  whose 
wealth  and  enterprise  have  given  him  social  pres- 
tige in  this  community  and  have  enabled  him  to 
give  to  his  children  a  thorough  education.  Al- 
though be  has  given  each  of  his  sons  considerable 
laad,  he  still  retains  in  his  possession  a  highly  cul- 
tivated farm  of  three  hundred  and  twentj-  acres  in 
Farniington  and  Salem  Townships.  Ho  and  bis 
wife  are  esteemed  members  of  the  Seventh  D.ay 
Baptist  Church.  Politically,  Mr.  Green  was  first  a 
AVhi2.  but  upon  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party,  cast  his  ballot  and  used  his  influence  in  its 
interest.  He  is  unusually  keen--itted  and  is  able 
at  a  o-lance  to  place  the  correct  valuation  upon 
men  and  things.  He  is  held  in  high  esteem  b^-  his 
fellow-citizens  and  is  consulted  upon  many  affairs 
of  importance,  whether  of  public  or  private  nature. 
In  connection  with  this  biographical  review  the 
reader  will  notice  on  another  page  a  portrait  of 
Mr.  Green. 


-'^^y 


ORTER  J.  GREEN  is  a  well-to-do  farmer 
)l)  and  stock-raiser  of  this  county,  owning  a 
valuable  farm,  of  which  one  hundred  acres 
lie  on  section  5.  and  sixt}-  acres  on  section 
6.  Farmington  Township.  He  is  a  native  of  Rens- 
selaer County,  N.  Y.  His  father,  Jonathan  Green, 
was  born  in  the  same  eouutj'.  He  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Miranda  Himes,  and  of  the  nine   children 


born  to  them  the  following  is  recorded:  Antoinette 
married  Barber  Green  and  lives  in  Adams,  Mass. ; 
Samuel  resides  in  Zilonite,  Mass. ;  Margaret,  who 
lives  in  Rhode  Island,  has  been  twice  married,  first 
to  Mr.  Lamb  and  afterward  to  Mr.  Green;  Pris- 
cilla  lives  in  Adams.  Mass.;  AVilliam  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two;  Porter,  our  subject;  Amj*  died  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  ;  D^-er  is  a  resident  of  Nebraska; 
Ambrose,  of  Rhode  Isl?nd.  The  father  died  in 
Rensselaer  C'ountj-,  and  the  mother  then  removed 
back  to  Massachusetts,  where  her  life  was  brought 
to  a  close  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was  born 
November  12,  1841,  He  was  well  trained  by  his 
worth}'  parents,  and  started  out  in  life  well  pre- 
pared to  fight  its  battles.  He  early  .adopted  the 
calling  of  a  farmer  and  has  met  with  success  in  his 
pursuits.  He  purchased  his  present  homestead  in 
1880,  This  is  provided  with  a  neat  and  substantial 
set  of  buildings,  including  a  fine  new  barn  which 
was  erecte<l  in  1889,  The  farm  is  first  class  in  all 
its  appointments  and  is  one  of  the  most  desirable 
places  in  the  neighborhood. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  .lefferson  Count}-, 
his  native  State,  to  Miss  Matilda  Brimmer,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  and  Matilda  (Saunders)  Brimmer, 
Her  father  came  to  Fulton  County  in  1854  and 
became  a  very  well-to-do  man.  He  died  in  the  .State 
of  New  York  in  January,  1886,  at  the  .advanced 
of  eighty-two  years.  His  widow  is  still  living  in 
Jefferson  County,  X.  Y.,  and  is  in  her  scventj'- 
ninth  year.  Of  the  eight  children  born  of  their 
marriage  seven  grew  to  maturity,  namely.  Jacob, 
Nathan,  Electa,  Maiy.  Matilda.  Ambrose  and  Sarah. 
Mrs.  Green  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y. 
She  is  a  capable  woman,  and  knows  well  bow  to 
manage  the  affairs  of  her  household.  Two  chikiren 
are  the  fruit  of  her  marri.ige  with  our  subject — 
Arthur,  who  lives  at  home,  and  Nellie.  The  latter 
is  the  wife  of  Nelson  Wright,  of  Farmington 
Township,  and  the}'  have  one  child — Lloyd,  a  beau- 
tiful, black-eyed  boy. 

Mrs.  (Saunders)  Brimmsr  and  Mrs.  John  S. 
Green  are  the  only  survivors  of  the  Saunders  fam- 
ily. The  Brimmers  were  Methodists  in  their  relig- 
ious views,  the  Saunders  were  Seventh-Day  Baptists 
and   the   Greens  were  Baptists.     Thus  our  subject 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


363 


and  his  wife  receiver)  an  early  religious  training, 
are  people  of  earnest  Christian  belief  and  among 
the  leading  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Farmir.gton.  As  a  true  citizen  should  be,  Mr. 
Green  is  interested  in  politics  and  is  a  stanch  ad- 
herent of  the  Republican  party. 


^P^HOMAS  WEESE.  who  ranks  among  the 
(f^^^  prosperous  agriculturists  of  Pleasant  Town- 
^^^J  ship,  was  born  in  Fulton  Count}'  July  2nd, 
1849.  His  parents,  John  and  Elizabeth,  commonly 
called  Betsy,  Weese,  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  this  county,  the  father  having  been  born  in  the 
State  of  Tennessee.  He  was  quite  a  young  m.an 
when  he  came  here,  and  was  throe  times  married, 
oui'  subject  being  the  only  child  born  to  his  first 
marriage.  lie  settled  in  Pleasant  Township  while 
the  country  around  here  was  scarcely  more  than  a 
'■forest  primeval"  and  like  most  of  the  pioneers  was 
forced  to  endure  many  hardships  and  privations. 
He  was  a  man  possessing  great  strength  of  charac- 
ter and  excellent  judgment,  and  was  largel}' 
instrumental  in  bringing  about  the  wonderful 
transformation  that  changed  a  land  covered  with 
timber  to  fertile  and  valuable  farms.  He  was,  in 
[jolitics,  in  sympathj'  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  took  great  interest  in  supporting  all  political 
matters  that  tended  to  the  improvement  of  county 
aud  State.  He  also  exerted  great  influence  in  social 
circles  and  was  a  man  much  beloved  and  respected 
by  his  neighbors.  He  left  a  large  and  valuable  es- 
tate, at  the  time  of  his  death. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  inherited  sufficient 
money  to  give  him  a  good  atart  in  life,  and  the 
scenes  familiar  to  his  childhood  are  all  in  this 
county,  and  his  interest  in  the  progress  of  Pleasant 
Township  is  therefore  naturally  very  great.  He 
has  at  all  times  given  his  attention  to  agriculture 
and  is  a  most  successful  and  enterprising  farmer, 
having  cultivated  his  lands  after  the  most  improved 
methods  and  making  a  real  science  of  farming.  His 
educational  advantages  were  the  best  that  time  af- 
forded, but  he  received  none  of  the  polish  of  the 
higher  branches  of  study  that  one  fluds  at  the  pres- 


ent time  in  the  schools  throughout  the  country. 
The  schoolhouse  he  attended  was  merely  a  little 
log  cabin  and  t)ic  furniture  within  was  truly  primi- 
tive in  character,  consisting  of  split-slab  seats,  and 
other  things  quite  in  keeping  with  these.  A  ruder 
construction  could  scarcely  be  imagined,  and  situ- 
ated as  it  was  in  the  midst  of  an  uncultivated 
country  it  presented  a  picture  that  lingers  long  in 
memory.  Our  subject  has  always  been  fond  of 
reading  and  has  taken  much  pleasure  in  keeping 
posted  on  literary  matters  of  the  day.  He  is  a 
most  elegant  and  cultured  gentleman  and  one  whose 
many  excellent  traits  are  fully  appreciated  by  the 
community  in  which  he  resides. 

Mr.  "Weese  married  Miss  Maggie  Athy,  a  native 
of  Mason  County,  III.,  and  to  this  union  have  been 
born  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living — 
Dickson,  Ilattie,  Effle  and  Mary.  Our  subject  owns 
one  hundred  and  fifty-four  acres  of  valuable  land, 
all  of  which  is  well  cultivated.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Democratic  party  and  a  strong  supporter  of  his 
party  principles.  He  is  a  man  well  and  favorably 
known  and  one  whom  we  are  pleased  to  represent  in 
our  Album. 


ARTIN  B.  MASON.  The  world  is  crowded 
with  men  and  women  trying  each  to  gain 
success  through  the  different  avenues  of 
money-making,  and  day  after  day  the 
ceaseless  round  of  duty  goes  on;  some  giving  atten- 
tion to  |>rofessional  callings,  some  "buying  and 
selling"  in  commercial  headquarters,  and  still 
others  cultivating  the  soil.  It  is  a  pretty  generallv 
conceded  f.act  that  the  agriculturist  leads  the  freest 
and  easiest  life,  since  his  time  is  his  own  through 
much  of  each  year.  And  certainl}'  to  no  class  of 
'•bread  winners"  are  we  indebted  for  more  beneficial 
results  than  to  the  farmer. 

Our  subject  at  the  present  time  is  identified  with 
the  latter-named  class,  and  it  would  be  dilTicult  to 
find  a  more  genial,  intellectual,  or  courteous  gen- 
tleman than  Mr.  Mason.  At  one  time  he  was  in  the 
hotel  business  at  Farmington,  and  made  a  good 
"mine  host."    But  after  continuing  in  that  business 


364 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


for  several  years  in  conneclion  with  his  brother 
James,  oar  sul)ject  moved  to  a  farm  in  Knox 
County,  about  two  miles  from  Yates  Cit}',  and  there 
became  an  extensive  land  owner.  However,  he  re- 
turned to  this  county,  settling  on  a  small  farm  one 
mile  from  Farmington,  where  he  owns  a  nice  resi- 
dence and  fifteen  acres  of  oround. 

Blr.  Mason  was  born  in  F.ayotte  County.  Pa., 
on  the  sixth  day  of  May,  1808,  his  parents 
being  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Biddinger)  Mason, 
natives  of  Penns3lvania  and  Virginia  respectivelj*. 
His  earliest  recollections  are  of  life  in  Ohio,  where 
he  attended  school  in  a  little  log  house  for  three 
months  during  the  winter.  Tlie  father  moved  with 
his  family  to  this  place  in  1837,  going  into  the  liotel 
business.  In  1842  the  subject  of  our  sketch  mar- 
ried Miss  Mar}'  A.  .Slosson,  who  was  born  in  Tro^', 
New  York,  and  is  a  daugiiter  of  Dutcher  and  .Sarali 
(Sampson)  Slosson,  natives  of  New  York  and 
Massachusetts  respectively.  Mrs.  Mason  reached 
maidenhood  at  Troy,  coming  with  iier  parents  to 
Illinois  in  the  year  ISoo.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  iVIason 
have  been  born  seven  children,  viz:  Charles  H.,  who 
married  Miss  Melissa  Coon,  has  three  children,  and 
resides  at  Fairfield,  Iowa;  Sarah  J.;  Harriet  K.,  who 
married  James  Broherd,  and  died  without  leaving 
any  children;  Catherine;  Willfam  J.,  who  married 
Miss  .Mary  Yager,  lives  in  Yates  City,  and  has  one 
child;  TSlavy  A.,  now  Mrs.  Charles  F.  Coon,  has 
three  children,  and  makes  her  home  at  Holdridgc, 
I'hfclps  County,  Neb. ;  and  Martin  S.,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Clara  Rider,  has  one  child  and  lives  in 
Farmington. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order  No.  320.  is  a  rarmber  of  the  Yates 
City  Lodge,  and  belongs  to  a  Commandery  at 
Galesburg.  He  is  verj^  prominently  connected 
with  this  fraternity.  He  has  held  several  public 
offices,  being  at  one  time  County  Commissioner 
of  Knox  County,  and  Supervisor  of  Salem  Town 
ship. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mason  and  their  family  belong  to 
the  Universalist  Church.  Mr.  Mason  having  helped 
to  build  the  church  of  this  denomination  both  at 
Farmington  and  at  Yates  City. 

Our  subject's  father  was  fifty-seven  j-cars  old  at 
llie  lime  of  his  death;   the  mother  lived  to  be  past 


seventy.  To  them  were  born  four  children,  viz: 
Martin,  James  and  Nanc^-  (deceased),  and  Wil- 
liam. The  fatiier  moved  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Ohio  in  181  1,  where  he  followed  agrieulluial  pur- 
suits. He  was  at  one  time  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
the  latter  named  State.  The  subject  of  our  skeleli 
has  many  celebrated  ancestors  and  has  inherited 
much  social  culture. 


iKORGE  C.  SHUMAKER  is  an  enterprising 


^  and  intelligent  farmer,  and  is  successfullj' 
l|j  managing  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres 
of  land,  which  he  rents,  Ij'ing  partly  in  Farmington, 
where  he  makes  his  residence,  and  partly  in  Canton 
Township.  He  was  born  in  \Vashington  County, 
Md.,  near  Rohrersville.  His  parents.  Jonathan  and 
Mahala  (Branderberg)  Shuraaker,  were  also  natives 
of  Maryland.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, and  also  his  maternal  grandfather,  came  from 
Germany  to  this  eountrj'. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  farmer.and  in  1837 
came  westward  and  tried  life  in  Oliio,  Illinois  and 
Missouri,  but  not  liking  this  part  of  the  country  he 
returned  to  his  native  JNLaryland.  and  died  there  in 
1874,  at  tlie  ago  of  sixty-three  years.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  also  died  in  that  State.  She  and  her 
husband  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity  and  are  still  living  as  follows:  George  C, 
Otho  James,  C\'ster  Rupley  and  Frederick  T. 
O.  J.  lives  in  Middletown,  Md.,  and  all  the  others, 
with  the  exception  of  our  subject,  reside  in  that 
State. 

George  C.  Shumaker,  of  this  biographical  sketch, 
was  born  November  20,  1800.  His  boyhood  and 
youth  were  passed  in  Maryland,  where  he  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  gained  a  sound  practical 
knowledge  of  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1883. 
ambitious  to  better  his  financial  condition,  he 
determined  to  see  what  he  could  accomplish  on  the 
fertile  soil  of  the  Prairie  State,  and  he  made  his 
way  from  his  old  home  to  this  county.  He  worked 
out  i\v(\  years  by  the  month,  and  carefully  saved 
his  earnings,  and  was  enabled    to  marry  and  estab- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


365 


lish  a  home  for  himself.  He  is  now  actively  en- 
gaged in  his  calling,  renting  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  in  P'armington,  and  une 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  Canton  Township.  The 
land  is  under  good  cultivation  and  he  manages  to 
get  from  it  a  full  return  in  Sue  harvests  for  his  out- 
lay of  labor  and  expense. 

Mr.  Shuraaker  and  Miss  .Tennie  K.  Slifer,  united 
their  lives  and  fortunes  on  the  27th  of  December, 
1887,  and  have  established  a  home  where  coziness 
and  comfort  abound,  and  that  is,  in  fact,  one  of  the 
pleasantest  abodes  in  the  neighborhood.  Mrs. 
Shumaker  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Ellen 
(Potter)  Slifer,  and  she  was  born,  reared  and  mar- 
ried in  Maryland.  She  was  the  only  child  of  her 
father,  wiio  died  when  she  was  young.  Her 
mother  married  a  second  time,  becoming  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Andrew  Reader.  By  that  marriage  she  had 
five  children,  namely:  Cornelius  James,  Fannie  L., 
Daviil  G.,  Jersey  J.,  Charles  C.  i^'annie  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  L.  Castle,  a  farmer,  and  they  have  two 
children.  Mrs.  Shumaker  is  a  devoted  Christian 
and  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Cliurch 
in  Maryland.  Her  marriage  with  our  subject  has 
been  blessed  b^-  the  birth  of  one  child — Roy  C.  Mr. 
Shumaker  is  a-stalvvart  defender  of  the  Democrats 
in  politics. 

THARINE  KEELING,  whose  sketch  now 
invites  attention,  is  one  of  the  oldest  men 
in  the  State  of  Illinois,  having  in  the 
course  of  his  long  life  witnessed  many 
changes  and  an  immense  amount  of  progress  in  the 
State,  and  also  having  accumulated  a  considerable 
fortune.  Longevity  for  some  reasons  and  in  some 
cases  is  not  a  desirable  thing,  but  it  certai-nly  gives 
a  man  a  vast  amount  of  valuable  experience,  and 
gains  him  a  larger  number  of  successes  than  can  be 
accomplished  in  a  shorter  span  of  years. 

Mr.  Keeling's  birth  occurred  in  Elizabethtown, 
Hardin  County,  Ky.,  on  the  12th  of  May,  1823, 
being  the  son  of  Lewis  and  Lydia  (Hovvey)  Keel- 
ing. When  only  three  3-ears  of  age  our  subject 
moved  with  his  parents  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  the 


faniil}'  leaving  the  beautiful  Blue  Grass  country 
for  no  other  reason  than  that  the  idea  of  slavery 
was  distasteful  to  them,  and  as  tliat  custom  pre- 
vailed everywhere  south  of  "Mason  and  Dixon's 
line,"  they  were  forced  to  seek  a  northern  iiome. 
They  first  located  in  Jacksonville,  but  after  two 
years  removed  to  Springfield,  where  the  father 
purchased  a  grist  and  saw  mill  on  the  south  fork 
of  the  Sangamon  River;  and  the  earliest  recollec- 
tions of  our  subject  date  back  to  the  "old  mill"  by 
the  river  side,  where  he  sijent  many  happy  days  in 
his  childhood.  The  business  proved  very  success- 
ful, and  the  father  previous  to  his  death  was  an  ex- 
tensive landowner,  owning  several  thousand  acres 
of  valuable  timber  and  prairie  land  along  the  San- 
gamon River.  He  died  in  1856,  being  sixty-one 
years  old;  the  mother  had  died  about  twenty  years 
before,  when  only  thirty-six  3'ears  of  age.  To  them 
were  born  nine  children,  viz.:  Eldridge,  Atharine; 
Singleton,  Hayden,  Lydia  and  Lc)uisa  are  deceased; 
America;  Lewis,  deceased;  and  William. 

Our  subject's  paternal  grandfather,  William 
Keeling,  was  a  Methodist  minister,  and  his  birth- 
place was  in  England.  He  married  in  that  country 
Miss  Susan  Grant,  and  upon  coming  to  America 
settled  first  in  Virginia,  but  afterward  removed  to 
Kentucky.  Our  subject's  maternal  grandfather, 
Joseph  Howey,  was  born  in  the  State  of  Virginia, 
and  married  Mrs.  Cecelia  McKinney.  They  were 
all  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  settled  in  Virginia 
about  the  time  of  the  Colonial  War. 

Jlr.  Keeling"s  father  -being  interested  in  the 
brick  business,  he  learned  that  when  a  boy  of  four- 
teen summers,  going  to  a  pay  school  through 
three  months  of  the  twelve,  which  was  taught  by 
Dr.  Springer,  father  of  Congressman  Springer. 
Our  subject  was  a  neighbor  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
and  was  well  acquainted  with  him. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  left  home  at  the  age 
of  eighteen,  when  his  father  was  married  the  sec- 
ond time,  and  commenced  to  work  for  himself  in 
the  brick  business,  employing  a  number  of  hands 
and  clearing  Si, 000  the  first  year.  He  continued 
this  field  of  labor  for  a  period  of  fifty-two  years, 
turning  out  a  tremendous  amount  of  brick  and 
tile. 

Mr.  Keeling  was  married  in  18-18,   to  Miss  Mary 


366 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Jane  Wilson,  daughter  of  Sanuiel  and  Maria  (Bro- 
lierd)  AVilson.  She  was  born  in  Hamilton  County, 
Ohio,  and  her  father  was  b^-  birth  and  education  a 
Scotchman — Edinburgh  being  his  native  place.  To 
Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  were  born  seven  children, 
viz.:  Thomas  J.,  Marj'  Jane,  M.aria.  Ellen,  Marga- 
ret, Amanda,  and  James,  who  died  in  youth.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  have  been  blessed  with  six 
children,  viz.:  Oscar  H.,  Marj'  Helen.  Alice  A., 
Annie  M.,  Clara  Inez  and  Jesse  L.,  all  of  whom 
are  prosperous  and  talented. 

Mr.  Keeling  voted  for  Henr}-  Clay  in  1844,  and 
for  the  Whig  candidates  until  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party,  at  which  time  he  commenced 
to  sui)port  that  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  having  been  connected  with  that 
denomination  for  forty  years.  Mrs.  Keeling  also 
Vjclongs  to  this  church.  The  subject  of  our  sketch 
is  a  great  reader,  and  possessing  a  retentive  mem- 
ory is  a  most  interesting  cornpanion,  and  much  es- 
teemed both  for  his  intellectualit3-  and  his  man}- 
excellent  traits  of  character. 


ILLIAM  H.  COZINE  is  known  as  one  of 
\\\A///  ^^^  most  skillful  and  intelligent  machinists 
^^/  and  blacksmiths  in  all  Fulton  County,  and 
his  business  as  such,  which  he  is  conducting  in 
Lewislown.  is  extensive  and  lucrative.  He  is 
prominent  in  the  puljlic  life  of  this  uuinicipalit}"  as 
a  member  of  the  C'it\-  Council,  and  his  active  in- 
terest in  its  welfare  and  sagacious,  well-trained 
mind  make  his  aid  invaluable  as  a  civic  official. 

January  4,  1841,  was  the  date  of  the  birth  of 
our  subject  in  Hendricks  County.  Ind.  His  great- 
grandfather, Garrett  Cozine,  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  was  of  earlj-  German  ancestry.  He 
■was  reared  and  married  in  Peuns3'lvania  and  re- 
moved from  there  to  Kentucky.  He  became  a 
pioneer  of  Mercer  County,  where  he  dwelt  until 
1835.  Once  more  he  became  a  pioneer,  removing 
from  thence  to  the  wilds  of  Hendricks  County. 
Ind.,  where  he  bought  land  and  impioved  a  farm. 
He  there  died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eight^'-four 
years,  his  wife  having  died  tn^o  years  previously  at 


the  same  age.     Her  maiden  name  was  Shuman  and 
she  was  born  in  German}'. 

Cornelius  Cozine,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  farmer  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  Keutuck}-. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Jennie  Vanars- 
dale,  and  she  w.'is  also  a  native  of  Kentu(;ky.  Their 
son  Garrett,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  that 
State,    near   Harrisburg.    in   Jlcreer   County.     He 
emigrated   from  there  to  Indiana,  aud   became  an 
early    settler  of    Hendricks  Count}-.     He  was  ac- 
companied   thither  b}-  his  wife  and   children,  and 
they  took  up  their  abode  on  a  tract  of  timber  land, 
which  he  had  leased.     He  cleared  much  of  it,  and 
lived  on  it  until  1852.     Again  he  became  a  pioneer 
and  in  that  3-ear  started  westward  with  his  wife  and 
five  children,  and  came  to  Fulton  County.     On  his 
arrival  here  he  leased  a  farm  for  a  time,  and   then 
bought  one  in  Lewistown  Townsiiip,  which  lie  de- 
veloped into  a  fine    piece  of    property  and    there 
death  rounded  out  his  busy  life  in  1888.     His  wifa 
had   preceded   him  in  death,  dying  in  1872.     Her 
maiden   name   was  Snsan  R.  Beadles.     She   was  a 
daughter  of  John  Beadles  and  a  granddaughter  of 
Jsiel  Beadles.     For  her  family  historv  see  sketch  of 
N.  Beadles. 

William  Cozine.  of  whom  these  lines  are  written, 
was  one  of  thirteen  children,  and  was  a  lad  of  ten 
5'ears  when  became  to  this  county  with  his  parents. 
He  has  a  vivid  remembrance  of  his  early  home  in 
Hendricks  County,  and  of  the  incidents  of  pioneer 
life  there.  There  w-ere  no  railroads  in  Indiana 
when  he  was  a  child  and  that  section  of  the  counlr}- 
wiiere  his  people  lived  was  sparsely  settled.  The 
nearest  mill  was  at  Indianapolis,  twenty-six  miles 
distant,  and  it  was  operated  by  a  tread  power.  The 
highw.ays  of  travel  were  rough  and  at  timess  almost 
imp.assable,  and  a  rude  corduroj'  road  extended 
most  of  the  way  from  Hendricks  County  to  In- 
dianapolis. William  attended  school  and  assisted 
on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  eighteen  3-ears  old, 
when  he  engaged  with  Joseph  Yarnell  .as  an  ap- 
prentice to  learu  of  him  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith. 
He  subsequently  went  into  the  plow  shops  of  Thomas 
.Stanbury.  and  worked  under  his  instruction  a  year 
and  a  half,  his  motive  being  to  more  thoroughly 
learn  the  trade  of  a  machinist,  for  which  he  seemed 
to  have  a  particular  genius.     He   then   opened  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


367 


machine  aud  blacksmith  shop  in  Lewistown  ami  wiih 
the  exception  of  llnee  years,  has  carried  on  busi- 
ness in  this  city  continuously  since  that  time.  He 
is  celebrated  as  a  fine  workman  and  he  employs 
only  the  most  skilled  men  and  has  Iniilt  up  an  ex- 
tensive trade. 

In  1862  Mr.  Cozine  was  wedded  to  Ann  Eliza 
Herbert.  The  estimable  lady  is  a  native  of  Lew- 
istown  and  a  daughter  of  James  and  Anna  (01m- 
stead)  Herbert.  Hai'ry,  the  first  child  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife,  died  when  six  years  old.  They 
have  three  children  living:  Charles  H.,  Willard  C, 
and  Blanche. 

Mr.  Cozine  is  classed  among  the  best  citizens  of 
the  city,  both  as  regards  -his  private  life,  which  is 
irreproachable,  and  his  civic  capacitj'  in  which  he 
has  acted  without,  stain.  His  fellow-citizens  ap- 
preciating his  worth,  his  sound  business  talent  and 
gtnuine  integrity  have  called  him  to  take  Dart  in 
the  management  of  municipal  affairs  and  he  is  now 
serving  his  eighth  year  as  a  member  of  the  Cit^' 
Council.  He  uses  his  political  influence  in  favor 
of  the  Democratic  party.  Religiously,  he  and  his 
wife,  who  are  sincere  Christian  people,  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


^AMES  NELSON,  Superintendent  of  Claire 
Coal  Company,  at  Middle  Grove.  Scotland 
has  contributed  her  full  quota  to  the  popu- 
lation and  development  of  the  great  West, 
and  her  sons  have  been  found  almost  uniformly 
thrifty  and  industrious,  and  especiall3^  is  this  true 
in  the  case  of  James  Nelson.  Coming  from  the 
land  where  flows  the  "bonny  Dee,"  and  where  the 
purple  heather  clothes  the  ground  with  a  bright  and 
seemingly  unl)roken  carpet,  he  possesses  all  the 
poetic  genius  and  love  of  the  beautiful  which  seems 
somehow  an  innate  principle  of  every  Scotchman's 
nature.  Although  a  comparative  stranger  in  this 
city,  Mr.  Nelson  has  by  his  ready  wit,  courtesy, 
and  kindness  of  heart  won  for  himself  the  esteem 
of  this  community. 

Mr.  Nelson  was  born  in  IloUey  Town,  Scotland, 
and  there  surrounded  l;i\-  the  beauties  of  his  native 


land,  passed  a  happy  childhood.  His  father,  Alex 
Nelson,  and  his  mother,  who  previous  to  her 
marriage  was  Miss  Annie  Kirkwood.  were  natives 
of  Scotland  and  were  married  in  that  country,  and 
their  five  children  were  born  there  before  they  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1864.  Upon  first  reaching 
the  United  States  they  settled  in  Pittsburg,  and 
la^er  in  Ohio,  where  the  father  died  in  1885,  hav- 
ing attained  his  sixty-seventh  year.  The  mother 
is  at  the  present  writing  living  in  Ohio,  and  is 
sixty-eight  years  of  age,  and  her  children  were 
named  respectively:  Alex;  John  (who  was  killed 
by  a  baseball  when  fourteen  years  of  age);  Jane. 
Ellen,  and  James. 

Our  subject's  birth  occurred  on  February  19, 
1845,  and  his  recollections  of  bonny  Scotland  are 
very  pleasant  indeed.  His  educational  advantages 
were  excellent,  and  he  lost  no  opportunity  to  im- 
prove his  mind.  At  the  early  age  of  ten  years  he 
began  to  work  in  a  colliery,  and  when  fifteen  j'ears 
of  age  enlisted  in  the  Seventy-eighth  Highlanders, 
and  was  on  the  point  of  departing  for  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  but  was  recalled  home  by  his  parents, 
and  seeing  how  much  the  idea  distressed  his  mother, 
concluded  to  abandon  the  ranks  and  sailed  for  Amer- 
ica in  1 860.  He  Landed  in  Now  York  in  August, 
and  going  to  New  Jersey  began  to  work  on  a  farm, 
but  not  being  accustomed  to  that  kind  of  work  he 
soon  abandoned  it  and  went  to  PennS3lvania,  where 
he  engaged  in  coal  mining  for  four  months*  and 
was  at  a  later  day  engaged  in  the  same  business  in 
Maryland.  In  the  latter  named  State  he  lost  his 
heait  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Allen,  who  was  like  him- 
self a  native  of  Scotland,  and  after  a  nine  months' 
courtship  they  were  married  on  November  10, 
1862,  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  and  there  made 
their  home  for  a  time.  One  child  was  born  to  them, 
Annie,  who  died  when  only  eighteen    months  old. 

Mr.  Nelson  enlisted  in  18G4  in  Company  A,  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Pennsylvania  Infantry, 
and  was  mustered  into  service  at  Camp  Wilkins, 
and  discharged  at  Pittsburgh.  Pa.,  in  the  fall  of  the 
following  3'oar.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to 
coal  mining  at  Uniontown,  Ky.,  and  while  there 
fell  a  victim  to  the  ague,  which  is  so  prevalent  in 
that  State.  He  was  engaged  in  mining  through 
different    parts    of   Virginia,  Ohio,  Pennsjdvania, 


368 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALP,UM. 


IMaryland,  Kentuck}-,  and  Illinois,  and  has  traveled 
tliroiigh  the  greater  portion  of  seventeen  States. 
He  took  possession  of  the  Claire  Coal  Company  in 
September  of  tiie  year  1889,  a  company  which  is 
turnino;  out  one  hundred  and  forty  tons  of  lump 
coal  per  daj-,  and  engages  forty  miners.  Of  this 
business  our  subject  is  well  prepared  to  take  charge, 
having  had  a  most  extensive  experience.  Though 
at  (iresent  so  closely  identified  with  the  business 
and  social  affairs  of  Middle  Grove,  his  residence  is 
at  Gloucester,  Ohio. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  have  been  born  six  sons 
and  four  daughters,  of  whom  one  is  dead,  and  the 
following  living,  viz:  Annie,  Alex,  Frank,  James 
Bruce,  Nettie,  Robert,  "Willie,  Mary  and  Andrevv. 
Our  subject  was  ordained  to  preach  in  the  Metho- 
dist Church  iji  1873,  at  Mt.  Yernon,  Ohio.  He  is  a 
Good  Templar,  and  took  an  active  interest  in  or- 
ganizing the  lodge  at  Middle  Grove,  and  takes 
pleasure  in  alwa3'S  supporting  the  Prohibition  ticket 
with  his  vole  and  influence.  Mr.  Nelson  at  tlie 
time  of  his  residence  in  Ohio  was  Deputy  High 
Chief  Ruler  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Recha- 
bites.  He  is  an  unusually  intellectual  man,  and  his 
extensive  travels  have  given  him  a  clear  insight 
into  the  social  and  business  customs  both  of  the 
United  States  and  Scotland. 


-^^ 


^ACOB  DARLING  is  acceptably  filling  the 
position  of  Police  Magistrate  of  Astoria.  He 
came  to  this  place  more  than  forty  j-ears 
ago,  and  has  ever  since  been  one  of  its 
most  useful  citizens.  He  was  born  September 
5, 1827,  on  a  farm  near  "Warsaw,  Coshocton  County. 
Ohio.  His  father.  Isaac  Darling,  was  born  on  the 
south  br.anch  of  the  Potomac  River  in  Virginia, 
and  was  a  son  of  Rcjbert  Darling,  who  is  thought 
to  have  been  born  in  Ireland  of  Scotch  (larentage. 
The  latter  on  coming  to  America  settled  in  \'ir- 
ginia,  and"  subsequently  remc  vcd  from  there  to 
Ohio  in  1806,  and  was  a  pioneer  of  Coshocton 
County.  The  removal  was  made  with  teams,  and 
the  greater  part  of  the  way  lay  through  a  wilder- 
u'-ss.     There  were   but    a    few   families    living    in 


Coshocton  County  at  the  time  and  the  Indians 
still  lingered  about  their  old  hunting  grounds  in 
that  part  of  the  State.  Mr.  Darling  bought  a  tract 
of  heavilj-  timbered  land  and  built  a  log  house  to 
shelter  his  family.  There  were  no  markets  and  the 
people  lived  almost  entirelj^  on  the  products  of 
their  land  and  on  venison,  bear  meat  and  other 
game  which  was  abundant.  The  grandfather  of 
our  subject  cleared  quite  a  tract  of  laud,  and  lived 
in  his  pioneer  home  until  his  death.  He  raised  flax 
and  kept  sheep  and  bis  wife  used  to  card,  spin  and 
weave  the  wool  and  flax,  and  made  all  the  cloth  in 
the  family.  Her  maiden  name  was  Catherine  Passen. 
She  also  died  on  the  home  farm.  She  was  the 
mother  of  twelve  children;  eight  sons  and  four 
ilaughters. 

Isaac  Darling  was  twelve  3'ears  old  wher.  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Ohio.  He  assisted  his  father  in 
clearing  the  farm,  and  resided  thereon  until  his 
marriage,when  he  bought  land  across  the  Walhold- 
ing  River  from  his  old  home.  Fort}'  acres  of 
land  were  cleared  and  a  log  house  stood  on  tlie 
clearing,  which  was  afterward  the  birthplace  of  our 
subject.  The  father  erected  a  substantial  brick 
house  in  1839,  and  in  tliat  made  his  home  until  his 
death  during  the  war.  He  lived  to  see  that  part 
of  Ohio  in  which  he  settled,  develop  from  a  wilder- 
ness into  a  well  settled  and  wealth}'  county,  and  he 
contributed  his  quota  to  advance  its  growth. 

The  fatlier  of  our  subject  was  twice  married.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  first  wife,  the  subject's  mother, 
was  Mahala  Severns.  Her  father,  Joseph  Severns, 
was  a  native  of  Wales  and  a  pioneer  of  Coshocton 
County.  Mrs.  Darling  died  in  1832.  There  were 
.«ix  children  born  of  her  marriage;  four  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Mr.  Darling's  second  wife  was 
Jane  Severns.  a  cousin  to  his  firjt  wife.  She  died 
two  years  after  her  husband's  death. 

Jacob  Darling,  of  whom  we  write,  grew  to  man's 
estate  in  his  native  county,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  commenced  work  at  the  trade  of  a  carpenter. 
He  resided  in  Coshocton  County  until  1848,  when 
he  went  to  Indiana,  and  spent  the  winter  in  that 
State.  In  the  spring  of  1849  he  started  on  horse- 
back for  this  county,  and  after  a  very  pleasant 
and  agreeable  journe}'  arriveil  hero  safely,  and 
located  in  Astoria.     He  found    here  only  a  small 


-^ 


1^m\. 


Harrison    Putman 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


371 


village,  and  men  of  his  calling  were  in  demand  to 
assist  in  building  up  the  country.  He  worked  at 
his  trade  until  the  _year  1852,  and  then  was  clecied 
Constable.  He  served  in  that  ofHce  continuously 
until  1885.  a  i)erio<l  of  thirty-three  years,  and 
made  an  invaluable  otlieial.  lu  1885  Mr.  Darling 
was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Astoria,  and  served 
with  acceptation  until  after  the  change  of  adminis- 
tration. During  the  time  he  was  Constable  he 
acled  four  terms  as  Collector  of  Taxes.  In  1890 
Mr.  Darling  was  elected  to  the  important  office  of 
Police  Magistrate  of  Astoria.  He  is  discharging 
the  duties  thus  devolving  upon  him  with  sound 
judgment,  rare  discrimination,  tact  and  fairness, 
and  the  peoi)le  are  well  satisfied  with  his  manner  of 
conducting  the  affairs  of  his  ollice. 

Mr.  Darling  and  Miss  Matilda  Fleming  were 
married  in  the  month  of  October,  1849.  Mrs. 
Darling  is  a  native  of  Coshocton  County,  Ohio, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  Fleming.  Six  children 
have  blessed  her  happy  union  with  our  subject, 
whose  names  are  as  follows:  Isaac  M.,  Oliver  L., 
George  N.,  Clement  L.,  Lee  Roos  and  Hugh  II. 


,>tS5<«r-' ^*^°=^"p=°^' ' 


ARTIN  V.  PUTMAN  is  a  prominent  and 
wealthy  farmer  of  Canton,  111.  He  is  a 
^^  native  of  this  county,  and  a  representative 
of  an  old  and  well-known  pioneer  family, 
in  whose  honor  Putman  Township,  the  place  of  his 
birth,  was  named.  He  was  born  December  28, 
1843,  ani  is  the  sixth  of  ten  children  born  to  Har- 
rison and  Malinda  (Fouts)  I'ulman. 

Harrison  Putman,  whose  portrait  appears  on  the 
opposite  page  and  who  is  a  retired  farmer  living 
in  Canton,  was  born  in  Gibson  County,  Ind.,  De- 
cember 3,  1811.  His  father.  Hazel  Putman,  was  a 
native  of  N'orth  Carolina.  His  mother,  Isabel 
(Fouts)  Putman,  was  a  daughter  of  David  Fouts, 
and  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  She  and  her  hus- 
band removed  to  Indiana  in  an  early  day  of  its 
settlement  soon  after  their  marriage,  becoming- 
pioneers  of  Gibson  County.  A  few  years  later  they 
removed  to  a  farm  near  Evansville. 


Harrison  Putman  was  the  oldest  of  a  family  of 
seven  children,  and  passed  his  youthful  days  on  the 
old  homestead  near  Evansville.  He  was  eleven 
years  old  when  he  came  to  Fulton  County  with  his 
parents  who  located  in  what  became  Putman  Town- 
ship; the  latter  was  named  in  honor  of  his  father, 
who  bought  a  large  tract  of  timber  land,  for  which 
he  afterward  secured  a  patent  and  carried  on  trade 
there  as  a  blacksmith  and  gunsmith.  Both  father 
and  mother  died  in  this  county.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Baptist,  and  she  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

The  father  of  our  subject  remained  with  his  par- 
ents until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  when  he 
began  farming  on  his  own  account  in  Putman 
Township.  He  was  very  fortunate  in  the  pursuit 
of  his  calling,  acquiring  a  handsome  fortune  and  a 
farm  containing  several  hundred  acres  of  choice 
land.  In  1872  he  retired  from  his  farm  in  Putman 
Township  to  Canton,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  He  was  married  November  15,  1832,  to 
IMalinda  Fouts,  a  daughter  of  David  and  Mary 
Fouts.  She  was  born  July  27,  1814,  and  after  a 
happy  wedded  life  of  nearly  fifty-eight  years  dura- 
tion, she  died  in  the  month  of  April,  1890. 

Martin  Putman,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
bred  to  manhood  on  his  father's  old  homestead  in 
Putman  Township.  He  attended  school  at  the 
Iliatt  schoolhouse  during  the  winter  months  and 
woi'ked  on  the  farm  in  the  summer.  One  winter  he 
was  a  pupil  in  a  Canton  school.  He  remained  an 
inmate  of  the  parental  household  till  he  attained 
his  twenty-first  year,  when  he  began  his  career  as  a 
farmer  on  eighty  acres  of  land  given  him  by  his 
father.  Success  has  attended  his  efforts,  and  he  is 
now  a  substantial  and  well-to-do  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser.  His  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
four  acres  in  Putman  Township  is  well  cultivated 
and  higlil}'  improved.  He  has  erected  on  it  good 
buildings,  and  has  it  well  stocked,  as  before  his  re- 
moval to  Canton  he  was  an  extensive  feeder  of 
cattle  and  hogs.  He  has  been  very  successful  as  a 
wheat  raiser,  and  has  also  raised  large  crops  of 
corn.  He  continued  to  reside  on  his  farm  till  1884, 
when  he  removed  to  Canton  that  he  might  give  his 
children  beUer  opportunities  for  an  education.  In 
the  western   part  of  the  town  he  built  a  neat  and 


372 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


eomniodious  residence  whicli  is  sliarled  1)3'  beauti- 
ful native  hard  maple  trees  that  afiford  a  most 
grateful  and  refreshing  shelter  during  the  summer 
months. 

March  14,  1867,  was  the  date  of  the  marriage  of 
our  subject  with  IMiss  Hannah  Newton  of  Putman 
Township.  .She  is  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Newton,  a 
prominent  phj'sican  of  the  county,  who  came  here 
from  Connecticut.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Putman  liave  had 
four  children;  Kate  N..  Leuella  M.,  Ma}-  M.  and 
Gean  Gale  who  died  in  infancj". 

AYhile  he  was  a  resident  of  Putman  Township, 
Mr.  Putman  took  a  prominent  part  in  educational 
matters  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board  and  also 
as  School  Director  for  a  number  of  j-ears.  In  poli- 
tics he  upholds  the  policj'  of  the  Democratic  party. 
He  is  a  man  of  good  mental  endowments,  frank  and 
straightforward,  and  is  liighl\-  regarded  by  all  who 
know  him  or  have  had  dealings  with  him. 

7  ESSE  POLLOCK,  an  old  pioneer  of  Fulton 
County,  is  now  one  of  its  most  substantial 
farmeis  and  his  fine  farm  in  Lcwistown 
Township  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  locality. 
His  birth-place  was  a  farm  two  miles  from  Florence 
in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  and  the  date  of  his 
birth  was  April  3,  1812.  He  is  a  son  of  one  David 
Pollock  who  was  born  of  Scotch  ancestry  in  the 
North  of  Ireland.  His  parents  were  Presb3-terians 
and  reared  their  famih'  in  the  same  faith.  The  fa- 
ther, two  brothers,  Benjamin  and  John,  and  three 
sisters  came  to  America  and  made  their  home  in 
Pennsylvania.  TMie  father  of  our  subject  arrived 
in  this  country  at  the  commencement  of  the  Revo- 
lution and  enlisted  with  the  Minute  Men  and  did 
good  service  in  the  war.  After  peace  had  been  de- 
clared, he  settled  in  AVashington  County,  Pa.,  of 
which  he  was  a  pioneer.  He  carried  on  farming  on 
leased  land  there  until  1818.  In  that  year  with  his 
wife  and  six  children,  he  started  with  a  team  for 
Ohio,  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  that  part 
of  Richland,  now  included  in  Ashland  County.  He 
bought  n  tract  of  heavily'  timbered  land  in  Jlilton 
Township,  and  erected  a  log  house  in  the  primeval 


wilds,  where  deer,  bear,  wolves,  and  all  kinds  of  wild 
game  roamed  at  will.  There  were  no  railways  or 
canals  in  that  part  of  the  country  in  those  days  and 
the  lake  ports,  forty  miles  distant,  were  the  princi- 
pal markets.  He  cleared  away  the  forest  trees  from 
his  land  and  evolved  a  productive  farm  from  the 
wilderness,  and  there  the  remainder  of  his  life  w.as 
passed.  His  wife  also  died  on  the  home  farm.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Betsey  Morrow,  and  she  was  a 
native  of  the  North  of  Ireland  and  of  Scotch  an- 
cestry.    They  reared  a  family  of  seven  children. 

Their  son,  .Jesse,  was  six  years  old  when  his  pio- 
neer life  commenced  in  the  wilds  of  Ohio,  and 
there  he  was  bred  tea  stalwart,  vigorous  manhood. 
He  early  commenced  to  assist  his  father  in  clear- 
ing his  land  and  in  its  cultivation.  At  that  time 
lumber  was  of  no  value,  as  there  was  no  market  for 
it,  and  large  logs  that  to-da}'  would  bring  a  good 
sum  of  money  were  rolled  together  and  burned.  In 
1830,  our  subject  left  the  home  of  his  youth  and 
returned  to  his  native  county,  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  He 
worked  at  it  there  two  and  one-half  years  and  then 
went  back  to  Ohio,  and  followed  his  calling  in  that 
State  until  1836.  In  April  of  that  ^-ear,  imbued 
with  the  pioneer  spirit  of  his  forefathers,  he  set  out 
with  a  pair  of  horses  and  a  wagon,  tnking  with 
him  his  wife  and  two  children  and  started  for  the 
wild  prairies  of  Illinois.  A  journey  of  four  weeks 
and  three  days  brought  the  little  family-  to  the 
southeastern  part  of  Knox  Count}',  and  for  a  year 
our  subject  rented  a  farm  in  Salem  Township.  In 
the  spring  of  1837  he  came  to  Fulton  County,  and 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  timber  land 
on  section  6,  Lewistowu  Township,  and  eighty  acres 
in  Putman  Township.  The  price  of  this  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  laud  was  s.5.50  an  acre,  and 
it  took  all  his  ready  monej'  and  left  him  ^(50  in 
debt. 

Jlr.  Pollock  went  to  work  at  once  to  prepare  his 
land  for  cultivation  and  his  fiist  crop  paid  his  in- 
debtedness. He  has  since  improved  all  the  land, 
has  it  under  a  fine  state  of  tillage,  and  has  erected 
neat  frame  buildings.  His  hard  pioneer  labors  have 
been  well  rewarded  and  besides  this  valuable  estate 
he  possesses  another  farm,  comprising  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  choice  laud,  and  he  is  now    in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


373 


possession  of  a  handsome  competence.  As  a  pio- 
neer he  lias  done  much  to  develop  the  agricullural 
interests  of  the  township  and  county  and  his  n.ame 
will  ever  hold  an  hont)rabIe  place  among  those  of 
ihe  early  settlers  of  this  part  of  Illinois.  His  life 
course  as  a  husband,  father,  neighbor  and  citizen 
has  been  creditable  to  himself  and  has  won  the  es- 
teem of  all  around  him. 

JMr.  Pollock  and  Jane  Einmens  were  married  in 
1831.  She  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  Of 
their  raarri.age  there  are  six  children  living:  Ann, 
widow  of  Mr.  Linn;  David:  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
David  Whitnah  of  Cuba;  John;  Alvina,  wife  of 
Napoleon  Bowen  of  Iowa,  and  Sylvester  of  Grand 
Isle,  Nel).  Our  subject's  wife  died  in  1850,  he  was 
married  a  second  lime  in  185,5  to  Miss  Jane  Conner 
who  died  in  1883;  by  his  last  marriage  there  were 
no  children. 

John  Pollock  the  son  of  our  subject  is  a  prac- 
tical wide-awake  young  farmer.  He  was  l)orn 
on  the  farm  where  the  familj'  new  resides  and  was 
here  reared,  receiving  his  education  in  the  district 
schools.  He  has  always  followed  farming  since  he 
w.as  old  enough  to  be  of  any  use,  and  is  a  resident 
of  his  father's  homestead.  In  1872  he  was  married 
to  Jane  Grimes,  a  native  of  Virginia.  They  have 
three  children  whom  they  have  named  Jessie,  Min- 
nie and  Lillie. 


.  Ip^.UFUS  K.  BOHANXON.  Among  the  men 
ljs*t  who  are  actively  advancing  the  stoek- 
tfc  \\\  raising  interests  of  Illinois,  stands  our 
^^  subject,  who  occupies  a  leading  position 
among  the  farmers  and  stock-growers  of  Berna- 
dotte  Township.  He  lias  some  liorses.  cattle  and 
hogs  of  standard  grade  that  are  as  fine  as  are  to  be 
found  in  the  State.  He  is  a  son  of  James  E.  Bo- 
hannon,  who  was  born  in  Tennessee,  in  the  year 
1818.  He  married  there  Eliza  H.  Byrd,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  that  State,  and  was  born  in  1814. 
She  is  now  dead;  her  death  occurring  in  the  month 
of  September,  1867,  near  Lebanon,  Mo.  The 
father  is  still  living  in  his  old   home   in  Tennessee. 


Our  subject  wrs  the  sixth   son   of  ten  children, 

and  was  born  January  7,  1852.  He  began  life  for 
himself  in  1871,  as  a  farmer  in  middle  Georgia. 
He  resided  there  one  year  and  then  took  up  his 
residence  in  middle  Tennessee,  where  he  lived 
about  eight  months.  During  his  stay  there  he 
suffered  a  severe  fracture  of  the  ankle.  He  sub- 
sequently came  to  Fulton  Country,  and  resided 
with  his  brother,  T.  O.  Bohannoii,  three  months. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  lime  he  estal.ilished  him- 
self on  a  farm  near  Table  Grove,  and  remained 
there  two  months.  Hi?  next  venture  was  lo  en- 
gage witb  J.  B.  Cattron  in  farming  in  Pleasant 
Township.  He  w.s  with  him  about  eleven  months 
when  he  married  his  daughter,  Rachael  T.  She  was 
born  December  5,  1854.  The  maiden  name  of  her 
mother  was  Nancy  Smith. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage,  our  subject 
rented  the  old  homestead  of  his  father-in-law,  Mr. 
Cattron,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  its  manage- 
ment three  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
rented  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
near  Ipava,  for  one  year.  He  next  rented  a  farm 
of  his  father-in-law,  and  carried  it  on  two  years. 

After  that  our  suljject  tried  ranching  it  in  Texas, 
near  Dallas — his  father-in-law  having  made  him 
and  his  wife  a  present  of  a  ranch  of  eight  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  and  for  one  year  he  was  engaged 
in  the  stock  business  there.  He  made  many  im- 
provements on  the  place,  building  a  house  and 
fences,  and  otherwise  putting  the  ranch  in  good 
order.  A  year  later  he  was  obliged  to  leave  there 
on  account  of  his  wife's  health,  as  the  climate  did 
not  agree  with  her.  On  his  return  he  made  his 
father  a  visit  in  Tennessee.  After  he  came  back 
here  in  1883  he  boughtone  hundred  and  sixt^'  acres 
of  land  on  section  23,  Bernadotte  Township,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  He  has  cleared  about  one 
hundred  acres  of  heavy  brush,  doing  the  most  of 
the  work  himself.  He  has  built  a  neat  one  and 
one- half  story  house,  2(1x26  feet  in  dimension, 
with  an  "L"  of  the  same  proportions,  and  he  has 
erected  a  large  barn  64x48  feet,  and  24  feet  high 
on  the  main  corners,  with  a  capacity  of  forty  tons 
of  hay.  He  has  as  tine  :i  herd  of  horses  as  is  to 
be  found  in  the  State.  He  has  four  brood  mares, 
two   of  them    one-fourth,   and    the   others    three- 


374 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


fourths  Pei'cheron  Norman.  lie  has  also  of  the 
sa;:;e  breed  a  pair  of  beautiful  seven-eighths  twin 
colts,  three  months  ol<l,  as  iiearl3-  perfect  as  can  be; 
two  beautiful  three-fourths  colts,  and  one  seven- 
eighths,  three  months  old,  valued  at  «100.  Hi.s 
favorite  breed  in  cattle  is  the  Durham,  and  of  these 
lie  has  twenty  head  of  milch  cows,  one  very  fine 
bull,  fifteen  spring  calves,  and  thirty-two  steers, 
the  most  of  which  lie  raised  himself.  He  has  sev- 
enty-five Poland-China  hogs  of  high  grade,  and  his 
farm  is  one  of  the  best  stocked  in  the  vicinity. 

Our  subject  has  a  pleasant  home,  and  bis  family 
consists  of  himself,  his  amiable  wife,  and  their  three 
boys,  of  wliom  the  following  is  the  record :  Fred- 
die C,  was  born  January  22,  1876;  William  K., 
Rlarch  29,  1882;  David  W.,  September  16,   1887. 

Our  subject  is  a  man  of  high  Christian  prinei- 
l)les  and  tries  to  live  up  to  the  Golden  Rule.  He 
is  one  of  the  most  consistent  and  exemplary  Chris- 
tians in  the  community,  is  a  prominent  member  of 
the  P>ee  Methodist  Church,  and  is  very  active  in 
all  religious  works.  He  is  Class  Leader  in  his 
church,  and  is  a  regular  attendant  at  Sunday-school. 
I  le  sets  an  example  as  to  how  a  true  Christian  should 
act  in  his  daily  walk  and  conversation.  About 
eight  3' ears  ago  he  adopted  the  principle  of  giving 
one-tenth  of  his  income  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  and 
still  continues  the  practice.  He  is  a  Prohibitionist 
in  |)olitics  and  principles,  is  temperate  in  all 
things,  and  is  rearing  his  children  to  be  the  same. 
In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  has  been  true  to  him- 
self an<)  others.  He  was  filial  and  obedient  toward 
his  parents,  never  giving  them  a  rude  or  unkind 
word:  and  as  a  husband  and  father  he  is  devoted 
and  tender. 


OSES  VAN  SICKLE.  A  goodly  numbei 
of  the  old  settlers  of  Fulton  County  have 
won  a  competence  sufBcient  to  allow  them 
to  retire  from  active  duties,  surround 
themselves  with  the  comforts  suited  to  their  de- 
clining years  and  spend  their  last  days  unharassed 
by  anxiety.  Among  this  number  is  JMoses  Van 
Sickle  who  for  almost  a  decade  has  been    occupy 


ing  a  pleasant  home  in  Astoria,  his  dwelling  having 
been  erected  for  his  own  occupancy.  Beginning 
his  career  in  life  as  a  poor  boy,  obliged  to  assist  his 
widowed  mother  in  the  support  of  her  family,  he 
put  his  shoulder  to  the  wheel  with  so  much  energy 
and  good  judgment  that  he  became  well-to-do,  was 
able  to  bestow  upon  his  own  offspring  good  ad- 
vantages and  bear  a  hand  in  many  worthy  enter- 
prises. 

Mr.  \&n  Sickle  is  descended  from  good  families 
of  Holland,  both  his  paternal  and  maternal  great- 
grandparents  having  emigrated  from  that'kingdoni 
to  America  in  Colonial  times.  His  grandfathers, 
.John  A'au  Sickle  andSeth  Jewell,  were  Revolution- 
ary soldiers  from  New  Jersey,  and  became  pioneer 
settlers  of  Venango  County,  Pa.  The  former  bought 
a  tract  of  timber  land  there,  cleared  quite  a  farm 
and  continued  to  reside  there  until  181.i,  when  he 
accompanied  his  son  Abram  to  Ohio,  spending  his 
last  years  in  Hamilton  County.  Abram  Van  Sickle 
was,  like  his  progenitors,  born  in  New  Jersey  and 
was  quite  young  when  his  parents  removed  to 
Pennsylvania.  Upon  growing  to  maturity'  he  mar- 
ried Mary  Jewell,  a  native  of  the  same  State  as 
himself,  and  whose  father,  like  his  own,  after  hav- 
ing resided  in  the  Keystone  State  some  years  be- 
came a  citizen  of  Ohio,  dying  in  Van  Wert  County. 

Some  years  after  their  marriage  the  parents  of 
our  subject  turned  their  faces  toward  Southern 
Ohio.  The  father  built  a  flatboat  which  he  launched 
on  the  Alleghany  River,  lo.ading  upon  it  his  house- 
hold goods  and  tlie  various  members  of  his  family. 
They  floated  down  the  stream  to  Pittsburg  and 
thence  on  the  Ohio  River  to  Columbia,  a  settlement 
now  included  in  Cincinnati.  After  remaining  there 
for  a  time  Mr.  Van  Sickle  located  in  Butler  County 
where  his  death  took  place  about  1817.  His  widow 
was  left  with  five  children  and  in  very  limited  cir- 
cumstances. She  subsequently  married  Thomas 
Gray,  continuing  to  make  her  home  in  Butler 
County  until  her  death  which  occurred  at  the  resi- 
dence of  her  son-in-law,  Joseph  Gray.  The  children 
born  of  her  first  marriage  were  John,  Moses,  Edith, 
Sarah  and  Nellie;  her  second  marriage  rtsulted  in 
the  birth  of  a  daughter,  Rebecca. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  Venango 
County,   Pa.,  February   16,  1806,  and   was    about 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


3^ 


nine  years  old  when  his  parents  removed  to  Ohio. 
There  were  no  free  schools  in  that  section  [during 
his  youth,  but  he  made  the  l)cst  of  tlie  op|)ortnni- 
ties  afforded  by  the  sul)scription  soliools  to  acquire 
an  education.  As  soon  as  he  was  large  enough  lie 
began  to  assist  in  the  sup[)ort  of  the  family,  ere 
long  learning  the  trade  of  a  cooper,  at  whicli"  ho 
worked  during  the  winter] season,  farming  during 
the  balance  of  the  year,  lie  resided  in  Butler 
Countj-  and  vicinity  until  1838,  when  lie  came  to 
the  Prairie  State,  soon  afler^his  airival  securing  a 
tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  acres  of  tim- 
ber  land  in  Woodland  Township,  tliis  county. 

The  price  of  the  land  bought  by  Mr.  Van  Sickle 
was  S260.  He  bought  a  wagon,  plow  and  team  to 
begin  his  agricultural  operations  with,  borrowing 
money  at  ten  percent,  with  which  to  pay  for  them. 
He  was  much  in  need  of  a  harrow,  but  his  means 
being  limited  he  was  not  alile  to  buy  it  and  "neees- 
sit3'  became  the  mother  of  inveution"  in  his  case  as 
in  that  of  many  another  pioneer.  Cutting  a  forked 
white  oak,  he  inserted  pins  of  the  same  wood,  and 
of  similar  material  made  a  cultivator  for  his  corn- 
field. He  built  a  log  cabin  on  his  land  and  when 
married  began  housekeeping  therein,  moving  into 
it  before  a  chimney  had  been  built  or  a  piece  of 
glass  set  for  window's.  While  residing  upon  the 
estate  he  placed  the  greater  partof  it  under  thor- 
ough cultivation,  making  it  his  home  from  liis 
marriage  until  1881,  when  he  bought  his  town  lot 
and  removedjithereto. 

The  good  woman  who  for  many  years  shared  the 
burdens  of  our  subject;and  enjoyed  with  him  their 
increasing  prosperity  became  his  wife  June  6,  1839. 
She  was  previously  known  as  Mariah  Nancy  Mar- 
shall, being  a  daughter  of  jWilliam  and  Margaret 
Marshall,  botli  of  whom  died  in  Ohio.  Mrs.  Van 
Sickle  w.as  born  in  Jefferson  County,  that  Slate, 
and  with  her  brothers  and  sisters  came  to  Fulton 
County  in  1839.  She  was  proficient  in  the  arts  of 
spinning  and  weaving  and  during  her  early  mar- 
ried life  did  much  of  that  vvork,  the  sight  and 
sound  of  her  busy  wheel  recalling  to  her  husband 
the  days  when  his  mother  had  clothed  her  little 
famil\'  in  cloth  of  her  own  construction  by  a  simi- 
lar ineliniinary  process.  In  accordance  with  the 
custom  on  the  frontier,  Mrs.  Van  Sickle  did  all  her 


cooking  b3'  a  firepl.ace  until  some  years  after  her 
marriage.  She  breathed  her  last  August  21,  187.", 
leaving  behind  her  a  memory  of  domestic  virtues 
and  motherly  care  which  is  recalled  with  pleasure 
by  the  surviving  members  of  her  family. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  ^'an  .Sickle  reared  five  children,  the 
youngest  of  whom,  Margaret  A.,  resides  with  her 
father;  William  is  a  citizen  of  Marshall  County, 
Kan.;Abram  lives  in  Dundy  County,  Neb.;  Jo- 
seph Moore  died  in  Nemelia  County,  Neb.,  in  1873; 
and  Andy  oc('U[)ies  tlic  homestead.  Mr.  Van  Sickle 
cast  his  first  vote  for  Andrew  Jackson  and  has  been 
a  Democrat  from  th.at  da}'.  A  peaceable,  law- 
abiding  citizen,  just  to  his  neighbor,  and  of  friendly 
spirit,  he  is  well  respected  by  tliose  who  know  him 
and  pointed  out  as  a  fine  example  of  the  self-made 
man. 


^  ARCUS  L.  TANKESLEY.  President  and 
General  iManager  of  the  White  Oak  Roller 
Mills,  and  President  of  the  village  board 
of  Astoria,  stands  among  the  foremost  of 
the  prominent  business  men  who  have  contributed 
so  largely  to  the  financial  prosperity  of  this  partof 
the  county.  With  true  public  spirit  and  character- 
istic liberality,  he  has  aided  every  enterprise  that 
would  in  anj'  way  advance  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munit}',  jiromote  the  growth  of  the  town,  or  im- 
prove its  condition. 

Our  subject  came  of  good  old  pioneer  stock,  and 
numliers  among  his  ancestry  some  of  the  earl\'  set- 
tlers of  this  State.  He  is  himself  a  native  of  Illi- 
nois, born  jin  Scott  Countj',  June  I,  1844.  His 
father,  Lawner  B.  Tankesley,  was  a  native  of  Breck- 
enridge  County,  Ky.,  and  a  son  of  Charles  Tankes- 
ley, who  was  born  in  South  Carolina.  The  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject  was  a  wagon-master  in 
the  Revolutionary'  War.  The  grandfather  was 
reared  and  married  in  his  native  State,  taking  as  his 
wife  Nancy  Waters.  He  continued  to  make  his 
home  in  South  Carolina  until  17iM),  when  he  re- 
moved to  Kentucky,  and  was  a  pioneer  of  Brecken- 
ridge  County.  He  bought  a  tract  of  timber  land 
and  built  a  cabin  in  the  wilderness  where  the  In- 
dians still  made   their   homes,   and  deer,  bear  and 


376 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


other  wild  animals  roaraeil  at  will.  He  was  obliged 
to  l)iiild  pens  of  heavy  logs  to  protect  his  pigs  and 
calves  from  the  ravages  of  the  bears.  Mr.  Tahkes- 
ley  lived  in  his  Kentucky  home  nearly  forty  years, 
and  then,  in  1828,  left  it  to  acoompau}'  his  family 
to  the  primeval  wilds  of  Illinois,  making  the  entire 
journey  with  a  team.  He  settled  in  that  part  of 
the  Slate  now  known  as  Scott  County,  where  he  en- 
tered a  tract  of  Government  land.  He  erected 
suitable  buildings,  and  there  his  death  occurred  at 
the  ripe  age  of  seventy-Sve  years.  His  wife  lived 
to  be  eighty-three  jears  old  when  she  too  passed 
away. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  sixteen  years  old 
when  his  parents  camo  to  Illinois.  When  the  Black 
Hawk  War  broke  out,  tlnjugh  he  had  scarcel}'  at- 
tained manhood,  he  enlisted  and  did  good  service 
in  helping  to  drive  the  Indians  from  Northern  Illi- 
nois. He  was  of  a  studious  thoughtful  turn  of 
mind,  was  ambitious  to  secure  an  education,  and 
making  the  best  of  his  opportunities  became  quite 
learned.  He  commenced  teaching  when  he  was  in 
his  teens  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  teachers  of 
Scott  Countj',  conducting  a  school  in  the  winter 
season  and  the  remainder  of  the  3'ear  engaging  in 
farming.  He  made  his  home  in  Scott  County  until 
nearly  the  time  of  his  death,  when  a  valued  citizen 
anci  a  good  man  was  removed  from  the  community 
where  he  had  so  long  made  his  home.  A  short 
time  before  his  demise,  he  went  on  a  visit  to  his 
daughter  in  Texas,  and  he  died  while  with  her  in 
1887.  In  earl\-  manhood  he  married  Margaret  Ann 
Gillham.  She  died  on  the  home  farm  in  Scott 
County  when  only  thirty  years  of  age.  Mrs. 
Tankesley  was  a  daughter  of  Capt.  William  Gill- 
ham,  who  is  thought  to  bave  been  a  native  of  North 
Carolina.  He  removed  from  that  State  to  Illinois, 
and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  on  the  American 
Bottom,  east  of  St.  Louis.  He  lived  there  a  few 
years  and  then  removed  to  Scott  County,  where  he 
bought  land.  He  dealt  quite  extensively  in  live 
stock  and  accumulated  a  goodly  fortune  for  those 
days.  Heljecame  one  of  the  most  prominent  citi- 
zens of  the  county.  He  was  very  active  in  its 
political  life  as  a  Whig,  and  bore  an  important 
pan  in  public  affaiis.  He  commanded  a  company 
in  the  Black  Hawk  War  and  represented  his  county 


in  the  State  Legislature.  He  married  Margaret 
McDow.  His  useful  and  honorable  career  was 
brought  to  a  close  bj'  his  death  at  an  advanced  age 
and  he  was  buried  on  his  own  land. 

Marcus  Tankcsle}'  was  very  young  when  he  had 
the  sad  misfortune  to  lose^his  mother  by  her  un- 
timely death.  He  continued  to  live  with  his  father 
until  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  and  was  given  the 
advantages  of  an  excellent  education  attending 
school  quite  steadih-.  He  was  scarcely  more  than 
a  boy  when  the  war  l)roke  out.  With  a  deep  and 
patriotic  love  of  country  inherited  from  his  fore- 
fathers, he  determined  to||volunteer  to  tight  for  the 
old  flag,  and  in  August,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  Twenty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry.  Our 
gallant  young  soldier  took  [lart  in  thirteen  general 
engagements  and  among  the  most  important  battles 
in  which  he  fought  we  may  mention  Belmont,  Island 
No.  10.  siege  of  Corinth,  Stone  River  and  Chicka- 
inauga.  He  was  in  Sheridan's  division  at  Mission- 
ary Ridge,  Resaca,  New  Hope  Church,  and  Kenesaw 
Mountain.  His  brave  soldierly  qualities,  his  fidel- 
ity in  discharging  the  duties  that  fell  to  his  posi- 
tion and  his  general  trustworthiness  gained  him 
the  good  opinion  of  his  superiors  and  made  his 
war  record  a  creditable]  one.  After  more  than 
three  years  of  experience  of  a  hard  life  on  the 
Southern  battlefields,  he  was  honorably  dischM-ged 
from  the  service]at  Springfield,  September  20,  1864, 
ami  returned  home  to  his  rejoicing  friends. 

In  1865  Mr.  Tankesle3\  ambitious  to  secure  a 
better  education,  attended  school  in  Springfield,  and 
for  a  year  closely  applied  himself  to  his  studies 
there.  After  that  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago  ik  Alton  Railroad,  as  station  agent  and 
telegraph  operator.  Later,  he  was  with  the  Wabash 
Railroad  Companj- in  the  same  capacity.  In  1870 
he  went  to  the  territories  in  the  employ  of  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad  to  assist  in  building  a  line 
of  telegraph  wires.  At  that  time  AVestern  Ne- 
braska, Western  Kansas  and  Colorado  were  prac- 
tically unsettled,  and  deer,  antelope,  elk  and  buflfalo 
were  plenty  on  the  plains,  where  thriving  towns 
have  since  sprung  up.  Our  suljject  stayed  four 
months  in  the  West,  and  on  his  return  to  Illinois 
became  station  agent  and  operator  in  the  em|)l(iy 
of  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.. Louis  Railroad 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


377 


Company.  Seven  years  later  lie  resigned  that  po- 
sition in  order  to  give  attention  to  the  manufacture 
of  flour  with  W.  II.  Emerson.  They  built  the 
White  Oak  Roller  Mills,  and  our  subject  has  since 
devoted  himself  to  the  management  of  llie  big 
business  that  he  and  his  partner  have  under  their 
control.  They  have  their, [mills  supplied  with  all 
the  most  approved  machinery,  and  have  a  large 
ca|)acity  for  making  flour  of  a  fine  quality. 

Mr.  Tankesley;and  Miss  Anna  Bailey,  a  native 
of  New  Orleans,  were  married  in  186'.i.  They 
have  five  children:  Emma,  Roy,  Fred,  Walter  and 
Wade.  Their  home  is  attractive  and  within  it 
hospitality  reigns  supreme,  the  pleasant,]womanIy 
hostess  and  courteous,  kindly  host  always  extend- 
ing a  cordial  welcome  to  an3'  who  cross  its  thres- 
hold. 

No  man  has  done  more  7or  the  upbuilding  of 
Astoria  and  its  general  improvement  than  our  sub- 
ject, who  has  proved  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the 
citizenshiii  of  this  locality.  His  prompt  and  nietli- 
odical  business  habits,  good  financial  talent  and 
tact  in  the  management  of  affairs  have  brought 
him  before  the  public  as  a  desirable  civic  official, 
and  as  President  of  the  Village  Board  of  Trustees 
he  is  pushing  forward  the  interests  of  his  adopted 
home  with  characteristic  ability.  He  is  a  man  of 
much  decision  of  character  and  intelligv'nt  and 
pronounced  views  on  all  subjects,  particularly  in 
the  matter  of  politics,  acting  witli  the;  Democratic 
party. 


(p^j^i  ILO  T.  GAMBLE,  M.  D.,  of  Farmington, 
is  one  of  the  most  successful  physicians  and 
'^  business  men  of  Fulton  County.  He  con- 
ducts an  exceedingly  large  practice  that 
extends  into  I'eoria  and  Knox  Counties,  and  he  is 
considered  one  of  the  most  eminent  medical  men 
in  this  section  of  the  State.  Aside  from  his  pro- 
fessional duties  the  Doctor  manages  a  drug  business 
and  has  a  bookstore,  and  his  financial  ability  has 
brought  him  wealth. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Beaver  Count}-,  Pa., 
his  birthplace  being  near  Rochester.  He  is  a  son 
of  Andrew  and  Mary  (Thompson)  Gamble,  natives, 


respectively,  of  Hancock  County,  Va..  and  Beaver 
County,  Pa.  His  mother  departed  this  life  in  1888, 
at  the  age  of  sixt^'-nine  years.  The  father  of  our 
subject  is  still  living,  and  carries  his  seventy-seven 
years  with  the  vigor  of  a  nuicli  younger  man.  He 
is  derived  from  one  of  the  early  Virginia  families, 
and  is  a  cousin  of  ex-GovernorGamble,of  Missouri. 
When  he  was  young  his  parents  removed  to  Beaver 
Ci.iunty,  Pa.,  and  there  he  was  reared  and  married. 
During  his  residence  in  that  county  he  was  [iromi- 
nent  in  its  public  life,  and  served  as  County 
Commissioner.  Tlie  maternal  grandmother  of  our 
subject  was  one  of  the  famous  family  of  Connor, 
from  whom  sprang  the  great  Irish  orator  of  that 
name.  She  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  though  un- 
educated was  a  remarkably  intelligent  lady,  and 
lived  to  be  nearly  one  hundred  years  old.  Eight 
children  were  born  to  the  parents  of  our  subject, 
of  whom  four  died  in  infancy.  Those  who  grew 
to  maturity  are  .as  follows:  IMiloT. ;  William  E., 
who  died  in  Chicago  in  1885,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  }'ears;  Ruth  and  Dallas  C,  who  are  living  in 
Pennsylvania. 

Dr.  Gamble  was  reared  on  a  farm.  His  early 
education  was  obtained  in  the  common  schools,  and 
he  subsequently  entered  the  Ilookstown  Academy, 
in  Pennsylvania,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  wlicre  he 
was  prepared  for  college.  He  pursued  a  two  years' 
course  there,  and  then  taught  school  and  furthered 
his  education  the  en.suing  three  years  by  miscella- 
neous reading.  So  well  did  he  apply  himself  to  his 
books,  when  he  entered  Westminister  College,  at 
Wilmington,  he  was  graded  as  a  junior.  In  his 
senior  year  his  unremitting  attention  to  his  studies 
caused  his  health  to  break  down  and  he  was  obliged 
to  leave  college  before  the  commencement  exercises 
of  his  class.  His  physician  advised  him  to  travel 
and  in  compliance  with  that  counsel  he  came  west- 
ward as  far  as  Illinois  in  1871.  Here  he  engaged 
to  act  as  commercial  traveler  for  a  Bloomington 
business  house,  and  was  thus  employed  until  he  re- 
gained his  health.  He  then  returned  to  his  native 
State  to  comjilete  his  college  course. 

The  Doctor  had  been  so  favorably  impressed  with 
Illinois  that  he  decided  to  locate  here,  and  in  the 
fall  (if   1871,  he  returned    to  this  State  and  for  a 


378 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  spring  of  1872,  in  company  with  his  friend  Harry 
Gamble,  now  a  renowned  physician  of  Mononga- 
hela  City,  Pa.,  went  to  Leavenwortii.  Kan.,  and  nas 
employed  as  a  teacher  in  tiiat  city.  In  the  summer 
of  1872  he  crossed  the  plains,  a  party  of  eight  start- 
ing from  Lawrence.  The\-  followed  the  old  SmoU\' 
Hill  route  and  saw  what  was  once  known  as  the 
Great  American  Desert  in  its  original  wildness  as 
there  were  not  many  settlements  on  tlie  road.  Deer, 
elk,  and  buffaloes  still  roamed  by  the  hundreds 
over  the  plains,  and  the  little  party  saw  a  herd  of 
three  thousand  of  the  latter  animals  at  one  time. 
Our  subject  and  his  friends  spent  the  summer  in 
the  Rookies,  in  Utah,  Colorado  and  Montana,  and 
in  the  fall  retraced  their  steps  to  Lawrence,  Kan. 
The  Doctor  then  accepted  tiie  principalship  of  the 
High  School  at  Tonganoxie,  that  State.  About 
that  time  he  began  reading  medicine  under  the 
direction  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Van  Emen,  now  a  distin- 
guished physician  of  KansasCity,  Mo.  As  soon  as  his 
school  was  out  in  the  spring  of  1873,  he  began  to 
stud}-  with  Dr.  J.  W.  Brock,  one  of  the  most  eminent 
surgeons  of  Kansas.  He  continued  his  studies  under 
his  direction  .and  was  greatly  interested  in  them. 
In  the  meantime  he  attended  the  winter  lectures  at 
the  Missouri  Medical  College  at  St.  Louis,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1875. 

It  was  the  intention  of  our  subject  to  enter  into 
partnership  with  his  old  preceptor,  upon  completing 
iiis  medical  course.  But  after  leaving  college  he 
came  to  Farmiugton  on  a  visit,  and  was  influenced 
by  his  friends  to  begin  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  this  town.  Perhaps  he  was  brought  to  this 
decision  by  his  meeting  with  Miss  Alice  McCoj',  a 
most  amiable  and  lovable  young  lad}%  at  a  party 
given  b}-  Mrs.  Ralston  just  before  he  left  for  Leav- 
enworth. At  any  rate  the  acquaintance  thus  begun 
ripened  into  a  warm  friendship,  which  terminated 
ic  a  happy  marriage  that  was  solemnized  New 
Year's  Eve,  1879.  Mrs.  Gamble  was  a  native  of 
Wooster,  Oiiio.  Her  parents  are  still  living  in 
Farraington.  For  their  historv  see  sketch  of  Will- 
iam McCoy.  The  Doctor  has  a  beautiful  home  on 
the  north  side  of  Fort  Street,  this  village,  com- 
prising a  handsome  two-story  frame  house,  and 
here  he  and  his  wife  dwelt  in  happiness  until  her 
untimely  death  November  14,  1889.     She  was  of  a 


sweet  and  gracious  nature,  was  faithful  to  all  that 
belonged  to  true  Christian  womanhood,  and  left 
behind  her  the  memor}-  of  all  that  is  pure  and  good. 
Three  children  were  born  of  that  marriage:  Harrj' 
Stuart;  May,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
months;  and  Luella  Frances. 

After  settling  in  Farmington,  the  Doctor  applied 
himself  very  closely  to  his  professional  duties  and 
in  time  has  become  widely  known  for  his  success 
and  skill,  and  the  people  place  great  reliance  upon 
him.  In  1881  he  embarked  in  the  drug  business 
and  has  here  a  fine  and  well-arranged  store  and 
commands  a  la:rge  trade.  In  1889  he  became  owner 
and  proprietor  of  the  book-store  here  which  is  a 
neat  and  well-appointed  establishment,  is  well 
stocked  with  the  best  literature,  all  the  leading 
magazines  and  periodicals  of  the  day,  besides  school 
books,  etc..  and  it  adds  greatly  to  the  educational 
facilities  of  the  village.  In  1887  the  disastrous 
lire  which  destro3'ed  about  half  of  Farmington, 
burned  the  Doctor's  drug  store  and  an  elaborate 
medical  library  which  was  valued  at  $1,100  and  all 
his  instruments.  The  destruction  of  his  beloved 
books  was  more  to  our  subject  than  the  value  of  all 
that  was  destroyed,  as  his  financial  condition  was 
such  that  he  could  sustain  the  pecuciary  loss  without 
being  crippled.  He  is  one  of  the  wealth}'  men  of 
the  village,  and  can  afford  to  indulge  in  all  the  lux- 
uries that  he  may  wish  for.  One  of  his  fancies  is 
for  good  horses,  of  which  he  is  a  connoisseur,  and 
the  horse  men  in  this  county  like  to  have  his  favor- 
able judgment  on  their  animals. 

Our  subject  has  a  strong  hold  on  the  affections 
of  his  fellow-townsmen  and  of  the  many  to  whose 
ailments  he  has  administered,  and  he  has  formed 
manj'  true  and  lasting  friendships.  It  is  sc'ldom 
that  any  man  is  held  in  such  universal  esteem  as 
tliis  good  physician,  wise  counselor,  beloved  men- 
tor and  steadfast  friend.  The  Doctor  is  a  man  of 
deep  culture  and  sound  learning,  and  always  man- 
ages to  keep  abreast  of  the  times,  notwithstanding 
the  many  demands  made  on  him  in  his  profession 
and  business.  His  progressive  public  spirit  has 
placed  him  among  the  foremost  who  have  sought  to 
promote  the  growth  and  enhance  the  general  wel- 
fare of  this  town,  and  his  name  is  inseparably 
connected   with  the  advancement  of  various  enter- 


Henry  Myers. 


Maria  Myers 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


383 


prises  calculated  to  improve  Farmington  in  partic- 
ular and  tlic  county  in  general.  He  is  naturall_v 
inclined  to  politics,  but  out  of  force  of  will  and 
for  the  honor  and  dignity  of  his  profession  re- 
strains himself  from  entering  into  the  political 
arena.  He  has,  however,  represented  his  party, 
(the  Democratic)  at  several  conventions,  but  lias 
never  allowed  his  name  to  go  before  any  conven- 
tion or  caucus  as  a  candidate  for  any  office.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  the  incorporation  of  the 
villflge  in  188.5,  and,  as  vve  have  seen,  has  contrib- 
uted liberally  to  its  rise  and  progress.  The  Doctor 
was  reared  in  tlie  Presbyterian  Church,  and  retains 
the  stanch  decisive  principles  of  tliat  faith. 

T[       ENRY    MYERS,  a  worthy   pioneer   of  the 

'^^^^  count}',  is  one  of  the  largest  landowners  of 
Farmington  Township,  of  which  he  is  an 
!^)  old  settler,  and  no  man  within  its  limits  is 
more  highly  esteemed  tiian  he.  For  many  years 
he  had  been  engaged  in  farming,  and  is  well-known 
as  having  formerly  been  the  owner  of  more  than 
one  thousand  .acres  of  land.  The  greater  part  of 
this  vast  estate  was  situated  in  the  Township  of 
Farmington,  a  portion  in  Canton  Township,  and 
the  rest  in  McDonough  County. 

Valentine  Myers,  the  father  of  our  subject,  passed 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Franklin  County, 
Pa.,  and  there  died,  when  his  son,  of  whom  we 
write,  was  a  boy  of  about  ten  years.  His  untimely 
(loath  cut  short  his  prosperous  career  as  a  farmer. 
The  mother  of  our  subject,  who  before  her  mar 
riage  was  Catherine  Crill,  was  bom  in  Lancaster 
County,  Pa.  She  had  eleven  children — Jacob,  John, 
Adam,  George,  Daniel,  David,  Samuel,  Catherine, 
Henrj',  Elizabeth  and  Joscijb. 

Henry  Myers  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Fa,, 
November  2,  1813.  His  education  was  obtained 
in  the  subscription  schools  of  the  couuty  of  his 
nativity,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He  was 
married  in  Pennsylvania  in  1837  to  Miss  Maria 
Eshelman.  and  for  fift3'-three  years  they  have 
walked  life's  road  together,  have  shared  its  joys 
and  sorrows,  and  have  been  true  to  each  other  and 


to  all  the  obligations  imposed  ui)on  them  in  their 
married  life.  Mrs.  Myers  is  a  notable  housewife, 
a  fine  cook,  and  is  noted  for  her  warm-hearted  hos- 
pitality. She  has  been  of  great  help  to  her  hus- 
band, and  has  performed  her  share  of  the  work 
whereby  the}-  have  secured  a  competency.  Her 
parents  were  John  and  J\Iartha  (Horsh)  Eshelman, 
who  were  natives  of  Franklin  County,  Pa.  The 
Eshelmans  were  an  old  famil}'  of  that  St.ate.  Mi's. 
Myers'  grandfather  (Horsh)  came  to  this  country 
from  Germany.  Her  parents  had  eight  children, 
namely:  Samuel,  John,  Maria,  Daniel,  Abraham, 
Martha,  Michael  and  Catherine. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  lived  in 
Pennsylvania  thirteen  }ears,  and  during  that  time 
•five  children  were  born  to  them.  In  1848  they  de- 
cided to  build  uj)  a  new  home  in  the  Prairie  State, 
and  came  hither  from  Pittsburg  by  river,  landing  at 
Copperas  Creek  in  this  county  in  the  latter  part 
of  Ain-il.  Mr.  Alyers  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  Farmington  Township,  which  he  afterwards  sold. 
He  has  been  a  great  speculator  in  land,  trading 
numy  large  tracts,  and,  as  before  stated,  at  one 
time  owned  one  thousand  acres.  He  has  helped 
his  boys  to  get  a  good  start  in  life,  and  tliev  ail 
have  good  farms  and  arc  well-to-do.  He  has  broken 
l)rairie  and  done  other  pioneer  labor,  working  with 
the  primitive  machinery  of  the  olden  times,  har- 
vesting with  the  cradle  till  the  introduction  of 
four-horse  reapers,  the  diopper  self  rake,  and  self- 
bin<ling  harvester.  His  large  and  well-managed 
farm  is  suiiplicd  with  extensive  improvements  in 
the  shape  of  a  fine  two-story  brick  house,  large 
and  commodious  barns,  windmills,  vvatcr-tanks,  etc. 
It  is  now  occupied  and  managed  by  one  of  his  sons, 
while  he  makes  his  home  in  a  smaller,  but  neat  and 
prett}-  house,  which  he  built  for  himself  and  wife. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  have  had  thirteen  children, 
named  as  follows:  Isaac  Newton,  John  W.,  Wil- 
liam H.,  Catherine,  Joseph,  David  M.,  Martha  E., 
Adeline  B.,  Susan  E.,  Amanda,  Henry  W  ,  Nancy 
M.  and  Daniel.  Isaac  N.  was  a  brave  j'oung  sol- 
dier, and  sacrifi(a^d  his  life  upon  the  altar  of  his 
country.  He  was  a  member  of  Company  G,  One 
Hundred  and  Third  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  shot 
at  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  dying  almost 
instantly.     John   W.,  is   a    farmer    in    fJhampaign 


384 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


County,  111. ;  Henry  W.  died  at  the  age  of  two  years ; 
Catherine  died  when  nineteen  j'ears  old;  Joseph 
lives  in  Canton  ;  David  makes  his  home  in  JIcDon- 
oiigb  Country,  near  Bushuell;  Martha  lives  in 
Henry  Countj';  Adeline  and  .Susan  live  in  Fulton 
County:  Amanda  resides  in  MeDonough  County: 
William  H.  lives  on  the  homestead;  Nancj'  died  at 
the  age  of  three  j-ears,  and  Daniel  is  a  resident  of 
Farinington.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mj'ers  have  thirtj'-six 
grand  children,  and  four  great-grandchildren. 

Like  many  others  of  the  Dunkard  Church,  our 
sul'ject's  life  has  been  simple,  straightforward  and 
unpretentious.  He  is  a  thoroughly  good  man, 
kind  and  charitable  towards  all,  and  his  unswerv- 
ing honesty  is  a  marked  feature  of  his  chiracter. 
He  is  an  uncompromising  tempeiance  man,  and  is 
in  sympathy  with  the  Prohibition  movement.  In 
earl}"  limes  he  was  a  Whig,  and  cast  his  vote  for 
William  Henry  Harrison,  for  President.  He  has  a 
distinct  recollection  of  the  exciting  events  when  the 
old  General  was  electeii  to  the  Presidency,  and  can 
tell  many  interesting  stories  of  the  hard  cider  and 
log-cabin  campaign  of  that  time.  He  and  his  wife 
are  good  Christian  people,  and  are  members  in  high 
standing  of  the  German  Baptist  Church. 

The  reader  will  notice  in  connection  with  this 
personal  sketch,  lithographic  portraits  of  Mr.  Myeis 
and  his  estimable  wife. 


AMUEL  H.  SHELLT  was  for  twenty -two 
j'ears  identified  with  educational  matters 
in  this  county  as  one  of  its  most  earnest, 
intelligent  and  progressive  teachers.  He 
has  now  abandoned  that  profession  and  is  giving 
his  attention  to  farming.  He  has  a  substantially 
improved  farm,  very  pleasantly  located  on  section 
10,  Woodland  Township. 

Mr.  Shelly  was  born  in  Augusta  County,  Va., 
November  li,  1842.  His  father,  Daniel  Shell}-  was 
also  born  in  that  section  of  the  country,  his  birth 
taking  place  in  the  year  1806.  He  was  a  son  of 
John  Shell}-,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  native 
of   Pennsylvania.     The  Shellys  are  of  English  de 


scent.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  settled  in 
Augusta  County,  Va.,  in  an  early  day  ami  there 
owned  and  farmetl  one  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
roared  quite  a  large  family  of  children.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics. 

The  early  life  of  Daniel  Shelly  was  passed  on  his 
father's  farm  in  Virginia,  and  he  learned  the  trade 
of  a  wagon-maker.  After  he  reached  maturity  he 
carried  on  agriculture  on  a  small  farm  and  at  the 
same  time  engaged  at  his  trade  until  1856.  In  that 
year  he  came  to  this  county,  making  the  journey 
by  wagon  in  six  weeks'  time.  He  and  his  family 
camped  out  on  the  way,  and  in  coming  over  the 
Alleghany  Mountains  they  camped  and  slept  on  the 
summit.  He  settled  on  section  16.  AVoodland 
Township,  where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  land,  which  was  partially  improved. 
He  cleared  up  a  pan  of  the  place  and  made  further 
substantial  improvements.  He  erected  a  large  frame 
house  on  the  homestead  in  1866,  and  then  put  up 
other  suitable'  buildings  from  time  to  time.  His 
extensive  farming  operations  brought  him  in  good 
profits  and  placed  him  among  the  substantial  men 
of  the  county.  He  was  a  man  of  deep  religious 
convictions  and  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  was  a  Democrat  previous  to  the  Re- 
bellion, but  during  the  war  acted  with  the  Repub- 
licans. His  life  was  rounded  out  in  1888,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years.  In  early  life 
he  had  married  Catherine  Haffner,  the  mother  of 
our  subject.  She  was  born  in  Augusta  County,  Va., 
in  1809  and  died  in  1875.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  German  Reformed  Church  the  greater  part  of 
her  life.  Eight  of  the  nine  children  whom  she 
bore  grew  to  maturity,  namely :  David  F.,  Margaret 
(Mrs.  Horn),  Sarah  (Mrs.  Dobson),  Eliza  (3Irs. 
Onion),  Samuel  H.,  Virginia  (Mrs.  Elliott),  Will- 
iam H.  and  James  A.  Little  or  nothing  is  known  of 
the  maternal  ancestry  of  our  subject  save  the  fact 
that  they  were  of  English  descent. 

Samuel  Shelly,  of  whom  we  vrrite,  lived  in  Vir- 
ginia until  he  was  fourteen  years  old  and  then  came 
with  his  parents  to  this  county.  He  was  of  a  studi- 
ous, thoughtful  turn  of  mind,  and  as  a  physical 
deformity  of  the  hands  rendered  manual  labor  in- 
convenient, he  determined  to  educate  himself.  He 
attended   the  district  schools  both  in  Virginia  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


3cS5 


this  county,  which  in  his  day  were  condiioterl  on 
the  subscription  plan,  and  lie  was  a  student  in  one 
such  school  for  two  years  without  any  vacation. 
He  applied  himself  very  closel}'  to  his  books  and 
laid  a  solid  foundation  for  his  education,  whicii  was 
advanced  by  attendance,  in  the  year  1868-69,  at 
the  State  Normal  School  at  Normal,  111.  Thus  well 
equipped  for  his  ciiosen  profession,  he  entered  on 
its  duties  and  taught  on  an  average  of  eight  months 
a  year  for  twenty-two  years.  He  taught  in  district 
schools  in  Woodland  and  Astoria  Townships,  and 
one  term  in  Schuyler  County. 

While  teaching,  Mr.  Shelly  made  his  home  in 
Astoria  the  most  of  the  time.  Four  years  ago  he 
gave  up  his  professional  work,  and  moving  on  to 
the  old  homestead  on  section  16,  in  1886,  he  farmed 
that  place  eight  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  bought  his  [)resent  farm  of  seventy-two  acres  in 
1889  and  has  resided  on  it  and  devoted  himself  to 
its  eultivat,ion  ever  since.  It  is  well  improved  with 
a  neat  frame  house,  good  fences  and  a  fine  orchard. 
It  is  admirably  adapted  to  stock-raising  purposes, 
and  our  subject  is  engaged  in  that  branch. 

October  24,  1869,  our  subject  and  Miss  Ange- 
lina Merrill  were  wedded.  Mrs.  Shelly  is  a  native 
of  this  county,  born  June  24,  1846.  Her  father, 
Stephen  S.  Merrill,  was  born  in  Maine,  June  24, 
1788.  His  father,  Abel  Merrill,  was  also  a  native 
of  that  State  and  was  born  October  1,  1755.  He 
cultivated  a  small  farm.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolution  and  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig,  and  is  said  to  have 
been  quite  radical.  He  was  a  prominent  6gure  in 
the  public  life  of  his  native  place  and  held  local 
offices  much  of  the  time.  He  was  a  life-long  resi- 
dent of  his  native  State.  The  Merrill  family  was  of 
English  ancestry  and  came  first  to  America  abcuil 
the  time  of  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers. 

Mrs.  Shelly 's  father  was  reared  on  the  Maine 
farm  that  had  been  his  birthplace,  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  began  life  as  a  sailor  on  the  ocean,  and  all 
his  brothers  were  likewise  thus  engaged.  He  fol- 
lowed the  sea  for  fifteen  years  and  worked  his  way 
up  from  a  menial  position  before  the  mast  to  be 
first  mate  of  his  ship.  His  vessel  sailed  to  the  West 
India  Islands  and  various  parts  of  the  world.  In 
1833  he  abandoned  the  sea-faring  life,  and  coming 


to  Illinois  l)y  water  from  New  Orleans  he  became 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  in  this  State.  He  first 
stopped  at  Kushville,  where  he  had  tlie  cholera. 
After  his  recovery  from  that  dread  disease,  he 
worked  at  odd  jobs  the  first  year,  and  then  with  the 
money  thus  earned  bought  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  19,  Woodland  Township,  entering  it  as 
'Government  land.  It  was  heavily  timbered,  and 
he  had  to  clear  a  spot  on  which  he  erected  a  story 
and  a  half  hewed  log  house  18x24  feet  in  dimen- 
sions. There  were  deer,  wolves,  panthers  and  wild 
turkeys  in  this  region  tlien,  and  the  venison  and 
turke3'  ^^^^  li^  obtained  by  tin.  use  of  his  rifle 
formed  an  important  addition  to  the  household 
fare.  He  died  May  8,  1890,  in  the  home  in  which 
he  had  lived  for  man3' years.  He  had  been  a  church 
member  all  his  life,  first  of  the  Congregational  and 
later  pf  the  United  Brethren.  He  was  very  gener- 
ous in  his  contributions  to  support  the  Gospel  and 
was  much  interested  in  foreign  missions,  giving 
8100  each  year  to  the  missionary  society  to  be  used 
in  Africa.  He  was  a  Whig  in  politics  and  later 
became  a  Republican.  He  held  various  township 
offices,  among  which  was  that  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  helped  organize  the  townships  when 
they  were  laid  out. 

Mrs.  Shelly's  motlier  was  in  her  maiden  days 
Elizabeth  Marshall.  She  was  born  in  Jefferson 
County,  (Jhio,  December  16,  1807.  Her  father, 
William  Marshall,  was  of  Scotch  birth  and  came  to 
America  with  liis  parents  when  he  was  two  years 
old.  His  parents  settled  in  Cumberland  County, 
Pa.,  and  he  removed  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Jeffer- 
son County  in  a  very  early  day,  when  the  Indians 
were  still  there.  He  took  up  Government  land  and 
cleared  a  farm,  which  he  managed  until  his  death, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  He  taught  school 
somewhat  while  in  Ohio.  He  was  a  Presbyterian  in 
his  religious  faith  and  was  a  Democrat  in  his  politi- 
cal views,  and  held  some  of  the  offices  of  his  town- 
sliip.  He  married  JMargarct  Sacock,  a  native  of 
Scotland.  She  bore  twelve  children,  and  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  Religiously,  she  was  a 
strong  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mrs. 
Shelly's  mother  came  to  this  county  with  a  brother 
in  1835,  and  settled  on  Otter  Creek,  among  its 
earliest  selilers.     She  was  married  to  Stephen  Mer- 


386 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


'fJ 


rill,  November  11,  1855.  Seven  of  Ibe  eight  chil- 
dren whom  she  bore  grew  to  maturity:  Hannah  1}., 
Diana  J.,  'Williara,  Angelina.  Elizabeth  A.,  Lydia 
r.  and  Mehitable.  She  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  for  over  thirty  years. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shelly  has  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  four  children,  three  of  whom  are 
living,  as  follows:  Edwin  H.,  Mar}'  C.  and  Cora  E. 
Harry  is  the  name  of  the  one  who  died.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Shelly  and  their  two  eldest  children  are  among 
the  most  valued  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  and  the}'  are  a  highly  respected  family.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Shelly  is  a  sound  Eepublican. 


'^t^OSHUA  WEAVER  is  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  honored  citizens  of  Fulton  County. 
He  is  a  retired  farmer,  now  living  in  EUis- 
ville.  Although  he  has  suffered  from  rheuma- 
tism for  many  3-ears,  he  has  not  lost  his  entertain- 
ing ways  and  jovial  spirits,  but  retains  the  social 
qualities  which,  added  to  his  upright  character, 
make  him  well  liked  wherever  he  is  known. 

Mr.  Weaver  comes  of  a  good  family,  his  pater- 
nal grandfather,  the  Hon.  Isaac  Weaver,  having 
been  a  prominent  man  in  the  Ke3'stone  State.  He 
was  born  in  Philadelphia  and  became  a  farmer  in 
Greene  County,  owning  one  thousand  acres  of 
land.  He  subsequently  engaged  in  the  sale  of 
general  merchandise  in  Carmiehaels,  successfully 
pursuing  that  calling  and  becoming  wealthy.  He 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  in  1816,  served  two 
terms  and  then  filled  the  office  of  Auditor  of  State 
several  years.  He  was  of  English  descent  and  zeal- 
ous in  the  Quaker  belief,  to  which  he  had  been 
reared.  He  lived  to  be  more  than  fourscore  years 
old. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  William  Weaver,  was 
born  in  the  Keystone  State,  reared  on  a  farm  and 
engaged  in  agriculture  in  Greene  Countj',  having 
land  near  ClarksviUe.  He  became  an  influential 
citizen  of  that  localit}'.  In  1835  he  emigrated  to 
Illinois,  locating  in  Deerfield  Township,  this  county. 
He  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  there,  began  its 
improvement  and  six  months  later  purchased  three 


hundred  and  twentj-  acres  of  Gevernment  land  in 
Young  Hickory  Township.  There  he  built  a  double 
log  house,  which  was  finally  replaced  by  a  better 
edifice.  He  lived  there  until  the  death  of  his  wife, 
when  he  broke  up  housekeeping  and  resided  with 
his  children.  He  possessed  the  quiet  ways  peculiar 
to  the  Friends  and  retained  his  religious  belief 
until  death.  In  politics  he  was  originally  a  Whig 
and  later  a  Republican.  He  was  once  a  candidate  on 
the  Whig  ticket  for  member  of  the  Legislature,  but 
as  his  partj'  was  in  the  minority  he  was  not  elected. 
He  died  in  Young  Hickory  Township  in  1877,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-eight  years. 

The  wife  of  William  Weaver  and  mother  of  our 
subject  was  Mary  Cornwell.  She  was  born  and 
reared  in  Washington  Count}',  Pa.,  and  possessed 
many  sterling  qualities.  Her  father  was  engaged 
in  boating  on  tlie  Ohio  River,  dying  at  M.aysville, 
in  Kentucky.  The  family  of  which  our  subject  is 
the  third  member  includes  also  Mrs.  Abigail  Reed, 
whose  home  is  near  (ilasford,  Peoria  County,  111.; 
Isaac,  who  died  in  Prairie  City,  in  February,  1890; 
David,  who  died  in  Canton  when  thirty  years  old 
and  while  he  was  studying  medicine;  Nancy,  who 
died  at  Yates  City,  111.,  twenty-five  years  ago,  was 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Bursoii,  of  that  place;  and  Mrs. 
Mary  Dodds,  of  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

Joshua  Weaver  was  born  near  Carmiehaels, 
Greene  County,  Pa.,  December  31.  1820.  He  was 
a  child  of  five  years  when  his  father  removed  to 
Castile  Run,  near  ClarksviUe,  where  he  was  reared 
on  a  farm.  He  attended  school  in  the  old-fashioned 
structure  which  has  been  so  frequently  described, 
doing  his  writing  with  a  quill  pen  and  having  but 
few  text  hooks.  He  early  learned  to  work  and 
until  fourteen  years  old  drove  cattle  and  horses  in 
a  hilly  country.  He  well  remembers  the  journey 
to  this  State,  which  took  place  in  April,  1835.  The 
party  drove  four  miles  to  Mononaghela,  embarked 
on  a  boat  which  conveyed  them  to  Pittsburg,  and 
by  the  rivers  they  continued  their  journey  to  St. 
Louis  and  thence  to  Beardstown.  Fourteen  days 
were  consumed  on  the  route. 

The  family  remained  at  Beardstown  three  months 
while  the  father  looked  for  land,  traveling  about 
on  horseback.  He  selected  a  tract  and  the  family 
went   thither  in  a   wagon  drawn   by   two  yoke  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


387 


oxen.  There  were  verj'  few  settlers  in  the  neigh- 
borhood ami  wild  game  was  still  plentiful  iu  the  tim- 
ber and  on  the  unbroken  prairies.  A  wolf  hunt  was 
a  source  of  excitement,  and  several  are  recalled  by 
our  subject,  whose  father  also  killed  deer.  After 
coming  here  the  lad  had  but  three  months  school- 
ing, being  kept  busy  iu  helping  to  develop  the 
farm.  He  drove  a  breaking  team,  mauled  rail.s, 
and  assisted  his  father  in  various  ways  until  his 
marriage  in  the  spring  of  1842. 

Mr.  Weaver  then  rented  land  in  Deerfield  Town- 
ship and  after  a  few  3'ears  bought  eightj'  acres  on 
section  3.  There  he  improved  and  built  upon  the 
laud,  adding  to  his  acreage  from  time  to  time  until 
he  possessed  two  hundred  ;icres  in  that  and  two 
hundred  and  eighty  iu  Young  Hickory  Township, 
for  which  he  paid  from  -So  to  §40  per  acre.  It  is 
now  improved  so  as  to  form  four  distinct  farms, 
which  have  been  divided  among  his  children,  ex- 
cept a  quarter  section,  which  Mr.  Weaver  retains, 
but  since  September,  1885,  has  rented  it  and  lived 
in  Ellisville.  The  land  has  been  devoted  to  the 
cultiv.ation  of  grains  and  the  raising  of  stock,  high 
grades  of  which  were  alwaj's  to  be  seen  there. 
Forty  acres  are  left  in  timber.  Although  ;Mr. 
W^eaver  has  been  a  physical  sufferer  since  1858, 
often  confined  to  his  coucli,  he  superintended  the 
estate  until  his  removal  to  the  village. 

The  lady  whom  Mr.  Weaver  won  for  his  wife, 
in  April,  1842,  was  Marj-  A.,  daughter  of  John 
IJykeraan.  She  was  born  in  Indiana,  but  came 
hither  with  her  parents  in  1837.  She  passed  away 
in  the  spring  of  1850,  leaving  three  children.  The 
oldest,  Mary  K.,  was  a  student  i:i  Abingdon  Col- 
lege and  is  now  the  wife  of  D.  M.  Lawson,  a  farmer 
in  Deerfield  Township;  John  William,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  seven  j'ears;  Harmon,  who  studied  in 
Hedding  College,  moved  to  Cahfornia  on  account 
of  the  health  of  his  wife,  and  now  ojienatcs  a  fruit 
farm  there. 

Our  subject  w.as  married  October  21,  1851,  to 
Eliza  Ann  Martin,  who  has  lived  in  this  county 
since  1830,  and  is  therefore  one  of  the  oldest  resi- 
dents now  living.  She  was  born  in  Muhlenberg 
County,  Ky.,  in  1826,  and  reared  in  this  locality 
with  the  privileges  of  the  common  schools.  She 
is  the  mother  of  four  children.     James  A.  is  farm 


,  Deerfield  Township,  Martin  in  Young  Hick- 
or3'  Township,  and  Hemy  I.  operates  the  home- 
ste.ad ;  Martha  J.  is  the  wife  of  G.  L.  Fisk.  an 
undertaker  in  Ellisville. 

Mrs.  Weaver  is  a  granddaughter  of  Hugh  Mar- 
tin, a  Virginian,  who  made  one  of  the  Daniel  Boone 
colony  in  Kentucky.  One  of  his  children  was  the 
first  boin  in  that  State.  Like  his  associates,  he 
carried  on  farm  work,  although  on  account  of  the 
Indians  the  f.amilies  lived  iu  .stockades  for  several 
years.  He  died  in  Millersburg  County.  The  father 
of  Mrs.  Weaver  was  John  H.  Martin,  who  was 
born  near  Lexington,  February  22,  1789.  He  was 
reared  in  bis  native  State  and  there  married  a 
young  lad}'  of  an  equal]}-  good  Southern  family. 
He  began  school  teaching  when  seventeen  3-ears  old 
and  followed  that  occupation  during  a  great  part 
of  his  life,  adding  to  it  the  cultivation  of  the  soil. 

In  the  fall  of  1828  Mr.  Martin  located  in  Jeffer- 
son Count}',  HI.,  teaching  there  two  years.  He 
then  came  to  this  county,  sjjending  the  winter  of 
the  deep  snow  in  Smithfield.  In  the  spring  of  1831 
he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Farmers'  Town- 
ship, which  he  improved,  teaching  also  for  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1835  he  changed  his  location  to 
Deerfield  Township,  entering  eiglity  acres  on  sec- 
tion 1.  After  a  few  years  he  removed  to  Fairview, 
where  he  clerked.  In  1843  he  returned  to  the 
farm,  remaining  there  until  his  wife's  death,  after 
which  he  made  his  home  with  his  children;  He 
died  at  the  home  of  his  eldest  son,  in  Lyon  Count}', 
Kan.,  in  1871.  He  was  the  first  Supervisor  of 
Deerfield  Township  and  w.as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  years.     Religiously,  he  was  a  Presbyterian. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Weaver  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Martha  Summers.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
William  Summers,  who,  like  herself,  was  born  iu 
North  Carolina,  and  who  is  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Kentucky.  She  became  the  mother 
of  five  children,  Mrs.  AVeaver  being  the  second  in 
order  of  birth.  Thomas  C.  died  in  Emporia,  Kan.; 
William  A.  was  killed  at  the  close  of  the  war; 
Charles  C.  died  in  Greenwood  County,  Kan. ;  James 
H.  has  not  been  heard  of  by  his  friends  for  some 
time  .and  his  fate  is  uncertain.  AVilliam  A.  enlisted, 
in  1862,  in  a  Missouri  cavalry  regiment  and  be- 
came Captain  of  a  company.     He  served  until  the 


388 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


close  of  the  war  and  near  Liittle  Rock  was  shot 
from  ambush,  presumably  for  his  money,  as  he  was 
robbed. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  a  School  Di- 
rector nearly  all  his  life  and  has  aided  in  building 
several  schoolhonses.  He  served  as  Commissioner 
of  Highways  several  terms,  was  Assessor  two  j-ears 
and  Supervisor  of  Deerfield  Township  for  three 
years.  After  having  voted  with  the  Whig  party 
in  early  life,  he  became  a  stanch  Republican  and 
has  frequently  acted  as  delegate  iu  county  and  Con- 
gressional conventions.  He  has  served  on  the 
grand  and  petit  juries,  and  as  foreman  of  the 
former.  He  was  identified  with  the  Cumberland 
Fresbj'teriau  Church,  which  is  now  extinct  in  *his 
vicinit}',  and  held  the  otiice  of  Elder. 


z^ 


WLLIAM  McCRACKEN.  Every  country, 
Ifl  state  and  county  furnishes  its  quota  of 
v/'^'  what  the  world  calls  "self-made  men,"  men 
who  commencing  in  life  without  financial  assistance 
have  by  means  of  their  own  good  judgment  and 
energ}'  siu'ceeded  in  gaining  success  in  their  chosen 
vocation,  and  the  subject  of  our  sketch  undoubtedly' 
belongs  to  this  class.  His  birth  occurred  in  Lick 
ing  County,  Ohio,  November  27,  1829,  being  the 
son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Simcox)  McCracken, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His  paternal  grandfather 
was  l)or]i  in  Scotlan<l  and  u[)on  coming  to  America 
settled  in  Peiiusylvania. 

Our  subject's  father  passed  his  youth  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, btit  when  quite  a  young  man  moved  to  Lick- 
ing Count}-,  Ohio,  where  he  was  numbered  among 
the  pioneers,and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  counted 
one  of  the  foremost  farmers  in  that  section  of  the 
country.  His  <leath  occurred  after  lie  had  attained 
his  eighty-ninth  year.  He  was  a  member  of  tlie 
Democratic  party  and  took  much  interest  in  poli- 
tics; and  he  was  also  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  married  Margaret  Simcox,  who  lived 
to  be  sixty-five  3-ears  old.  and  to  them  were  born 
twelve  children,  viz:  James;  Mrs.  Martha  Wile}'; 
Mrs.  Mary  Brown,  John,  William,  Robert,  Eli, 
Samuel,  EleazerW.,  Wilson  Shanan.  Henry  >L,and 


Joseph  (deceased).     Our  subject's  maternal  ances- 
tors were  Frenchmen. 

Mr.  McCracken  passed  his  youth  in  Licking 
County  on  a  farm,  attending  school  during  the  ■> 
winter  and  farming  through  tiie  summer  months 
until  he  reached  his  eighteenth  year.  After  that 
time  he  worked  for  three  j'ears  at  the  carpenter's 
trade  for  §4  a  month  tlie  first  year,  $9  the  second 
year,  and  ^i:}  the  last  year. 

Our  subject  was  married  April  20,  1851.  to  Miss 
Fann}'  Bordner,  and  soon  after  marriage  they  came 
to  this  State,  making  the  trip  b}-  wagon,  and  were 
never  in  a  house  from  the  time  of  leaving  until 
they  arrived  here,  being  twenty-one  days  on  the 
road.  The}'  first  settled  near  Bryant,  Liverpool 
Township,  and  after  a  short  time  moved  to  Iowa, 
but  soon  returned  and  lived  on  Widow  Bordner's 
place  one  year.  They  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  this  township  on  section  7, 
where  they  lived  for  two  years,  and  then  selling 
the  land  at  a  large  profit  and  so  getting  a  nice 
start  in  life  they  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  this  place  with  only  two  or  three  acres  of 
it  cleared.  Our  subject  soon  built  a  log  cabin  and 
continued  to  live  in  it  for  a  period  of  eleven  years 
during  which  time  he  was  clearing  up  and  cultiva- 
ting his  estate.  He  has  continued  to  add  to  his 
property  until  at  the  present  writing  he  owns  four 
hundred  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  built  his  frame 
house  in  1868  at  a  cost  of  81,600,  and  liis  barn  in 
the  spring  of  1884  at  a  cost  of  >5l,Oi0.70,  and  this 
not  counting  his  own  labor.  He  has  farmed  quite 
extensively 'but  since  the  beginning  of  1890  has 
retired  from  active  work,  though  devoting  some  of 
his  attention  to  stock-raising. 

Mr.  McCracken  came  to  this  township  with  89.65 
in  his  pocket,  oneiwagon  and  two  blind  horses,  and 
at  the  present  day  is  one  of  the  wealthiest  farmers 
in  this  section  of  the  country  and  his  residence 
and  barns  arc  among  the  finest  in  Liverpool  Town- 
ship. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCracken  have  been  born 
five  children,  four  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  viz: 
M.  Arista,  Ira  A.,  Samuel,  Mrs.  Rilda  J.  Denney. 
Mrs.  McCrackcn's  birth  occurred  in  Licking 
County,  Ohio,  April  15,  1826,  being  the  daughter 
of  Peter  and  Christena  (Losh)  Bordner,  were  na- 
tives   of    Berks    and    Dauphin    Counties,    Pa.,  re- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


389 


spectively.  Her  father  learned  thc^carpenter  and 
joiner  trade  vvbieh  he  followed  in  Pennsylvania 
until  1825  at  which  time  he  removed  to  Lickini,^ 
County,  Ohio,  being  one  of  the  pioneers  in  lh.it 
county.  He  worked  at  bis  trade  and  anything  he 
could  get  to  do,  and  Zanesville  was  his  nearest 
trading  point.  In  1853  he  sold  bis  property  and 
moved  to  Fulton  County,  settling  in  Liverpoul 
Township,  and  afterward  in  Lewistown  Townsbi|), 
where  he  died  in  1882  in  his  ninety-ninth  year.  The 
mother  was  born  in  1789  and  is  still  livingwith 
her  son,  Moses  Bordner,  in  Lewistown  Township, 
and  at  the  present  writing  has  attained  her  one 
bundi'ed  and  first  year. 


^*^l< 


r-'E^. 


^=^EORGE  L.  DURELL.  It  is  conceded  to 
ill  g=i  Ije  one  of  the  most  difficult  things  known  to 
^^^41  the  business  world  to  establish  a  local  pajier 
on  a  paying  basis.  It  requires  more  patience,  per- 
severance and  tact  than  almost  any  other  calling. 
Few  there  are  who  properly  understand  the  trials 
that  beset  the  thorn3'  path  of  the  country  editor, 
who  is  expected  to  issue  a  paper  that  will  compare 
in  every  way  with  the  dailies  of  the  large  cities. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  can  properly  appreciate 
these  remarks,  as  he  has  for  some  years  edited  and 
published  a  family  newspa|)er,  the  Vermont  Chron- 
icle, that  finds  its  way  into  many  a  household,  and 
is  a  fair  specimen  of  i-s  kind. 

Mr.  Durell  is  the  son  of  a  well-known  family  of 
this  county,  of  which  he  is  a  native.  He  vvasborn 
in  Astoria  Township,  Aiiril  17,  1851,iieing  the 
youngest  son  of  William  and  Margaret  Durell. 
(For  parental  history  see  sketch  of  E.  P.  Durell  on 
another  page  of  this  work.)  Our  subject  was 
three  years  old  when  his  parents  removed  to  Ver- 
mont, and  here  he  was  reared,  and  in  the  public 
schools  obtained  his  education.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  commenced  to  learn  the  art  of  i)rinting, 
at  which  time  he  established  the  Vermont  Chronicle. 
With  much  enterprise  he  opened  an  office,  em- 
ployed a  [)ractical  com|)ositGr,  and  stood  at  the 
case  daj'  after  day  until  he  had  acquired  a  good 
knowledge  of  type-setting.     He  continued  to  edit 


the  Chronicle  until  1879,  when  he  sold  it,  as  he 
wished  to  go  to  Colorado  for  the  purpose  of  min- 
ing. The  following  year  he  operate<l  a  job-print- 
ing oltice  in  Denver  for  a  short  time. 

In  the  fall  of  1880  Editor  Durell  returned  to 
his  native  Stale,  and  again  became  the  proprietor 
and  manager  of  tlie  Chronicle,  buying  the  office 
and  outfit,  and  conducting  a  paying  business  as 
job-printer  in  addition  to  his  editorial  duties.  His 
paper  is  a  neat,  well-regulated  sheet,  containing 
much  useful  information  and  local  matter  of  in- 
terest to  its  readers.  It  is  a  Republican  organ, 
and  is  firm  in  support  of  party  principles. 

Oiu' subject  has  a  pleasant,  comfortable  home, 
and  to  the  lady  who  presides  over  his  domestic 
lares  and  peuates  he  was  united  iu  marriage  Sep- 
tember 18,  1872.  Six  children  have  come  to  them, 
five  of  whom  are  living,  namely:  Dora,  Edna, 
Terrjf,  Edwin  and  Sadie.  Mrs.  Durell  is,  like  her 
husband,  a  native  of  this  county,  and  she  is  a 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Sarah  Stapleford. 


Redding  p.  willcoxen  belongs  to  the 

famous  Willcoxen  faniily,a  graphic  descrip- 
tion of   which  is  given   in    the   sketc(j  of 
^  George  W.  Ray,  whose  wife  was,  previous 
to  her  marriage,  Miss  Anna  A.  Willcoxen. 

Our  subject  was  born' in  Liverpool  Township, 
August  29,  1838,  being  the  son  of  Elijah  Calloway 
Willcoxen,  who  was  born  in  Estel  County,  K^-., 
March  12,  1817,  and  of  Prudence  (Putnam)  Will- 
coxen, who  was  born  in  Kentucky  September  22, 
1820.  His  father  attended  the  early  schools  of  his 
native  county  up  to  the  time  of  reaching  his  thir- 
teenth year,  at  which  date  he  moved  with  his  par- 
ents to  Fulton  County,  after  which  he  attended 
school  and  assisted  in  cultivating  the  farm.  After 
his  marriage  he  settled  on  a  farm  where  he  owned 
a  sawmill,  and  afterward  .added  a  gristmill,  and 
continued  to  run  the  two  in  connection  with  his 
farming  for  about  twelve  years.  In  connection 
with  his  brother,  Jeremiah  F.,  he  also  owned  a  saw- 
mill in  Lewistown  Township,  and  in  this  way  made 
a  good  deal  of  money,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 


390 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBIM. 


left  between  $15,000  and  820,000.  He  had  a  re- 
markable mind  and  was  a  good  mathematician.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Ba|)tist  Church.  He  belonged 
to  the  DeDiocTatic  part^'  and  held  manj'  offices  of 
public  importance,  and  was  Supervisor  for  several 
years.  He  built  his  sp.acious  lirick  residence  in 
1855  at  a  cost  of  $6,000.  His  death  occurred  Jamiary 
22,  1872.  His  wife  was  born  in  Kentuckj-  as  above 
stated,  but  came  with  her  parents  to  Fulton  County 
in  1830.  She  was  a  lovely  Christian  woman,  and 
died  October  24,  1882,  when  sixty-two  years  of 
age.  being  the  mother  of  fourteen  children,  viz.: 
Redding  P.,  Alvina,  Nancy  M.,  Anna,  Elizabeth 
A.,  Louisa  J.,  James  M..  Marshall,  Prudence, 
Hiram,  CalIowa3'  E..  Stephen  A.  D.,  Rebecca  and 
Pacanina. 

Our  subject's  maternal  grandfather.  Redding 
Putman,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but  moved  to 
Fulton  County  in  1830  and  settled  in  Putman 
Township,  which  was  named  in  his  honor.  He 
served  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  was  shot 
through  the  breast  at  the  battle  of  Stillman's  De- 
feat. About  1842  he  removed  to  Washington 
County,  Ark.,  where  he  settled  on  a  farnv  and 
where  he  died  after  attaining  his  eightietli  3'ear. 

Mr.  Willcoxen  p.assed  his  youth  on  a  farm  in 
Liverpool  Township,  attending  the  di.-^trict  school 
that  was  very  commo.i  and  where  the  information 
imparted  was  very  meagre.  He  was  married  May 
8,  1862,  to  Miss  Amanda  Stoutt,  a  nptive  of  Loo-an 
Count}-,  111.,  who  died  when  thirty-one  years  of 
age,  leaving  four  children,  viz.:  Thomas  Lee,  Anna 
P.,  Andrew  J.  and  Noah  C.  On  December  22, 
1873,  our  subject  was  again  married,  this  time  to 
Miss  Lucinda  Jlorgan,  who  was  born  in  Fulton 
County,  December  21.  1848.  This  m.arriage  has 
been  blessed  with  seven  cliildren.  viz.:  Viola  A.. 
William  W.,  Redding  (i.,  Jessie  D.,  Melinda  M., 
James  O.  and  Bert  M. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  afler  his  marriage  set- 
tled on  a  portion  of  his  father's  farm,  and  after  the 
death  of  the  latter  bought  tiie  old  homestead,  which 
consisted  of  two  hundred  ai  d  nineteen  acres,  and 
has  continued  to  reside  on  this  property.  Besiiles 
farming  he  is  also  largely  interested  in  stock-rais- 
ing. His  residence  is  verj^  elegant,  being  indeed 
about  the  finest  in' this  section  of  tiie  country,  and  is 


surrounded  by  a  gently  sloping  lawn  that  is  shaded 
by  large  oak  trees.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  is  in  ever^'  way  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative of  the  famil}-  so  well  and  favorably  known 
throughout  this  State. 


7  OIIN  B.  BAYLOR.  There  is  no  one  trait  of 
human  nature  that  endears  a  man  more  to 
the  community  in  which  he  resides  than 
.^^J  does  a  heartfelt  interest  in  the  success  and 
prosperitj-  of  his  St^ate.  count}-,  and  immediate 
place  of  residence.  A  patriotic  man,  one  fond 
alike  of  his.famil}'  and  of  the  incidents  connected 
with  the  success  of  his  home,  is  always  well  liked. 
And  such  is  the  case  of  John  B.  Baylor,  who  com- 
ing to  Fulton  Count}',  when  a  boy  of  only  ten 
years  of  age,  in  the  spring  of  1846,  ranks  as  one  of 
the  old  pioneers  and  has  witnessed  the  rapid  and 
long  strides  that  progress  has  made. 

Our  subject's  parents  settled  in  Bucj^heart  Town- 
ship, where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He  attended 
the  log  schoolhouse,  which  was  merely  a  rickety 
old  building  standing  alone  in  a  large  space  of 
uncultivated  ground,  indeed  such  a  schoolhouse 
as  Lowell  has  beautifully  pictured  in  one  of  his 
noted  poems,  and  which  he  terms  "  a  ragged  beggar 
by  the  way. side  sunning." 

Mr.  Baylor's  father  was  born  in  Washington, 
N.  J.,  and  his  mother,  who  previous  to  her  mar- 
riage was  Miss  Annie  Lydia.  was  born  in  Warren 
County,  N.  J.  They  were  married  in  the  latter 
named  place,  and  to  their  niarri.age  were  born  eleven 
children:  viz.,  Margaret.  Isaac.  Mary  Ann,  INIary, 
Betsy,  William,  John  B,  George,  Washington, 
Isaiah,  and  James,  of  whom  only  six  are  living  at 
the  present  time.  The  father  died  when  sixty 
years  of  age  and  tiie  mother  breathed  her  last  in 
1885,  having  attained  her  eighty-first  year.  The 
subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  September  26th, 
1835,  in  Knowlton  Township,  Warren  County.  N. 
J.  In  1863  he  married  Miss  Prudence  Hiles  of 
Warren  County,  and  their  union  was  blessed  with 
oce  child — George,  who  died  with  diplitheria  a 
dav  or  two  after  his  mother's  death.     ^Ir.   Baylor 


0--^^   aiyuJy^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


393 


was  married  the  second  time,  to  Miss  Kate  Nelson, 
daughter  of  Maj.  Horatio  C.  and  Eliza  (Jones) 
Nelson,  and  born  in  Fulton  County-,  the  21th  of 
June,  1816.  To  this  marriage  were  born  eleven 
children:  Leonard,  Ernest,  Ida  M,  Maud,  Ells- 
worth, Eva,  Reginald,  Royal,  Edith,  Ethel;  and 
Elmer  who  died  in  infancy  and  was  a  twin  of  Ells- 
worth. 

"  The  subject  of  our  sketch  purchased  his  present 
estate  in  1866,  and  takes  great  interest  in  all  matters 
of  local  importance.  He  has  been  Steward  of  the 
Church  for  the  past  twentj'  years,  has  also  served 
as  Class  Leader,  for  seventeen  years  was  (Superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday-school,  and  has  done  much 
to  advance  all  religious  causes  throughout  the 
community  in  which  he  resides.  He  is  also  in- 
terested in  educational  matters,  having  served  for 
the  last  fifteen  years  as  School  Director.  Ills 
political  sympathies  are  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  he  was  appointed  delegate  to  the  County  Re- 
publican Conventiou  at  Canton  in  1889.  Being 
the  happy  possessor  of  a  sunny  and  amiable  disposi- 
tion, Mr.  Ba3lor  is  naturally  very  popular,  and  is 
locked  upon  as  a  most  interesting  companion. 


^'iSAAC  J.  GOSHEN.  The  following  is  a  brief 
sketch  of  the  career  of  Mr.  Goshen,  whose 
/li  present  substantial  position  has  been  reached 
entirely  through  his  own  perseverance,  and  whose 
life  shows  what  can  be  accomplished  by  a  person 
with  courage  and  enlightened  views.  During  his 
childhood  he  experienced  many  disadvantages,  and 
for  years  had  to  struggle  against  a  seemingly  ad- 
verse fate.  Notwithstanding  discouragements  he 
pushed  ahead,  and  the  result  proves  the  wisdom 
of  his  course.  Coming  of  German-French  lin- 
eage, he  inherits  the  perseverance  of  the  former 
with  the  versatile  quickness  of  the  latter. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Isaac  Goshen,  was  of 
French  descent,  and  a  native  of  Chester  County, 
Pa.  The  mother,  Margaret  (Stoffer)  Goshen,  was 
of  German  parentage,  and  was  born  in  Lancaster 
County,  Pa.  They  became  the  parents  of  twelve 
children,  of  whom  the  following  lived  to  maturity  : 


John,  Levi,  Henry,  Ann  C,  George,  Isaac  J., 
Christian,  Samuel,  Lydia  and  Martin.  The  father 
died  in  the  Keystone  State  in  May,  1851,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-four  years;  the  mother  survived  until 
1882,  having  attained  the  great  age  of  nearly  ninety 
years. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Pniuisylvania,  and 
llrst  saw  the  light  of  day  in  the  village  of  New 
Holland,  on  September  17,  1828.  When  six  years 
old  he  was  taken  to  live  with  a  family  named  Hart- 
man,  in  his  native  county.  There  he  was  well 
treated  and  allowed  to  attend  school  durjng  the 
winter  season.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  commenced 
to  learn  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  from  his  father, 
who  understood  the  business.  But  possessing  an 
ambitious  nature,  and  anxious  to  see  the  famous 
West  beyond  the  mountains  of  his  native  State,  he 
left  Penns_ylvania  in  company  with  a  family  with 
whom  he  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  acquainted. 
The  trip  was  made  in  1849  by  canal  to  Pittsburg, 
thence  by  steamer  down  the  Ohio  river,  up  the 
broad  Mississippi  and  the  tranquil  Illinois  to  Cop- 
peras Creek,  where  they  landed  in  May,  1849. 

From  that  place  our  subject  proceeded  to  Can- 
ton, thence  to  Farmington,  where  he  soon  found 
occupation;  and  where  for  three  years  after  his  ar- 
rival he  worked  for  others.  In  1853,  having  de- 
termined to  start  out  for  himself,  he  commenced 
business  as  a  carpenter,  and  being  a  first-class 
workman  and  an  industrious-man,  he  has  succeeded 
admirably  in  his  chosen  profession.  Many  of  the 
handsome  houses  of  the  city  and  country  were  de- 
signed and  erected  by  him ;  and  he  sustains  an  en- 
viable reputation  both  in  social  and  business  circles. 
In  his  political  belief  he  uses  his  influence  in  behalf 
of,  and  casts  his  ballot  with  the  Republican  party. 
During  the  late  war  he  was  a  strong  Lincoln  Aboli- 
tionist. 

On  September  21,  1858,  the  ceremony  was  per- 
formed which  united  Mr.  Go-ehen  and  Miss  Eleanor 
PI  Budd,  of  Turin,  N.  Y.  Their  three  children 
are  named  respectively,  Emma  M.,  Lillian  W.,  (Mrs. 
Frank  Steeuberg),  of  Farmington,  and  Francis  I., 
deceased.  The  famil3'  residence  on  F'ulton  Street, 
is  especially  attractive,  and  is  built  after  the  most 
approved  style  of  architecture,  and  elegantly  fur- 
nished.   Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goshen  belong  to  t'l  ■  C'ongre- 


39-t 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


gatidiial  Cliurcli  at  Farinington,  toward  the  support 
of  which  lliey  are  liberal  and  constant  contributors. 
I'lilimited  praise  is  riii'hlfuliy  bestowed  upon  him 
for  the  noble  manner  in  which  he  has  battled  with 
the  trials  and  privations  that  the  poor  are  com- 
pelled to  endure.  As  one  of  the  self-made  citizens 
of  Fulton  County,  we  are  pleased  to  present  a  por- 
trait of  ilr.  Goshen  on  another  page. 


*1r^  AVID  BOSWELL  has  been  a  resident  of 
i),  this  county  since  1855,  when  he  .associated 
himself  with  its  pioneer  farmers.  His  home 
is  in  Joshua  Township,  where  he  has  a 
good  farm,  and  is  actively  and  successfully  engaged 
in  its  cultivation.  He  is  a  Virginian  by  birth,  born 
amid  the  beautiful  scenery  of  Shenandoah  Couutj-, 
in  1807. 

When  our  subject  was  still  a  small  boy,  he  left 
liii  native  State  and  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  earned 
his  own  living  by  working  on  a  farm  in  Champaign 
C'Uint^'.  In  1855,  in  the  prime  of  stalwart  man- 
liood  he  resolved  to  try  life  in  Illinois,  where  he 
considered  he  would  have  a  better  opportunity  for 
prosecuting  his  calling  as  a  practical  farmer.  After 
his  arrival  here  he  located  in  Buckheart  Township, 
having  made  the  trip  hither  in  a  two-horse  wagon. 
He  was  accomi)anied  b}'  one  David  M\ers,  wlio 
took  up  a  farm  on  the  same  seclsion  and  is  living 
on  it  at  the  present  time.  Mr.  Boswell  has  prose- 
cuted his  calling  with  good  success,  placing  his 
estate  under  good  improvements  and  from  its  well- 
cultivated,  highl}'  productive  fields,  reaps  rich 
harvests  in  compensation  for  the  toil  and  care  ex- 
pended. He  is  the  oldest  man  now  living  in  his 
township,  whose  growth  he  has  watched  with  pleas- 
ure, promoting  it  in  his  capacity  of  an  energetic 
agriculturalist. 

51  r.  Boswell  took  unto  himself  a  wife  and  help- 
mate in  the  person  of  Miss  Nancy  Colbert,  whose 
parents  were  natives  of  Virginia.  She  was  born  in 
Ohio,  April  10,  1809,  and  in  their  thirty-five  years 
of  wedded  life  he  litis  been  greatly  aided  by  her 
ch<erful  co-operation  and  wise  counsel.  She  is 
known  as  an   aniiable   and    pious    lady,  and  as  an 


active  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Boswell  have  had  a  family  of  thirteen  children, 
namelv:  Mary  Ann,  deceased;  Maliala,  who  is  in 
Ohio;  Anna  Maria,  deceased;  Ezekiel,  who  makes 
his  home  in  St.  David;  Barbara,  in  Cumberland 
County,  III.;  Stephen,  who  is  a  resident  of  Joshua, 
where  lie  is  engaged  in  farming;  Sarah  resides  in 
Joshua;  Francis,  and  Jane,  deceased;  Oliver  lives 
in  Canton,  and  is  occupied  in  teaming;  Lucinda,  in 
Canton ;  John  and  Samuel,  also  deceased.  All  the 
children  are  married,  and  in  their  honorable  lives 
reflect  credit  upon  their  early  training.  Mr.  Bos- 
well, politically,  has  been  a  life-long  member  of 
the  Democrat  i)arty.  He  is  a  man  of  good  habits. 
and  is  well  thought  of  in  the  community-  where  he 
has  resided  for  so  manj-  years. 


— ■"  •>  •..-^-^^'  <•  "• — 

OHN  FISHER  stands  among  the  foremost  of 
the  successful  farmers  who  have  contributed 
so  greatly  to  the  deveIoi)raeut  of  this  county. 
His  interest  is  centered  in  Buckheart  Town- 
ship, where  he  has  one  of  the  largest  and  best  man- 
aged farms  in  this  part  of  the  State,  and  for  many 
years  has  been  engaged  in  raising,  feeding  and  sliip- 
ping  stock  with  good  profits.  Mr.  Fisher  was  born 
in  the  vicinitj'  of  Washington.  Clark  County.  Ind., 
October  ■>,  1827. 

The  father  of  onr  subject,  Frederick  Fisher,  was 
a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  son  of 
another  Frederick  Fisher  who  was  of  Dutch  de- 
scent, and  a  pioneer  of  Indi.ana.  The  former 
was  a  lad  of  fifteen  years  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Indiana  and  he  grew  to  manhood  amid 
pioneer  surroundings  and  was  there  married  to 
Sarah  Fouts.  Her  f.ather  was  Jacob  Fonts,  Esq., 
a  native  of  North  Carolina,  coming  of  an  old  Dutch 
famil)',  and  he  was  a  pioneer  of  Indiana,  where  he 
carried  on  farming.  In  1830,  Mr.  Fisher  came 
to  this  county,  and  located  in  what  is  now  Buck- 
heart  Township,  being  one  of  its  earliest  settlers. 
Taking  up  his  residence  on  a  wild  tract  of  land,  a 
half  mile  south  of  Mr.  Fisher's  present  farm,  he 
continued  to  live  there  and  developed  it.  At  the 
expiration  of  ten  years  he  moved  on  a  farm,  three 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


395 


miles  south,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  vras 
passed,  his  death  occurring  in  1876.  He  held  an 
honorable  place  among  the  pioneers  of  the  county 
and  his  name  is  cherished  as  one  of  those  \Yho  laid 
the  foundation  for  its  upbuilding.  His  wife  and 
twelve  of  their  thirteen  children  survived  liim  and 
all  are  j-et  living  except  the  mother,  who  died  in 
1887,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eiglity  years.  She 
was  a  native  of  Clark  County,  Ind. 

John  Fisher,  of  wliom  this  sketch  is  written,  is 
tlie  second  son  and  third  child  of  this  large  family 
and  was  principally  reared  in  Buekhearl  Township, 
lliis  county.  He  spent  his  school  days  at  the  High- 
bridge  school  house,  but  they  were  soon  passed  as 
he  was  not  an  attendant  for  more  than  six  months  al- 
together. His  education  has  been  principally  gained 
b}-  experience,  observation  and  reading.  He  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  twenty-three  3'earj 
old,  and  then  started  ^ut  in  the  world  to  battle  with 
life  on  his  own  account.  To  aid  him  in  vanquish- 
ing the  difficulties  that  lay  in  his  way  he  secured 
the  co-operation  of  Miss  Melissa  J.  Maxwell,  who 
has  been  to  him  a  true  and  faithful  wife.  Her  par- 
ents were  Alexander  and  Mary  Maxwell,  and  t'.iey 
came  to  Fulton  County  from  Tenr.essee  at  an  early 
day,  and  she  was  born  in  Buckheart  Township.  Her 
marri.age  with  our  subject  has  been  productive  to 
them  of  seven  children,  as  follows:  Josephine, 
wife  of  Cyrus  Alcott,  a  farmer  and  fine  stock  dealer, 
living  near  Fairview,  111.;  Alice,  who  mnrried  F.  M. 
Foutz,  also  a  farmer  and  stock  dealer  near  Canton, 
111.;  she  died  in  December,  1884;  Willard,  living 
near  the  town  of  Dunfermline,  carrying  on  a  farm 
and  running  tlie  meat  market  for  tlie  town,  mar- 
ried Miss  Josephine  Ballard;  Leonard,  a  farmer, 
dealer  in  cattle  and  fine  horses,  married  Miss  Mar}' 
Bliller  and  lives  near  Canton;  Charley,  farming 
with  his  father  and  makes  aspecialt}'  of  fine  cattle; ' 
Mattie  and  Bertha  at  home. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Fisher  settled  on  the  farm 
three  miles  south  of  his  present  place,  comprising 
eighty  acres  of  land.  He  had  at  that  time  one 
horse  and  a  wagon  borrowing  a  horse  he  did  a 
a  great  deal  of  teaming.  He  and  his  noble  wife 
worked  hard  and  their  united  labors  were  gi-eatly 
prospered.  He  raised  large  quantities  of  hogs  and 
cattle,  bought,    fed    and  sold   stock,   and    carried 


on  a  large  business  in  that  line.  He  sold  that  farm 
and  bought  one  across  the  road  from  where  he  now 
lives,  and  has  since  added  to  his  lauded  possessions 
until  he  is  the  proprietor  of  fifteen  hundred  acres 
of  as  fine  land  as  the  sun  ever  slione  on.  On  a 
fann  of  six  hundred  anrl  forty  acres  of  this  land  is 
located  one  of  the  finest  coal  mines  in  the  State, 
and  here  is  established  the  town  of  Dunfermline. 
The  business  carried  on  is  extensive  and  brings  Mr. 
Fisher  a  princely  income.  A  considerable  prop- 
ert}'  in  Canton  adds  to  his  possessions.  He  has  an 
aniiile  suppl}-  of  buildings,  including  a  commodious 
dwelling  and  a  good  barn.  From  cwerwork  and 
close  application  to  business,  Mr.  Fisher  was  pros- 
trated for  three  years,  but  has  now  in  a  great 
measure  recovered  his  health,  and  is  also  able  to  at- 
tend to  his  many  duties  on  the  farm,  and  to  look 
after  his  extensive  interests.  Our  subject  has  al- 
ways been  keenly  alive  to  the  interests  of  township 
and  county,  and  has  been  an  important  factor  in 
promoting  them.  He  has  been  the  recipient  of 
public  honors  from  his  fellow  citizens  who  have  rec- 
ognized his  superior  business  tact  and  other  fine 
business  qualifications  and  have  often  called  him  to 
assist  in  the  administration  of  public  affairs.  Thus 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  County  Board  of 
Supervisors,  Township  Collector,  and  School  Di- 
rector, having  served  in  the  latter  capacilj'  twenty- 
five  years.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican 
and  his  influence  is  used  to  advance  the  cause  of 
his  part}'. 

^1  m~^\f\/r 


ILLIAM  A.GEARHART,  the  son  of  a  pio- 
.^j,j  neer  of  Fulton  County,  is  industriously 
^  pursuing  his  occupation  .as  a  farmer  on 
section  18,  Orion  TownshiiJ,  of  which  he  is  a  val- 
ued citizen,  and  here  he  has  one  of  the  coziest  and 
happiest  homes  in  all  the  communit}'.  He  is  a  son 
of  John  Gearhart  who  was  born  in  Pennsjdvania 
and  migrated  from  the  Keystone  State  to  this 
county  forty-five  years  ago.  William  A.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  married  Lillian  Ross  in  Febru- 
ary, 1876. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  a  strong  and  energetic 
manhood  in   this  county  and   has   since    identified 


300 


POin'RATT   AND   r.IoaRAPIlICAT.  ALBUM. 


himself  with  the  agrifuluiiMl  ckMiient  tiiat  is  llie 
main  factur  in  |)iouioliiig  the  prosperitj-  of  Orion 
Townshi|).  He  is  a  practical,  clear-headed  man  and 
lias  good  capabilities  as  a  farmer,  has  his  i)lace  uii.- 
der  admirable  cultivation  and  supplied  with  nec- 
essary buildings,  and  it  is  in  gooti  condition 
generally. 

We  sliould  be  doing  but  scant  justice  to  our  sub- 
ject did  we  not  devote  a  part  of  this  sketch  to  the 
good  wife  who  is  laboring  so  faithfully  bj'  his  side 
and  is  an  important  aid  to  him  in  his  work.  She  is 
an  intelligent,  amiable  woman,  is  wise  in  counsel 
and  a  true  friend  to  thoie  about  lier.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Isaac  W.  Ross,  who  was  a 
prominent  merchant  of  Canton,  and  was  also  a  very 
prominent  Mason,  a  member  of  tlie  Grand  Lodge 
of  tlie  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  Mrs. 
Gearhart  is  a  granddaughter  of  Gilbert  Thorne, 
who  moved  from  Marion  County,  W.  Va..  to  Illi- 
nois in  1827,  and  settled  in  Orion  Township. 

Isaac  AY.  Ross,  Mrs.  Gearhart's  father,  marrieil 
Juliet  Thorne,  and  his  widow  now  resiiles  in  Canton. 

Mr.  Geiirliart  lives  comfortably  surrounded  by 
a  happy  family,  the  home  circle  of  himself  and  wife 
being  completed  by  their  daughter  Edith,  aged 
thirteen,  and  Jessie  agerl  seven  years.  Mr.  Gear- 
liart  is  in  all  respects  a  sincere  minded,  straightfor- 
ward man,  of  excellent  habits  and  a  kindl}'  dispo- 
sitinn.  and  he  and  his  amiable  wife  stand  well  in 
the  communitv. 


NDREW  J.  HARLAN.  Terhaps  no  resi- 
dent iu  Young  Hickory  Township,  has 
ill  shown  a  greater  degree  of  enterprise  in 
the  affairs  of  this  world  than  the  subject 
of  this  notice,  who  is  now  Superintendent  of  the 
Central  Cla3^  Company,  in  which  he  is  the  princi- 
pal shareholder  and  President  of  the  London  Mill- 
ing Companj',  of  London  Mills.  The  energy  of 
his  character  is  not  manifested  solely  for  his  per- 
sonal aggrandizement,  but  has  been  displayed,  in 
various  positions  of  public  responsibility,  and  in 
the  promulgiition  of  the  cause  of  Christianity. 


Our  subject  is  of  good  blood,  being  descended 
from  an  old  English  fainil3\  George,  Michael  and 
Jonathan  Harlan  emigrated  to  America  many  years 
ago,  and  our  subject  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  the 
eldest  brother.  Grandfather  Harlan,  whose  given 
name  was  Jonathan,  was  born  in  North  Carolina, 
and  reared  as  a  farmer.  When  the  first  settlements 
were  made  in  Ohio,  he  determined  to  come  North, 
and  locating  in  Clinton  County,  eight  miles  from 
the  Little  Miami  River,  he  hewed  out  a  home  from 
the  wilderness,  and  eventually'  became  wealths. 
He  was  a  prominent  member  of  society,  and  was 
the  first  Sheriff  of  the  county.  One  of  his  sons, 
Andrew  J.  Harlan,  was  a  Congressman  from  In- 
diana. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  David  S.  Harlan, 
who  was  reared  in  his  native  Bucke3-e  State,  fol- 
loweil  farming. and  worked  somewhat  at  brickmak- 
ing  there.  In  the  fall  of  1850  he  came  to  Central 
Illinois  on  his  way  to  Polk  County,  Iowa,  but  be- 
ing pleased  with  this  section,  he  determined  to  re- 
main here.  He  was  a  natural  mechanic,  able  to 
turn  his  baud  to  anj-tliing,  and  he  at  once  found 
emploj'ment,  his  first  work  being  making  a  kiln  of 
brick  for  David  Cowman.  In  the  spring  of  18.')2, 
he  went  on  to  Iowa  with  an  ox-teara  and  two  wag- 
ons, and  spent  a  short  time  in  breaking  prairie.  He 
then  returned  to  this  State,  finally  buying  land  in 
Young  Hickoiy  Township,  and  reclaiming  a  raw 
farm  from  its  primitive  condition.  He  held  vari- 
ous township  offices,  was  School  Trustee  for  jears, 
and  possessed  much  influence.  He  was  one  of  three 
men  in  the  township  vvho  voted  for  Salmon  P. 
Chase  in  1852.  He  was  one  of  the  operators  of  the 
underground  railroad  both  in  Ohio  and  here.  He 
was  reared  iu  the  Quaker  faith,  but  finally  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Ho  died  in 
1886,  when  more  than  seventy-four  years  old. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Marj-  Cowman, 
who  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1809,  and  who  is  now 
living  on  the  old  homestead,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eightj'-one  years.  Iler  father,  Peter  Cowman, 
was  born  in  NewJersev.  January  1,  1777,  and  af- 
ter reaching  manhood  removed  to  Virginia,  where 
be  owned  a  farm  in  Rockbridge  County,  five  miles 
from  the  Natural  Bridge.  He  was  a  teamster  in 
the  War  of  1812.     In  the  fall  of  1832  he  removed 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


397 


with 'his  family  by  wagon  to  llighUuid  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  became  a  well-to-do  farmer.  He 
died  in  1844,  cheered  by  the  faith  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  His  daughter,  afterward  Mrs.  Har- 
lan, was  a  young  lady  when  the  removal  to  the 
Buckeye  State  took  place.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  parental  family  included  eight  children  be- 
sides our  subject,  who  is  the  first-born;  Cyrus  died 
at  home  in  1863;  Milo  occupies  the  old  home- 
stead; Plato  resides  in  Kansas;  Napoleon  Bona 
parte  died  here  in  1866:  Mrs.  Louisa  Swartz  lives 
in  this  township;  Mrs.  Adelia  Spurlockln  Chestnut 
Township,  Knox  County;  Mrs.  Mary  Swartz,  in 
Canton;  Mrs.  Minerva  Dailey  is  with  her  mother 
on  the  old  homestead.  Plato  and  Napoleon  en- 
listed in  1861  in  the  Forty-sevenlh  Illinois  Infan- 
tr3-,  and  served  over  three  years ;  Milo  served  in 
the  Eighty-third  Illinois  Infantry  three  years,  hold- 
ing the  rank  of  Corporal. 

Andrew  ,).  Harlan  was  born  in  Clinton  County, 
Ohio,  near  Wilmington,  December  20,  1835,  and 
reared  on  the  farm  which  he  helped  to  clear,  driv- 
ing oxen  when  teams  were  used.  His  early  educa- 
tion was  obtained  in  the  primitive  subscription 
schools  held  in  the  log  building  fitted  up  with 
home-made  furniture.  He  was  fifteen  years  old 
when  his  parents  came  to  this  State,  and  well  re- 
members the  overland  journey  that  lasted  four 
weeks.  Being  anxious  to  gain  more  knowledge, 
young  Harlan  was  permitted  to  work  by  the  month 
or  day  a  part  uf  the  time  in  order  to  get  money 
whcreliy  to  lulp  pay  his  way  at  school.  In  1855 
he  entered  llcdding  Female  Seminary,  now  Hed- 
ding  College,  at  Abingdon,  during  the  first  term  of 
the  institution.  lie  studied  six  months  in  a  year, 
working  on  a  farm  during  the  other  seasons,  tluis 
making  his  way  for  two  years.  • 

Being  sent  to  Ohio  to  look  after  some  of  his  fa- 
ther's interests,  young  Harlan  stopped  at  Marion, 
Ind.,  on  his  return,  and  spent  six  months  in  atten- 
dance at  Marion  Seminary.  The  follovving  sum- 
mer he  taught  school  in  this  vicinity,  then  again 
studied  at  Abingdon,  and  from  that  time  until  the 
spring  of  1868,  was  alternating  the  duties  of  a  farm 
laborer,  school  teacher,  and  student.  The  next  two 
winters  were  devoted  to  professional  work,  and  the 


succeeding  jear  to  the  management  of  the  home 
farm,  which  he  had  had_^charge  of  during  the  war 
when  his  brothers  were  awa}'  with  the  Union  forces. 
In  the  fall  of  1870  Mr.  Harlan  took  to  himself  a 
wife  in  the  person  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Hall)  Dyer, 
a  capable  and  amiable  woman,  to  whom  he  owes 
not  only  the  comforts  of  his  home,  but  much  en- 
couragement and  wise  counsel  in  his  affairs.  She 
was  born  in  Ellisville  Township,  and  reared  and 
educated  there.  Her  parents,  David  E.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Potts)  Hall,  came  here  from  Ohio,  as  early 
as  1832.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Harlan  rented  a 
farm,  and  in  1872  bought  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  on  section  4,  bordering  on  the  Spoon  River. 
He  cleared  half  of  it,  and  as  the  land  is  well  adapted 
for  the  cultivation  of  all  kinds  of  grain,  he  has 
lirospered  exceedingly  by  the  wise  use  of  improved 
methods.  The  farm  now  bears  excellent  improve- 
ments of  all  kinds,  the  buildings  upon  it  being  the 
best  in  the  township.  Some  time  after  the  pur- 
chase of  this  property,  Mr.  Harlan  bought  the  old 
home  of  his  wife — a  valuable  tnact  of  improved 
land  which  corners  with  this.  It  consists  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty-threa  acres  in  Chestnut  Town- 
ship, Knox  County. 

Realizing  the  need  of  good  means  of  trans|iorta- 
tion,  Mr.  Harlan  helped  the   Fulton   County    Nar- 
\    row  Gauge  Railroad  as  much   as   possible,   letting 
tlic  road  through  his  farm  for  almost  nothing,  and 
likewise  giving  the  right  of  way  for  a  mile   to   the 
1    Iowa  Central.     As  soon  as  the  Narrow  Gauge  was 
j   built,  he  began  buj'ing  hogs,  being  the  first  shipper 
]   over  tiic  new  road.     F'or  several  years  he  shipped 
!   over  both  routes  to  his  great  advantage.     In   1884 
or  1885,  he  laid  out  an  addition  on  his  farm,  and  in 
I   January,  1890,  platted  A.  J.  Harlan's  Second   Ad- 
i    dition,  from  which  he  is  now  selling  lots.     In  1886 
he  became  a  partner  in  the  London  Milling  Com- 
p.any,  and  President  thereof.    This  company,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  business  in  London  Mills,  carries  on  a 
wholesale  and  retail  depot  in  Peoria. 

Some  time  since  Mr.  Harlan  found  that  he  had 
valuable  fire  clay  on  his  farm,  and  conceived  the 
idea  of  starting  a  brick  factor^'.  He  had  several 
objects  in  view,  one  being  to  institute  a  good  busi- 
ness in  the  manufacture,  and  another  to  increase  the 
sale  of  lots.     In  the  spring  of   1890,   therefore,  a 


398 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


partnership  was  formed  between  himself  and  Sam- 
uel Hall,  a  factor3'  Iniilt,  and  a  plant  [uit  in.  The 
business  is  but  fairl}-  started,  but  promises  satisfac- 
tor3'  results.  Tlie  capacilj-  of  the  establishment  is 
fifty  thousand  bricks  per  day,  and  tlie  articles  are 
made  with  especial  view  to  their  use  in  paving  and 
building.  The  railroad  compan}'  has  put  in  a 
switch  to  the  factor}-,  where  thirty-Sve  luuids  are 
already  eiiiplo}'ed  iu  manipulating  claj^  equal  to  any 
in  the  country. 

Mr.  Harlan  was  Supervisor  three  years,  during 
that  time  being  Chairman  of  the  Committees  on 
Fees  and  Salaries,  and  on'Jurors.  He  was  Assessor 
live  years.  Trustee  for  a  long  time,  Justice  of  the 
Peace  two  terms,  and  Commissioner  of  Highways 
several  terms.  He  has  likewise  served  as  School 
Director,  and  been  a  member  both  of  grand  and 
petit  juries.  He  is  a  stanch  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  has  been  a  member  of  the  Cen- 
tral Committee,  and  a  delegate  to  county  conven- 
tions. He  is  identified  with  the  Odd  Fellows  fra- 
ternity, and  has  passed  through  all  the  chairs  in 
the  lodge  at  Lon<lon  Mills.  A  devoted  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  he  was  instru- 
mental in  building  ihe  house  of  worship,  and  is 
now  one  of  the  Trustees.  He  formerly  served  as 
Steward,  and  was  Assistant  Superintendent  in  the 
Sunday-school  several  years.  The  family'  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Harlan  consisted  of  four  sons — Oscar, 
Byron,  Custer,  and  Andrew  J.,  Jr.  Bi'i'on  died  in 
early  childhood. 


\Y,'AMES  W.  FREDERICK.  This  name  will 
be  recognized  by  man\'  of  our  readers  as 
that  of  a  resident  in  Lee  Township,  who  is 
extensively  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising.  His  landed  estate  consists  of  four  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  well-improved  land,  whose  pres- 
ent condition  is  due  to  his  own  good  taste  and  en- 
terprise. The  farm  is  stocked  with  all  that  goes  to 
make  up  the  well-regulated  estate  and  the  family' 
occupies  a  pleasant  dwelling  where  home  comforts 
and  genial  hospitality  abound. 

The  parents  of    our  subject   were   Daniel    and 


Almira  (Ward)  Frederick,  both  of  whom  were  born 
in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  and  died  in  Canton, 
III.,  in  18G5.  They  went  from  their  native  State 
to  Ohio,  locating  in  Licking  County,  where  they 
resided  until  earl}-  in  the  '50s,  then  removed  to  this 
county  and  S[)ent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in 
Canton. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  biographical  sketch  was 
born  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  March  26,  1830, 
but  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  Licking 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  received  his  schooling.  In 
1849  he  came  to  this  county,  remaining  here  until 
early  in  1853  when  he  journejed  to  the  Pacific 
Coast.  After  spending  two  3'ears  in  California  he 
returned  to  this  county,  married  and  located  in 
Lewistown  Township.  Five  3ears  later,  in  1  SGI,  he 
became  a  resident  of  Lee  Township,  wherein  he 
now  owns  so  valuable  an  estate.  He  has  been 
handling  and  shipijing  stock  for  the  past  ten  }"ears, 
doing  well  in  this  branch  of  employment,  and  hav- 
ing the  reputation  of  a  reliable  and  discriminating 
dealer. 

February  10.  1855.  the  rites  of  wedlock  were  cel- 
ebrated between  our  subject  and  Sarah  E.  Boyer. 
The  bride  was  born  in  this  county  January-  27, 
1839,  and  is  the  youngest  daughter  in  a  family 
consisting  of  five  sons  and  four  daughters.  Her 
parents,  John  and  Nancy  (Shaw)  Boyer,  were 
natives  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  respectively-. 
Their  first  home  was  in  Ohio,  whence  thej-  came  to 
this  county  in  1838,  locating  in  Lewistown  Town- 
ship. There  Mr.  Boyer  died  in  1859,  his  wife 
having  two  3-ears  before  crossed  the  river  of 
death. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frederick  have  had  six  sons  and 
five  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living  except 
Isaiah,  who  passed  away  at  the  age  of  eight  mouths. 
Rosa  A.  married  Linus  P.  Ta3-Ior  and  lives  in  the 
same  township  as  her  parents;  Fremont  married 
Hortense  Douglas,  their  home  being  in  Young 
Hickory  Township;  Kelley  F.,  Duane,  Emma,  Or- 
pah,  J.  Logan,  Almira,  Sheridan  and  Cora  are  still 
living  under  the  parental  roof. 

Mr.  Frederick  is  honored  b}-  all  who  know  him 
for  his  fine  character  and  business  ability,  and  is 
well  liked  b3-  reason  of  his  pleasing  qualities.  His 
good  wife  and  the   members  of  their   family  have 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


399 


also  many  friends.  Mr.  Frederick  is  somewhat 
active  in  the  political  affairs  of  the  vicinity,  work- 
ing with  the  Republicans.  He  lias  served  his  fel- 
low-citizens in  various  capacities,  from  tlie  position 
of  a  juryman  to  tliat  of  a  prominent  worker  in  the 
churcli.  He  sat  on  tlie  United  States  Petit  .Jury  at 
Springfield  sixty-five  days  and  was  a  Grand  Juror 
for  Fulton  County  four  terms.  He  has  been  Super 
visor  of  Lee  Township  two  years.  School  Trustee 
six  years  and  has  also  been  a  School  Director.  He 
and  his  wife  .and  tliree  daughters  belong  to  tlie 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Frederick  was 
Steward  eighteen  years,  has  been  Class-Leader  and 
b.is  been  six  years  a  Trustee.  He  has  also  been 
Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  and  was 
Vice  President  of  the  Sunday-school  Association  of 
the  township  about  ton  years. 


^^EORGE  W,  LITTLE,  the  subject  of  our 
III  ,_-,  present  sketch  has  been  proininentlj'  identi- 
^r^  fied  with  the  progress  of  Farmington  and 
surrounding  county,  His  birth  occurred  at  the 
town  of  Hampstead,  N.  II.,  August,  12,  1810,  he 
being  the  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Abiah  (Emerson) 
Little,  both  natives  of  New  Hampshire.  To  Mr. 
Little's  parents  were  born  four  children :  viz.,  Polly, 
lielinda,  Robert  E.  and  George  Washington,  of 
whom  the  last  named  is  the  only  one  living. 

Our  subject  passed  his  boy^hood  on  a  farm, 
enjoying  the  quietude  of  rural  life  until  about 
seventeen  years  old.  At  that  age  he  went  tcf  Boston, 
where  he  clerked  in  a  West  India  goods  store  for 
a  period  of  five  years.  He  was  invited  to  join 
Lowtell  Mason's  choir  in  the  Bowdoin  Street  Church 
at  the  '•  Hub,"  and  continued  to  sing  tenor  in  that 
clioir  for  four  years.  Being  thoroughly  ambitious 
and  imagining  the  West  to  be  a  broad  unbroken 
field  where  wealth  and  fame  were  to  be  had  for  the 
asking,  Mr.  Little  sailed  for  New  Orleans  and  from 
that  point  came  uj)  the  Mississippi  River  to  St. 
Louis.  However,  not  liking  that  place  he  soon 
moved  to  Quincy,  III,  from  there  to  Jackson- 
ville, and  finally  to  Peoria  in  the  spring  of  18.34. 
He  settled  (in  tlie  Marchant  Settlement  (now  knowii 


as  Farmington  Township)  and  paid  Mr.  I'almer 
two  hundred  dollars  for  ten  acres  of  land  with  a 
view  to  laying  out  the  town  of  Farmington.  This 
was  in  September  of  the  year  1834.  He  built  the 
first  store  in  Farmington,  and  was  the  first  man  to 
engage  in  a  mercantile  business  there,  and  his 
success  even  from  the  start  was  good.  He  has 
served  as  school  Treasurer  uninterruptedly  for  more 
than  fifty-three  j'ears  and  for  eight  years  has  been 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  In  addition  to  this  he  has  been 
Notary  Public  for  thirty  years  and  served  as  Town- 
ship Clerk  for  several  years.  He  is  a  strong 
supporter  of  the  Republican  part}-,  and  actively 
interested  in  politics.  He  has  been  chorister  since 
the  first  church  was  built  in  Farmington  in  1856.  At 
first  be  was  identified  with  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
serving  as  Elder  in  same,  but  has  long  been  con- 
nected with  the  Congregational  Church,  the  Presby- 
terian Church  having  been  merged  into  that,  and 
is  a  faithful  Christian.  Indeed,  a  short  biographi- 
cal sketch  cannot  in  any  measure  render  full  justice 
to  so  prominent  and  popular  a  citizen.  He  has 
been  interested  in  the  religious,  mercantile  and 
social  circles  of  this  place,  and  has  by  means  of  his 
superiority  and  energy  done  much  to  advance  all 
worthy  causes. 

.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  married  in  r>ymaii. 
Me.,  in  1834  to  Miss  Louisa  Lambert  Lord,  na- 
tive of  Alford,  Me.,  and  member  of  an  ancient  and 
aristocratic  family.  To  this  union  were  born  seven 
children:  viz.,  Louisa  Jane,  Frances  Helen,  who 
died  in  childhood;  Belinda  'I'arleton,  who  married 
Everett  R.  Breed  and  is  now  deceased;  Alfred  Her-- 
man,  deceased;  Carrie  Alice,  Robert  Franklin,  and 
Nathaniel.  Carrie  A.  married  David  Schoonmaker, 
and  resides  in  West  Union,  Iowa. 

Our  subject  at  the  present  writing  is  in  his  eighty- 
first  year,  but  conducts  the  choir  at  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  Educated  in  the  East  and  having 
every  advantage  both  for  intellectual  training  and 
social  culture  Mr.  Little  is  well  fitted  to  be  a  leader. 
He  has  in  his  possession  a  genealogy  of  the  Little 
family  which  extends  back  into  the  sixteenth 
century,  and  also  [ireseryes  a  cane  which  was  made 
out  of  a  log  used  in  building  the  first  house  bo- 
longing  to  his  ancestors  who  settled  at  Newberry, 
Mass.,  in  1640.  This  family  is  now  very  numerous, 


400 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


.■iiul  a  complete  history  of  it  would  fill  a  large  volume 
and  be  very  interesting  reading  matter.  Mr.  Little's 
grandfather  and  great-grandfather  were  botli  sol- 
diers of  the  Revolutionary  Army,  the  former  as 
Lieutenant,  the  latter  as  Commissar^-. 

^l^-REDERICK  A.  BUTLER  is  a  native-born 
llN©  citizen  of  this  county  and  is  now  an  impor- 
ili  tant    member    of  its   farming    communit}-, 

owning  and  ablv  managing  a  finely  improved  farm 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  Farmiugton.  In  this 
town  of  his  birth  he  is  a  leader  in  social  and  politi- 
cal circles,  and  he  has  here  a  very  handsome  resi- 
lience on  East  Fort  Street. 

Mr.  Butler  is  the  youngest  son  of  one  of  Farm- 
ington's  oldest  settlers.  He  was  born  on  his  fa- 
ther's homestead,  January  9,  1850,  and  vvas  reared 
and  educated  here,  completing  his  education  in  the 
High  School.  He  was  bred  to  the  life  of  a  farmer, 
and  having  a  natural  taste  for  the  calling  he 
adopted  it  for  his  life  work  when  he  arrived  at 
years  of  discretion.  He  owns  a  sixty-acre  farm 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  Farmington,  wliich 
is  under  excellent  tillage  and  is  amply  provided 
with  neat  and  well-ordered  buildings.  Besides  this 
farm  he  has  an  interest  in  two  hundred  and  ten 
acres  of  land,  in  partnership  with  his  brothers 
Charles  C.  and  Cornelius  B.  His  career  as  a 
farmer  has  shown  him  to  be  sharp,  practical  and 
a  good  raan.ager.  He  conducts  his  work  in  a  busi- 
ness-like manner,  and  so  as  to  secure  good  returns, 
and  tlie  income  that  he  derives  from  the  cultiva- 
tion of  his  land  is  very  satisfactor3'.  He  is  activel3^ 
interested  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  his 
native  township,  and  no  one  is  more  zealous  in 
promoting  its  interests  than  he.  He  is  a  keen 
politician,  keeping  himself  well  informed  in  re- 
gard to  party  movements.  In  his  views  he  is  a 
decided  Republican,  and  in  1890  his  political 
friends  came  within  four  votes  of  electing  him 
Mayor  of  Farmington.   • 

Mr.  Butler  and  Miss  Lettie  Butler  were  wedded 
in  the  month  of  December.  1875,  and  the  marriage 
has  proved  one  of  mutual  happiness.     They  have  a 


fine  familj-  of  five  children  living — Ford  (or  Ruther- 
ford), Ivah,  Bertha,  M3rtle  a'nd  Earl.  One  died 
unnamed. 

Mrs.  Butler  is  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Sarah 
Jane  (White)  Butler.  Her  father  was  born  in 
Alleghenj',  Pa.,  and  iier  mother  was  also  a  native 
of  that  State.  The  father  w.as  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation, and  was  married  in  his  native  State.  In 
18G8  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Young 
Hickorj-  Township.  Thej'  are  enjoying  the  declin- 
ing years  of  well-spent  lives  in  the  peace  and  com- 
forts of  a  cozy  home.  They  are  the  parents  of 
eight  children — Rachael,  Mar}-,  .Jane,  Minerva, 
Charlotte,  Lettie,  Peter  and  Eva.  Rachael  became 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Van  Spence,  a  farmer  of  Farming- 
ton;  Mar^'  is  a  dressmaker  in  Farmington;  .Jane 
married  B.  Berry,  of  Canton;  Minerva  is  the  wife 
of  John  McCo3%  of  Independence,  Pa.;  Charlotte 
married  I.  X.  Ha3'slip,  a  barber  in  Farmington; 
Peter,  who  is  a  farmei',  resides  near  London  IMills; 
Eva  is  the  wife  of  Jerr3'  While,  of  London  Mills. 
Mrs.  Butler  was  born  in  Allegheny  County,  Pa., 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  18G8  with  her  father.  She 
is  a  woman  of  fine  character  and  good  Christian 
principles,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
cojial  Church.  Mr.  Butler  is  pro)iJinentl3'  con- 
nected with  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  serving  at 
present  as  N'oble  Grand'of  Memento  Lodge,  No. 
44.    He  has  served  in  all  the  chairs  of  the  order. 


ps^ARAH  MITCHELL.  This  fine  old  Eng- 
''  '  "  lish  lady  resides  upon  a  pleasant  farm  in 
Orion  Township,  the  possession  of  which 
is  largely  due  to  her  own  industr3'.  She 
still  pursues  an  active  career,  the  more  arduous 
labors  of  earlier  life  being  replaced  by  useful  and 
kindl3'  deeds,  and  leisure  from  the  harassing  cares 
of  life  being  but  a  synonym  for  larger  opportuni- 
ties. 

Mrs.   Mitchell   was   born   in   Norfolkshire,  Eng 
land,  February  14. 1829.     Her  first  husband,  Jarvis 
Nightengale,  died  in  England,  where  she  in   1865 
became  the  wife  of  Josei)h  Emory.     In    1872  she 
and  her  second  husband  crossed  the  Atlantic,  land- 


?-u^t<^  c/±..^^A^ 


0'-yL^^>Z.C^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


403 


ing-  at  Portland,  Me.,  whence  they  came  West, 
arriving;  at  Canton,  111.,  April  20.  Here  Mr.  Emory 
foiuul  eniplo3'ment  in  the  factory  of  Messrs.  Par- 
lin  .and  Orendorf,  while  his  wife  labored  in  tlie 
Orendorf  family.  The  combined  efforts  and  econ- 
omy of  the  worthy  couple  secured  to  them  the 
first  $1,000  Ibey  ever  had  and  with  it  they  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land.  Upon  it  they  made 
their  home,  developing  its  resources,  and  sur- 
rounding themselves  with  more  and  more  of  the 
comforts  of  life.  There  Mr.  Emory  breathed  his 
last,  January  6,  1881. 

Subsequently  the  widow  married  William  Mitch- 
ell, who  with  her  is  now  occupying  the  homestead. 
Mrs.  Mitchell  is  identified  with  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. Her  estimable  character  and  useful  life  se- 
cure to  her  the  respect  of  her  acquaintances  and 
the  deeper  regard  of  those  who  know  her  best. 


(^^^HOMAS  PAYNE  occupies  an  important 
//7^^>  place  in  tiie  farming. community  of  Orion 
^^!^'''  Township,  and  is  active  in  advancing  the 
agricultural  interests  of  the  county.  He  is  a  native 
of  Indiana,  Ilarrisonville  the  place  of  his  birth, 
and  .lanuary  1,  1831  the  date  thereof.  His  parents 
were  pioneers  of  Indiana,  going  to  that  .^'tate  in 
early  times,  from  North  C'arolina.  They  had  a 
famil3'  of  eight  children,  as  follows:  Sarah,  the 
oldest,  married  Jesse  Henson  and  lives  in  Laclede 
Countj-,  Mo.;  John,  who  is  married  and  lives  in 
Worth  County,  Mo. ;  Martha  married  Charles  Ak- 
les  and  lives  in  Ilarrisonville,  Ind.;  Mary  Ann 
married  James  Jeter,  a  resident  of  Ilarrisonville; 
Malinda  married  David  Sheets  of  Mitchell,  Ind. ; 
Isaac  was  in  the  United  States  Navy  during  the 
Civil  War,  but  has  since  died. 

Thomas  Payne  was  a  member  of  the  Stute  Militia 
of  Missouri  during  the  late  war,  and  did  good  ser- 
vice as  a  defender  of  our  countrj-.  He  earh'  gave 
his  attention  to  farming  and  in  1  863  came  to  Orion 
Township,  attracted  thither  by  the  flue  opportuni- 
ties   offered    to    the   industrious  and     wide-awake 


farmer  to  make  more  than  a  bare  living  from  tilling 
the  soil.  He  located  on  his  present  farm  on  section 
12.  and  in  the  years  of  hard  labor  that  have  since 
followed  has  made  it  one  of  the  choicest  farms  in 
the  neighborhood.  Its  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
being  well  cidiivated,  yield  him  bountiful  harvests, 
and  he  has  the  place  supplied  with  substantial  im- 
provements, including  a  neat  and  well  ordered  set 
of  farm  buildings  and  fine  machinery  for  carrying 
on  all  his  farming  operations.  He  is  engaged  in 
mixed  husbandry  and  devotes  especial  attention  to 
raising  sheep,  and  conducts  that  industry  very 
profitably. 

Mr.  Payne  has  been  twice  married.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  first  wife  was  Emma  Jane  Bradley,  and 
tliej'  were  married  in  18.J8.  Their  wedded  life 
though  happy,  was  brief,  as  she  died  in  1859.  On 
October  24,  1860,  our  subject  was  united  in  the 
holy  bonds  of  matrimony  to  his  present  wife, whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  E.  Murdagh.  Mrs.  Payne 
was  born  January  14,  1834  in  Delaware  and  at  the 
age  of  four  years  accompanied  her  parents  to  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  Her  pleasant  wedded  life  with  our  sub- 
ject has  been  blessed  b}'  the  birth  of  eight  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  now  living,  and  the  following 
is  the  family  record:  Alexander  G.,  born  July  18, 
18G1,  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen;  Mar}'  I.,  born 
February  22,  1863,  married  Butler  Henkle  ami 
lives  in  Orion  Township;  Stephen  R.,  born  Febru- 
ary 27,  1865;  Emma  J.  Februar}-  2,  1867;  John  N. 
August  27,  I.SG9;  Jessie  E.,  December  18,  1871; 
Henry  II.,  December  26,  1873;  and  Sarah  May, 
April  20,  1877. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Payne  are  universally  admired  for 
their  boundless  hospitality  and  are  greatly  esteemed 
by  their  neighbors  for  their  man\'  excellent  quali- 
ties of  head  and  heart.  Mr.  Payne  is  a  very  capable 
man,  ami  is  endowed  with  strength  of  character 
and  indei>endent  opinions  of  his  own  that  give  him 
influence  in  the  community.  He  is  the  Master  of 
Orion  Grange,  and  to  his  zealous  labors  it  owes  a 
great  deal  of  its  present  high  standing  as  an  organ  ■ 
ization.  He  is  identified  with  the  Union  Lal)or 
party  and  takes  an  intelligent  interest    in    politics. 

The  reader's  attention  is  invited  to  a  lithographic 
l)orlraitof  Mr.  Payne  presented  in  connection  with 
this  brief  biographical  review. 


404 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


^^  HAKLES  BRYANT  EDMONSON  is  a  Bne 
[if^^  representative  of  the  veterans  of  the  late 
^^^J  war  who  diil  sucii  valuable  service  in  de- 
fence of  the  L'uion.  He  is  the  oldest  settler  now 
living  in  Deerfield  Township,  with  whose  agricultu- 
ral interests  he  is  connected,  and  he  is  held  in 
genuine  respect  by  the  entire  community. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  one  of  the  earliest 
pioneers  of  this  county,  John  S.  Edmonson,  who  was 
born  in  North  Carolina.  November  1,  1800.  He 
married  Feredic  Lackey,  who  was  born  in  South 
Carolina.  February  8,  1808.  They  came  to  Fulton 
Count}-  in  1830.  being  among  the  first  settlers  of 
Bernadotte  Township,  then  moved  to  Smithfield,this 
county,  where  they  st.ayed  about  two  jxars.  Thcj' 
then  moved  to  Deerfield  Township,  and  for  many 
years  were  active  in  its  pioneer  labors,  having 
their  home  on  section  2.  In  1864  thej-  took  up 
their  residence  in  Walnut  Grove,  McDonough 
County,  and  from  there  went  to  Good  Hope,  iu  the 
same  county,  where  the  father  died  August  12, 
1887,  at  a  ripe  ohl  age.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
is  still  living. 

He  of  whom  we  write  is  the  oldest  sou  of  tliirteen 
children,  and  he  was  born  in  Jackson  County, 
Ala.,  November  29,  1827.  In  the  month  of 
March,  1848,  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  and 
the  ensuing  two  years  was  engaged  in  learning  the 
trade  of  a  blacksmith  with  John  Shuver  at  Lewis- 
town.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  having  ac- 
quired a  thorough  mastery  of  his  calling,  he  did 
journej'  work  for  eight  months  at  Knoxville. 
Returning  to  his  old  home  he  opened  a  smithy  o' 
his  own  on  section  2,  Deerfield  Township,  and  was 
actively'  engaged  as  a  blacksmith  till  1862. 

In  that  year  Mr.  Edmonson  laid  aside  all  personal 
considerations  to  take  part  in  the  war.  He  enlisted 
in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois 
Tnfantr}-.  and  was  with  his  regiment  until  January 

1864.  He  was  then  transferred  to  the  reserve 
corps    and    continued    with    it    until     June    29. 

1865,  when  he  was  honor.ably  discharged  from  the 
arm)',  having  faithfully  performed  his  duties  as  a 
brave,  patriotic  and  efficient  soldier,  whether  in 
camji  or  on  the  field  of  battle. 

After  he  left  the  array,  our  subject  returned  to  a 
farm  of  his  own  on  section  3,  Deerfield   Township. 


and  for  two  j^ears  carried  on  his  trade  while  man- 
aging his  farm.  He  added  forty  acres  to  his  home- 
stead, the  latter  purchase  being  located  on  section 
10.  where  he  now  resides.  He  kept  house  for  him- 
self from  the  time  he  returned  from  the  South,  till 
by  his  marriage,  June  5,  1870,  with  Rebecca 
Dyekmau,  he  secured  the  valuable  assistance  of 
one  who  knows  well  how  to  manage  household 
affairs  and  has  looked  carefully  after  his  comfort 
ever  since.  31rs.  Edmonson  was  horn  June  15, 
1851,  in  Deerfield  Township,  and  she  is  a  daughter 
of  Richard  and  Sarah  (Leeper)  Dyekman.  natives 
respectivel}' of  Indiana  and  Ohio.  The  fruit  of 
her  marriage  with  our  subject  is  four  children — 
Chai'les  F.,  Minnie  E.,  John  A.,  and  Frank  M. 

Our  subject  has  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  aud 
fifteen  acres  of  which  seventj--five  acres  are  under 
good  cultivation.  It  is  well-stocked  with  cattle, 
horses  and  hogs  of  good  grades,  as  our  subject 
engages  iu  general  farming,  aud  the  buildings  are 
neat  and  well  arranged. 

At  one  time,  our  subject  took  considerable  inter- 
est in  politics  and  was  active  in  such  matters,  and 
he  still  votes  with  the  Re|)ublican  part\'.  He  is  in- 
terested in  the  welfare  of  the  township  which  has 
been  his  home  for  so  man)'  years,  and  for  two  years 
he  did  good  service  as  Road  Commissioner.  He  is 
a  man  of  high  religious  character,  and  in  him  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  finds  one  of  its 
most  useful  members,  and  he  takes  part  in  the 
Union  Sunday-School  near  by. 


fl^7  LOYD  E.  MARINER.  Although  not  yet 
thirty  years  of  age  this  gentleman  is  carry- 
ing on  quite  extensive  operations  as  a 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  iu  Orion  Township,  owning 
two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section 
29.  He  makes  quite  a  specialty  of  blooded  horses, 
having  one  imported  Belgian  of  considerable  value. 
Order  prevails  upon  the  estate,  whicii  is  conducted 
according  to  the  most  approved  principles  ot  mod- 
ern husbandry,  and  is  marked  with  excellent  im- 
provements of  various  kinds. 

Our  subject  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  and  prom- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


40o 


inent  families  of  the  county,  his  parents,  Eliphalet 
and  Julia  C.  (Lord)  Mariner,  having-  come  hither 
in  KS;iG  and  settled  on  section  19,  Canton  Town- 
ship, on  land  still  held  in  the  family  name. 

The  parental  famil}'  consists  of  seven  children  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  sixth.  Louisa  married 
Peter  A.  Wheeler  and  resides  iu  Ringgold  County, 
Iowa;  Harriet,  unmarried,  lives  with  her  motiier  in 
Canton  ;  Joseph  B.  is  married  and  living  in  Page 
County,  Iowa;  Myron  married  Catherine  Flowers 
and  occupies  the  old  homestead  in  Canton  Town- 
ship; Charles  married  Isabella  Churchill  and  lives 
in  Bushnell,  McDonough  County;  Lewis  is  unmar- 
ried and  living  with  his  mother. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  vvc  write  was  born  on 
the  old  homestead  in  this  count\-  February  21, 
1861.  He  obtained  a  good  practical  education  and 
his  taste  leading  him  to  become  a  tiller  of  the  soil, 
he  early  began  to  make  a  study  of  his  occupation. 
He  was  fortunate  in  winning  for  his  wife  Miss 
Emma  Sargent,  an  educated  and  refined  young  lady 
with  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  March  25, 
1885;  she  is  a  daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  Sar- 
jjent  of  Canton. 


^^  OL.  AUGUSTUS  B.  SMITH,  Sheriff  of  Fal- 
(([  ton  County,  is  one  of  the  ablest  and  most 

^^^  popular  men  who  have  ever  held  this  re- 
sponsible position  in  this  count}-,  and  the  interests 
of  law  and  order  have  never  been  better  observed 
than  by'  him.  As  one  of  the  bravest  officers  com- 
manding the  Illinois  regiments  during  the  late 
Civil  War,  his  valuable  services  won  him  a  dis- 
tinguished military  record. 

Col.  Smith  was  born  in  the  town  of  Grceufleld, 
Saratoga  County,  N.  Y.,  June  2,  1833.  His  father, 
John  Smith,  was  born  and  reared  in  Connecticut. 
When  a  young  man  he  went  to  Jsew  York  and 
there  married.  He  had  been  reared  to  the  life  of 
a  farmer,  and  he  bouglit  a  farm  in  Green6eld, 
and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  C'vnthia  Hewitt  and 
she  was  a  native  and  a  lifc-Umg  resident  of  New 
York.     Our  subject  i>assed   his    early    years  on  a 


farm,  remaining  with  his  father  until  he  was  eight- 
een years  old.  He  then  started  out  in  the  world 
for  himself,  and  coming  to  Illinois  first  stopped  at 
Vermont,  where  he  engaged  himself  to  clerk  in  the 
store  of  Judge  Turnicliff,  and  w.as  with  him  two 
3-ears.  He  was  then  stricken  with  cliolera  and  came 
near  dying.  After  his  recovery  he  returned  to 
his  native  county  and  clerked  with  his  brother,  J.  G. 
Two  years  he  vvas  thus  engaged,  and  at  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time  came  back  to  Illinois  and  acted 
as  clerk  for  a  few  months  for  his  brother,  Amos,  at 
Cannon,  lie  next  resided  at  Copperas  Creek  Land- 
ing, where  his  attention  was  given  to  the  commission 
business,  which  he  conducted  with  good  financial 
success  for  two  or  three  years,  and  was  then  burned 
out  and  lost  all  his  property.  After  that  calam- 
ity he  returned  to  Canton,  and  with  the  assistance 
of  his  brother  Amos,  started  in  the  liardware  busi- 
ness, which  he  carried  on  until  18C2.  His  patriot- 
ism was  aroused  by  the  great  civil  war  then  raging, 
and  he  determined  as  soon  as  he  could  arrange  his 
atfairs  to  offer  his  services  to  defend  the  Stars  and 
Stripes.  He  enlisted  in  the  month  of  August, 
1862,  in  Company  K,  One  Hundred  and  Third  Ill- 
inois Infantry,  and  served  throughout  the  remain- 
der of  the  war.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Vicksburg, 
Black  River,  Jackson  (Miss.)  and  Missionary  Ridge. 
He  liad  be°n  mustered  into  the  aru)y  as  First  Lieu- 
tenant, and  in  July,  1863,  whs  promoted  to  the 
captaincy  of  his  company,  and  was  in  command 
from  the  fall  of  1862  until  his  promotion  to  the 
position  of  Inspector  General,  which  took  place 
while  he  was  with  Slicrman  on  his  Atlanta  cam- 
paign. He  was  in  the  heat  of  the  most  important 
battles  of  tliat  campaign,  and  was  at  the  head  of 
his  company  in  the  siege  and  capture  of  tliat  city. 
He  went  with  the  First  Division  of  the  Fifteenth 
Army  Cor|)s,  of  which  he  was  Inspector  General, 
from  Atlanta  to  the  sea  and  thence  to  the  Caro- 
linas  r,nd  Richmond,  and  on  to  Washington,  where 
he  took  part  in  tlie  Grand  Review.  He  was  hon- 
orably discharged  with  his  regiment  at  Louisville, 
in  1865. 

At  the  close  of  his  military  life  Col.  Smith  re- 
sumed the  hardware  business  in  Canton,  and  cou- 
ducled  it  until  1886,  when  he  came  to  Lewistowii 
to  assume  the  duties  of  Sheriff.      His  life  as  an  of- 


406 


PORTRAIT  AXO  BIOGRAPHICAL   ALliFM. 


ficcr  in  the  army  was  o-ooclprepai;ilii)iitor  lliis  [>om- 
lion.  He  possesses  in  a  full  degree  the  necessary 
resolution,  diguit}  and  self-possession,  and  the  high 
courage  liiat  faces  everj-  danger  unflincliingly, 
while  he  is  at  the  same  time  just  and  humane  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties.  Politically,  he  is  a 
Republican  and  gives  a  stanch  support  to  his  partj'. 
In  1885  he  was  ajjpointed  a  member  of  Gov.  Ogles- 
by's  staff  with  the  rank  of  Colonel,  and  in  1889 
Gov.  Fifer  called  him  to  the  same  position  on  his 
staff,  which  he  still  holds. 

Col.  Smith  has  been  married  three  times.  He 
was  wedded  to  his  present  wife  in  1882.  She  was 
formerl}'  Miss  Addie  Pajne.  She  was  born  in  Iowa 
and  was  reared  in  Illinois.  Our  subject  has  one 
child  bj'  his  first  marriage,  Gussie  E.;  and  three 
children  by  his  second  marriage — Charles,  Albert 
and  Jerrv. 


\f  (  AMES  COMSTOCK  SPARKS,  a  prominent 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  this  county,  oc- 
cupies a  leading  place  among  the  intelligent, 
progressive  agriculturists  of  Astoria  Town- 
ship. He  has  here  a  fine  stock  farm,  and  one  of  the 
most  attractive  homes  in  this  locality.  lie  is  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  born  in  Hamilton  County.  ^November 
3,  1830,  to  Levi  and  Sophia  (Comstock)  .Sparks. 
who  were  also  natives  of  the  Buckeye  State.  " 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Mathew  Sparks.  He  came  originall}'  from  France 
and  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  removed 
from  Ohio  to  Schuyler  Countj'.  this  State,  about 
1830  or  1833,  and  was  one  of  its  early  settlers. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Dr. 
James  Comstock,  a  pln-sician  and  an  earh-  pioneer 
of  Ohio.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married 
and  lived  in  their  native  State  until  1837,  when 
they  became  pioneers  of  this  State.  They  made 
their  way  by  boat  to  St.  Louis,  and  after  arriving 
here  settled  in  the  county  before  mentioned,  where 
Mr.  Sparks  had  a  wai-ehouse  and  a  landing  pier  on 
the  rircr.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  promi- 
nence in  those  parts  and  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
His  untimely  death  in  the  mouth  of  March,  1844, 
was  a  blow  to  the  interests  of  the  communitj-.     His 


family  continued  lu  reside  at  Sparks  Landing  until 
1850,  when  they  came  to  this  county  and  located 
in  Pleasant  Township.  The  mother  came  to  Asto- 
ria in  1856  and  lived  there  until  her  demise  in  1861. 
She  was  a  Christian  and  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  a  famil}-  of 
three  children,  and  the  names  of  the  others  are 
Prudence  W.  and  EstherA.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a 
farmer.  After  his  father's  death  he  took  charge  of 
the  home  aflfairs  and  resided  with  his  mother  until 
his  marriage,  which  took  place  March  12,  1857, 
wlien  he  was  united  to  Miss  Idress  E.,  a  daughter 
of  James  and  Ala  (Lane)  Carter. 

In  the  fall  of  that  year  our  suliject  and  his  bride 
settled  where  thej-  now  reside  on  section  1 1,  Asto- 
ria Township.  He  operates  one  hundred  and  sixtj' 
acres  of  land,  which  he  has  placed  under  cultiva- 
tion, and  has  greatly  increased  its  value  bj-  many 
fine  improvements.  He  has  erected  a  handsome 
residence  and  two  substantial  barns,  besides  other 
necessary  buildings.  He  has  paid  great  attention 
to  breeding  thoroughbred  .Short-horn  cattle  for  the 
past  fourteen  jears,  and  he  was  one  of  the  first  to 
establish  a  herd  of  that  breed  in  this  township.  He 
has  been  a  leading  and  active  Mason  since  1852 
and  is  highly  thought  of  both  socially  and  as  a 
man  of  honorable  business  traits. 


OHN  L.  HARRIS.  Though  there  is  a  great 
similarity  in  the  lives  of  most  people  that 
at  a  casual  glance  makes  them  almost  iden- 
tical, yet  each  human  life  possesses  its  own 
special  point  of  interest,  with  which  to  claim  the 
attention  of  the  community  in  which  the}'  reside. 
And  the  life  of  our  subject  is  peculiarly  replete 
with  interesting  subject  matter.  He  is  the  son  of 
Isaac  and  Margaret  J.  (Littlejohn)  Harris,  natives 
of  Ohio,  the  former  born  in  the  year  1813. 

Our  subject's  father  came  to  Illinois  in  compan}' 
with  his  father,  John  Harris,  the  first  settler  in  what 
is  now  known  as  Harris  Township,  a  place  that  when 
organized  was  named  in  his   honor.     John   Harris 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


407 


lived  to  be  nearly  a  century  old.  Tlie  father  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  and  a  prurainent 
man  in  liis  loealit}'.  The  Littlejohii  family  were 
esrly  settlers  in  Bernadotte  Townsliii).  The  par- 
ents of  our  subject  were  married  in  the  latter- 
named  place. 

Mr.  Harris'  father,  previous  to  iiis  nitiniaue  with 
•our  subject's  mother  hail  been  married  before,  and 
to  that  union  were  born  five  ciiildron.  His  second 
marriage  took  place  about  forty-seven  years  ago 
and  to  this  union  have  been  born  ten  chiklren, 
nine  of  whom  are  livinj.'  at  llie  present  lime. 

(Jur  siiliject's  liirtli  occurred  February  8.  1850, 
in  Bernadotte  Townsliij).  and  in  liis  native  place  be 
received  a  common-school  education  at  the  district 
scliool.  He  h,as  from  oarly  childhood  devoted  his 
attention  to  farming,  a  choice  of  professions  which 
liis  great  success  lias  proved  to  be  n  wise  one.  He 
continued  to  live  with  his  fatlier  until  liis  marriaiie 
December  22,  1872.  Tlie  lad3-  with  whom  he  united 
liis  destiny  being  Miss  Sarah  S.  Fayette,  daughter 
of  Jesse  S.  and  Sarah  (Herbert)  Fayette,  botii  of 
whom  are  dead. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris,  afier  marriage  remained  on 
the  home  farm  until  187G,  and  at  that  time  removed 
to  tlieir  present  farm.  Mrs.  Harris  died  September 
2,  1882,  and  her  remains  rest  in  Totten  Cemetery. 
The}'  were  the  parents  of  three  children,  viz:  Nel- 
lie May,  Sarah  M.,  and  Emma  L.,  all  of  whom  are 
receiving  common-school  educations. 

Our  snliject  was  again  married,  October  7,  1883, 
to  Miss  ;Mary  E.  Wauglitel,  daughter  of  Iknuy 
Waughtel,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Cass  Town- 
ship, and  the  first  Supervisor.  She  was  born  De- 
cember 26,  1853,  at  the  old  homestead  and  received 
a  common-school  education.  To  this  union  have 
been  born  three  children — Edna.  Clarence  I.,  and 
Florence.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Smilhfield, 
and  he  is  Steward  and  Trustee  of  the  same.  Their  in- 
terest in  Sunday-school  matters  is  great  and  their 
wealth  and  influence  enable  them  to  be  of  great 
benefit  to  all  religious  and  worthy  causes.  Mr. 
Harris  is  a  School  Director  in  District  No.  o.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  politics. 

Our  subject  is  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and 
seventeen  acres  here  and  one  hundred  anil  fiftj'-tive 


acres  in  Cass  Township,  and  sixty-two  acres  of 
valuable  land  in  Bernadotte  Township.  His  resi- 
dence was  built  in  1881  at  a  cost  of  §800,  and  his 
barn  in  1887,  at  a  cost  of  §800,  and  these  sums 
did  not  include  his  own  work.  His  success  through 
life  has  been  marked,  anil  is  due  enlh-ely  to  his  own 
exertions. 

ihM-  -^J^^Ii    K-  SWENEY,  a    worthy  farmer  of 
Ij  ''  \\\    Lee  Township,  is  the  oldest  cliild  of  Mont- 
jj!       ili  gomery  and  Mary  M.  (Kehr)  Sweney,  who 
*  began  tlieir  residence  in  this  county  in  the 

spring  of  1838.  The  father  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
1787.  and  the  mother  in  Northumberland  County, 
Pa.,  in  1795.  After  their  removal  to  this  county 
they  located  on  section  24,  Lee  Township,  where 
the  father  died  in  1868.  The  mother  survived 
until  1882  when  she  also  entered  into  rest.  The  pa- 
rental  family  included  four  sous  and  four  daugh- 
ters. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  in  Northum- 
berland County,  Pa.,  August  13,  1817,  and  he  re- 
mained there  until  the  fall  of  1837.  He  then  came 
to  this  county  where  he  followed  his  trade  of  a 
printer  until  1839,  when  he  abandoned  it  and  be- 
gan farminu;.  He  returned  to  his  native  State, 
lived  thereuntil  1846  and  then  came  again  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  vvhere  he  now  resides  on  section  23, 
Lee  Township.  There  are  now  but  three  persons 
living  in  the  township  that  were  here  when  Mr. 
Sweney  made  his  settlement.  He  was  oblige/l  to 
go  to  Canton  for  mail  and  to  pay  twenty-five  cents 
postage  on  a  letter.  Mr.  Sweney  is  now  the  owner 
of  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres  of  good  land, 
most  of  which  he  has  personally  inijjroved.  He  has 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  under  cultivation  and 
in  its  management  evinces  a  good  understanding 
of  farm  methods  and  a  degree  of  enterprise  that  is 
worthy  of  emulation. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  and  Miss  Elizabeth 
TenBrook  was  celebrated  at  the  bride's  home  in 
Northumberland  County,  Pa.,  December  8,  1842. 
Mrs.  Sweney  was  born  in  thatcount}-  February  27, 
1825,  being  a  daughter  of  Andre -.v  and  Elinor  (Cor- 


408 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIUURAPHICAL  ALIUJM. 


rey)  TenBrook.  Her  fathei-  was  born  in  New  Jer- 
sey and  the  mother  in  the  same  county  as  herself, 
and  both  died  in  the  Keystone  State. 

Tlie  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sweney  consists  of 
eight  living  children  and  three  have  been  vcmoved 
from  them  b^'  death.  John  J.  married  Susan  W. 
Lewis  and  lives  in  Lee  Township;  William  M.,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Risely  and  makes  his  home  in  Peo- 
ria; P'lora  A.,  became  the  wife  of  Robert  Bivans 
and  lives  in  Macon,  Macon  Count}';  James  W., 
still  occupies  his  pl.acc  under  the  parental  roof ;  An- 
drew T.,  who  married  Louisa  F.  .Smith,  lives  in 
Cowley  County,  Kan.;  Albert  B.  married  Anna 
Anistine  and  his  home  is  in  Chej-enne  County,  Neb. ; 
Lizzie  A.,  is  the  wife  of  C.  S.  Sperling,  their  home 
being  in  Bushnell,  McDonough  County;  Edward 
I.,  is  still  with  his  parents;  Fannie  who  was  born 
September  20,  1860,  had  entered  upon  a  promising 
womanhood  when  called  from  time  to  eternity-, 
September  20,  1882.  The  family  has  been  reared 
on  the  farm  now  occupied  bj-  the  parents  and  ever}- 
effort  has  been  made  to  give  them  good  educations 
and  bring  them  ui)  in  the  way  the}'  should  go. 

Mr.  Sweney  is  a  Democrat  by  inheritance  but 
takes  no  active  part  in  politics.  He  has  served  his 
fellow-citizens  in  the  capacities  of  School  Director, 
Assessor  and  Pathmaster,  and  in  each  iiosition  has 
won  commendation.  He  and  his  wife  belong  to  the 
Good  Templars  order  and  each  of  their  children  is 
also  identified  therevvith,  Edward  being  State  Dep- 
uty. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sweney  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  which  our  subject  has 
been  Elder.  The}'  are  held  in  good  re|)ute  by  all 
who  know  them  and  have  many  sincere  friends 
throughout  the  community. 


^ ^-*-B- ^ 


OBERT  F.  McLaren.  Among  those  to 
whom  this  county  owes  a  debt  of  gratitudt 
for  their  share  in  the  development  of  hei 
|;  great  agricultural  resources,  and  in  the  var- 
ious affairs  through  which  the  interests  of  society 
are  advanced,  the  name  of  Robert  McLaren  should 
not  be  passed  unnoted.  He  was  born  in  Woodland 
Township,  October  9,  1835,  and  his  earl\-   recollec- 


tions are  of  a  country  much  more  primitive  in  ap- 
pearance than  that  upon  which  his  eyes  now  rest 
when  he  looks  about  him.  The  j)ioncer  school 
which  he  attended  during  his  boyhood  was  held 
in  a  log  house  with  puncheon  lloor,  slab  benches, 
a  writing  desk  made  by  boring  holes  in  the 
wall,  inserting  wooden  |)ins  and  laying  a  plank 
upon  them,  and  heated  by  a  fireplace  which  occu-' 
pied  nearly  the  whole  end  of  the  building.  The 
chimne}',  which  «vas  built  of  earth  and  sticks,  was 
upon  the  outside. 

Mr.  McLaren  began  to  assist  in  the  cultivation 
of  the  farm  as  soon  as  he  was  large  enough,  re- 
maining with  his  parents  until  185-1,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Astoria  to  begin  an  apprenticeship  at  the 
trade  of  a  wagonmaker.  Completing  his  trade 
within  two  years,  he  took  up  the  work  of  a  jour- 
neyman, following  it  twelve  years,  after  which  he 
turned  his  attention  to  house  painting.  In  this  oc- 
cupation he  has  been  engaged  to  some  extent  to 
the  present  time.  His  record  as  a  local  official  ex- 
tends over  a  period  of  considerably  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  and  his  reputation  asa(;onsci- 
entious  and  eflicient  public  servant  in  the  various 
positions  to  which  he  h.as  been  called  is  undeniable. 
He  served  as  Township  Clerk  ten  years,  as  Village 
Clerk  two  years,  as  School  Director  six  years,  and  h.as 
been 'Justice  of  tlie  Peace  twenty-eight  years.  He 
has  alw.ays  been  a  Democrat,  his  first  vote  having 
been  cast  for  James  Buchanan.  He  is  a  member  of 
Astoria  Lodge,  No.   100,  F.  &  A.  M. 

The  .agricultural  labors  in  which  Mr.  JIcLarcn 
has  borne  an  important  part  are  indicated  in  the 
surroundings  of  his  early  life,  as  noted  in  the  facts 
regarding  his  parents.  His  grandparents,  Robert 
and  Mary  (Gorry)  McLaren,  were  natives  of  Scot- 
land, who  left  the  land  of  thcii  birth  in  1S"22.  to 
make  a  home  for  themselves  and  children  in 
America.  They  sailed  from  Bruntellen,  .Scotland, 
and  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks  landed  at 
Philadelphia,  whence  they  journeyed  to  Pittsburg 
with  ttams,  from  there  on  a  flatboat  down  the  Ohio 
river  to  Evansville,  Ind.,  whence  they  were  con- 
veyed to  Gibson  County  by  wagons.  Mr.  McLaren 
was  in  the  employ  of  a  wealthy  Scotchman,  a  large 
landowner,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  the 
year  after  their  arrival  in  this  country.   His  widow, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


409 


a  woman  of  remaikable  energy  anrl  good  judgment, 
remained  in  Gibson  County  until  1827,  keepino; 
her  little  family  together,  and  emigrating  with 
them  to  Illinois,  making  a  settlement  in  this  county. 
She  purchased  a  tract  of  tiinber  lar.d  in  what  is 
now  Woodland  Township,  making  it  her  home  for 
some  3'ears,  but  dying  at  the  residence  of  a  daugh- 
ter in  Astoria.  Her  family  includeil  the  following 
children:  .lane,  Peter,  Mary,  Roliert,  .Tohn  and 
William. 

'i^he  second  member  of  this  family  was  born  in 
Perthshire,  Scotland,  was  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  early  in  life  took  up  his  share  of  the 
labor  in  which  his  father  was  engaged.  He  was 
sixteen  years  old  when  the  family  removed  to 
America,  and  after  their  settlement  in  Indiana  he 
remained  there  until  1824.  He  then  came  to  Ful- 
ton County,  111.,  and  although  not  yet  of  age,  en- 
tered heait  and  sonl  into  the  pioneer  labor  which 
has  resulted  in  making  of  this  section  one  of  the 
garden  spots  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  He  soon 
bought  a  tract  of  timber  land  three  miles  northeast 
of  the  present  site  of  Astoria,  where  at  that  time 
there  was  not  a  building.  The  boundary  of  the 
county  was  practically  unlimited,  iucluding  the  ter- 
ritory from  here  to  Lake  Michigan,  and  from  the 
Illinois  to  the  Mississippi  River.  The  section  in 
which  he  located  was  sparsely  settled,  game  was 
abund.ant,  and,  although  too  industrious  to  spend 
much  time  hunting,  he  was  fond  of  the  sport,  and 
kept  bistable  well  supplied  with  venison  and  other 
meats. 

A  log  cabin  was  built  by  Peter  McLaren,  which 
after  a  few  years  was  replaced  by  a  frame  structure, 
the  lumber  for  which  was  sawed  by  hand,  or  whip- 
sawed.  This  was  done  by  building  a  scaffold  upon 
which  a  squared  log  was  placed,  and  one  man 
standing  on  ^  the  scaffold  and  one  underneath 
operated  the  saw.  Mr.  McLaren  was  a  resident  of 
th.e  farm,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years  in 
town,  until  liis  death,  January  31,  1888,  at  the 
ripe  age  of  eighty  years.  For  many  years  he 
was  aided  in  his  labors  to  advance  bis  fortunes 
and  properly  rear  his  family  b^'  a  worthy  woman 
who  w,as  known  in  her  maidenhood  as  Miss  Lucinda 
Saffer.  She  was  a  native  of  the  Hoosier  State, 
daughter  of  John  W.  Saffer,  who  became  a  resident 


of  this  county  about  1830.  Her  father  was  num- 
bered among  the  pioneers  of  AVoodland  Township, 
where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  upon  which  a 
small  clearing  had  been  made  and  a  log  cabin  built, 
which  property  he  made  his  home  until  death.  He 
was  drowned  in  the  Ohio  river  while  on  his  way  to 
visit  his  native  State.  Our  subject  is  one  in  a  fam- 
ily of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  those  reared  to 
maturity  are  himself.  Mary  E.,  John  W.,  Edward  O., 
Charles  A.,  Sarah  J.,  Fanny  E.,  Ellen  and  Pittinger. 
The  wife  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Amanda  Lane,  and  became  Mrs.  McLaren  April 
IC,  1857.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Mary 
(Jones)  Lane,  pioneers  of  Schuyler  County,  to 
which  they  came  from  Kentucky,  where  the  daugh- 
ter was  born.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  while  making  the  care  of  her  home 
and  fainilj'  her  first  object,  yet  finds  time  for  many 
neighborlj'  deeds  of  kindness  and  the  pleasures  of 
social  life.  She  has  borne  her  husband  three 
children,  of  whom  one,  Walter,  died  in  infancy. 
The  two  remaining  are  Clement  L.  and  Harry  E. 

LIYER  J.  PETTYJOHN.  The  result  of 
energy  and  perseverance  are  nowhere  better 
illustrated  than  in  the  career  of  Mr.  Petty- 
john, who  began  life  with  onl}^  a  natural  ability 
with  which  nature  had  endowed  him  and  is  at  the 
present  time  a  well  known  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zen of  Farmington.  As  census  enumerator  and  a 
veterinary  surgeon,  our  subject  is  well  known 
throughout  the  community  and  has  an  extensive 
and  lucrative  practice. 

Mr.  Pettyjohn  was  born  near  Tremont,  111.  His 
father  James  S.  Pettyjohn  was  also  a  veterinary 
surgeon,  and  won  a  considerable  reputation  for 
skill.  He  was  born  in  Browning  County,  Ohio.  The 
grandfather,  James  Pettyjohn,  had  in  his  time  fol- 
lowetl  the  same  profession  and  owned  a  large  estate 
in  Ohio.  The  mother  of  our  sketch  was  previous 
to  her  marriage  Miss  Mary  Ann  Quinn,  daughter 
of  Elijah  Quinn,  and  he,  too,  had  followed  the  pro- 
fession of  a  veterinary  surgeon. 

Our  subject's  father  moved  to  Illinois  and  died 


410 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALP.rM. 


in  tliis  State  from  the  efifects  of  a  kick  received 
from  a  horse  when  Oliver  was  quite  young,  and  the 
mother  was  married  the  second  time,  and  has~one 
child  by  this  union — Katie.  Our  subject's  parents 
had  four  children,  viz:  Oliver  James.  Luella,  Alice 
and  William.  Luella  is  now  the  wife  of  Josepli 
Haueock,  a  prosperous  young  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer  atGroveland,  and  Alice  is  the  wife  of  Smith 
Hancock,  and  lives  near  Groveland.  William  is  a 
drug  clerk  in  Kansas  Cit5\ 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place.  Much 
of  his  childhood  was  passed  on  the  farm,  and  at  an 
early  age  he  evinced  a  great  fondness  for  horses, 
cattle  and  sheep,  and  naturallj^  took  up  the  profes- 
sion followed  by  his  father.  Being  the  oldest  chikl 
he  was  called  upon  after  death  had  claimed  the 
father,  to  assume  heavy  responsibilite,s. 

Mr.  Pettyjohn  entered  the  Illinois  Academ3-  at 
Jacksonville,  and  took  an  academic  course  in  same, 
graduating  with  honors  in  1871.  Immediately  after 
he  commenced  farming  for  himself,  in  the  mean- 
time studying  the  profession  he  has  followed 
through  life,  and  having  read  extensively  on  the 
subject  of  horses  and  the  best  methods  for  handling 
them.  He  heard  lectures  from  Dr.  York,  and 
others  of  equal  prominence,  and  has  thus  thor- 
oughl3-  prepared  himself  for  successful  treatment 
of  horses. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  married  when 
twenty-eight  years  of  age  to  Miss  Nancy  M.  Todd, 
daughter  of  James  and  Anna  M.  (Espy)  Todd.  She 
was  born  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  near  Springfield,  and 
came  with  her  parents  to  Illinois  when  only  a 
young  girl,  and  received  her  education  in  the  Hicrh 
School  of  Morton,  and  such  was  her  advancement 
that  after  completing  her  course  she  wa.s  emiilo3-ed 
as  teacher  in  the  Grammar  Department  of  that 
school.  She  is  a  hij^hly  intellectual  lad3^,  and  pos- 
sesses great  social  tact  and  gentleness  of  manner. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pettyjohn  were  born  three  chil- 
dren, viz:  William,  Don  Q.  and  Charles.  They  sold 
their  farm,  and  settled  in  Farmington  in  18S1. con- 
tinuing to  make  this  their  home  up  to  the  present 
date.  The3-  are  faithful  members  of  the  ConTe- 
gational  Church.  Mr.  Pettyjohn  takes  great  inter- 
est in  politics  and  is  at  all  times  a  strong  supporter 


of  the  Republican  partv.  He  sustains  a  most  envia- 
ble reputation  for  strict  integrity  and  firmness  of 
purpose,  ami  in  following  his  chosen  profession  not 
onl3'  gains  a  handsome  income,  but  the  goodwill 
of  the  community-  at  large. 


h: 


B.  FARNSWORTH.  This  well-known  .-fiid 
respected  citizen  of  Canton  is  numbered 
among  her  retired  business  men.  having 
formerh-  been  the  proprietor  of  a  fiourishing  div- 
goods  and  carpet  house.  He  was  engaged  almost 
conlinubusl3"  in  mercantile  pursuits  from  1855  to 
the  period  when  he  retired  from  business  to  enjo3- 
the  manv'  comforts  and  luxuries  with  which  his 
means  enable  him  to  surround  himself,  and  to  take 
up  the  pursuits  adapted  to  the  leisure  of  an  intelli- 
gent man.  He  is  a  native  of  Jefferson  C'ouut3'.  Va., 
where  his  e\-es  opened  to  the  light  August  30, 
1835. 

Februar3-  3,  1879,  the  interesting  ceremon3-  took 
place  which  transformed  Miss  Matilda  S.  B3'bee 
into  Mrs.  L.  B.  Farnsworth.  This  lads-  presides 
with  pleasing  dignit3-  and  grace  over  the  home 
whose  tasteful  elegance  is  indicative  of  the  refine- 
ment of  the  occupants.  Like  her  husband  she  is 
highl3'  regarded  by  those  who  know  her.  Mr. 
Farnsworth  is  liberal  in  his  political  and  religious 
opinions,  h,as  never  held  an  olBce  nor  been  an  aspi- 
rant for  i)ublic  honors,  being  always  content  to  act 
the  part  of  an  humble  citizen,  and  faithfull3-  dis- 
discharge  his  duties  (is  such. 

We  invite  tlie  attention  of  our  numerous  readers 
to  a  view  of  the  elegant  residence  of  Mr.  Farns- 
Worth,  with  its  lawn  and  other  pleasant  surround- 
ings. 

S^^'- 


ENRY  MERSHOX.  This  name  will  be  at 
|;  once  recognized  as  that  of  a  leading  busi- 
ness man  of  Fulton  Count3-,  who  is  proba- 
bl3'  better  known  than  an3^  other  bank^  or 
merchant  within  its  bounds.  The  dr3- -goods  estab- 
lishment over  which  he  presides  is  large,  well-fitted. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


413 


and  supplied  with  a  complete  line  of  carefully 
chosen  goods  suited  to  the  growing  needs  of  tlic 
people  of  the  section  over  which  his  trade  extends, 
unsurpassed  in  qualitj'  and  reasonable  in  price. 
'J'lic  proprietor  is  following  worthilj' in  the  foot- 
stops  of  Ih's  respected  father,  who  for  nearly-  half  a 
centurj'  was  one  of  the  most  i)rominent  business 
men  in  the  count}-. 

Mr.  Mershon  was  born  in  the  village  where  he 
now  resides,  Vermont,  September  5,  1843,  received 
his  early  education  in  the  village  schools  and  fur- 
ther advanced  his  knovvledge  by  attendtuice  at 
Lombard  Universitj',  Galesburg.  He  began  his 
mercantile  experience  as  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  established  a  general 
store  in  Bushnell.  After  carr3'ing  it  on  two  years 
he  sold  out,  returned  to  his  l)03'hood's  home  and 
became  a  partner  with  his  father,  the  connection 
between  the  two  continuing  until  the  death  of  the 
parent.  In  1880  the  firm  established  a  dry-goods 
house  in  Denver  with  our  subject  in  charge.  Three 
years  were  spent  by  him  in  that  great  western  mart 
after  which  he  was  engaged  in  business  in  Chicago 
for  about  a  twelvemonth.  "We  next  find  him  es- 
talilished  in  Peoria  for  a  period  of  three  years,  then, 
on  account  of  iiis  father's  failing  health,  returning 
to  \'crmont  to  take  charge  of  the  business  which 
has  become  one  of  the  landmarks  of  this  section  of 
the  State. 

January  17,  1877.  an  interesting  event  tran- 
spired, it  being  no  less  than  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Mershon  to  Ella,  daughter  of  James  and  Caroline 
Stevens.  Mrs.  Mershon  was  born  in  Vermont,  this 
countj',  and  is  ■well  known  in  the  best  social  circles 
for  her  dignity  and  pleasing  manners.  Mr.  Mer- 
shon has  always  given  his  vote  and  influence  to  the 
Republican  party.  His  personal  character  is  one 
of  such  integrity  and  his  capacity  for  financial 
affairs  so  decided  that  he  has  won  a  high  place  in 
the  esteem  of  his  fellow- citizens  and  has  become 
known  to  an  extended  circle  of  social  and  business 
acquaintances. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  a  genealogical 
tree  which  has  extended  its  branches  into  many  of 
the  States  of  the  Union  since  the  first  representa- 
tive of  the  name  In  America  came  hither  from 
France  during  the  last  decade  of  the  seventeenth 


century.  This  gentleman  located  on  Long  Island 
and  leaving  liis  son  there  started  to  return  to  his 
native  land.  He  was  never  again  heard  from,  but 
from  his  son  sprang  the  family  which,  exteniling 
into  New  York,  New  Jerse}'  and  Pennsylvania,  is 
n(;w  represented  in  many  parts  of  the  Union.  Joab 
Mershon,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Chester  County,  Pa.,  January  26,  1812,  and  liav- 
ing  in  boyhood  been  fairly  well  drilled  in  the  nuli- 
mentary  branches  of  knowledge  subsequently 
enlarged  his  store  b}'  personal  efforts.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  a  shoemaker,  following  it  in  Philadel- 
phia, Pittsburg  and  St.  Louis  for  a  few  years. 

lU-iiealth  led  Mr.  Mershon  to  abandon  his  trade 
and  become  a  drover.  He  bought  cattle  in  Mary- 
land and  drove  them  to  his  native  State,  finding  the 
out-of-door  life  beneficial  to  his  iiealth  and  suffi- 
cientl}'  remunerative  to  satisfy  him  for  a  time.  He 
finallj'  determined  to  see  something  of  the  countr}'', 
paying  his  way  by  his  trade,  'and  at  length  landed 
in  Louisville,  Ky.,  with  but  $2.50  in  his  pocket. 
Repairing  to  the  Gault  House  he  registered  with  all 
the  assurance  of  a  millionaire  and  after  dining 
started  out  in  search  of  a  job.  In  a  short  time  he 
was  at  work  but  ere  long  started  on  his  travels 
again.  In  1838  we  find  him  in  this  county,  his 
capital  on  landing  here  being  his  clothes  and  fifty 
cents  in  money,  togetlier  with  the  natural  abilities 
Vv-hich  his  after  career  proved  to  be  1^3'  no  means 
limited.  Vermont  was  scarcel3'  more  than  a  hamlet 
at  that  time,  having  but  one  shoemaker  whom  Mr. 
Mershon  bought  out  a  short  time  after  his  arrival. 
Between  two  and  three  years  later  he  became  a 
general  merchant  and  in  mercantile  pursuits  was 
interested  until  the  day  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Jlershon  was  one  of  those  men  whose  energy 
and  talents  will  allow  of  their  engaging  in  various 
branches  of  business  with  success.  For  many  years 
he  was  a  pork  packer,  during  some  seasons  putting 
up  as  high  as  three  thousand  hogs.  He  also  dealt 
largel}'  in  wheat  and  for  some  3'ears  was  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  flour.  In  1809,  in  connection 
with  C.  B.  Cox,  Jr.,  he  started  a  private  bank  and 
after  the  death  of  his  partner  continued  the  institu- 
tion under  the  firm  name  of  J.  Mersiion  &  Co. 
This  banking  establishment  became  a  popular  in- 
stitution and  has  had  an  excepiionall3'  prosperous 


41  1 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


careoi-,  no  financial  panic  having  ever  shaken  its 
firmness  in  Ihe  least.  Farming,  cattle  raising  and 
cattle  feeding  also  proved  a  source  of  prosperity  to 
Mr.  Merslion,  who,  after  giving  his  cliildren  con- 
siilerable  land,  held  nine  hundred  acres  in  his  own 
name  durijig  the  later  years  of  his  lif'5. 

^Ir.  Mershou  was  a  very  liberal-minded  man, 
supporting  all  worthy  enterprises,  among  them  the 
various  religious  denominations,  although  he  was 
not  a  member  of  any.  He  dealt  fairly  with  every- 
one, lived  a  life  of  the  strictest  integrity,  and 
gained  not  onlj'  the  respect,  but  the  high  esteem  of 
a  verj'  wide  circle  of  acquaintances.  ?Iis  remarka- 
ble success  in  worldly  affairs  had  no  doubt  for  its 
corner  stone  the  economical  habits  with  which  he 
began  his  life.  Prudence,  judicious  man.<gement, 
industry  and  the  honesty  which  he  ever  found  to 
be  the  best  policy  were  the  stones  with  which  the 
rich  structure  was  completed.  His  life  affords  a 
lesson  which  j-ounger  men  may  well  stud^'  with 
advantage. 

The  wife  of  Joab  Mershon  and  mother  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  known  ii:  her  maiden- 
hood as  Sarah  E.  Dilwortli.  She  w.as  a  daughter 
of  Rhodes  and  Rebecca  (Edgerton)  Dilwortb,  both 
of  whom  died  in  ^'ermont,  the  mother  at  the  age 
of  fifty-five  years  and  the  father  when  almost 
ninety.  The  latter  had  outlived  all  of  his  children. 
He  was  an  ardent  temper.ance  man,  never  used 
spirituous  liquors  in  any  form  nor  indulged  in 
tobicco.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends  and  a  strong  Abolitionist,  having  in  sla- 
very times  assisted  many  a  fugitive  on  his  way  to 
freedom.  He  is  numbered  among  the  pioneers  of 
Vermont,  where  he  located  in  1840.  building  the 
first  flouring  mill  in  the  county.  To  this  establish- 
ment people  came  from  many  miles,  even  as  far  as 
Knox  Count}-,  the  distance  which  they  traveled 
(iften  compelling  them  to  remain  over  night.  His 
son-in-law.  Mr.  Jlershon,  became  his  partner  in  the 
mill  which  they  eventually  sold,  building  a  ware- 
house at  "\'ermont  Landing,  on  the  Illinois  River, 
where  they  were  for  some  time  engaged  in  buying 
and  shipping  grain  and  doing  a  general  warehouse 
business.  Mr.  Dilworth  next  bought  an  interest  at 
Browning's  Landing,  built  a  large  warehouse  and 
did  an  extensive   business   there.     After  the  death 


of  his  wife  he  made  his  home  with  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Mershon,  and  when  she  was  called  hence  still 
remained  under  her  husband's  roof. 

Mrs.  Joab  Mershon  was  a  native  of  the  Biickeye 
State,  domestic  in  her  tastes,  devoted  to  the  inter- 
ests of  her  husband  and  children,  and  during  her 
entire  life  manifested  her  ability  as  a  helpmate,  her 
considerateness  as  a  (larent  and  her  value  as  a 
friend.  Of  the  ten  children  born  to  her  the  follow- 
ing are  now  living:  Henry,  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical notice;  Rebecca,  wife  of  William  F. 
Durell  of  Vermont;  Damaris.  wife  of  A.  D.  Bailey 
of  this  count}-;  Rhodes  D.,  a  lively-  man  in  Ver- 
mont, and  ililtonS.,  merchant  in  "Vermont.  All  are 
eng.aged  at  the  jnesent  lime  by  mutual  agreement 
in  conducting  the  interests  of  the  estate  as  it  was 
before  the  death  of  the  parents,  in  each  and  eveiy 


branch. 


""^-^^^^^^^^fo^^ 


ATHI.\S  HULICK  and  his  good  wife  were 
among  the  early  pioneers  of  this  county 
who  are  still  living  among  us.  and  it  gives 
■''  us  pleasure  to  present  them  in  this  Bio- 

graphical Album.  They  have  a  cheerful,  cozy 
home  in  Lewistown  Township,  where  tliej-  enjoy 
the  comforts  of  life  with  which  they  surrtmnded 
themselves  by  the  exercise  of  industrious  habits, 
wise  prudence  and  forethought. 

In  Heightstown,  Middlesex  Count}-,  N.  J.,  our 
subject  was  born  December  22.  1810.  His  father 
was  Capt.  John  Hulick.  a  native  of  that  Stale  and 
a  son  of  another  John  Hulick,  who  w-as  born  in 
Germany  and  emigrated  to  America  and  settled 
among  the  Colonists  of  New  Jersey.  About  1815 
he  removed  from  there  to  Ohio,  and  was  a  pioneer 
of  Clermont  County,  and  there  he  carried  on  his 
occupation  of  a  farmer  until  the  time  of  his  death. 

Capt.  Hulick  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and 
follow-ed  Ih.at  in  New  Jersey  until  his  <ieath  in  1822. 
He  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He 
married  Annie  Mount,  who  was  also  a  life-Ion"- 
resident  of  New  Jersey,  dying  there  in  1817. 

Mathias  Hulick  was  very  young  when  his  par- 
ents died  and  he  was  cared  for  by  a  step-nifilhcr 
until  he  was  fifteen  years  old.     He  was  then  sent  to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


415 


New  York  Clt}-  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  tailor.  After 
serving  an  apprenticeship  of  five  years  he  made 
[lis  way  to  Ohio  and  locating  in  Batavia,  Clermont 
County,  served  two  years  to  learn  the  trade  of  a 
cooper.  Me  was  engaged  in  that  calling  until 
1838,  wlien  he  became  a  pioneer  of  Illinois.  He 
had  married  in  Ohio  and  was  accompanied  thither 
by  his  wife  and  two  children  in  their  journey  down 
the  Ohio  and  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers, 
and  finally  to  their  destination  in  this  county. 
Disembarking  from  tiie  Illinois  at  Havana,  they 
came  to  Lewistown  Township  with  a  team.  He 
bought  forty  acres  of  land  which  forms  a  part  of 
his  present  homestead.  Tluee  or  four  acres  of  it 
were  improved  and  a  l<ig  house  stood  thereon.  He 
at  once  opened  a  cooper  shop  and  active]}-  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  pork  and  flour  barrels,  for 
wliich  he  found  a  ready  market  in  Lewistown  and 
surrounding  towns.  He  continued  in  the  business 
many  years  and  accumulated  a  comfortable, prop- 
ertj'.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  the  farm  he  now 
occupies  since  his  first  settlement  in  the  county, 
and  has  added  to  it  by  other  purchases  until  it  now 
comprises  eighty  acres  of  choice,  well-tilled  land, 
provided  with  a  neat  cl.ass  of  buildings  and  every- 
thing needful  for  carrying  on  agriculture. 

In  our  subject's  wife  we  have  a  good  t3'pe  of  tiie 
faithful,  self  sacrificing,  helpful  pioneer  women 
who  have  borne  so  important  a  part  in  the  upbuild- 
ing of  this  country,  fifty-four  years  ago  in  the 
month  of  February,  1836,  she  was  married  to  Mr. 
Ilulick,  and  for  more  than  half  a  century  they  have 
been  faithful  to  the  vows  that  then  made  them 
husband  and  wife.  They  have  six  children  living 
— .Toliu,  Mar}'  J.,  Elizabeth.  Alice,  Emma,  and  Ger- 
tie. The  death  of  their  daughter  Lou  was  a  sad 
incident  in  their  married  life.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hu- 
llck  are  wonderfully  blessed  with  good  health,  as 
their  fine  constitutions  have  withstood  the  wear 
and  tear  of  time  wonderfully,  and  one  can  scarcely 
realize  that  they  have  reached  the  milestones  on 
life's  journey  that  mark  its  eightieth  and  seventieth 
years.  They  are  very  highlv  thought  of  by  all 
around  them  and  are  sincere  Christian  people,  hav- 
ing been  worthy  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  for  3'ears. 

Mrs.  Ilulick  was  formerly  Ann  Reddebaugh,aud 


she  was  born  in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  September. 
7,  1820.  Her  father,  John  Reddebaugh,  was  a 
Pennsylvanian  and  was  reared  in  his  native  State 
and  there  married  to  Barbara  Snider,  wlio  was  like- 
wise of  Pennsylvania  birth,  she  having  been  the 
daughter  of  a  commissioned  oflieer  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  and  a  farmer  of  that  State.  lAIr.  Red- 
debaugh removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio,  and 
settled  among  the  pioneers  in  the  wilds  of  Brown 
County.  He  bought  a  tract  of  timber  land  and 
budt  a  log  house  in  which  humble  home  Mrs. 
Hulick  was  born.  He  cleared  a  farm  and  resided 
on  it  some  years  prior  to  his  coming  to  Illinois  in 
1837,  when  he  became  a  pioneer  of  Lewistown 
Township.  He  bought  a  farm  and  lived  here  about 
ten  years,  but  after  the  death  of  his  wife  in  1845 
he  returned  to  Ohio  and  died  in  Clermont  County. 


MORY  RICE,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this 
■LJl  county,  was  born  in  Westminster,  Mass., 
-March  29,  1813.  His  father,  Dr.  Asaph 
Rice,  was  born  in  the  same  town,  where 
Grandfather  Rice  was  engaged  in  preacliing  the 
Gospel,  having  charge  of  the  Congregational 
Church  for  half  a  century.  Rev.  Asaph  Rice  was 
born  either  in  England  or  in  Massachusetts,  of 
English  ancestry.  He  entered  into  rest  in  the  town 
in  which  he  had  so  long  and  faithfully  labored  to 
win  souls  for  Christ. 

The  father  of  our  subject  received  a  collegiate 
education,  and  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  in 
his  youth.  After  having  practiced  three  or  four 
years  in  New  York,  he  returned  to  Westminster, 
making  that  place  his  home  until  1823.  He  then 
removed  to  Orford,  N.  H.,  locating  upon  n  farm, 
which  he  superintenijed  while  continuing  his  pro- 
fessional labors.  Four  years  later,  he  removed  to 
Thetford,  Vt.,  and  resided  there  until  1831,  during 
which  year  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  his  family;  the  journey  was  made  witli 
teams  and  consumed  eight  weeks.  They  arrived 
in  Fulton  County  when  it  was  still  but  sparsely 
settled,  Canton  being  then  a  hamlet  of  a  few  build- 


410 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ings,  most  of  which  r/ere  constructed  of  logs.  Dr. 
Rice  purchnsed  a  tract  of  Government  lanrt  two 
miles  from  that  village  and  at  once  began  to  im- 
prove a  farm.  The  storm  which  devastated  Can- 
ton in  18.5.')  nnroofed  his  house.  During  tiiat  year 
he  sold  his  property,  and  coming  to  Lowislown 
Township,  [lurchased  the  tract  ujion  which  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketcli  and  his  family  now  reside. 

There  was  a  log  house  on  tiie  place  and  eight 
acres  under  cultivation,  these  constituting  the  im- 
provements which  had  been  made.  The  greater 
part  of  the  remainder  of  the  laiid  was  covered 
with  timber  and  brush.  The  family  occupied  the 
log  house  until  1847,  wli^n  the  Doctor  built  a  por- 
tion of  the  frame  dwelling  which  is  still  standing. 
AVilh  the  exception  of  a  few  years  spent  in  Lewis- 
town  at  the  home  of  liis  daughter.  Dr.  Rice  resided 
ui)on  the  farm  until  his  death  on  April  27.  1871, 
wlien  ninety-four  years  of  age.  His  wife,  formerlj' 
Abigail  Sawyer,  was  born  in  Bolton,  Mass.,  and 
died  in  Lewistown  in  1851,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three  years.  Thej'  reared  eight  children — Erasmus 
D.,  Benjamin,  Adeline.  Amorj-,  Catherine,  .^delia. 
Amanda  and  Jane. 

The  subject  of  tliese  brief  notes  was  reared  and 
e'hicateii  in  his  native  State,  being  a  young  man  of 
eii;litren  jears  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
this  county.  He  has  lived  to  see  the  wonderful 
growth  and  development  which  has  made  of  it  the 
leading  agricultural  county  in  the  State,  and  is  now 
the  proprietor  of  one  of  its  finest  farms.  In  1830 
he  went  to  Galena  to  work  in  the  lead  mines,  and 
there  being  no  railroads,  he  made  the  entire  dis-- 
tance  on  foot.  At  harvest-time  he  returned  home 
to  assist  in  the  busy  scenes  of  that  season,  then 
walked  back  again,  carrj'ing  all  his  effects  on  his 
back.  He  was  engaged  at  the  mines  for  a  period 
of  about  two  years  altogether,  and  with  this  ex- 
ception has  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
For  sever.ll  j-ears  past  he  h.as  lived  retired,  the 
management  of  the  homestead  being  in  the  hands 
of  his  onlj'  son. 

In  1842  ^Ir.  Rice  led  to  the  h3'nieneul  altar  Miss 
Martha  C.  Dewej-,  a  native  of  Hanover  Center,  N. 
II.,  and  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Jemima  (Wright) 
Dowe}'.  Two  children  have  been  born  of  this 
union — Henry,  the   first  child,  opened   his  eyes  to 


the  light  June  3.  1843.  On  August  12,  1862,  al- 
though still  lacking  more  than  a  year  of  his  luajoritv, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  II.  One  Hundred  and  Third 
Illinois  Infantr}-,  and  being  mustered  into  the  ser- 
vice at  Peoria,  October  2,  accompanied  his  regi- 
ment to  Tennessee  in  November.  He  laid  down 
his  life  for  his  country,  dying  at  Jackson,  Tenn., 
February-  10,  1862,  a  promising  career  being  thus 
cut  short.  His  remains  were  brought  back  to  Lew- 
istown, where  his  grave  is  kept  green  by  those  who 
ever  mourn  their  loss. 

The  onl\' surviving  child  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife  is  Oliver,  who  was  born  January  2,  1846.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  when  a 
young  man  taught  one  term.  For  one  year  he  was 
engaged  in  the  banking  business  at  Toulon,  Stark 
Count}-,  but  with  these  exceptions  has  been  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  from  his  youth.  For  the 
past  twent}-  years  he  has  managed  the  old  home- 
stead, which  under  his  intelligent  conduct  con- 
tinues to  prove  a  valuable  piece  of  property.  His 
mariiageto  Mi.ss  Abbie  M.  Burgett  was  solemnized 
October  1,  1873.  His  chosen  companion  was  born 
in  Hartland,  Windsor  Countj',  Vt. ;  is  a  daughter 
of  D.  A.  and  Adeline  (Myron)  Burgett,  under 
whose  careful  training  her  mind  was  developed,  her 
character  adorned  with  fine  princi|)les  and  she  well 
fitted  for  her  position.  The  couple  have  three 
children — Henry  B.,  Mary  A.  and  Frances  M. 

The  Rice  family  are  identified  with  the  Presb}'- 
terian  Church,  and  lioth  our  subject  and  his  son 
belong  to  the  Republican  party.  Their  intelli- 
gence, good  citizenship  and  fine  characters  entitle 
them  to  the  esteem  of  tlieir  acquaintances,  and 
i    their  friends  are  many  and  sincere. 


\ 


ILLIAM  FRANKLIN  BARKER.  The  sub- 
nJI  ject  of  this  notice  is  a  native  of  Farmers 
'V/  Township,  has  grown  to  man's  estate  on 
the  farm  which  be  now  owns,  and  has  never  been 
away  from  home  an  entire  week  at  a  time.  He  is 
a  son  of  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the  town- 
ship, and  grandson  of  a  man  who  came  to  Peoria 
with  his  familv  when  but  three  white  families  were 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBU^M. 


41 : 


living  there.     He  is  therefore  well   posted  regard-   j 

iiig  the  history  of  this  section  of  country,  its 
wonderful  dcvcldimient,  and  proud  of  liis  connec- 
tion with  tjiosc  who  have  aided  in  making  it  so 
flourishing  a  locality. 

Jolin   r.arker.  the   grandfather    of    our    subject, 
ran  the   first    ferry    between    Peoria    and    Wesley 
City.     After  working  there  a  year  or  so,   he   took 
up  his  abode  on  Totten's  Prairie,  whence  he  and 
liis  son  John  W.  came  to  this  county  to  select  land 
in  the  fall  of  1825.     The  flrs^  night  out  from  liome 
they  slept  in  a  deserted  wigwam.      Having  found  a 
tract  to  please  them  they  broke  some   land   and   in 
the  spring  planted  some  corn  which  was   destroyed 
by  wild  hogs   which  were  verj-   numerous.     This 
land  was  on  section   7,  and  eightj'  acres  of  it  was 
given  to  the  son  when  he  became  of  age.     He  also 
entered  and  bought  several  hundred  more  at   vari- 
ous Kimes.     On   one   occasion  he  purchased   forty 
acres  at  a  sale  for  ^5  and  when  returning  home   in 
company  with  several  companions,    remarked    that 
anj'one  who  would  give  him  a  dollar  for  his  bargain 
might  have  the  land.     His  brother  George  took  up 
the  offer  and  after  keeping  the  property   several 
years  sold  it  for  some  hundreds  of  dollars. 

This  John  W.  Barker  lived  to  be  about  seventy 
years  of  age,  dying  Januarj-  S,  1888.  He  had  been 
married  three  times  and  was  the  father  of  ten  chil- 
dren, eight  of  whom  now  survive.  His  first  wife 
was  Rachel  Harris  who  bore  liim  two  children.  His 
second  wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  Eliza, 
daugliter  of  George  and  Eliza  S.  Brand,  who  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  this  county  whither 
they  came  from  Virginia.  Of  the  eight  children 
liorn  to  this  good  woman  he  of  whom  we  write  was 
the  next  to  the  youngest.  His  mother  was  called 
from  time  to  eternity  in  1877. 

Our  sulijeet  is  now  in  possession  of  the  old 
homestead,  having,  bought  out  the  other  heirs.  His 
cherished  companion  was  known  in  her  maidenhood 
as  Lucy  A.  Boyer,  being  a  daughter  of  AVilford 
Boyer  of  McDonough  County.  Their  happj-  union 
has  been  blest  to  them  by  the  birth  of  one  child — 
John  Wilford. 

The  Barker  family  has  long  been  ideutifieil  with 
the  Democratic  partj-.  Grandfather  Barker  held 
the  office  of  County  Judge  or  Commissioner  and 


our  subject  was  elected   Township  Collector  [when 

but  twenty  two  years  old,  being  the  youngest  man 
who  lias  ever  held  that  ollice  here;  An  intelligent 
farmer,  a  worlh3-"citizen,  and  a  kind  neighbor,  Mr. 
Barker  receives  his  due  measure  of  respect  from 
his  fellow. men. 

es — f-^K  ^ — ^     ^  ^^ 


EBBEUS  B.  AULT,  occupies  an  honorable 
^  place  among  the  intelligent,  capable  farmers 
2k-;  of  this  count}',  and  he  is  a  valued  citizen  of 


Deerfield  Township,  in  whose  social,  public  and 
religious  life  he  is  a  prominent  factor.  His  parents, 
Jacob  and  Rachael  (Pouder)  Ault  were  born  in 
Hanover,  York  County,  Pa.,  and  in  Westminster, 
Frederick  County,  Md.,  respectively. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  the  latter  place,  and 
was  born  September  29,  1821,  he  being  the  eldest 
and  the  only  son  living,  of  five  children,  four  boys 
and  one  girl.  He  was  early  left  an  orphan  by  the 
death  of  his  father  and  mothei-,  the  latter  dying  in 
183(%  and  at  the  age  of  nine  j-cars  went  to  live 
with  his  grandfather.  He  remained  with  him  till 
he  was  twenty-twc)  years  old,  and  then  went  to 
work  for  himself  b3'  the  month  on  a  farm,  and  was 
thus  occupied  one  year.  His  next  employment  was 
with  a  doctor  for  whom  he  did  chores,  etc.,  remain- 
ing with  him  three  and  one-half  years.  After  that 
we  hear  of  him  in  Baltimore,  where  he  learned  the 
trade  of  a  shoe-maker,  and  worked  at  it  for  about 
four  years.  Returning  to  Westminster,  he  made 
his  home  with  his  grandfather  until  185G.  In  that 
j'car  he  sta^'ted  out  into  the  wfu-ld  again,  and  made 
his  wa\-  to  this  State  and  county,  leaving  his  old 
Lome  April  12.  After  his  arrival  here  he  took  u|) 
his  abode  with  his  cousin  A.  J.  Smith,  and  wns 
with  him  about  two  years. 

After  that  our  subject  was  married  September 
4,  18G0,  taking  as  his  wife  Margaret  A.,  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Robinson)  Sexton.  She  is  a 
native  of  Fayette  County,  Ohio,  and  was  born 
January-  2,  1841.  Immediately  subsequent  to  his 
wedding  Mr.  Ault  located  on  section  28,  Deerfield 
Township,  and  after  living  there  about  two  years, 
bought  thirty-four  acres  of  land  on   section    16,    of 


418 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ilie  s:i!iiL'  luwiisliip.  bix  3"ears  later  be  traded  that 
■  place  for  sixt3'-two  and  one-fourth  acres  of  land, 
thirt3'-four  on  section  16,  and  tliirty-eighl  and  one- 
fourth  acres  on  section  21,  and  here  he  has  resided 
ever  since.  He  sold  three-fourths  of  an  acre  for  a 
schoolliouse  site,  and  the  remainder  of  ids  land  he 
has  put  under  excellent  cultivation,  and  reaps  in 
repa^'ment  for  his  labors  fine  harvests.  His  liuild- 
ings  are  in  good  order,  and  ever^-thing  about  tlie 
place  betokens  thrift  and  superior  management  on 
the  part  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  and  Mis.  Ault  have  eleven  eliildren.  as 
follows:  Mary  A.,  wife  of  J.  W.  Utsingar  of  Deer- 
field  Townsliip;  Rachael  A.,  wife  of  Charles  B. 
C"aft,  of  Arkansas  County,  Ark.;  Matilda  J.,  wife 
of  Lewis  Mahr  of  DeerGcId  Township;  Robert  E., 
Rosa  E.,  John  A.,  Lebbeus  A.,  Emory  'J.,  Achsa 
C,  Margaret  A.,  and  Jacob  T.,  all  of  whom  are 
at  home  with  their  parents,  with  the  exception  of 
the  married  daughters. 

In  recognition  of  his  skill  as  a  farmer,  and  of  his 
worth  in  every  particular,  our  subject's  fellow 
members  have  made  him  President  of  the  Farmers' 
Alliance  of  Deerfield  Township.  He  takes  much 
interest  in  political  matters  and  affiliates  with  the 
Democrats.  Three  times  he  has  been  elected  Col- 
lector of  the  township  but  he  resigned  the  third 
time.  He  was  School  Director  for  nine  years  and 
was  Town  Clerk  four  years.  He  is  a  member  in 
high  standing  of  the  Methodist  Episcoi)al  Church, 
and  is  an  active-worker  in  the  fold.  He  has  been 
Class  Leader  and  Trustee  and  has  taken  part  in  the 
Sundaj-school.  He  helped  to  organize  the  first 
Sunday-school  in  the  township  and  has  been  teacher, 
Assistant  Superintendent  and  Superintendent  of 
the  school,  and  was  also  Justice  of  the  Peace  four 
3' ears. 

-^ .^^ ^ 


ARSHALL  N.  WILLCOXEN.  the  subject 
of  our  sketch,  was  born  in  Estill  Count3', 
Ky.,  September  5,  1827,  being  the  s'm  of 
Capt.Elijah  and  Charlotte  (Calloway)  Wiil- 
coxen,  natives  of  North  Carolina,  the  former  being- 
born  Jul3-  2-1,  1781),  in  Roane  C'ount3',  and  the 
latter  April  2,  1792,  in    Ashe  Couut3'.     A  sketch 


of  these  Illustrious  people  and  of  their  ancestors,will 
be  found  in  the  sketch  of  George  W.  Ra3',  whose 
wife  was  Miss  Ann  A.  Willcoxen.  From  several 
generations  b.-jck  the3'  have  held  prominent  places 
in  public  affairs,  and  been  highly  respected  in  all 
communities  where  they  have  resided. 

Our  subject  came  to  Liverpool  Township  with 
his  father  when  he  was  onl3^  three  years  of  age,  and 
passed  his  youth  on  the  old  homestead  attending 
the  neighborhood  school  through  the  winter  sea- 
son, and  assisting  on  the  farm  during  the  summer. 
He  was  especiall3'  useful  in  helping  to  fence  in  the 
propert3'.  The  countr3-  at  that  time  was  very  wild 
and  the  woods  abounded  with  deer  and  turkeys, 
and  several  times  he  killed  deer  near  the  homestead. 
Up  to  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  lived  at  home. 
His  marriage  took  place  April  4,  1854,  the  lady 
with  whom  he  joined  his  lot  being  Miss  Harriett 
(Lasswell).  who  was  born  in  Fulton  Count3', 
March  26,  1836. 

Mrs.  Willcoxen's  father,  Andrew  Lasswell,  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  born  in  1802.  He  was  a 
farmer,  and  came  to  Fulton  Count3'  in  1825,]where 
he  purchased  land  near  Cuba,  and  where  he  died  in 
1869.  His  vvife,  who  previous  to  her  marriage  was 
Miss  Barbara  Baughman,  was  born  in  Trumbull 
County,  Ohio,  1809,  and  died  June  27,  1885,  being 
at  the  time  of  her  death  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Christian  Church.  To  their  marriage  were  born 
ten  children,  eight  of  whom  reached  maturity. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willcoxen  have  had  thirteen  chil- 
dren ;  the  following  are  living,  viz :  Calvin  L.,  Ester 
A.,  Mrs.  Willcoxen;  Jerr3'  C.  Marshall  X..  Jr., 
Charlotte,  Adaline,  Mrs.  Goodman;  Nellie  Flor- 
ence, Mrs.  Kline;  Margaret  E.,  Mar3-  Inez,  George 
R.,  and  Jessie  E.  Mr.  Willcoxen  is  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  and  his  wife  belongs  to  the 
Christian  Church. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  has  shown  great  indus- 
tr3'  and  perseverance  through  life.  When  he  took 
possession  of  his  present  property,  the  land  was  not 
improved,  and  it  was  a  very  difficult  matter  to 
clear  awav'  the  heav3'  timber  that  covered  it.  He 
built  a  small  frame  house  the  first  thing,  and  after 
fencing  in  the  property,  commenced  to  cultivate 
the  soil.  He  has  three  hundred  and  twent3' acres  in 
the  home  place,  and  owns  several  hundred  acres  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


419 


bottom  land  near  the  Illinois  River.  Besides  farm- 
ing, he  is  also  very  much  interested  in  stockrais- 
ing.  He  built  his  present  frame  house  in  1857, 
and  added  to  it  very  much  in  1868.  lie  is  a  mem- 
ber of  tiie  Democratic  party,  and  lias  at  different 
times  served  as  Collector,  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways, and  School  Treasurer  for  this  Townsliip. 


^^ 


^s^  IMEON  JONES.  It  is  a  generally  con- 
ceded fact  that  the  farmer  enjoys  a  greater 
amount  of  personal  freedom  than  any  other 
man  who  is  engaged  in  the  busy  and  al- 
most endless  task  of  accumulating  money.  There 
is  something  about  life  in  the  country  where  one  is 
surrounded  by  Nature  on  every  side,  that  seems  to 
bring  a  quietness  and  peace  found  nowhere  else. 
Our  subject,  who  is  at  present  a  prosperous  far- 
mer of  Kerton  Township,  was  born  in  South  Bend, 
Ind.,  on  the  1 1th  of  April,  184.5.  His  fatlier,  Sea- 
bron  Jones,  was  born  in  Ohio,  but  removed  to  In- 
diana when  a  young  man,  settling  near  South  Bend. 
He  was  married  there  to  Miss  Fetna  Curtis,  and  in 
1849  removed  to  Illinois,  making  the  trip  by  wagon 
and  camping  on  the  w.ay.  He  settled  at  Bath,  Ma- 
son County,  where  he  remained  one  year,  and  then 
moved  to  this  county,  on  section  1  7,  Kerton  Town- 
ship, where  he  rented  laud  and  farmed.  His  father 
was  a  member  of  the  Democratic  part^'.  He  died 
in  18.53.  His  wife  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five. 
To  them  were  born  sis  children,  viz:  Nancy,  War- 
ren, Ada,  Anna,  Simeon,  and  Henry,  only  Ihiee  of 
whom  are  living  at  the  present  time,  viz:  Anna, 
Warren,  and  Simeon. 

Mr.  Jones  came  to  this  place  with  his  parents 
wiien  he  was  only  four  years  of  age,  and  attcnc'ed 
scliool  in  the  little  log  schoolhouse  in  his  neighbor- 
hood, but  received  a  very  limited  educational 
training,  the  matter  of  education  not  receiving  any 
of  the  care  that  is  universally  given  it  now  in  all 
parts  of  the  country.  At  an  early  age  lie  com- 
menced working  on  a  farm,  and  when  onl^'  twelve 
years  of  age  he  worked  for  one  man,  and  received 
in  payment  for  his  labor  19  per  month  at  the  start, 
and  afterward  received  $30. 


Our  subject,  in  March,  IS7I).  married^Miss  Jo- 
sephine McCausland.  Her  parents  were  born  in 
Canada,  but  her  birth  occurred  in  this  .Slate,  and 
she  received  her  education  in  this  county.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jones  have  been  born  five  cliildren,  all  of 
whom  are  living,  viz:  Adda  L.,  Irviu  ().,  Rosa, 
Scott  and  Kennett.  After  his  marriage  our  sub- 
ject rented  a  place  for'  four  years,  and  at  the  end 
of  that  time  bought  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  lived 
on  the  same  for  a  period  of  ten  3'ears.  The  place 
was  little  improved,  and  the  only  dwelling  house 
was  a  small  log  cabin.  He  soon  cleared  thirt}' 
acres  of  tlie  land,  and  built  a  nice  house  and 
large  barn,  and  still  owns  the  place,  although  he  is 
now  living  on  property  which  he  has  rented  for  five 
years,  and  which  is  a  picturesque  spot.  The  house 
stands  on  the  edge  of  the  bluffs  that  overhang  the 
Illinois  River,  and  commands  a  fine  view  of  the 
beautiful  landscape  around.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  is  popular  in  political 
circles.  He  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  through- 
out the  township,  and  has  been  Road  Commissioner 
for  the  past  nine  years. 


'■    '    ^^ 


I&9= 


-r^ 


r/OHN  LAWRENCE  CHAPIN,  nn  extensive 
farmer  and  sto;k-raiser  of  Lowistown  Town- 
ship, has  been  n  very  prominent  factor  in 
developing  and  extending  the  large  agricul- 
tural interests  of  Fulton  County.  He  was  born  in 
Girard,  Erie  County,  Pa.,  June  7,  1826.  He  is  a 
son  of  John  C.  Chapin,  who  was  born  near  Spring- 
field, Mass.  The  father  of  the  latter,  Consider 
Chapin,  was  born  in  the  same  localit}'  of  Scotch 
parentage.  He  continued  to  live  in  the  old  Ba}' 
State  until  about  1810,  and  then  started  with  team 
for  what  was  then  the  western  frontier,  Ohio  his 
destination.  He  became  a  pioneer  of  Ashtabula 
Count}',  and  at  once  entered  upon  the  improve- 
ment of  a  tract  of  wild  forest  laud  that  he  bougiit 
in  Kingsville  Township,  first  erecting  a  log  cabin 
in  the  wilderness  for  the  shelter  of  his  famil3^ 
There  were  no  railroads  in  those  days,  or  canals, 
and  no  steamers  plied  on  the  lakes,  so  there  were 
no  markets  and  the  people  had  to  live  on  the  prod- 


420 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ucls  of  their  farms  and  wild  game  which  was 
abundant.  In  the  course  of  time  he  cleared  cjiiitL- 
a  farm,  where  he  resided  until  death  closed  his 
mortal  career  in  his  one  hundrelh  year.  His  remains 
were  buried  in  Monroe  Cemetery,  Ash  tabula  County. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Esther  Wallace, 
was  born  in  Scotland  and  died  0!\  the  home  farm 
in  Ashtabula  County.' 

John  Cba|)in  was  seventeen  years  old  when  he 
went  to  Ohio  with  his  parents.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  a  distiller  and  after  marriage  removed 
across  the  Stale  line  to  Girard,  Pa.,  where  he  oper- 
ated a  distillery-  for  a  time.  In  1834  he  emigrated 
to  Indiana  taking  with  him  his  wife  and  five  chil- 
dren and  making  the  journey  with  a  team.  He  lo- 
cated a  few  miles  southwest  of  Michigan  City, 
where  he  took  up  a  tract  of  Government  land 
near  the  Illinois  State  line.  He  built  a  dwelling 
on  that  place,  lived  there  one  year,  then  sold 
liis  claim  and  removed  to  Michigan.  He  took  up 
liis  abode  in  St.  Joseph  and  in  1837  left  that  State 
and  again  started  westward,  accompanied  by  his 
wife  and  seven  chikli'en,  and  journeyed  with  an 
ox-team  to  this  county,  arriving  in  the  month  of 
March,  that  year.  A  great  portion  of  the  country 
which  he  traversed  was  very  sparsely  settled,  and 
the  most  of  it  owned  by  the  Government  and  since 
sold  to  pioneer  settlers  at  ^1.25  an  acre.  Joliet 
and  Peoria  were  at  that  time  small  villages  and 
Lewistown  was  but  a  hamlet.  He  located  in  the 
latter  place,  but  after  living  there  a  short  time  went 
to  Havana.  From  that  place  he  returned  to  Wa- 
lerford  Township,  where  his  death  occurretf  in 
April,  1841.  He  had  married  in  early  manhood, 
taking  as  his  wife  Elizabeth  Hardy,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Blar- 
garet  (Ferguson )  Hard}-.  She  died  in  Lewistown 
Township  in  1879  at  a  ripe  old  age.  Of  the  eight 
children  born  to  her  and  hor  husband  three  are 
now  living. 

John  Lawrence  Chapin,  of  whom  this  sketch  is 
written,  was  eleven  years  old  when  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  this  county,  and  he  still  retains  a 
clear  recollection  of  the  incidents  of  pioneer  life 
here.  He  was  fifteen  years  of  age  when  his  father 
died  and  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  a  i)Oor 
boy.     He  was  endowed  with  energy,  rare  judgment 


and  clear  foresight,  and  besides  was  industrious 
and  prudent  in  his  habits.  With  such  traits  of 
character  he  was  not  long  in  working  his  wa}'  to 
independence,  and  in  a  short  time  he  was  able  to 
commence  farming  for  himself  on  rented  land.  He 
finally  i)urchased  twenty-seven  a'jres  of  which  a 
small  tract  was  cleared  and  a  log  cabin  stood  on  the 
place.  He  took  up  his  abode  there  and  continued 
to  rent  improved  land  while  putting  in  all  his  leis- 
ure time  in  clearing  his  own  land  on  which  he 
lived  until  1852.  In  that  year  he  sold  his  property 
here  and.  with  his  wife  and  one  child,  started  with 
an  ox-team  on  a  journey  to  Bremer  Countj-,  Iowa, 
where  ho  contemplated  settling.  He  made  a  claim 
to  a  tract  of  Government  land  on  the  Cedar  River, 
two  and  one- half  miles  below  the  present  site  of 
Waverly.  The  country  round  about  was  sparsely 
settled,  and  where  W.<)terloo  now  stands  there  was 
not  a  house.  He  erected  a  hewed-log  dwelling  on 
his  claim  and  lived  in  it  one  year.  Returning  to 
Fulton  County  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  he 
bought  sixty  acres  of  land  covered  with  timber 
and  brush,  paying  for  it  *  10  an  acre.  He  at  once 
built  a  good  log  cabin  and  began  to  clear  the  land 
and  prepare  it  for  cultivation.  He  has  it  now  very 
highly  improved  and  has  planted  choice  fruit  and 
ornamental  trees,  making  it  a  very  attractive  place. 
As  a  farmer  he  has  been  very  successful  and  has 
acquired  wealth  in  the  pursuit  of  his  calling.  He 
has  purchased  other  land  from  lime  to  time  until 
at  one  time  he  owned  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  choice  farming  land,  well  stocked  with  fine 
horses,  cattle  and  hogs  of  high  grades. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Chapin  with  Miss  Eliza 
Fleming  was  duly  celebrated  October  15,  184G. 
She  was  born  in  Ohio,  December  17,  1828,  and  died 
August  26,  1885.  She  was  a  fine  woman  in  all 
respects,  a  Christian  and  a  valued  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  Inld  in  es- 
teem far  beyonrt  the  limits  of  her  hovisehold.  She 
left  two  children — Caroline  A.  and  John  L.  Caro- 
line married  Snowdon  Smith,  and  lives  in  Lewis- 
town  Township;  they  have  three  children — Laura, 
Ezra  and  Earl.  John  L.  married  Irene  Harrison, 
and  they  have  two  children — Ora  F.  and  Eliza 
Florence. 

Mr.  Chapin  is  a  man  of  clear  undcistanding  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


423 


a  well-balanced  mind,  and  the  able  manner  with 
whicli  he  has  managed  his  affairs  shows  that  lie  is 
possessed  of  fine  business  talent,  and  at  the  same 
time  lias  made  him  an  invaluable  aid  in  upbuilding 
Lewistown  Township,  and  gives  him  high  rank 
among  its  pioneers.  Politically,  he  is  a  stanoli  be- 
liever in  the  principles  promulgated  by  the  Re- 
publioan  party  and  gives  it  his  hearty  support. 


i;EV.  ALVAN  RUSH  MATHES.  pastor  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Canton,  is  a 
t*\  \v  gentleman  of  broad  culture,  cordial  manners, 
and  consistent  Christian  character.  The 
latter  qualification  for  ministerial  duties  seems 
much  more  diflicult  to  attain  by  one  who  desires  to 
preach  the  gospel  than  by  any  other,  as  there  are 
persons  always  ready  to  pick  flaws  in  the  character, 
seeming  to  believe  that  the  minister  is  not  subject 
to  the  trials  and  temptations  which  surround  the 
layman.  Perhaps  no  higher  credit  can  be  given  a 
pastor,  therefore  than  this — that  in  practice  as  in 
preceiit  lie  is  faithful  to  the  cause  he  loves. 

Our  subject  belongs  to  a  family,  several  mem- 
bers of  which  hold  im|)ortant  positions  in  the 
church,  and  is  the  son  of  a  man  who  for  many  years 
was  known  for  his  religious  and  educational  labors. 
This  is  the  Rev.  Archibald  Alexander  Mathes,  who 
now  makes  his  home  with  his  son  in  Canton.  He 
was  born  in  Eastern  Tennessee  In  1812,  being  a  son 
of  John  Mathes,  ruling  elder  in  Salem  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  an  early  settler  in  that  State  and  of 
Scotch  extraction.  When  he  was  about  twent}'- 
three  years  of  age  Archibald  A.  Mathes,  in  com- 
pany with  Rev.  Ezekiel  (^uillen,  of  fpava.  111.,  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Wiley,  walked  the  entire  distance  from 
the  mountains  of  their  native  State,  over  hills  and 
through  beautiful  valleys,  to  Princeton,  N.  J., 
where  they  entered  the  Princeton  Theological  Sem- 
inary. It  is  not  probable  that  many  boys  of  the 
present  age  would  undertake  such  a  journe}'  (of 
seven  hundred  miles)  in  order  to  enter  college,  but 
it  illustrates  in  part  tiie  character  of  this  gentle- 
man. 

On  account  of  failino-    health   the   father  of  our 


subject  remained  only  two  years  at  Princeton,  and 
finished  his  education  at  Prince  Edwards,  Va.  He 
was  for  a  lengthy  period  at  the  he.ad  of  Washing- 
ton College,  about  eight  miles  from  .Jonesboro, 
Tenn.,  and  after  leaving  the  presidency  of  that  in- 
stitution, took  up  the  active  work  of  the  ministry. 
This  he  continued  until  old  .age  called  for  a  cessa- 
tion of  activity.  His  life  has  been  devoted  to  the 
self-sacrificing  labor  of  the  ministry,  and  his  name 
will  be  recalled  with  affection  long  after  he  has 
passed  hence. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  known  in  maid- 
enhood as  Christiana  Gray  Cowan.  She  was  born 
in  the  same  county  as  her  husband,  and  in  the 
same  3'ear,  and  died  in  Canton  in  1883  in  the  sev- 
ent^'-first  year  of  her  age.  Her  father,  James 
Cowan, was  ruling  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Leesburgh,  Tenn.,  and  owned  an  excellent  farm 
of  three  hundred  acres.  She  was  the  mother  of 
eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living. 
Three  of  the  daughters  are  wives  of  Presbyterian 
ministers,  and  two  sons,  besides  our  subject,  hold 
office  in  the  same  church. 

The  eyes  of  the  Rev.  Alvan  R.  Mathes  opened  to 
the  light  in  Washington  County,  Tenn.,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Jonesboro,  Jul3'  4,  18.39.  He  received 
a  classical  education  at  Hanover  College  near 
Madison,  Ind.,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
June  18G4.  During  the  war  he  spent  five  months 
ill  the  army  as  a  member  of  Company  K,  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-seventh  Indiana  Infantry,  the 
headquarters  of  the  regiment  being  at  Tallahoma. 
Tenn.  They  were  appointed  to  guard  stores,  rail- 
roads, etc.,  to  act  as  scouts  and  catch  bushwhack- 
ers. 

After  an  honorable  discharge  from  the  army  Mr. 
Mathes  went  to  Chicago  and  entered  the  North- 
western Theological  Seminary,  now  McCormick 
Seminary,  where  he  spent  three  years  and  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1867.  He  receivevi  a 
call  to  Wilton  Junction,  Iowa,  his  pastorate  there 
continuing  five  years.  He  then  assumed  charge  of 
a  church  at  .Shawncetown,  III.,  hut  after  having  la- 
bored for  and  with  it  three  and  a  half  years  re- 
signed on  account  of  the  unheaUhfulne.ss  of  the 
district.  In  1875  he  located  in  Farmington.  where 
he  continued   to   labor  until  187'J.     The   following 


424 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


spring  he  was  called  to  Canton,  took  cliarge  of  the 
congregation  here  and'was  duly  instaHed  as"pastor 
in  October,  1880.  The  congregation  now  numbers 
two  hundred  and  forty-five,  while  thi-  Surulay- 
school  is  attended  by  over  three  hundred.  Both 
are  in  a  ttourishingj  condition"  and  are  proving 
powers  for  good  in  the  community. 

Realizing  that  it  is  not  good  for  man  to  live 
alone,  the  Ilev.  Matlies  won  a  congenial  companion 
in  the  person  of  Miss  Alice  M.  Dinwiddle,  daughter 
of  Alexander  and  Nancy  (Ramsey)  Dinwiddie  of 
Hanover,  Ind.  The  marriage  rites  were  celebrated 
April  10,  1867,  at  the  home  of  the  bride's  sister 
in  Evansville.  Ind.  Mrs.  Mathes  was  born  and 
reared  to  womanhood  in  the  Hoosier  .State,  ac- 
quiring an  excellent  education]  and  displays  the 
ready  sympathy  and  benevolent  spirit  so  greatly 
called  forth  by  the  duties  of  a  minister's  wife. 
She  has  borne  her  husband  four  children — Adah 
M.,  Archie  Dinwiddie,  Lilly  M.  and  Mary  G.  The 
oldest  daughter  is  now  a  student  at  Lake  Forest 
Universitjr,  the  others  are  still  at  home.  Politic- 
ally our  subject  is  a  stanch  Republican.  His 
scholarship  was  recognized  by  his  Alma  Mater, 
Hanover  College,  in  1883,  at  which  time  the  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts  was  conferred  upon  him  by  that 
institution. 

The  lithographic  portrait  of  the  Rev.  A.  R. 
Mathes,  which  is  shown  in  connection  with  this 
personal  sketch,  will  be  welcomed  as  a  valuable 
addition  to  this  volume,  not  only  by  his  parishion- 
ers, but  also  by  his  many  warm  friends  throughout 
the  count}'. 


-o*o-f5Jv><v^-«>*o.- 


^^^HOMAS  COOPER,  of  the  firm  of  Cooper  & 
McMahon, ranks  exceedingly  high  inthe  busi- 


ness circlesof  Canton, Fulton  County, 111., and 
in  company  with  his  partner,  James  T.  McMahon, 
is  conducting  a  thriving  livorybusiness  in  that  place. 
He  was  born  in  Brig,  Lincolnshire,  England,  on  the 
7th  of  March,  1849,  his  parents  being  Thomas  and 
Emma  (Oglesby)  Cooper,  bath  of  whom  were  Eng- 
lish by  birth  and  education  and  had  always  resided 
in  that  country.     The   father  died   while  Thomas 


was  still  an  infant,  and  the  mother  married  George 
Jackson,  after  which  event  tiie  family  emigrated 
to  the  United  States,  while  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  in  his  sixth  year.  The  mother  died  in  Canton. 
To  his  parents  were  born  four  children,  two  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  The  others  are,  William, 
who  resides  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  our  subject. 
Mr.  Cooper  spent  the  days  of  his  childhood  in 
Fulton  County,  and  received  a  good  education  in 
the  schools  of  Canton.  He  engaged  in  various  oc- 
cupations until  the  month  of  September,  1880,  at 
which  time  he  formed  the  partnershi])  above  men- 
tioned. Mr.  Coopertnarried  Miss  Maggie  A.  Turner 
in  July,  1884.  She  is  a  native  of  Fulton  County 
and  a  daughter  of  Horace  and  Mary  E.  Turner.  To 
them  has  been  born  one  child,  Horace  T.,  whose 
birth  occurred  October  28,  1889.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  order,  and  a  gentleman  who  is  highly 
respected  both  in  business  and  social  circles  for  his 
pleasing  manners,  strict  integrity  and  generosity. 
The  firm  of  which  he  is  a  partner  is  one  of  the 
oldest  and  best  known  in  the  countj',  both  because 
of  the  fine  horses  and  conveyances  which  are  always 
kept  on  hand,  and  because  of  the  popularity  of  the 
proprietors. 


vIESSET.  SWITZFR   is  a  br 
I    awake    young    farmer  and 


/ 


1^^ 


bright  and  wide- 
young  larmer  and  stock-raiser  of 
Canton,  and  has  a  promising  future  before 
him.  He  and  his  brother  C.  W.  operate  two 
farms  in  partnership,  one  in  Canton  Township,  and 
the  other  in  Farmijigton  Township.  Our  subject  is 
the  j^oungest  son  of  Jesse  Switzer,  one  of  Fulton 
County's  oldest  living  pioneers,  and  is  a  fine  tj'pe 
of  the  young  men  who  within  recent  years  have 
come  forward  to  aid  their  fathers  in  the  great  work 
so  well  begun  in  the  early  days  by  the  sturdy, 
hardy,  self-sacrificing  early  settlers  of  this  region 
in  their  eflforts  to  develop  its  rich  agricultural  re- 
sources. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  settled  at  Blackjack, 
Canton  Township,  about  1833,  and  were  among  its 
first  pioneer  settlers.  For  further  parental  history 
see  sketch  of  J.  Switzer.     He  of  whom  we  write 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


425 


was  the  youngest  child  of  the  family  and  was  born 
in  Canton  Township,  December  28,  1858.  Me  was 
well  trained  by  his  father  and  mother,  and  was 
given  the  advantages  of  a  sound  education,  begun 
in  the  schools  of  Farmington,  to  which  his  parents 
removed  when  he  was  five  years  old,  and  com- 
l)leted  by  a  flue  course  of  study  in  tlie  Canton  Iligli 
School.  He  was  thus  well  equipped  for  tlie  battle  of 
life,  and  when  it  became  time  fur  him  to  decide  wiiat 
vocation  to  pursue,  he  selected  that  calling  which 
Horace  Greeley  called  "the  noblest  of  professions," 
and  has  become  a  practical,  skillful  farmer.  The 
farm  on  which  he  lias  his  home  cora|)rises  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  acres  of  highly  productive  soil, 
whose  well- tilled  fields  yield  abundant  harvests  and 
a  desirable  income.  The  buildings  upon  it  are  of 
a  neat  and  substantial  appearance,  and  ever5'tliing 
about  the  place  indicates  careful  attention  and 
well-directed  labor.  The  stock  that  our  subject 
and  liis  brother  raise  is  of  a  good  grade,  and  they 
can  alwaj's  find  a  good  market  for  it. 

Mr.  Swilzer  is  not  without  the  active  co-operation 
afforded  by  a  lielpful,  capable  wife,  whom  he  ob- 
tained in  the  person  of  Miss  Lena  Miller,  to  whom 
lie  was  wedded  December  22,  188.5.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  the  late  D.  C.  Miller,  formerly  of 
Farmington. 

Mr.  Switzer  is  a  j'oung  man  of  fine  physique  and 
presence  and  of  good  mental  endowments.  He  is 
one  of  the  progressive  young  men  of  the  county, 
ami  is  a  factor  in  its  material  advancement.  In 
politics  he  is  with  the  Republican  party  and  gives 
it  stanch  su|)|)ort.  He  is  a  member  of  the  School 
Board  of  his  district,  and  is  zealous  in  promoting 
educational  matters. 


•c<- 


/OSEPH  ZWISLER.  The  old  adage  that 
pr.actice  makes  perfect,  is  fully  verified  in 
the  case  of  Mr.  Zwisler,  who  for  a  period  of 
years  running  b:ick  to  1852,  has  been  stead- 
ily engaged  as  a  carpenter  and  contractor  in  differ- 
ent places,  and  is  at  the  present  writing  one  of  the 
leading  men  in   his    trade  at    Canton.     He   gives 


special  attention  to  dwelling  houses,  and  has  built 
some  of  the  handsomest  residences  in  that  city. 

Our  subject  was  ushered  into  the  drama  of  life 
in  Bavaria,  Germany,  on  the  1st  of  March,  1834, 
being  the  son  of  Joseph  Anton  and  Mary  Ann 
(Miltenberger)  Zwisler,  who  was  a  turner  by  trade 
and  who  lived  and  died  in  the  Fatherland.  Our 
subject's  mother  died  in  the  old  home  in  1870, 
having  attained  lier  seventy-second  year;  the 
father  being  about  eighty-four  years  old  at  the 
time  of  his  death  in  1870.  To  them  were  born 
five  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz: 
Franz,  a  farmer  in  Germany;  Theodore,  a  stone- 
mason in  tlie  old  country;  Jose[)h ;  Amelia,  wife 
of  Valentine  Zeller,  living  in  Germany;  Angeline, 
cigar  manufacturer  in  Da3't()n,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Zwisler  was  educated  entirely  in  Germany, 
and  upon  changing  the  old  home  for  one  in  the 
United  States,  settled  first  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  where 
his  uncle,  Joseph  Zwisler,  kept  an  hotel.  After  re- 
maining with  this  kinsman  for  a  short  time,  our 
subject  commenced  to  work  as  a  carpenter  in  Mi- 
amisburg,  near  Dayton,  and  lived  there  two  years, 
during  wliich  time  he  managed  to  get  a  good  start 
at  his  trade.  Coming  west  he  worked  for  a  long 
time  for  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Railroad,  and  af- 
terward went  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.  But  when  four 
months  had  elapsed,  Mr.  Zwisler  came  to  the  State 
of  Illinois,  remaining  in  Springfield  a  few  montiis, 
going  to  Sweetwater  at  a  later  date,  and  locating  in 
Canton  on  the  8th  of  August,  1857.  During  his 
long  residence  here,  he  has  won  numerous  friends, 
and  the  esteem  of  the  entire  community.  Every- 
where and  among  men  of  every  class  and  nation 
tru3  merit  will  find  speedy  recognition,  and  a  wor^ 
thy  industrious  man  provided  of  course  he  pos- 
sesses agreeable  manners,  cannot  fail  to  meet  with  a 
eor<lial  reception  in  any  communit}-. 

Our  subject  married  Miss  Mary  Jane  Wishon,  at 
Springfield,  in  185(5.  She  was  born  and  reared  near 
Cliillicothe,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Baker  and 
Hannah  (Austcl)  Wishon.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zwisler 
ten  children  have  been  born,  Louisa,  Elmira  and 
Amelia  deceased,  Cliarles  Theodore,  a  resident  of 
Canton  and  a  carpenter  liy  tr,ade.  He  married  Miss 
Nellie  McColly.and  has  one  child-Frank  ;  Charlotte. 
wife  of  Charles  Johnson,  a  carpenter  b\-  trade.  They 


426 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


have  two  children — Ralph  and  Blanch;  Anna,  sten- 
ographer ill  Kansas  City;  Minnie,  Nellie,  Edwin, 
and  Frank,  the  latter  deceaseil. 

Jlr.  Zwisler  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to  the  lodge 
in  Canton,  and  is  also  an  Odd  Fellow.  He  belongs 
to  the  L'nited  Workmen.  The  subject  of  our  sketch 
comes  from  a  nation  that  has  contributed  most  gen- 
erously to  the  population  of  the  United  States,  and 
among  the  many  nationalities  found  in  this  countiy, 
none  are  more  steady,  enterprising  and  respected 
citizens  than  are  the  Germans.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat.  Mrs.  Zwisler  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church. 


^  Ij  DDISON  ABERNATHY.  Among  the  pros- 
(@b/lJ||  perous  agriculturalists  of  Farmers  Town- 
ship, the  gentleman  above  named  is  well 
deserving  of  mention.  He  is  the  fortunate 
possessor  of  six  hundred  acres  of  land  which  is 
finely  watered  and  especially  well  adapted  for  pas- 
ture, to  which  a  great  part  of  it  is  devoted.  Some 
two  hundred  head  of  cattle  may  be  seen  grazing 
upon  it,  while  other  good  stock  and  first-class  im- 
provements of  various  kinds  indicates  the  intelli- 
gence aud  judgment  of  the  owner.  The  beautiful 
dwelling  now  occupied  by  the  family  was  erected 
by  our  subject  in  1872,  and  even  in  its  external  ap- 
pearance gives  evidence  of  the  presence  therein  of 
refined  womanhood. 

Our  subject  is  the  oldest  living  representative  of 
the  family  of  James  and  ILannah  (Throckmorton) 
Abernath}-,  natives  of  "West  Virginia,  who  removed 
to  Ross  Count}-,  Ohio,  many  years  ago.  The  for- 
mer was  taken  thither  b}-  his  parents,  John  and 
Polly  Abernathy  during  his  early  boyhood  and  af- 
ter his  marriage  continued  to  reside  there  several 
years.  He  then  removed  to  Montgomery  Count}-, 
Ind.,  whence  in  1836  he  came  to  Central  Illinois, 
settling  where  his  children  now  abide.  The  land 
was  not  in  market,  but  a  Mr.  Knott  had  a  claim 
which  Mr.  Abernathy  bought,  so  that  when  the 
sales  came  on  he  was  able  to  secure  the  tract.  His 
first  purchase  was  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 33  to  which  he  added  other  quarter  sections  in 


the  neighborhood.  During  his  life  he  owned  and 
partly  improved  about  six  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
with  the  assistance  of  his  sons  bringing  some  two 
hundred  acres  under  particularly  fine  cultivation. 
This  land  is  still  held  by  his  heirs. 

In  accordance  with  the  primitive  custom,  Mr. 
Aberiiathj'  brought  his  family  hither  in  a  wagon. 
At  that  time  timber  land  was  in  great  demand,  as 
it  was  thought  that  within  a  few  years  the  groves 
would  be  destro3ed  aud  fuel  very  high.  This  was 
one  of  the  most  erroneous  notions  prevailing  in 
those  days,  although  others  were  extant  which 
would  now  cause  a  smile.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject closed  her  eyes  to  earthly  things  on  the  home- 
stead in  1874,  the  father  following  her  to  the  tomb 
in  Januar}',  1882.  They  had  buried  three  children 
and  h.id  six  living  when  called  hence,  all  of  these 
jet  surviving.  While  unloading  their  goods  and 
putting  them  in  the  little  log  cabin  wliich  was  to  be 
their  future  home,  a  little  daughter.  Bettie.  went 
into  tlie  woods  to  gather  nuts.  She  wandered  from 
the  little  clearing  until  thoroughly  bewildered,  but 
was  fortunatel>'  found  by  a  lady  who  happened  to 
be  passing  through  the  forest  and  brought  home  to 
her  parents  before  they  had  become  alarmed  at  her 
absence. 

The  life  of  our  subject  has  not  been  devoid  of 
misfortune  although  his  worldly  success  has  been 
quite  satisfactory.  During  the  'GOs,  while  en- 
gaged in  the  stock  business,  he  was  traveling  on  the 
"Q"  when  an  accident  occurred.  The  tram  in 
the  caboose  of  which  he  was  seated,  was  not  flagged, 
and  was  run  into  by  a  heavy  train  during  the 
night,  the  engine  passing  through  three  full  lengths 
of  cars.  !Mr.  Abernathy  was  knocked  insensible 
and  upon  coming  to  found  his  left  arm  cut  about 
the  wrist,  permanently  crippling  him.  although  it 
was  not  found  necessary  to  amputate  his  hand.  He 
received  damages  from  the  company  to  the  amount 
of  8^2,500. 

The  lady  whom  Mr.  Abernathy  won  as  his  com- 
panion and  helpmate  was  formerly  known  as  Kattie 
Ann  Harris.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Jane 
(Swearingen)  Harris,  the  former  of  whom  was  the 
first  settler  of  Vermont,  this  county. wherein  he  built 
the  first  three  houses.  He  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, while  the  Swearingens  came  from  the  neigh- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


427 


liorliood  of  "Wheeling,  Va.  This  family  was  of 
RevolLitionaiT  stoek.  Great-grandfathei-  Swearin- 
gen  and  his  wife  were  riding  on  a  liorse  toward  their 
home  when  they  were  fired  upon  from  tlie  brush  by 
Indians.  The  wife  fell  to  the  ground  mortally 
wounded,  while  the  husband,  himself  seriously  hurt, 
rode  on  to  the  fort  clinging  to  the  horse,  barely  es- 
caping with  his  life.  A  squad  immediately  set  out 
finding  the  wounded  lady,  who  had  been  scalped  but 
wf>s  not  yet  lifeless,  being  able  to  speak  a  few  times 
before  she  breathed  her  last. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Aberuathy  and  Miss  Harris 
was  celebrated  August  9,  18.51,  and  has  been  blest 
to  them  b}'  the  birth  of  five  sons  and  one  duughter. 
The  first-born,  James,  a  farmer  of  Jefferson  County, 
Neb.,  has  been  recently  married.  John  Benton,  in 
1874,  whsn  seventeen  j"ears  old  left  the  harvest 
field  one  day  and  went  awaj-,  since  which  time  he 
h.as  traveled  quite  extensively,  visiting  nearly  every 
State  in  the  I'uion.  lie  has  repeatedly  written  to 
ills  parents,  telling  them  that  he  would  be  at  home 
some  time,  but  still  continues  his  journeyings.  Dur- 
ing his  school  days  he  was  extremely  studious  and 
apt  in  acquiring  knowledge.  William,  a  young 
man  of  good  education,  is  now  with  his  aunt  on 
the  home  place.  Ezra  lives  in  Table  Grove,  being 
married  and  having  two  sons,  the  elder  now  four 
j'ears  old.  Hannah  Jane  and  George  Bennett,  a 
young  lad}-  and  gentleman  of  promise,  are  yet  with 
their  parents. 

Mr.  Abernath}'  has  served  as  Assessor  and  Com- 
missioner of  Ilighwajs  many  terms,  following  in 
the  footsteps  of  his  fatlier  as  a  capable  Township 
officer.  The  family  is  a  Democratic  one  with  pro- 
hibition principles,  and  religiously  identified  with 
the  Christian  Church. 


itj^ IRAM  HUNT.     There  is    something  about 

|lf  jjl  the  experience  of  a  pioneer  in  any  new 
JW^  country  vastly  interesting,  but  at  the  same 
(^i)  time  it  is  undoubtedly  fraught  with  many 
hardships  and  privations.  To  see  on  ever}'  side  a 
long,  unbroken  stretch  of  land  covered  with  heavy 
timber,  or  a  carpet  of  wild  grass,  is   not  a  charm- 


ing sight  when  one  must  perforce  dwell  in  the 
midst  of  such  a  wilderness.  But  there  is  but  little 
doubt  about  the  fact  that  such  a  scene  develops 
all  one's  energies,  inspiring  one  witli  undaunted 
courage  in  clearing  up  the  land  and  cultivating  it. 
Such  was  the  experience  of  Hiram  Hunt,  who  W'as 
numbered  among  the  first  pioneers  of  Pleasant 
Township,  and  has  been  largel}'  instrumental  in 
bringing  about  its  (present  i)rosperity.  and  making 
it  truly  a  pleasant  dwelling-place. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Orleans  Count},  N.  Y., 
on  the  10th  of  February,  1818,  being  the  son  of 
Joseph  L.  and  Lydia  (Davenport)  Hunt,  natives 
of  New  York.  His  paternal  ancestors  were  Irish 
by  birth  and  education,  and  his  maternal  fore- 
fathers were  Scotchmen.  When  about  twelve  years 
of  age  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Ashtabula 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until 
1S34,  receiving  in  the  meantime  a  good  education. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came  alone  to 
Fulton  County,  continuing  to  make  this  his  home 
up  to  the  present  writing.  His  education  being  re- 
ceived in  the  subscri|)tion  schools  of  New  York 
and  Ohio  was  naturally  limited,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  schools  in  those  days  had  not  reached  their 
present  perfection,  but  he  has  always  been  fond  of 
reading,  and  has  const  quently  kept  himself  thor- 
oughly posted  upon  the  topics  of  the  day. 

Mr.  Hunt  commenced  agricultural  pursuits  at  an 
early  age  and  has  met  with  marked  success  in  that 
line.  Upon  first  coming  to  this  State,  he  worked  out 
by  the  month,  receiving  only  *!12  or  814  per  month 
in  compensation  for  his  services.  He  next  ran  a 
threshing-machine,  one  of  the  old  style,  known  as 
•'ground  thresher,"  his  being  the  first  one  in  Ber- 
nadotte  Township.  At  first  he  bought  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Farmers  Townshii),  and 
improved  the  property  very  much. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  enlisted  in  the  late 
war  in  the  year  1861 — the  month  of  August — 
joining  Company  F,  Eighty- fourth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, becoming  thus  a  part  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland.  He  served  under  Rosencranz,  Thomas, 
Grant  and  Ahliman,  and  look  part  in  the  battles 
of  Missionary  Ridge,  Lookout  Mountain,  Chatta- 
nooga, Chickaraauga,  and  numerous  others  of  minor 
importance.  He  w,as  honorably  discharged  in  1865, 


428 


PORTRAIT  AisD  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  immediately-  lelurned  to  Fulton  County,  and 
purchased  the  estate  upon  which  he  now  lives.  The 
land  at  that  time  was  all  bush  and  timber,  and  he 
labored  hard  to  get  it  under  a  sj-stem  of  cultiva- 
tion. 

Mr.  llnnt,  in  1838,  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Wal- 
ters, and  to  their  union  were  born  seven  children, 
six  of  w^hom  are  now  living,  viz:  Jane,  wife  of 
Michael  Xunnamaker,  of  Warren  County;  Daniel, 
in  Nemaha  County,  Kan.;  Mary,  wife  of  Joseph 
Livingston,  of  Lewislown,  111.;  Sarah,  wife  of 
James  Cirewell,  of  Bernadotte  Township;  Annetta, 
wife  of  Melvin  Johnson,  of  Bernadotte  Township; 
and  Catherine,  wife  of  Charles  Mathews,  of  Pleas- 
ant Township.  His  first  wife  djing  in  December, 
1861,  our  subject  in  1865  married  3Iiss  Catharine 
Mackej-,  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  four  children,  viz:  Alice  S.,  Charles  E., 
Hiram  D.  and  George. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  an  eje-wit- 
ness  of  the  rapid  strides  progress  has  taken  in  this 
count}-  and  township,  and  has  won  a  host  of  friends 
by  his  interest  in  public  matters  and  his  willingness 
to  assist  in  the  advancement  of  all  worthy  causes. 
He  served  at  one  time  as  Constable,  and  again  as 
Coroner  of  the  couutj'.  He  is  now  the  owner  of 
two  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  is  a,  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  part}-,  a  most  lilieral-minded 
and  public-spirited  gentleman,  and  one  held  in  the 
highest  esteem  by  the  entire  community. 


E^ 


1 


^  OHN  A.  WALTERS.  Esq.,  has  been  for 
many  years  prominently  identified  with  the 
agricultural  interests  of  this  county,  and 
(^/'  until  recently  was  the  proprietor  of  a  finely- 
improved  farm  on  section  20,  Cass  Township.  This 
farm,  for  which  he  paid  *1,650  was  supplied  with 
subslanliiil  improvements,  including  neat  and  com- 
modious buildings,  and  was  in  every  respect  well- 
improved  and  well-managed.  Mr.  AValters  is 
numbered  among  the  influential  citizens  of  Smith- 
field,  and  here  and  in  other  towns  where  he  has 
dwelt  he  has  borne  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  nian- 
ngement  of  public  affairs,  holding  mnny  important 


offices,  and  this  community  values  hira  as  one  of  its 
best  members,  whether  as  a  civic  officer,  or  in  his 
private  capacity. 

Mr.  Walters  was  born  March  27.  1825.  amid  the 
beautiful  scenes  of  Shenandoah  Valley,  Rocking- 
ham County,  Va.  His  father,  Thomas  V.  Walters, 
was  also  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion.  The  fam- 
ily was  an  old  Virginian  famil}-  which  had  its 
origin  in  Germany.  The  first  to  come  to  this 
country  arrived  about  the  time  of  the  Revolution, 
and  served  in  a  Virginian  regiment  during  that 
struggle.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Polly 
AVoods,  and  her  family  came  from  Wales  to  this 
country,  and  located  in  Virginia. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  there  made  tlieir  home  until  after  the 
mother's  death.  The  father  then  bound  out  his 
children,  and  went  to  Kentucky,  where  he  stayed  a 
short  time.  His  next  move  was  to  the  pioneer  set- 
tlements of  Illinois  in  1836.  He  located  at  Center- 
ville,  now  Cuba,  where  he  established  himself  in 
the  mercantile  business.  He  afterward  bought  some 
land  in  Cass  Township,  and  opened  up  a  farm  there. 
Ins  death  occurring  at  an  advanced  age,  March  12. 
1871.  He  had  married  a  second  time  in  Kentucky, 
but  his  wife  is  now  deceased.  Four  of  the  ten  chil- 
dren born  to  him  of  his  first  marriage,  grew  to  ma- 
turity. Two  of  the  four  children  of  his  second 
marriage  are  now  living. 

John  Walters  was  bound  out  at  ten  years  of  age 
to  a  farmer,  and  staid  with  him  until  he  was  seven- 
teen years  of  .age.  He  suffered  much  from  the  hard 
treatment  that  he  received  at  the  hands  of  his 
cruel  master,  and  he  and  his  twin  brother  Paruienas 
A.  were  so  abused  that  they  finally  took  courage 
to  run  away,  and  left  their  places  "between  two 
days,"  starting  out  on  fool  for  Illinois.  They  had 
to  hide  in  the  day-time  in  the  mountains,  to  avoid 
pursuit,  and  only  traveled  at  night.  They  finally 
made  their  way  to  their  father  at  Cuba,  and  our 
subject  was  sent  to  school,  and  in  the  spring  went 
to  work  for  a  farmer  near  Waterford.  We  next 
hear  of  him  in  Wisconsin,  where  he  was  employed 
in  breaking  prairie,  and  digging  for  minerals.  In 
the  fall  of  1848  he  returned  to  Virginia  on  a  visit. 
and  staid  there  eighteen  months.  When  he  came 
back  to  Cuba,  he  brought  his  sister  with  him.    The 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


429 


ensiling  j-ear  he  was  engaged  in  working  around. 
.Mr.  Walters  w.ts  married  in  1851,  to  Esther  Wil- 
son, a  daughter  of  William  and  Esther  (Rumsey) 
Wilson,  natives  respectively  of  Ireland  and  Phila- 
delphia. Her  father  was  a  sailor  for  seven  years, 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  1830  with  his  family,  and 
was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Bernadotte  Town- 
ship. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  now  dead.  Mrs. 
Walters  was  boni  in  March,  1831.  She  died  in 
1856,  and  both  the  children  born  of  her  marriage 
are  now  deceased.  Mr.  Walter's  second  marriage 
which  was  consummated  November  3,  1859,  was 
vviih  Mary  Carpenter.  .She  was  born  February  2, 
1840,  in  Fayette  County,  Ohio,  and  received  her 
education  in  tlie  district  schools.  Her  parents  were 
George  and  Mary  (Graham)  Carpenter,  natives  re- 
spectively of  Virginia  and  JIaryland.  .\fter  their 
marriage  they  lived  in  Ohio  fifteen  years,  then  in 
Indiana  seven  years,  and  from  there  removed  back 
to  Ohio,  and  lived  there  nine  years  and  then  came 
to  Fulton  County,  III.  Their  marriage  had  been 
solemnized  in  Fayette  County,  Ohio, and  it  was  the 
year  1  85G  when  they  settled  in  McDonough  County, 
this  Slate.  They  afterward  lived  nine  years  in  Cass 
Township,  and  then  bought  a  farm  between  Cuba 
and  Smithfield.  He  died  June  20,  1874,  and  she 
April  20,  1882.  The  following  five  nf  their  nine 
children  are  still  living:  William,  who  lives  in  Cuba; 
Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Robert  Quillan;  Fannie,  wife 
of  George  Maguire,  of  Cuba,  Mrs.  Walters,  and  Al- 
bert O.,  of  Smithfield. 

After  his  (irst  marriage,  our  subject  settled  on  a 
farm  on  section  13,  Cass  Township,  vvliere  J.  M. 
Herbert  now  resides.  He  remained  there  but  a 
sliort  time,  however,  and  when  his  twin  brother 
went  to  California,  they  divided  up  the  property, 
and  our  subject  sold  out  his  share  and  bought  a 
place  on  section  24,  Bernadotte  Township.  He 
soon  disposed  of  that  place,  and  purchased  an 
eighty-acre  farm  in  Bureau  County.  Later  he  came 
back  to  this  county  and  invested  in  eighty  acres 
of  land  on  section  25,  Cass  Township,  and  then 
suld  his  Bureau  County  property  to  Alexander 
Hull.  After  six  months  residence  in  Cass  Town- 
ship, he  sold  out  there  to  William  Wilson,  and  again 
bought  two  hundred  acres  on  section  is,  and  re- 
moved to  that  place.     After  the  death  of  his  wife 


lie  took  up  his  residence  in  Cuba,  and  was  engage<l 
in  the  mercantile  business  there  for  about  a  year. 
In  the  meantime  he  invested  in  a  ninety  aiu-e  tract 
on  the  west  line  of  this  county.  He  closed  his  busi- 
ness in  Cuba  and  returned  to  farming. 

Mr.  Walters  and  his  present  wife  began  their 
wedded  life  on  the  farm  mentioned  on  section  18, 
and  spent  two  years  there.  He  then  purchased  the 
estate  which  is  now  the  property  of  Samuel  Baugh- 
man,  and  there  eight  years  were  passed.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  he  sold  and  bought  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  17.  and  actively  en- 
gaged in  its  cultivation  fifteen  years  before  he  dis- 
l)osed  of  it,  and  became  the  proprietor  of  a  place  in 
Smithfield,  upon  which  he  dwelt  five  years.  He 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  acres  on  sec- 
tion 30,  and  rented  it,  and  then  bought  the  Philip 
Herst  place.  He  finally  sold  his  out  of  town  prop- 
erty, and  removed  to  a  farm  on  section  20,  which 
he  sold  two  months  later,  and  then  bought  the 
farm  which  he  sold  in  1_890.  He  now  owns  eight  acres 
of  fineh-  tilled  land,  of  which  seven  and  one-half 
acres  are  within  the  corporate  limits  of  Smithfield, 
and  also  has  six  lots  in  (Judlan's  Addition. 

Mr.  Walters  has  seen  and  experienced  much  of 
pioneer  life,  and  has  contributed  his  quota  towards 
bringing  about  the  great  change  that  has  been 
wrought  by  the  hand  of  man  in  making  this  a  well- 
developed  wealthy  countr}'  since  he  came  here  on 
foot  when  a  boy.  Wherever  he  has  dwelt  he  has 
been  looked  upon  as  a  man  of  sound  understanding 
and  excellent  business  qualities,  whose  character  for 
honor,  truthfulness  and  unimpeachable  integrity 
was  of  the  highest.  His  fellow  citizens  have  felt 
they  could  safely  trust  important  offices  in  his 
liands.  feeling  assured  that  the  duties  resting  upon 
him  would  be  discharged  faithfuUj'  and  without 
fear  or  favor.  Thus  he  has  been  School  Director 
for  j'ears.  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  a  period  of 
twenty-four  years,  is  serving  his  second  term  as 
Notary  Public,  was  several  times  Supervisor  of 
Cass  Township,  and  was  Township  Assessor  for  four 
terms,  besides  serving  as  Grand  Juryman  for  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  Cuba  Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
having  been  a  charter  member  of  the  same.  He 
is  a  man  of  considerable  education  and  of  great 
intelligence,  and  since  he  came  to  Fulton  County 


430 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


lie  has  taught  five  terms  of  school.  His  princii)les 
MS  a  politician  are  strongly  Democratic,  and  also 
favor  temperance,  he  being  a  zealous  Prohibition- 
ist. We  iD&y  remark  in  this  connection  that  ^Jlrs. 
Walters  takes  an  intelligent  interest  in  politics, 
anrl  is  a  stanch  Republican.  The}'  are  both  active 
and  influential  in  religious  matters,  he  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Churqh,  and  a 
Steward  and  Trustee  thereof,  while  she  belongs  to 
the  United  Brethren  Church.  They  both  possess 
genial,  sunny  temperaments,  know  well  how  to  enjoy 
life,  and  are  social  favorites,  their  pleasant  home 
being  the  center  of  genuine  hospitalit3-  which  at- 
tracts a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


-^ 


LLEN  EDWARDS  owuj  and  occupies  a  well 
developed  and  valuable  farm  in  EUisville 

If  li)  Township.  It  consists  of  one. hundred  arid 
,5^  eleven  and  a  half  acres  on  section  6,  lying 

on  the  first  and  second  bottoms  of  the  Spoon  River, 
and  is  tillable  throughout  its  entire  extent.  AVhen 
taken  possession  of  by  Mr.  Ednards  in  Februar\% 
1883,  the  property-  was  much  run  down.  By  well- 
directed  efforts  it  has  been  brought  to  a  good  con- 
dition, being  now  sui)plied  with  neat  fences,  good 
fai  ra  buildings  of  various  kinds,  and  an  orchard 
having  been  set  out  upon  it.  The  modern  barn, 
which  is  one  of  its  adornments,  was  put  up  in  1889. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  born  near 
Rardeu.  Scioto  County,  Ohio.  April  10,  18-28.  His 
father  was  Jesse  Edwards,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
whose  history  is  noted  at  greater  length  in  the 
sketch  of  Samuel  Edwards  found  elsewhere  in  this 
Album.  Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  in 
his  boyhood  learned  the  various  details  of  eouiitrv 
life  and  labor.  He  attended  the  subscription  and 
free  schools,  walking  three  miles  to  the  temple  of 
learning.  This  was  a  log  buikliug,  with  ;i  huge 
fireplace,  greased  paper  windows,  slab  benches  and 
no  desks  except  that  along  the  wall  at  which  the 
writing  exercises  were  done. 

Young  Edwards  was  but  four  years  old  when  his 
father  died  and  when  he  was  sixteen  he  took  charge 
of  the  farm  he  had  helped  to  clear  and  cultivate. 


Ho  carried  it  on  for  his  mother  until  his  marriage 
in  1851,  then  rented  it  for  a  time.  He  subsequentl3' 
bought  eighly  acres  of  the  homestead,  built  a  home 
and  farmed  theie  until  1864.  Feeling  called  upon 
to  aid  in  the  defense  of  his  country  he  volunteered 
October  1,  and  was  enrolled  in  Company  G,  One 
Hundred  and  Seventy-fifth  Ohio  Infantry. 

Mr.  Edw.irds  was  mustered  into  the  service  at 
Camp  Denison  and  with  his  comrades  stationed  at 
Columbia,  Tenn.,  where  they  did  guard  dut}'  until 
the  return  of  Hood.  They  then  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville,  chased  the  foices 
of  the  rebel  General  across  the  Tennessee  River 
and  returned  to  Columbia  to  continue  their  guard 
duties  until  June.  Our  subject  was  transferred  to 
the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-ninth  Ohio  Infantry, 
Company  D,  and  sent  to  Huntsville,  Ala.,  where  he 
acted  as  a  guard  until  his  term  expired.  September 
28,  1865,  he  was  mustered  out  at  Nashville  and  re- 
ceiving an  honorable  discharge  returned  to  Ohio 
to  be  paid  off  at  Columbus.  His  hearing  was  in- 
jured b^-  the  concussion  of  a  cannon  which  was 
Bred  over  his  bead  at  Nashville. 

Mr.  Edwards  returned  to  his  former  home  and 
occupation.  During  the  fall  he  and  his  brother 
^VIlliara  rigged  up  teams  and  came  to  Illinois,  being 
twenty  days  on  their  wa^-  to  this  county.  They 
spent  the  winter  here,  but  ou:'  subject  tliinking  the 
weather  too  severe,  returned  to  Ohio  in  April, 
1866.  He  settled  on  his  place  there  and  continued 
his  farming  operations  until  the  fall  of  1870.  He 
then  sold-  and  removed  to  Cass  County,  Mo.,  by 
team,  locating  on  improved  land  near  what  is  now 
the  west  line  of  the  county.  He  bought  fifty  acres, 
continued  the  improvements  and  rented  other  land, 
occuyjying  the  cabin  which  stood   upon  the  farm. 

Our  subject  did  not  like  hard  pan  and  dry 
weather  and  in  1875  rented  his  property  and  came 
to  EUisville,  journeying  as  before  wiih  a  team.  He 
first  rented  a  farm  in  Deerfield  Township,  operating 
two  hundred  acres  for  six  years.  He  then  rented 
in  Young  Hickory  Township  a  twelvemonth,  after 
which  he  purchased  his  present  home.  The  deed 
was  made  out  in  the  fall  of  1882  but  he  did  not 
take,  possession  until  the  following  February.  Its 
nearness  to  EUisville,  which  is  distant  but  three- 
fourths    of  a  mile,  gives  it  a   special  value.     Mr. 


Residence  OF  John  Berry, 5ec.1  Lew i sto n  Tp.  Fulton  Co. 111. 


a'"^ 
^^S*^^ 


Residence  of  Allen  Edwards,  Sec.S.  EllisvilleTp. Fulton  Co. Ill, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


433 


Edwards  gives  his  attention  principally  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  grains,  bnt  also  raises  hogs  in  consider- 
alilo  numbers.  He  general!}'  has  from  one  hundred 
to  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  head  of  a  high 
grade.  He  keeps  graded  draft  horses,  finding  use 
for  two  teams  almost  continually. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  took  place  in  Adams 
County,  Ohio,  September  28,  1851.  Ills  bride  was 
Miss  Catherine  JleCann,  a  native  of  that  county, 
born  near  West  Union.  Her  father,  Thomas  Mc- 
Cann,  a  Pennsylvanian,  was  an  earlj'  settler  in 
( )hio,  and  carried  on  the  trade  of  a  potter  on  his 
farm.  He  was  a  soldier  in  tlie  War  of  1812.  The 
family  of  our  subject  and  his  good  wife  comprises 
five  children.  Burris  M.  is  a  carpenter  in  P]llis- 
ville;  iSIorton  died  in  Kllisville  Townshi[),  February 
19,  1887,  leaving  a  daughter,  Nellie,  who  is  with 
her  grandparents,  our  subject  and  wife;  Sarah  Eme- 
line  married  Martin  Weaver,  a  farmer  in  Young 
Hickory  Township;  George  B.  is  his  father's  assis- 
tant at  home;  Samuel  S.  is  attending  Knox  College 
at  (ialesburg. 

Mr.  Edwards  has  been  the  incumbent  of  several 
of  the  township  offices.  In  commemoration  of  his 
army  life  he  bears  a  part  in  the  workings  of  Cas- 
per Schleish  Post,  No.  C18,  G.  A.  R.  He  casts  his 
vote  with  the  Democratic  party.  On  another  page 
the  reader  will  notice  a  view  of  the  comfortal)le 
residence  of  Mr.  Edwards,  with  its  rural  sur- 
roundings. 


VOllN  BERRY,  the  owner  and  occupant  of 
an  e.xcellent  farm  on  section  1,  Lewistown 
Township,    was  born    near    Newport,    Ver- 

/  million  County,  Ind.,  in  September,  1810. 
His  grandfather,  .John  Berr}-,  is  believed  to  have 
been  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  spending  his  last  years  there. 
Elijah  Berr}',  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  was  quite  young  when  taken  to 
Ohio,  and  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Licking  County, 
and  there  mairied  Elizabeth  Kendall,  who  was 
born  in  Virginia  December  25,  1802.    Her  parents, 


Enoch  and  Sarah  (Dennis)  Kendall,  removed  to 
Ohio  about  1814,  settling  in  Licking  County,  in 
which  they  were  pioneers.  Botli  died  on  the  farm 
which  they  had  reclaimed  from  the  wilderness. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  removed  from  the 
Piuckeye  State  to  Intliana  in  1824,  making  their 
removal  with  teams,  camping  and  cooking  on  the 
w.ay,  as  was  a  common  custom  before  the  facili- 
ties of  travel  made  other  means  available.  They 
nettled  in  Vermillion  County,  wliich  was  at  that 
time  but  little  developed  and  largel}'  covered  with 
timber.  Building  the  log  cabin  in  which  our  sub- 
ject was  born,  the  husband  set  himself  to  work  to 
clear  and  cultivate  a  portion  of  the  land  which  he 
h.ad  obtained.  He  resided  thereon  until  1845,  then 
sold  and  removed  farther  westward,  bringing  a  part 
of  his  household  goods  with  him  in  wagons.  He 
located  in  Lewistown  Township,  this  county,  rented 
land  for  a  few  years,  and  then  l)ought  a  heavil}'- 
tinibered  tract  on  section  1.  He  erected  a  log 
house,  which  is  still  standing  and  occupied  by  his 
widow.  In  it  he  breathed  his  last  in  May,  1867,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-three  years. 

The  mother  was  well  skilled  in  the  arts  of  spin- 
ning and  weaving,  which  were  considered  a  neces- 
sary- part  of  a  girl's  education  during  her  youth. 
For  some  years  after  her  marriage  she  made  all 
the  cloth  used  in  the  family,  the  material  for  which 
was  raised  on  the  farm.  She  is  now,  in  the  eighty- 
eighth  year  of  her  ago,  able  to  recall  much  of  in- 
terest connected  with  the  ilevelopment  of  the 
county,  as  well  of  pioneer  work  in  other  parts  of 
the  Mississippi  Valley.  She  has  reared  nine  chil- 
dren, named  respectively:  Lucinda,  Philip,  Isaac, 
Rachel  (these  born  in  Ohio),  Enoch,  Matilda, 
Nancy,  Mary  Jane  and  Jolin. 

Our  subject  w,as  live  years  old  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  this  county,  which  has  since 
been  his  home.  He  received  a  practical  educa- 
tion, was  trained  to  habits  of  industry  and  im- 
bued with  good  principles.  He  assisted  his  father 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm  until  he  arrived  at 
manhood  and  then  commenced  life  for  himself  on 
rented  land.  After  a  few  years  he  purchased  the 
property  he  now  occupies,  which  is  a  well-improved 
tract,  bearing  a  compk'te  line  of  substantial  build- 
ings.    The    fertile   acreage   yields    abundantly  of 


434 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


various  grains  an<l  is  the  source  of  a  sufficient,  in- 
come to  surround  the  family  with  the  comforts 
and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  A  view  of  this 
fine  place  appears  on  another  page. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  wife  of  our  subject 
was  Louisa  Byers.  Their  family  consists  of  twelve 
children,  named  respectively:  Amanda,  Leonard, 
Lura.  Lester,  Lizzie,  Ida,  Willie,  Viola,  Edie,  Alice, 
Elmer  and  Vernie,  who  are  being  carefully'  reared 
and  given  the  educational  advantages  which  will 
aid  in  fitting  them  for  useful  and  honorable  lives. 
Tlie  principles  of  Democrac}'  meet  with  tlie  hearty 
approbation  of  Mr.  Berry,  who  never  fails  to  cast 
his  vote  for  the  party  of  his  choice. 


"^/AMES  M.  WILSON,  book-keeper  of  the 
London  Clay  Company,  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  London  Mills,  and  well- 
known  in  this  vicinity  as  an  educator  and 
business  man.  His  paternal  ancestry  is  Irish  and 
his  maternal  Scotch,  facts  which  would  readily  be 
guessed  bj'  a  student  of  national  characteristics,  as 
he  combines  the  acute  perceptions  and  vivacious 
energy  of  one  with  the  prudence  and  determination 
of  the  other. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  June  27, 
18.55,  near  Bloomfield,  Ind.  His  early  d.a^'s  were 
passed  on  the  farm  and  he  attended  the  district 
sciiool  until  nineteen  years  old.  He  then  engaged 
in  teaching,  his  first  terra  being  in  the  home 
district,  and  his  calling  being  afterward  pursueil  at 
various  places.  After  teai^hing  one  term  he  spent  a 
year  in  study  at  the  Indiana  State  Normal  School 
at  Terre  Haute,  after  which  he  pursued  his  chosen 
vocation,  taking  part  in  counlv  institutes,  etc.,  until 
1876.  He  then  took  a  teacher's  course  in  the 
Normal  School  at  Bloomington,  following  it  with  a 
two  years  attendance  in  the  High  School  at  Worth- 
ington.  During  the  last  year  of  this  time  he 
taught  two  classes  in  the  High  School,  and  the  next 
j'ear  he  took  charge  of  the  grammar  department. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  first  class  which  was  giad- 
uated  from  the  Worthington  High  School,  took  the 
second   honors  and  was   valedictorian.     The  class 


numbered  eight  students  and  the  lady  who  took  first 
honors  stood  but  one-half  per  cent,  above  young 
Wilson. 

Mr.  Wilson  retained  his  position  in  the  Worth- 
ington grammar  school  two  years,  then  taught  at 
Switz  City  one  year.  He  then  returned  to  Worth- 
ington. established  his  home  there  and  labored  in 
that  vicinity,  most  of  the  lime  traveling  for  differ- 
ent firms,  until  the  fall  of  1884.  On  account  of 
the  ill-health  of  his  wife  he  then  came  to  this 
county,  where  he  resumed  his  former  occupation  in 
the  Bryant  school.  He  had  taught  but  a  month 
when  his  wife  became  so  much  worse  that  he  re- 
turned to  Worthington.  He  received  a  call  from 
Plymouth  to  take  charge  of  a  certain  department  in 
the  High  School  there,  in  which  the  pupils  were  very 
unrul}',  so  much  so  that  the  3'oung  man  in  charge 
had  been  unable  to  keep  order.  In  December  Mr. 
Wilson  assumed  the  position,  determined  to  con- 
quer or  die,  and  he  succeeded  in  establishing 
peace  and  order,  although  at  the  cost  of  several 
knock  down  arguments.  He  received  the  highest 
testimonials  from  the  Superintendent  and  leading 
citizens,  who  declared  that  the  work  he  had  done 
was  the  best  ever  accomplished  there. 

Mr.  Wilson  resigned  the  position  as  soon  as 
possible,  as  his  wife  was  failing,  and  returned  to  her 
side.  The  loving  couple  were  forced  to  part  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1885,  after  a  wedded  life  of  less  than  five 
j'ears.  Their  marriage  had  taken  place  in  Worth- 
ington September  15,  1880.  Mrs.  Wilson  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Gussie  Crook  and  was  a  native  of 
Worthington,  daughter  of  Frank  and  Sarah  C.  Crook. 
Her  father  was  a  merchant  at  Sholes,  and  also 
Treasurer  and  Sheriff  of  Martin  County. 

In  June,  1885,  Mr.  Wilson,  in  connection  with 
two  other  teachers,  organized  a  teachers'  summer 
Normal  School  at  Worthington  and  had  a  large  at- 
tendance. At  the  close  of  the  second  term,  in 
October,  he  wished  to  make  a  change  and  wrote  to 
Mr.  Bo3'er,  Superintendent  of  Fulton  County 
Schools,  regarding  a  position.  Mr.  Bo^'er  held  an 
interview  with  the  Director  at  London  Mil's  and 
our  subject  was  sent  for  to  take  charge  of  the  school 
in  that  town.  He  held  his  position  until  the  spring 
of  1887.  when  he  was  elected  Police  Magistrate. 
While  discharging  the  duties  of  this  office  he  drifted 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


435 


into  legal  work  on  petty  cases,  and  a  business  as 
Collecting  Agent,  and  these  he  still  continues.  In 
tiie  spring  of  1890  he  was  elected  President  of  the 
Village  Board  and  resigned  from  the  Police  Mag- 
istracy. In  July,  1890,  he  became  book-keeper  for 
the  London  Clay  Company,  tlie  largest  firm  of  the 
kind  in  the  count\'. 

The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  AVilson  was  solem- 
nized in  London  Mills  April  1,  1886,  his  bride  being 
Miss  Ellen  Reed.  That  lady  was  born  in  Orange 
Townsbip,  Knox  County,  reared  there,  and  well 
educated,  being  also  instructed  in  useful  habits  and 
noble  principles.  She  is  the  fifth  child  of  William 
and  Malinda  (Randall)  Reed,  who  are  still  living, 
tbe  former  being  sixty  and  the  latter  fifty-eight 
years  of  age.  Mr.  Reed  was  born  in  Ohio,  but 
reared  in  Illinois  from  the  age  of  seven  years.  He 
followed  farming  in  Knox  County  a  number  of 
years,  then  sold  his  property  and  removed  to 
Lonilon  Mills,  entering  the  employ  of  the  London 
Claj-  Company.  He  is  an  active  worker  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mrs.  Reed  was  born  near  Lebanui),  Ind.,  and  was 
in  her  teens  when  she  became  a  resident  in  Knox 
County.  Her  father,  .Tedediah  Randall,  a  native  of 
the  Empire  State,  followed  the  profession  of  teach- 
ing, in  which  he  had  a  high  reputation  for  his  dis- 
ciplinary ability  and  skill  in  imparting  knowledge. 
The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  are  nine  in 
number.  James  W.  is  a  grocer  in  London  Mills; 
Mrs.  Mary  Rosenbur}-  lives  in  Galesburg;  Mrs. 
Charlotte  A.  Downard  in  London  Mills;  Mrs.  Emma 
J.  Struble  in  Galesburg;  Martha  Ellen  is  the  wife 
of  our  subject;  Margaret  II.  is  with  her  parents; 
Mrs.  Alice  ^.  Schanning  lives  in  Peoria;  Mrs. 
Harriet  A.  Moore  in  Galesburg;  Franklin  still  lives 
with  his  parents. 

By  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Wilson  became  the 
father  of  three  children,  two  of  whom  died  when 
about  three  months  old.  Madge  is  with  her  father, 
and  the  home  is  further  gladdened  by  the  presence 
of  a  daughter,  Nettie,  the  offspring  of  the  second 
marriage.  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  stanch  Republican 
and  has  beeai  a  delegate  to  the  count3'  convention. 
His  bright  mind  and  fine  education  fit  him  for 
more  than  ordinary  usefulness,  and  his  talents  am 
turned  to  good   .tccount,  not    only  in  the  different 


lines  of  business  in  which  he  is  engaged,  but  in 
various  matters  which  will  advance  the  status  of 
the  community  in  morals  and  finances.  He  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
in  which  he  holds  the  office  of  Trustee,  and  an 
efficient  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school,  of  which  he 
was  Superintendent  one  year. 

Grandfather  Wilson,  whose  given  name  was 
Josiah,  was  born  in  Ireland  and  upon  emigrating  to 
America  located  in  Allegheny  County,  Pa.  Ho 
cleared  a  farm  and  became  well-to-do.  His  relig- 
ious faith  was  that  expressed  by  the  Presbyterian 
creed.  His  son  Joseph,  who  was  born  in  Allegheny 
County,  removed  to  Indiana  soon  after  his  mar- 
riage. He  purchased  land  in  Greene  County  from 
the  Erie  Canal  Compan3',  and  beginning  at  the 
foundation,  had  a  successful  career.  He  cleared 
his  land,  made  various  improvements,  and  sur- 
rounded his  family  with  comfort  and  plenty.  He 
died  in  1888,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  He 
was  a  radical  Abolitionist  until  the  Emancipation 
Proclamation  was  issued,  and  in  later  years 
staunchly  supported  the  Republican  party.  He 
belonged  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Joseph  Christy,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Scotland  and  emigrated  to 
Columbiana  County,  Ohio.  He  was  a  merchant  in 
Calcutta,  actively  engaged  in  his  vocation  until 
his  death.  His  daughter  Hannah,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Joseph  Wilson,  was  born  in  Columbiana 
County,  and  since  the  death  of  her  husband  lias 
made  her  home  with  our  subject.  She  has  one 
other  child,  a  son,  William  C,  who  is  farming  near 
Pawnee  City,  Neb. 


<^()HN  S.  HARDIN.  Waterford  Township 
is  the  home  of  many  intelligent,  induslrious 
and  prosperous  fanners,  who  from  a  small 
beginning  have  won  a  competence,  securing 
a  considerable  amount  of  land  and  surrounding 
themselves  with  all  the  comforts  and  conveniences 
which  heart  can  wish.  Among  this  number  may 
be  mentioned  John  S.  Hardin,  who  in  addition  to 
his  reputation  as  an  agriculturist,  is  well   known  as 


436 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


>i  man  of  nnicli  intelligence,    honorable  anceslrj-, 
and  Clirislian  character. 

Mr.  Hardin  was  born  in  Raleigh,  N.  C,  March 
23,  1816,  and  in  his  native  place  si)ent  his  days  un- 
til seventeen  years  old.  He  attended  school  until 
he  was  ten  years  old,  tiioi:  entered  a  general  mer- 
chandise store  in  which  he  worked  off  and  on  for 
six  years.  After  he  liad  entered  liis  teens  as  before 
noted,  he  left  home  and  went  to  Warren  County, 
Tenn.,  where  he  engaged  in  tlie  cattle  business  with 
a  brother.  After  eight  j  ears  spent  in  that  business 
he  became  fireman  on  a  steamboat  and  was  pro- 
moted from  time  to  time  until  he  reached  tlie  re- 
sponsible position  of  master.  For  ten  years  he  held 
sucli  a  position,  liaving  charge  of  various  boats 
during  tlie  time. 

Mr.  Hardin  came  lo  this  count3-  in  the  fall  of 
1  MIS.  lented  land  for  three  years  and  worked  at 
odd  jobs  during  the  first  decade  of  his  residence. 
His  first  purch.asc  of  land  was  ten  acres  on  section 
12.  Waterfonl  Townsliip,  in  the  fall  of  1851.  He 
soou  afterward  bouglit  tlic  adjoining  tiiirty  acres, 
built  a  shanty  and  lived  thereon  for  a  considerable 
time.  Frfmi  time  to  time  he  has  added  to  his 
landed  estate  until  he  now  possesses  three  hundred 
and  seven  broad  acres,  the  greater  part  of  whicii  is 
under  cultivation,  lying  nearly  in  a  body.  He  has 
divided  his  attention  between  the  cultivation  of  the 
fruits  of  the  earth  and  the  raising  of  stock.  In  his 
agricultural  pursuits,  as  in  the  other  occupations 
which  he  has  pursued,  he  has  ever  shown  a  disposi- 
tion to  improve  his  opportunities  by  means  of  un- 
flagging industry  and  persistence. 

The  pleasant  home  of  Mr.  Hardin  is  presided 
over  by  one  wlio  became  his  wife  October  20,  184G. 
Prior  to  that  time  this  lady  h.ad  been  known  as 
Sarali  Ann  Hamilton.  She  vi^as  born  in  Shelby 
Countv,  this  State,  June  6.  1832,  to  John  J.  and 
Susannah  (Little)  Hamilton.  Her  father  is  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  was  an  earl}'  settler  in  Shelby 
Couutv,  this  State,  and  now  lives  in  Hood  County, 
Tex.,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Mrs.  Hamil- 
ton was  also  born  in  tlie  Blue  Grass  State.  Mrs. 
Hardin  is  one  in  a  family  of  eleven  children,  eight 
of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Two  were  killeil  by 
tlie  Indians  in  Texas.  •' 

Our  subject  and  his  good  wife  have  had    twelve 


children,  viz:  John  J.,  Benjamin  P.,  and  Saman- 
tha  deceaf ed ;  Spicey,  now  Mrs.  Ames;  Jonas 
Kenrj',  William  P.,  Mrs.  Emily  Hadsell,  and  Isaac, 
deceased;  James  W.;  George  O.  Both  parents 
have  been  members  of  the  churcli  for  fort}'  j'oars, 
Mr.  Hardin  being  identified  with  the  Churcli 
of  Christ  and  Mrs.  Hardin  with  the  Baptist  Church. 
The  worth  of  Mr.  Hardin  has  been  recognized  by 
his  fellow-citizens  in  the  bestowal  upon  him  of 
various  offices,  among  them  being  those  of  Con- 
Stable  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  His  wife  is  equally 
esteemed  by  all  who  know  the  usefulness  of  her 
life  and  the  nobility  of  her  character. 

The  original  member  of  the  Hardin  family  in 
America  was  Solomon,  a  native  of  Wales,  who  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  in  '\'irginia.  In  that 
Colony  his  son  Benjamin  was  born  and  reared,  tiie 
occupation  of  his  childhood  being  to  herd  cattle. 
He  would  tie  himself  up  in  a  tree  while  herding  and 
frequently  spend  the  night  in  that  position.  During 
the  Revolutionary  War  the  British  stole  man}-  of 
the  animals.  A  portion  of  the  Colonial  Army,  led 
by  Gen.  Washington,  passed  the  Hardin  plantation 
one  day  and  the  Commander-in-Chief  called  at  the 
house  and  bought  a  large  herd  for  their  consump- 
tion. Benjamin  Hardin  was  present  at  the  inter- 
view and  was  so  much  impressed  by  Gen.  AVashing- 
ton's  appearance,  that,  although  but  sixteen  years 
of  age,  he  decided  to  follow  that  leader.  A  few 
days  later  he  shouldered  an  old  flint-lock  musket 
and  started  on  the  trail  of  the  army,  reaching  it 
after  man}-  trying  experiences.  He  .served  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  returned  to  his  native 
State  and  settled  down  to  farming.  At  one  time  he 
owned  a  large  amount  of  land  upon  jchicli  he  pur- 
sued farming  and  stock-raising  quite  extensively 
for  that  day.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty- two 
years,  breathing  his  last  in  Tennessee.  Our  subject 
has  very  distinct  recollections  of  him  and  his  tales 
of  the  Revolution. 

The  next  in  the  line  of  descent  was  Richard  M. 
Hardin,  a  son  of  the  Revolutionary  soldier,  who  was 
born  and  reared  on  a  farm  in  Virginia.  After 
growing  to  maturity  he  went  to  Raleigh,  N.  C, 
and  secured  a  position  as  cabin  boy  on  a  vessel  that 
sailed  to  ports  in  England,  China  and  West  India. 
He  followed  a  seafaring  life  many  years,   working 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


437 


up  from  his  first  position  to  that  of  master  of  the 
ship.  He  finally  besarae  a  ship  owner  but  after  a 
considerable  lapse  of  time,  sold  this  vessel  and  re- 
tired to  a  farm  in  Anson  County.  N.  C.  The  re- 
mainder of  his  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  and  at 
Raleigh,  his  demise  takina;  place  in  the  city  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years.  The  wife  of  this  s;;entleman 
was  Spicey  A.  Lafo,  who  was  born  in  France  antt  so 
far  as  is  known  came  to  America  vvith  her  parents 
in  childhood.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  Hardin 
six  children  were  born  of  whom  the  following  grew 
to  maturity:  James  G.,  John  S.,  Lucinda,  William 
H.  and  Wilson  P. 


'  ASPKR  N.  WOLF.  It  is  not  necessary  for 
a  visitor  to  the  rural  districts  to  under- 
stand agriculture  in  order  that  he  may  know 
which  are  the  good  farmers  of  the  section. 
The  sight  of  tumbled  down  fences,  weedy  fence 
corners,  machinerj'  exposed  to  wind  and  weather, 
and  inaderpiate  shelter  for  stock  and  crops  is  sulH- 
cient  to  stami)  the  proprietor  of  a  farm  as  one  lack- 
ing in  enterprise  and  judgment.  Well-built  farm 
structures,  neat  fences  and  fields  where  useful  grain 
has  the  up|)er  hand  of  the  weeds,  are  equally  con- 
clusive proof  of  the  skill  and  energy  of  him  under 
whose  management  this  state  of  things  obtains. 

Tlic  suliject  of  this  notice  is  numbered  among 
the  enterprising  farmers  of  Orion  Township,  his 
tine  farm  comprising  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
on  section  18.  The  greater  [lartof  his  attention  is 
given  to  raising  horses.  Hct  is  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  township,  being  a 
son  of  Thomas  .S.  and  .Johanna  (Coleman)  Wolf. 
The  jjarental  family  comprised  eight  daughters  and 
six  sons,  of  wliom  four  daughters  and  four  sons  are 
yet  living.  Of  these  Elizabeth  married  Seth  Barnes; 
Jacob  C.  married  Helen  Rowe;  and  tSarah  married 
Henry  Motsinger,  all  of  whom  resiile  in  Canton 
Township,  this  county.  Johanna  became  tin;  wife 
of  William  Hurley'  and  is  living  in  Nebraska; 
Jeremiah  1'.,  married  Emma  Wise,  their  home  l)eing 
in  Canton;  William  W.  married   Hester  E.    Kelly 


and  lives  in  the  same  town;  Emma  E.  is  the  wife  of 
Amos  Ilemenover,  their  home  being  near  Bloom- 
ington. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  in  this  town- 
ship March  22,  1850,  and  received  all  the  advan- 
tages which  his  worthy  [larents  could  bestow  upon 
liim  in  the  way  of  homo  training  ami  influence,  and 
educational  privileges.  On  July  3,  1873,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Susan  O.  Wolfe,  a  native 
of  Illinois,  who  has  made  of  his  abiding-place  a  true 
home  and  who  has  many  friends  in  the  communit}-. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wolf  have  five  children,  namely: 
Zulema  born  July  23,  187C;  Lola  C,  April  7,  1878; 
Ralph  M.,  November  20,  1880;  Orrel  E.,  Decem- 
ber 31,  1882;  and  Alfred  Truman,  March  10,  1885. 

Among  the  Democrats  of  Orion  Township,  Mr. 
Wolf  occupies  a  prominent  position  as  a  worker  in 
behalf  of  the  p'-inciples  in  which  he  believes.  He 
has  been  Road  Overseer  eight  years  and  School  Di- 
rector nine  years,  in  eiich  capacity  winning  laurels 
as  an  efficient  public  servant.  He  is  a  reliable 
citizen,  an  intelligent  man  and  one  whose  life  wins 
respect  from  those  about  him. 


(^^)HORNTON  II.  FLEMING,  M.  I).  How  often 
is  it  the  case  that  men  of  superior  mental 
ability  are  the  victims  of  physical  suffering. 
Almost  it  would  seem  that  each  life  nuist  have 
some  cross  to  bear  through  the  earthl}'  pilgrim- 
age, and  the  subject  of  our  sketch  is  no  exception 
to  the  general  rule,  being  a  great  sufferer  from 
rheumatism.  Through  the  whole  of  his  active 
career.  Dr.  Fleming  was  forced  to  endure  the  pangs 
of  this  disease,  and  at  different  times  has  been  com- 
pelled to  use  crutches. 

Our  subject  belongs  to  an  old  and  aristocratic 
famil)'  of  Virginia,  the  Flemings  through  several 
generations  having  come  from  that  State,  and  being 
at  all  times  prominent  in  public  and  social  affairs. 
The  Doctor's  birth  occurred  near  Richmond,  Vir- 
ginia, on  the  ninth  day  of  September,  1810,  his 
parents  being  Thornton  and  Sarah  (Collagen)  Flem- 
ing, natives  of  the  sam^State. 

Dr.   Fleming's  grandfather— Samuel    Fleming — 


438 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  a  Colonel  in  the  English  armj-,  but  resigning 
lliat  position  came  witli  his  family  to  the  United 
Stales,  settling  in  tiial  grand  old  State  that  has  con- 
tributed so  many  noble  sons  to  the  country,  and 
the  home  of  so  many  cultured  families.  Three  of 
his  sons,  Samuel  Jr.,  Robert,  and  Thomas,  enlisted 
in  the  American  army  during  the  Revolutionary 
"War,  and  lost  tiieir  lives  while  doing  service;  the 
youngest  son  (our  subject's  father)  being  a  young 
collegiate  student  at  that  time.  Samuel  Fleming 
was  killed  b_y  one  of  his  slaves. 

Our  subject's  father  receive  Ian  excellent  educa- 
tion, and  entered  the  Methodist  Episcopal  ministry. 
He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first  marriage 
imd  only  one  daughter.  The  second  marriage  was 
with  our  subject's  motlier,  and  to  them  were  born 
four  children  ;  viz.,  Grace  Ann  ;  Thornton  H ;  LeRoy 
C.  and  Sarah  J.,  of  whom  Dr.  Fleming  is  the 
only  one  living  at  the  present  writing.  During  the 
later  years  of  his  life  the  father  moved  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  tliat  State  botii  he  and  his  wife  died. 
Tims  our  subject  spent  part  of  liis  youth  in  the  old 
southern  home,  and  part  in  the  northern  one,  and 
in  this  way  gained  a  i^nowledge  of  the  manners  and 
customs  of  each.  He  attended  school  in  Penns3-1- 
vania  until  sixteen  years  old,  and  then  entered 
Madison  College,  LTniontown.  the  same  State,  and 
gr.aduated  from  this  college  in  the  3ear  1824.  It 
was  here  that  our  subject,  when  a  boy,  knew  James 
G.  Blaine  quite  well. 

After  completing  his  education.  Dr.  Fleming 
took  up  the  stuily  of  medicine  under  the  instruc- 
tions of  James  C.  Fowler.  M.  1).,  and  in  1838  was 
graduated  from  tlie  Medical  College  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  He  entered  into  a  partnership  with  his  old 
perceptor.  Dr.  John  B.  Pithian,  at  Uniontown, 
Pennsylvania,  practising  there  until  1846,  at  which 
time  he  came  West,  locating  at  Waterloo,  Illinois. 
In  1848  our  subject  moved  to  Liverpool  but  finally, 
in  1853,  made  a  permanent  location  in  Canton.  At 
present  he  does  no  active  work,  onl\-  attending  old 
friends,  and  a  number  of  poor  people,  who  except 
for  his  kindness  would  suffer. 

Dr.  Fleming  has  been  twice  married,  both  times 
in  Pennsylvania.  First  to  Miss  Hannah  Bentley, 
in  June  1834.  She  was  a.  daughter  of  Schesch 
Bozzor  Bentley  and  died  one  year  after  her  marri.agc 


In  1846  our  subject  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Xutt, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Ruhamah  (Sisley)  Kutt. 
She  died  in  Canton  in  1878,  leaving  one  son — 
LeRoj'  C.  This  son  married  Miss  Pliene  Piernie 
in  1873,  of  which'union  has  beenUborn  one  child; 
Harry  Purdy.  LeRoy  C.  Fleming  is  a  prosperous 
farmer  in  this  i  ounty. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  does  not  belong  to  anj- 
secret  societies,  or  church,  having  rather  original 
ideas  upon  these  subjects.  He  is  a  man  who  has 
done  an  immense  amount  of  good  for  poor  people 
who  needed  medical  treatment  and  were  unable  to 
pay  for  same;  and  while  this  generosity  has  pre- 
vented him  from  accumulating  a  large  fortune, 
though  he  has  a  competence  for  old  age — the  Doc- 
tor is  liappj-  in  the  consciousness  of  having  per- 
formed his  duty  in  the  strictest  wa}-.  He  was 
especially  kind  to  the  soldiers'  families  during  the 
war. 

Dr.  Fleming,  in  1861,  was  appointed  Army  Sur- 
geon for  the  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois 
Regiment,  but  after  resching  Mississippi,  was  forced 
by  a  severe  attack  of  rheumatism  to  return  home. 
He  is  still  a  great  sufferer  from  this  disease,  but 
surrounded  by  a  host  of  loving  friends  and  admir- 
ing neighbors,; he  passes  the'years  comfortably  and 
happily.  In  politics  the  Doctor  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. 


CHARLES  W.  SWITZER  takes  a  leading 
part  in  advancing  the  agricultural  interests 

^>/  of  Farmington  Township,  where  he  li.as  one 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  on  section  34,  and 
eight}-  acres  on  section  32.  He  and  his  brother 
Jesse  J.,  carry  on  their  operations  in  partnership, 
the  latter  occupying  a  farm  in  Canton  Township. 
A  rei)resenlative  of  the  native-born  citizens  of  this 
county,  our  suT)ject  is  a  son  of  one  of  its  earliest 
settlers,  Jesse  Switzer,  Sr.,  who  is  still  living  in 
our  raidst. 

The  parents  of  Charles  Switzer  were  natives  of 
Maryland.  The}'  came  to  this  county  in  an  early 
day  of  its  settlement  and  were  among  its  most 
worthy  pioneers.  Tlie  father  is  still  living,  having 
attained  the  advanced  age  of  eightj'-two  ^ears.  He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


439 


was  in  his  day  as  stout,'harcly  and  vigorous  as  any 
of  his  fellow  pioneers,  and  did  as  mnch  work  in  the 
development  of  the  uoiici'lt'^'c  of  the  county,  as 
he  was  an  indefatigable  laborer  and  in  dne  course 
of  time  accumulated  a  comfortable'property. 

Tlie  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was  born 
on  his  father's  old  homestead  in  Canton  Township, 
February  6,  1844.  He  has  spent  his  entire  life  on 
a  farm,  receiving  from  his  father  good  practical 
training  in  agriculture,  and  his  mother  carefully  in- 
stilled into  bis  mind  principles  of  right  conduct  in 
life.  He  was  much  indebted  to  her,  as  every  boy 
is  to  a  good,  careful  mother.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Rilla  Worrell. 

Mr.  Switzer  has  been  very  ranch  pros])ered  in 
his  farming  ventures,  and  is  very  successful,  par- 
ticularly as  a  stock-feeder.  His  cattle  are  of  good 
grades  and  bring  good  prices  when  sold,  and  he 
markets  from  fifty  to  sixty  fine  hogs  eacli  year.  His 
buildings  are  ample  and  well-arranged,  and  he  has 
a  fine  looking  place  under  his  management. 

Mr.  Switzer  was  married  January  18,  1881,  to  a 
very  excellent  lady.  Miss  Margaret  Miller,  a  daugh- 
ter of  D.  D.  and  Mary  H.  (Robb)  .^liller,  the  for- 
mer of  whom  died  December  1,  1889.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Switzer  have  established  a  home  that  is  described 
.as  being  a  jicrfeet  paradise  of  good  cheer  and  hos- 
|)itality.  They  are  the  parents  of  three  children: 
Cliflford,  Louis  and  Lysle. 

Our  subject  is  a  man  of  fine  physique  and  good 
brain  power.  He  is  unpretentious  in  his  manner, 
yet,  withsl,  is  one  of  the  most  considerate  and 
kindlj-  of  men,  and  is  highly  thought  of  by  the  en- 
tire community.  In  his  political  views  he  is  de- 
cidedly a  Republican. 


ARAH  A.  MANROSE  derives  both  pleas 
uro  and  profit  from  the  management  of  her 
estate,  which  is  located  on  section  20,  Lee 
Township,  and  bears  a  full  line  of  excellent 
im|)rovements.  Although  quite  advanced  in  years, 
Mrs.  Manrose  is  in  full  possession  of  all  her  facul- 
ties, and  manages  her  business  affairs  without  aid. 
She  is  a  clear  lieaded   woman,  who  asks  no  advice, 


but  manifests  so  much'energy  and  good  judgment 
in  business  matters,  [together  with'kindliness  and 
general  intelligence,]that  she  commands  the  respect 
and  honor  of  all  with  wliom  she  comes  in  contact. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  ^Samuel  and 
Betsey  (Piatt)  Robertson,  who  were  born,  reared 
and  married  in  Fairfield  County,  Conn.  Thej-  lo- 
cated in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  about  ISO'),  re- 
mained there  until  1827,  and  then  took  up  their 
residence  in  Huron  County,  Ohio,  where  the  hus- 
band died  in  18!3.  The  widow  came  to  this  State 
and  Ijreathcd  her  last  here  in  18o6.  The  worthy 
couple  were  the  parents  of  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters: I'latt,  Burr.  I'.etse}'  and  Sarah,  the  latter  being 
the  only  one  now  living.  It  has  been  more  than 
thirty-two  years  since  Betsey  passed  away,  and  the 
brothers  had  preceded  her  to  the  tomb. 

Mrs.  Manrose  was  boi'n  in  Dutchess  County,  N.Y., 
May  15,  1815.  In  her  girlhood  she  was  taught  the 
arts  which  our  foremothers  found  necessary  and 
convenient,  and  for  many  years  she  made  her  own 
clothes  from  tlie  raw  material.  She  prepared  the 
wool,  spun  it,  wove  it  into  cloth  and  then  made 
the  garments  therefrom;  she  has  never  hired  but 
one  dress  made  in  her  life.  She  still  has  in  her 
possession  a  beautiful  shawl  which  she  made  from 
the  raw  wool  many  years  ago.  She  also  has  a  very 
fine  linen  towel  which  her  grandmother  made  when 
she  was  eighty-two  years  old.  In  addition  to  these 
relics  of  the  olden  time,  Mrs.  Manrose  has  a  set  of 
cups  and  saucers  that  were  used  at  her  sister's  wed- 
ding, sixty-four  years  ago. 

In  Brunson,  Ohio,  in  1831.  the  lady  of  whom  we 
write  was  united  in  marriage  to  Philander  Man- 
rose,  who  was  born  in  Cortland  County,  N.  Y.,  in 
1810.  Mr.  Manrose  was  a  car[)cnter  and  followed 
his  trade  in  Ohio  until  1856,  when  he  removed  to 
this  county  and  engaged  in  farming.  An  improved 
tract  of  one  hundred  acres  was  purchased  and  gen- 
eral farming  carried  on  by  Mr.  Manrose  until  his 
death  jn  1878.  One  of  the  strongest  characteris- 
tics of  that  gentleman  was  his  fondness  for  home 
and  the  pleasure  he  took  in  domestic  life.  He  was 
very  temperate  in  all  things  and  was  highlj'  re- 
spected by  all  vvho  knew  him.  When  called  from 
time  to  eternity  his  mortal  remains  were  deposited 
in  the  Baptist  cemetery. 


440 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Manrose  there  came  five  sons 
:ui(l  four  ctaughters,  named  respectively:  David, 
Lucy  A.,  Burr,  Betsey,  Daniel,  Charles,  Caroline, 
Mary  and  Fitch.  The  youngest  son  now  lives 
with  his  mother,  carrying  out  her  wishes  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  farm;  Betsey,  Daniel  and  Caro- 
line are  deceased.  The  descendants  of  Mrs.  Man- 
rose  number  ninety — nine  children,  fortj'-nine  grand- 
children and  thirty-two  great-gr.andchildren.  They 
are  scattered  over  the  country  as  far  "West  as 
Washington.  Mrs.  Manrose  is  a  believer  in  the 
doctrine  of  universal  salvation  and  is  identified 
with  the  Universalist  Church  at  Avon. 


^ 


■if)  AMES  T.  McMAHON.  He  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch  is  one  of  the  partners  of 
the  fl'-m  of  Cooper  ife  McMahon,  of  Canton, 
Fulton  County,  111.,  and  is  a  prosperous  and 
wide-awake  young  business  man.  His  tirth  oc- 
curred in  Joshua  Township,  this  county  and  State, 
April  23,  18.50.  He  is  the  son  of  Michael  and 
Elizabeth  (McNamar)  McMahon,  the  father  being 
of  Irish  descent,  and  coming  to  America  while  still 
in  his  youth,  the  mother  being  a  native  of  Fulton 
County  and  living  at  the  present  time  on  the  old 
homestead.  Their  marriage  took  place  here  nearly 
fifty  years  ago,  and  the  father  died  January  1 ,  1 888 
having  attained  his  cightj'-fourth  }'ear.  To  them 
were  born  eight  children  all  of  whom  are  living, 
viz:  Mary,  Sarah,  (Dailey ) ;  James  T. ;  Michael,  who 
is  a  prosperous  farmer  in  this  county;  John,  a  com- 
mercial traveler;  Dennis,  a  farmer;  and  Lizzie. 
James  spent  his  early  youth  on  the  farm  attending 
the  district  school  and  engaged  in  farming  until 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Thomas  Cooper  in 
the  liver}"  business  at  Canton,  111.  They  are  equally 
interested  in  this  business,  are  fast  friends,  and  are 
meeting  with  marked  success.  In  October,  1881, 
Mr.  McMahon  married  Miss  Pollen  Rafferty,  a  resi- 
dent of  this  place,  and  daughter  of  Patrick  Raflferty. 
This  union  has  been  blessed  with  two  children,  viz: 
Freddy,  born  in  1882;  and  AUie,  born  in  1886. 
Both  Mv.  and  Mrs  McMahon  are  faithful  members 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  the  former  be- 


longs to  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  of 
this  city.  By  their  great  and  untiring  interests  in 
the  social,  business,  and  religious  affairs  of  the 
community  in  which  they  reside, they  have  endeared 
themselves  to  their  neighbors,  and  won  numerous 
friends.  The  firm  of  Cooper  &  McMahon  are  do- 
ing a  splendid  business,  being  well  supplied  with 
good  horses  and  conveyances,  and  having  the  pa-, 
tronage  of  the  prominent  i)eople  throughout  this 
county. 

"^1  '  :  r  Dig  ;  : 


^^^EORGE  H.  KLINE,  who  is  successfully  op- 
III  ^——j  crating  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine  acres 
^^^ii  of  choice,  well-tilled  farming  land,  on  sec- 
tions 30  and  31,  Farmington  Township,  is  a  native- 
born  citizen  of  this  State,  and  though  yet  a  young 
man  in  the  prime  and  vigor  of  early  manliood.  he 
has  already  made  a  good  place  for  himself  among 
the  prominent  farmers  of  this  community. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Andrew  H.  Kline,  who 
came  to  Illinois  and  became  one  of  the  well-to-do 
farmers  of  this  county,  making  his  home  in  Canton 
Township.  His  father  also  located  in  that  town- 
ship. The  father  of  our  subject  was  married  in 
Pennsylvania  to  a  Miss  ^lary  Martin,  of  Franklin 
County,  that  State.  He  died  on  May  6,  1890,  round- 
ing out  a  useful  life  of  seventy  years.  He  was  a 
pjactical  skillful  farmer,  and  accumulated  a  hand- 
some competence  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
quite  an  extensive  landowner,  having  one  hundred 
and  seventy-nine  acres  in  Farmington  Township, 
two  hundred  and  eighty-five  in  Canton,  and  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  McDonough  Count}-. 
His  wife  died  on  July  G,  1886,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
five  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, namely:  Anna  B.,  Amanda  C,  Susan  I.,  John 
F.,  George  H.,  and  Alice  I.  Mary  E.  married  Heniy 
Michael  of  Canton;  she  is  the  ouj}-  child  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  born  August 
10,  1862,  in  Marshall  County,  111.,  where  his  parents 
were  then  living  on  a  farm.  They  subsequently 
removed  to  Canton  Township,  and  there  he  was 
reared.  He  received  the  basis  of  his  education  in 
the  common  schools,  and  then  attended  the  busi- 
ness college  in  Canton  where  he  pursued   a  good 


'ua/j  i//^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


44? 


course  of  stud}'  that  has  been  of  benefit  to  him  in 
his  business  transactions.  He  had  a  natural  talent 
for  agricultural  pursuits,  and  early  chose  the  nolile 
profession  of^  a3farnier,  as  Horace  Greele}' st3'led 
It.  and  is  carrying  on  his  labors  with  sound  practi- 
cal ability  and  with  a  success  that  has  amply  justi- 
fied liis  selection  of  a  vocation. 

Mr.  Kline  was  married  on  February  17,  1885,  to 
Sliss  Mary  .See,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Hannaii 
(Coleman)  .See,  of  Farmington  Township.  She  is 
the  third  of  a  family'  of  four  daughters.  Her 
mother  is  now  deceased.  Onr  subject  and  his  wife 
have  established  one  of  the  coziest  and  happiest 
homes  in  Farmington  Townsliip,  and  their  ])leasant 
household  is  completed  by  the  presoi'ce  of  the  child 
born  to  them  October  i,  1888,  whom  they  have 
named  \'erna  Zoe. 

He  of  whom  we  write  is  a  man  of  many  pleasant 
social  qualities,  and  of  sterling  habits  and  he  is 
well- liked  by  the  entire  community.  He  possesses 
intelligent  views  on  all  subjects  of  general  interest, 
particularly  on  political  questions,  and  is  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  Democratic  party. 


-i^{.- 


— E^- 


ATTIIIAS    LINGENFELTER  resi<ies  on 
^    section  30,   Banner  Townshij),   where    he 


owns  four  liundrod  acres  of  finely-improved 
land  which  he  devotes  to  diversified  crops^ 
The  buildings  that  have  been  erected  upon  the 
estate  are  neat  and  substantial,  sufficiently  commo- 
dious for  their  respective  uses,  and  include  every 
necessary  and  convenient  edifice.  Mr.  Lingenfel- 
ter  pursues  his  calling  with  zeal  and  intelligence, 
winning  from  the  soil  an  abundant  share  of  the 
various  grains  which  he  cultivates,  and  in  this  way 
securing  for  himself  and  family  all  of  the  comforts 
and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 

Mr.  Lingenfelter  is  of  good  blood,  being  a  de- 
scendant of  George  Lingenfelter,  who  came  from 
Holland  to  America  during  the  Revolution.  Tliat 
gentleman  liad  a  son,  Jacob,  born  in  Baltimore 
County,  Md.,  and  he  in  turn  became  the  father  of 
a  son,  Jacob,  who  was  the  immediate  progenitor  of 
our  subject.     Tlie  last  named  Jacob  Lingenfelter 


married  Sarah  Claar,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
removed  to  this  State  "jth  his  family  in  the  spring 
of  1848.  He  settled  in  Buckbeart  Township,  this 
county, where  he  died  in  1  876,  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years.  The  mother  of  our  subject  also  breathed 
her  last  in  this  county,  passing  awaj'  in  November, 
1  880,  at  the  age  of  sixty  seven.  The  family  of  the 
worthy  couple  consisted  of  thirteen  children,  eight 
of  whom  are  now  living,  our  subject  the  second  in 
order  of  birth. 

The  gentleman  whose  life  history  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Bedford  County.  Pa,, 
February  21,  1833.  He  worked  on  his  father's 
farm  until  he  was  eighteen  3ears  of  age,  then  learned 
the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  which  ho  followed  for 
about  thirty  years.  He  still  works  at  it  at  times  in 
connection  vvith  his  farming  and  four  of  his  sons 
have  learned  the  same  trade.  In  1854  Mr.  Lin- 
genfelter  rented  a  farm  in  Buckbeart  Township, 
conducting  it  while  still  working  at  his  trade  for 
two  years.  He  then  bought  a  [lart  of  the  estate  he 
now  occupies,  adding  to  it  until  it  reached  its  pres- 
ent size  and  bringing  it  up  to  a  high  position  of 
cultivation  and  improvement. 

On  July  1"2,  185.5,  Mr.  Lingenfelter  was  happily 
married  to  a  lady  of  genuine  worth,  known  in  her 
maidenhood  as  Miss  Rebecca  Evans.     She  was  born 
in  Licking   County,  Ohio,  February  21,  1838,  and 
is  therefore   the  junior  of    her    husband    precisely 
five  years.     She  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Eliza- 
beth (.Morland)  Evans.     The  marriage  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lingenfelter  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of  six- 
teen  children,  five  of    whom   are    deceased.     The 
record  of  the  survivors   is   as  follows:  Joseph   E., 
born  December  9,  1857,   married    Dora  Shaw  and 
lives  in  Buckbeart  Township;  John  P.,  born  April 
4,  1860,    married  Hester  Weslerfield    and    lives  in 
Buckbeart  Township;  Jacob    A.,    born    December 
18,  1861,  married  Ella  Johnson  and    lives   in  Far- 
mington; Anna  A.,  born  February  7,  1865,  married 
Samuel  Westerlield  and    lives  in  Buckbeart  Town- 
ship; Ida  PI,   born    December    18,    1866,    married 
Cary  Westerfleld,  and    lives  in  Banner  Township; 
Sarah  S.,    born   March    16,    1868,    married    Lewis 
Johnson, and  lives  in  Bucklieart  Townsliip;  Matthias, 
Jr.,    born  January  2,   1871,   is    unmarried   and   yet 
with    his    parents;   Barbara  E.,    born    February    12, 


444 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1872,  married  H.  C.  Dowlar,  and  lives  in  Banner 
Townsbii);  Richard  E.,  born  December  3,  1873; 
Clyde,  February  1,  1882.  and  Luell.i.  Marcli  20. 
1885.,  are  still  at  home. 

Mr.  Lingenfclter  is  an  active  worker  in  tlie  ranks 
of  tlie  Republican  part}',  and  in  the  Dunkard 
Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  consistent  member 
for  }-ears  and  in  which  he  holds  the  office  of  second 
degree  in  the  ministry.  He  has  served  as  School 
Director  for  eighteen  j-ears  and  is  now  Trustee. 
Mrs.  Lingenfelter  is  also  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Dunkard  Church  and  is  highly  esteemed  b}-  all  who 
know  her. 

A  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Lingenfelter  is 
shown  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


-^ 


RA  F.  ELROD.  The  history  of  any  countr}', 
State,  or  count}'  must  depend  in  a  great'  meas- 
ly nre  upon  the  lives  of  those  men  who  by  indus- 
try, natural  ability  and  perseverance  have  achieved 
success  for  the  interest  with  which  it  inspires  the 
general  reader  therefore  a  history  of  Fullon  County, 
111.,  would  in  no  measure  be  complete  without  a 
description  of  him  whose  name  heads  the  sketch. 

His  birth  occurred  in  Mason  County,  Ky.,  on 
February  22,  1820,  but  at  the  early  age  of  ten 
years  he  moved  with  his  father,  Michael  Elrod  and 
his  step-mother  to  Adams  County,  near  Aberdeen, 
Ohio.  Mr.  Elrod's  grandfather,  Thomas  Elrod 
was  the  first  white  child  born  west  of  the  Allegheny 
Mountains,  and  about  fourteen  miles  from  Pitts- 
burg. His  father  was  an  Englishman  of  some 
note.  The  subject  of  the  sketch  lost  his  mother 
while  still  in  the  tender  3'ears  of  childhood.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Miss  Ruth  p]vans,  her  father  be- 
ing a  Welshman,  and  her  mother  a  native  of  the 
Emerald  Isle. 

Mr.  Elrod  received  onlj'  a  moderate  education 
in  the  schools  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  and  when 
only  seventeen  years  of  age  left  his  father's  house 
to  brave  the  world  and  achieve  for  himself  fame 
and  fortune.  His  first  venture  was  made  in  the 
State  of  Illinois  and  he  was  forced  to  depend  en- 
tirely upon  his  natural  abilil}',  having  at  his  com- 


mand no  financial  assistance.  He  turned  his 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  receiving  as 
remuneration  for  his  se-vices  oulj'  810  per 
month.  In  1840  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Vail,  a  native  of  Butler  County,  Ohio.  Mr.  Elrod 
in  1846  purchased  the  estate  upon  which  he  now 
resides,  and  which  at  that  time  embraced  but  eighty 
acres  of  land,  with  ten  in  a  state  of  cultivation. 
The  house  in  which  he  lives  was  on  the  farm,  but 
not  completed,  but  by  dint  of  industry  and  su- 
perior judgment  he  has  increased  this  estate  to 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  has  improved 
the  house  in  a  most  perfect  manner. 

On  June  4,  1890,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elrod  held  their 
golden  wedding  at  which  one  hundred  and  sixty 
guests  were  present,  most  of  whom  were  children 
of  people  who  lived  in  Bernadotte  Township.  To 
them  no  children  have  been  born,  but  they  have 
adopted  several,  in  fact,  eight  or  ten,  and  two  of 
them  were  married  fiom  Mr.  Elrod's  home.  In 
politics  the  subject  of  the  sketch  was  first  a  Whig. 
He  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln  twice  and  continued 
to  be  interested  in  the  same  party  until  the  univer- 
sal right  of  suffrage  was  given;  but  concluding 
that  this  was  entireh'  against  the  interest  of  the 
countr}'  he  cast  his  lot  and  influence  willi  the  Dera- 
oi.M-atic  party.  Mr.  Elrod  has  at  all  times  and  un- 
der ail  circumstances  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the 
affairs  of  this  county,  and  served  his  township  for 
fifteen  years  as  Supervisor,  and  served  as  Chairman 
in  1889.  He  joined  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Lewistown,  and  about  1874  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Ipava  where  he  has  been 
a  Deacon  ever  since.  A  liberal  supporter  of  all 
church  matters,  and  the  welfare  of  his  neighbor- 
hood, Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School,  and 
a  most  generous  and  thoroughl}-  upright  man,  he 
has  naturally  won  a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lives.  Mr.  Elrod  is  also  ac- 
tively interested  in  educational  matters,  a  fact 
which  is  definitely  proven  by  his  good  service  as 
School  Director  through  the  p.ast  thiity  j'ears. 
During  the  late  war  he  was  a  hearty  supporter  of  the 
National  Government,  and  besides  furnishing  a  sub- 
stitute at  a  cost  of  11,100  he  was  exceedingly  active 
in  raising  the  war  quota  of  Bernadotte  Township.  He 
lias  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  for 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


44o 


nearly  fortj'  years,  first  of  Lodge  107  a1  Lewistown, 
and  later  of  Lodofe  213  Ipava,  of  which  he  was  a 
member  for  ten  consecutive  years.  Mr.  Elroil  lias 
always  devoted  his  attention  to  farming,  thougli  in 
connection  witli  this  occupation  he  has  at  different 
times  invested  in  stock  for  shipment.  He  is  a 
natural  mechanic,  having  planned  two  large  and 
handsome  barns  that  str.nd  at  present  on  his  farm, 
and  for  a  time  after  settling  on  his  present  place 
was  a  carpenter  and  contractor.  In  tliis  capacity 
he  l)uilt  a  number  of  houses  and  several  saw  mills. 
Mr.  Elrod  was  President  of  the  Fulton  County 
Agricultural  Society,  but  for  his  services  did  not 
charge  or  receive  any  compensation  whatever,  his 
one  aim  being  to  benefit  the  agricultural  interests 
of  the  county  at  large.  To  such  men  as  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  the  broad  and  prosperous  land 
over  which  the  Stars  and  Stripes  wave  so  majes- 
tically owes  the  lionor  which  it  everywhere  I'eceives. 
His  popularity  is  alike  great  in  business  and  social 
circles,  and  he  lias  many  warm  personal  friends 
who  fully  appreciate  his  worth  and  his  natural  kind- 
ness. 


'\1I  OUN  L.  BARRICK.  Probably  no  resident 
in  Lee  Township  is  better  deserving  of  repre- 
sentation in  this  volume  than  John  L.  Bar- 
rick,  who  was  left  fatherless  and  motherless 
at  an  early  age,  and  who,  reared  among  strangers, 
has  pursued  a  course  which  has  resulted  in  secur- 
ing for  him  the  hearty  respect  of  those  who  know 
him.  and  given  him  a  proud  rank  among  the  farm- 
ers and  landowners  of  the  county.  The  visitor  to  his 
pleasant  home  will  find  a  well-regulated  establish- 
ment, where  good  stock  in  sufficient  numbers,  im- 
proved machinery,  and  a  complete  line  of  well-built 
edifices  add  to  the  value  of  the  naturally  fertile 
soil.  The  estate  consists  of  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
six  acres  on  sections  19,  20,  and  30,  which  are  de- 
voted by  the  intelligent  owner  to  the  purposes  of 
general  farming. 

The  parents  of  our  subject]  are  believed  to  have 
been  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  he,  himself,  at 
Utica  Mills,  Frederick  County,  Md.,  in  May,  1825. 


The  mother  died  when  our  subject  was  about  three 
j'ears  of  age,  leaving  the  father  with  seven  chil- 
dren to  care  for.  He  was  a  cooper  bv  trade,  and 
going  to  Washington  County  for  better  opportuni- 
ties of  emplo3'ment,  he  died  soon  after,  leaving  his 
orphans  without  a  home.  The  youngest  child,  our 
subject,  became  an  inmate  of  the  household  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Eihvarils  who  lived  at  Williamsport, 
Washington  County,  and  remained  with  them  until 
the  death  of  Mr.  Edwards,  when  the  youth  was 
twenty  years  of  age.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  young 
Barrick  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  carjienter  and 
joiner,  at  which  he  served  an  apiirentieeship  of 
four  years.  He  worked  at  it  in  Deerfield,  Akron, 
and  Talmage,  in  the  Buckeye  State,  and  in  other 
towns  for  some  years. 

February  22,  1847,  Mr.  Barrick  led  to  the  hy- 
meneal altar  Miss  Lydia  Hughes,  who  was  born  at 
Holleyhead,  North  Wales,  in  1824.  The  bride  was 
the  fifth  child  of  her  parents,  John  and  Margaret 
(Williams)  Hughes,  who  vvere  also  born  in  North 
Walls,  and  who  had  emigrated  to  Cleveland.  Ohio, 
in  1832.  During  that  year  the  father  died  of  tlie 
cholera,  and  so  likewise  did  one  of  his  sons. 

In  1856  Mr.  Barrick  removed  with  his  family  to 
this  State,  locating  at  Bushnell,  where  he  resided 
about  two  years  and  a  half.  He  then  removed 
to  a  farm  near  the  town,  remaining  there  until  the 
spring  of  18t)G,  when  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  his 
present  farm.  By  dint  of  industry  and  good  man- 
agement, aided  by  the  prudence  of  his  comjianion, 
he  was  able  ere  long  to  add  to  his  farm,  which  from 
year  to  year  has  been  made  still  mure  remunerative 
and  valuable. 

The  family  of  our  subject  is  made  up  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Thalia  V.,  now  the  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Hawn;  Rosabella  A.,  wife  of  S.  R.  Nickerson, 
of  Onarga;  Margaret  I.,  now  living  in  South  Da- 
kota, her  husband  being  Mvron  Nickerson,  a  Jleth- 
odist  minister;  Lewis  E.,  who  married  Carrie 
Steach,  and  lives  on  section  20,  Lee  Township;  Ly- 
dia, wife  of  George  W.  Thompson,  their  home  be- 
ing in  McDonough  County. 

Rlr.  Barrick  acted  with  the  Democratic  jiarty 
until  about  six  years  ago,  but  is  now  a  Prohibition- 
ist. He  was  a  candidate  for  Representative  on  the 
Prohibition  ticket,  and  received  eighteen  votes  in 


446 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Lee  Township.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  worker  for 
the  cause  of  temperance.  He  lias  belonged  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  forty-seven  j'ears,  and 
held  theofiicesof  Recording  Steward,  Class-Leader, 
and  Steward.  He  has  been  Superintendent  of  the 
Sund.ay-school,  and  is  now  Vice-President  for  iA-c 
Tovvnship,  of  the  Fulton  County  Siindaj- -school 
Association.  He  has  been  Commissioner  and  School 
Director,  both  in  Bushnell  Township,  McDonough 
Count}',  and  here.  Mrs.  Barrick  is  also  a  member 
of  tlie  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  having  united 
with  that  denomination  when  but  eleven  _years  of 
age. 


ocx>    . 


ooo 


GEORGE  LALICKER,  who  resides  on  section 
3,  Pleasant  Township,  is  the  oldest  of  the 
^_,,,  pioneers  of  this  place  that  is  living  at  the 
present  time.  His  birth  occurred  in  Clermont 
County,  Ohio.  April  7.  1821,  he  being  the  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  Lalicker.  His  fatlier  was  a  na- 
tive of  Gerinanj',  and  figured  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War,  dying  when  our  subject  was  only  two 
years  of  age.  His  mother  breathed  her  last  about 
four  3'ears  later,  and  thus  at  a  tender  age  he  was 
left  without  his  natural  protectors. 

Mr.  Lalicker  spent  part  of  the  time  with  his  sis 
ter,  Mrs.  Thomas  France,  hut  while  qui^e  young, 
commenced  to  shift  for  himself,  and  in  this  way  ac- 
quired excellent  business  habits,  and  great  indus- 
try. In  1831.  became  with  his  sister  to  Fulton 
County,  and  here  he  received  a  moderately  good 
education.  The  schools  in  a  new  country  are  al- 
ways poor,  and  in  those  days  educational  matters 
did  not  receive  the  same  attention  that  they  do  at 
this  date.  Though  what  the  world  terms  a  self- 
educated  man,  he  has  acquired  a  gooill}'  amount 
of  information,  and  like  so  many  that  come  under 
that  class,  has  succeeded  better  than  the  average 
collegiate  graduate. 

Our  subject  married  Miss  Rebecca  Parvin,  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Hosea  and  Eliza- 
beth (France)  Parvin.  natives  of  New  York  and 
Ohio  respectively.  Jlrs.  Lalicker's  birth  occurred 
April  7,  182-1,  in  Clermont  County,  but  in  1832 
she  removed  with   her  parents   to  Fulton  County, 


settling  in  the  northern  part  of  Pleasant  Township. 
Her  parents  were  among  the  first  to  locate  here,  and 
a  few  days  after  their  arrival  the  mother  died,  and 
in  1884  the  father  passed  away  from  the  scene  of 
earthly  joys  and  sorrows.  Her  father  was  twice 
married,  and  had  a  large  family  of  children,  of 
which  those  now  living  are  as  follows:  Rebecca, 
Mrs.  Lalicker;  William,  Henry,  Hosea,  Jasper, 
George;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Andrew  Majdand;  and 
James. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lalicker  are  the  parents  of  nine 
cliildren,  viz:  Hily  A.,  wife  of  Hamilton  Bedwell, 
of  ^Marshall  Cfmnty,  Kan;  John  and  Mary  deceased; 
William;  Sarah  J.,  wife  of  Andrew  llarvick,  of 
Pleasant  Township;  Susan,  wife  of  William  .Shago, 
of  Marshall  County,  Kan. ;  Amanda,  wife  of  Josiah 
Crick,  of  Marshall  County,  Kan.;  Eva,  wife  of  Jo- 
seph Morgan,  of  Pleasant  Township;  and  Mar}' 
(deceased.) 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  naturall}'  endured  many 
hardships  as  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  settled 
first  on  section  28.  Four  of  Mrs.  Lalicker's  broth- 
ers served  in  the  Civil  War,  taking  part  in  tlie  Con- 
federate arm)'.  Mr.  Lalicker  removed  to  his  pres- 
ent farm  on  the  Ides  of  March,  1861,  and  has 
continued  to  reside  here  since.  His  estate  com- 
prises two  liundred  and  twenty-tive  acres  of  valu- 
able farming  land,  two  hundred  of  which  are  well 
cultivated.  He  is  in  s^'mpathy  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  much  interested  in  local  politics, 
and  everything  that  advances  the  community  in 
which  he  makes  his  home.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  is  in  fact,  a  man  whose  sketch 
will  do  honor  to  our  volume,  and  piove  interesting 
to  the  man\"  friends  who  hold  him  in  the  highest 
possible  esteem. 


'J¥)OHN  EFFLAND.  This  gentlem.an  is  the 
owner  and  occupant  of  a  fine  tract  of  land 
on  section  31,  Ellisville  Township,  which  in 
its  improvement  and  general  appearance 
will  compare  favorably  with  any  estate  in  the 
county.  It  consists  of  forty  acres,  occupying  a 
beautiful  situation  a  half  mile  from  Ellisville.     A 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


447 


commodious  house  of  pleasing  arcliitectmal  de- 
sign was  built  in  1882,  and  a  fine  barn  erected  the 
same  season.  Anotlicr  was  put  up  in  1890,  liie 
second  being  3"2x48  feet  in  dimensions.  A  fine 
orcliard  lias  been  set  out  and  otber  iniproveinenls 
have  been  made,  including  the  conducting  of  water 
into  the  house  by  pipes,  thus  adding  greatly  to  the 
convenien(^e  which  characterizes  the  fittings  of  the 
home.  The  water  is  also  conveyed  to  the  barn  from 
a  living  spring  in  the  hillside,  which  furnishes  a 
thirty-fpot  fall.  Mr.  Eltiand  owns  other  real  estate 
in  this  vicinity. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Mathi.as  Etttand.  who  was 
born  in  Bavaria,  German}'.  His  parents  were  far- 
mers, and  he  was  reared  and  educated  on  the  es- 
tate. When  a  young  man  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  railroad  as  a  brakeman,  then  became  weigh- 
iiiaster,  holding  the  latter  position  until  he  resigned 
to  come  to  America,  where  he  believed  he  could 
better  his  condition.  In  accordance  with  the  laws 
of  the  land  he  also  served  for  a  time  in  the  Ger- 
man army.  He  married  Miss  !\Iargaret  Pippert,  a 
native  of  the  same  province  as  himself,  and  with 
iier  and  one  child  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1851.  They  left  Bremen  on  a  sailing  vessel,  and 
after  a  long  voyage  landed  in  New  York,  whence 
they  made  their  way  to  P^lmore,  Ohio.  Mr.  Eft- 
land's  means  were  exhausted,  and  he  labored  at 
whatever  he  could  find  to  do  for  a  short  time.  He 
then  bought  a  piece  of  land  in  what  was  known  as 
the  Black  Kwami),  in  Ottawa  County,  locating  there 
and  endeavoring  to  build  up  a  home.  The  country 
was  low  and  unhealtliful,  and  the  entire  family 
was  troubled  with  the  ague.  Mr.  Effland  therefore 
determined  to  seek  a  healthier  country,  and  in  18.")7 
left  this  land  and  came  to  Ellisville,  111.  Here  he 
worked  by  the  day  as  a  laborer,  and  also  did  farm 
ing  for  others. 

In  1861  Mr.  Effland  took  advantage  of  the  first 
opportnnit}'  afforded  of  selling  his  Ohio  land,  re- 
ceiving ai;300  for  the  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 
He  at  once  secured  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
on  section  29,  Ellisville  Township,  the  price  of 
which  was  #700.  It  was  unimproved  bottom  land, 
and  its  low  price  was  due  to  the  fact  that  settlers 
wore  afraid  to  venture  crops  in  the  bottoms  of 
the  Spoon   River,  for  fear  of  be  ing  drowned  out. 


Mr.  Effland  began  imjjroving  and  cultivating  his 
farm,  finding  the  soil  capable  of  yielding  large 
crops.  He  continued  to  reside  in  Ellisville,  and 
being  successful  in  his  labors  soon  l)ought  fifty-two 
acres  on  section  6,  adjoining  the  village.  A  few 
years  later  he  sold  it  and  purchased  eiglit^'  acres  on 
section  30,  and  there  made  his  home,  putting  up 
the  best  of  buildings  and  oilier  improvements. 
About  1872  he  purchased  a  town  lot.  put  up  a  store 
liuilding  2(1x60  feet,  and  buying  a  stock  of  general 
merchandise,  embarked  in  trade.  He  was  interested 
ill  the  store  twelve  years,  paying  the  greater  part  of 
his  personal  attention  however,  to  farming.  He  had 
gone  into  merchandising  to  help  a  friend  who  was  a 
practical  merclcant  to  a  job,  and  finally  sold  out  to 
him.  Mr.  Effland  was  extensively  engaged  in  rais- 
ing and  feeding  stock,  and  became  ihe  owner  of 
some  five  hundred  acres  of  well-improved  land, 
one  hundred  acres  of  which  was  in  Union  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Effland  was  a  quiet,  unassuming  man  who 
seldom  exerted  his  infiuence,  although  when  he 
chose  he  had  great  power  in  the  community.  In  re- 
ligious belief  he  was  a  Lutheran,  and  in  |)olitics  a 
Democrat.  He  breathed  his  last  August  31,  1889, 
at  the  age  of  sixtj'-six  years,  six  months  and  six 
days.  His  widow  still  lives  on  the  old  homestead, 
and  is  now  seventy  years  old.  Their  family  con- 
sists of  seven  children,  the  subject  of  this  notice 
being  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  Henry  lives 
in  Mitchell  County,  Kan.;  Mrs.  Catherine  Babbitt, 
in  Kcyha  Paha  County,  Neb. :  Martin,  Augustus  and 
Peter  are  farmers  in  Ellisville  Township,  this 
county;  Mrs.  Mary  Dall  lives  near  Bushnell. 

John  Effland  was  born  in  Elmore,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 27,  1851,  and  lived  in  Ottawa  County  until  five 
years  old.  He  was  then  brought  to  the  Prairie 
State  by  his  parents,  who  traveled  by  rail  to  Prairie 
City.  The  lad  grew  to  manhood  in  Pillisville, 
which  was  then  ciuile  a  business  center.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools,  which  were  quite  good, 
although  the  periods  of  instruction  were  limited. 
He  was  early  set  to  work,  and  when  a  small  boy 
drove  oxen  in  breaking  prairie,  and  otherwise  bore 
a  share  in  home  labors.  Game  of  various  kinds 
was  quite  abundant  here,  deer  being  especially  nu- 
merous, while  rattlesnakes  were   frequently  seen. 


448 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


When  he  had  readied  his  majurity,  our  subject 
worked  b^v  the  luontli  for  his  father  on  the  farm 
and  in  the  store  until  Februar}-,  1874,  when  he  es- 
tablished his  own  home. 

In  Iniilding  up  his  fortunes.  Mr.  Effland  has  been 
assisted  by  his  wife,  who  in  lier  own  department  of 
their  affairs  has  exhibited  prudence  and  good  judg- 
ment. She  is  a  native  of  the  Hoosier  State,  and 
came  to  this  county  in  1865,  when  twelve  years 
old.  Her  father,  AVilliam  G.  Cooke,  is  now  a 
prominent  farmer  in  EllisviUe  Township.  Miss 
Phtebe  A.  Cooke  lieeame  Mrs.  Ellland  February  14, 
1874.  She  has  borne  lier  husband  three  children: 
William.  Mar^-  and  ilattie. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Efiland  rented  land  for 
two  years  and  then  bought  eighty  acres  on  section 
30.  The  land  had  been  well  cultivated,  was  fenced, 
but  had  no  buildings  upon  it.  After  having  oper- 
ated the  piece  six  years,  Mr.  Ellland  sold  it  to  his 
brother,  with  the  intention  of  going  to  Nebraska. 
Just  at  tiiat  time  the  owner  of  two  hundred  acres 
on  sections  31  and  32,  was  nearly  swamped,  and 
our  subject  bought  the  land  at  a  bargain.  It  was 
badly  run  down,  but  well-directed  efforts  ere  long 
brought  it  to  a  fine  condition.  Some  portions  were 
cleared  and  grubbed,  the  sorl  broken  on  others,  and 
the  various  improvements  made  which  mark  it  as 
one  of  the  most  comfortable  homes  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Etlland  has  since  added  other  land,  bringing 
up  the  total  to  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  The 
estate  consists  of  fortj-  acres  on  section  31,  where 
the  residence  is;  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  32,  and  eighty  acres  on  section  29.  One 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  are  under  the  plow,  and 
all  that  has  been  cleared  is  tillable.  Nearly  all  is 
bottom  land  with  a  practically  inexhaustible  soil, 
and  is  fertilized  by  Spoon  River  and  various 
springs.  The  owner  carries  on  general  farming, 
raising  grain  and  stock,  and  feeding  quite  large 
numbers  of  hogs.  His  cattle  are  of  a  high  grade, 
and  his  farm  machinery  of  the  latest  and  most  im- 
proved models. 

Mr.  Effland  has  served  as  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways three  terms,  his  action  while  in  office  being 
of  practical  benefit  to  the  traveling  public.  He 
has  also  served  as  School  Director.  He  is  a  Repub- 
iican,  stanch  in  the   faith,  capable   of  intelligently 


conversing  regarding  tlie  issues  of  the  day.  and 
giving  good  ground  fur  his  opinions.  He  has  been 
a  delegate  to  county  conventions,  and  has  served 
on  petit  juries.  In  addition  to  his  fine  farm,  Mr. 
Effland  owns  property  in  EllisviUe.  Mrs.  Effland 
belongs  to  the  Christian  Church,  and  stands  side 
by  side  with  her  husband  in  the  esteem  of  the  com- 
munit}'. 

«.  : sg^J^jUgt       :     . 

<v¥?OHN  H.  BREEDEX,  M.  D.,  is  prominent 
not  only  as  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of 
the  county,  but  as  one  of  its  most  success- 
[^j}j  ful  financiers  and  business  men,  who  has 
became  wealth}'  In'  judicious  investments,  and  is 
one  of  the  largest  landholders  in  this  part  of  Illinois. 
He  has  not  only  been  ver}'  active  in  developing  the 
agricultural  and  other  interests  of  the  county, 
but  as  a  valued  minister  in  the  Christian  Church 
and  as  a  man  of  pure  character  and  earnest  pur- 
pose, he  has  been  ver}'  intluential  in  elevating  its 
social,  moral  and  religious  stains. 

Dr.  Breeden  was  born  in  Sullivan  Connlj-,  Ind., 
November  18,  1834.  His  father.  Lewis  Breeden, 
was  a  native  of  F.ayette  Count}',  Ky.,  born  October 
15,  1811.  His  fatlier,  Elijah  Breeden,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Shelby  County,  Ky.  The  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  born  in  England  and  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Virginia  previous  to  the 
Revolution.  He  was  engaged  as  a  farmer  and 
when  the  Colonists  fouglit  for  independence  he  en- 
tered the  Continental  army  and  did  good  service. 
His  wife,  a  patriotic  woman,  sat  up  nights  and 
moulded  bullets  for  the  soldiers  in  the  fort  near  by. 
He  finally  moved  to  Shelby  Count}',  and  was  one 
of  the  very  first  settlers  of  Kentucky.  He  took  up 
land,  cleared  a  farm  from  the  woods,  and  in  his 
pioneer  home  he  and  his  wife  reared  a  family  of 
six  boys  and  one  girl,  and  there  died  at  a  ripe  old 
age. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  reared  in 
Shelby  County,  and  after  attaining  his  majority  he 
moved  to  Monroe  County,  Ind..  of  which  he  thus 
became  an  early  pioneer.  He  remained  there  sev- 
eral years  and  tlien  returned  to  Kentucky.  A  few 
years  'ater  he  started  out  aizain  with  a   team  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


449 


wagon,  and  made  his  way  through  the  wilderness 
to  Clark  County,  111.,  and  then  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Galena.  From  there  lie  wont  to  Pike 
County,  and  spent  the  remnant  of  his  life  with  tlie 
father  of  our  subjeet,  dying  when  more  than  si.vty 
3-ears  old.  In  earl}'  manhood  he  had  married 
Elizabeth  Simpson,  who  was  likewise  of  Kentucky 
birth.  She  lived  to  be  over  fifty  years  old  and 
died  in  Pike  County,  tliis  State.  She  was  the 
mother  of  eleven  children,  nine  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity,  namely  :  Elizabetli  F.,  Louis,  John,  Lucy, 
Preston,  Fanny,  Simpson,  Bland  B.,  and    William. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  eiglit  years  old 
wlien  he  accompanied  his  parents  from  their  old 
Kentucky  home  to  the  wilds  of  Indiana.  He  at- 
tended the  pioneer  sc'iools  of  both  States  at  differ- 
ent'times  and  can  well  remember  the  rude  log 
selioolhouses  made  of  logs  with  slab  benches  and 
wooden  pins  inserted  into  the  slabs  for  legs,  and 
with  a  large  open  fireplace  across  one  whole  end  of 
tlie  building,  and  greased  paper  instead  of  glass  in 
the  windows. 

()nr  subject  was  married  in  Indiana  and  came 
thence  to  Clark  Count}^,  this  State,  with  his 
parents.  He  afterwards  became  a  resident  of  Pike 
County  in  1839,  and  purchased  land  there.  He 
was  among  the  early  settlers  of  that  place  and 
owned  and  improved  several  fine  farms  in  Pike 
County.  In  185G  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Ma- 
son Count}',  where  he  farmed  eight  years.  He 
took  up  his  abode  in  Bath,  111.,  and  thence 
went  to  Hancock  County,  where  lie  lived  four 
years.  We  next  hear  of  him  in  McPherson  County, 
Kan.,  where  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  which 
he  tilled  nearly  two  years.  Coming  back  to  this 
county  he  located  in  Sumraum,  Woodland  Town- 
ship, and  now  lives  with  our  subject.  He  has  been 
a  stanch  member  of  the  Christian  Church  for  forty 
years  and  politically  has  been  a  Democrat  all  his 
life. 

Mr.  Breedon  married  Anna  Hendy  who  was 
born  in  Tioga  County,  N.  Y.,  May  18, 1809.  They 
became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  named  as 
follows:  John  II.,  Lucinda,  James,  Amanda,  (Mrs. 
Sawyer),  Orriu  II.,  Phoebe  A.  (Mrs.  Renshaw), 
and  Louisa.  The  motherof  our  subject  is  a  wel- 
come inmate  of   his  home.     She  has  been  a  tried 


and  true  member  of  the  Christian  Church  for  over 
forty  years. 

Samuel  Hendy,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  born  in  New  York.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  boatman  and  followed  the  latter  calling  on 
the  Susquehanna  and  Wabash  Rivers  a  good  deal 
of  the  time.  Ho  removed  to  Indiana,  ami  later  to 
Clark  County.  III.,  but  finally  went  back  to  the 
Hoosier  State,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
five  years.  He  was  Captain  of  a  company  in  the 
War  of  1812.  His  father,  John  Hendy,  was  born 
in  England  and  came  to  America  before  the  Revo- 
lution, he  and  his  bride  having  run  away  from 
home  and  crossed  the  water  to  get  married,  and 
were  united  in  New  York  City  after  their  arrival. 
He  was  twice  married,  his  last  wife  having  been 
the  great-grandmother  of  our  subject.  His  first 
wife  was  Phceba  Burr,  and  she  was  a  sister  of  the 
noted  Aaron  Burr.  He  was  quite  an  extensive 
farmer  near  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  where  he  owned  over 
four  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  died  at  the  ven- 
erable age  of  eighty-five  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  six  years 
old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Pike 
County,  this  State.  His  boyhood  daj's  were  spent 
amid  primitive  pioneer  surroundings  and  he  laid 
the  foundation  of  his  education  in  a  log  school- 
house.  He  had  to  assist  in  the  farm  work  as  soon 
as  he  was  large  enough  to  be  of  any  use.  When 
twenty  years  of  age  he  became  a  student  at  the 
Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington,  111.,  for  one 
term,  paying  his  own  way  with  the  $80  which  he 
had  earned.  Immediately  after  leaving  school  he 
began  to  teach,  and  was  thus  engaged  in  the  dis- 
trict school  the  ensuing  six  months. 

At  the  expiration  of  that  time  the  Doctor  was 
married  and  he  and  his  wife  began  their  wedded 
life  on  a  farm  in  Mason  County,  where  they  re- 
mained one  year.  He  devoted  much  of  his  spare 
time  to  reading  medical  works,  as  he  was  much  in- 
terested in  all  that  pertained  to  his  profession,  and 
he  subsequently  attended  medical  lectures  in  Chi- 
cago. He  taught  school  during  the  winter  that  he 
might  procure  money  to  defray  his  expenses.  He 
was  unable  to  graduate  with  his  class  on  account 
of  the  illness  of  his  wife,  but  was  given  a  certifi- 
cate entitling   him   to  graduation.     After  leaving 


4o0 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


college  our  subject  located  at  Sutnmum,  March  2, 
1858,  and  has  resided  here  ever  since.  He  has 
practiced  medicine  continuously  and  in  the  course 
of  time  has  built  up  an  extensive  and  lucrative 
practice.  He  has  bought  land  from  time  to  time 
till  now  he  owns  over  one  thousand  acres,  six 
hundred  and  forty-one  acres  of_which  are  in  Pleas- 
ant Township,  and  the  remainder  in  Woodland 
Township.  He  has  superintended  the  cultivation 
of  his  land  and  its  improvement  a  part  of  the  time, 
but  of  late  years  has  been  so  much  occupied  bj'  his 
professional  work  and  his  other  duties  that  he  has 
rented  it. 

Dr.  Breeden  and  Miss  Sarah  A.  .Stoner  were 
united  in  marriage  March  6,  1856.  Mrs.  Breeden 
was  born  in  Clermont  County,  Ohio,Maj'  25,  1833. 
Her  marriage  with  our  subject  has  been  productive 
to  them  of  three  children  all  of  whom  are  living: 
Harvey  O.,  Louis  C,  and  Dolly  V.  Mrs.  Breeden 
is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Stoner,  who  was  l)oru  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1795.  He  removed  to  Clermont 
County,  Ohio,  when  a  young  man  and  was  a 
pioneer  farmer  and  brickmasou  of  that  part  of  the 
country.  He  was  Colonel  of  a  militia  regiment  in 
that  county.  In  1835  he  came  to  Illinois  and  was 
among  the  first  settlers  of  Brown  Count}-.  He  is 
quite  well-to-do  in  this  world's  goods  and  owned 
and  farmed  over  five  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years.  In  politics  he 
was  a  decided  Democrat.  He  married  Margaret 
Fred  who  was  born  in  Virginia  and  she  died  at 
the  age  of  fifty-seven  years.  She  was  the  mother 
of  ten  children,  of  whom  eight  grew  to  maturity. 
Her  father, George  Fred,  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and 
a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  died  there  at  the  early 
age  of  thirty  years,  and  thus  a  good  and  useful 
citizen  was  lost  to  his  community.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Sarah  Woodford.  Shortly 
after  the  death  of  her  husband  she  moved  in  1805 
in  a  wagon  over  the  mountains' to  Clermont  County, 
Ohio,  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  that 
county.  She  came  to  Brown  County,  111.,  in  the 
year  1835,  with  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Breeden  and 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years.  She  was  a 
good  Methodist  and  a  true  Christian. 

Philip  Stoner,  Mrs.  Breeden's  paternal  grand- 
father, was  born  in  Germany,  and  after  con.ing  to 


America  settled  on  a  farm  in  Pennsylvania.  Later 
he  became  a  pioneer  of  Clermont  County,  Ohio, 
and  farmed  there  till  his  death,  whieh  occurred  in 
middle  life.  He  married  Sarah  Ringer,  who  was 
of  German  descent  and  she  died  in  Ohio  nt  the 
venerable  age  of  ninety-two  years. 

Dr.  Breeden  is  one  of  the  foremost  members  of 
the  Christian  Church  and  his  life  is  an  exemplifi- 
cation of  the  faith  which  he  professes.  He  and  his 
wife  have  been  active  in  the  church  for  many 
years,  he  having  united  himself  with  it  in  1856  and 
she  in  1859.  In  June,  18G6,  Dr.  Breeden  was  in- 
spired to  preach  the  doctrines  of  his  church,  and 
has  done  so  more  or  less  ever  since  in  the  sur- 
rounding neighborhood.  His  work  as  a  minister 
has  been  greatly  blessed  ;  he  has  held  some  very 
successful  revival  meetings  and  through  his  untir- 
ing efforts  eight  hundred  accessions  have  been 
made  to  the  church.  Politically  the  Doctor  has 
been  a  Democrat  ncarl}'  all  his  life  till  two  years 
ago,  since  which  lime  he  has  allied  himself  with 
the  Prohibition  part3\ 


THOMAS  F.  BARNARD.  M.  D.  This  worthy 
ilKfd^  reiiresentative  of  respectable  families  was 
born  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  January 
28.  1844.  He  is  tiie  oldest  living  son  of  Charles 
and  Susan  (Davis)  Barnard,  whose  family  consists 
of  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  The  father^was 
a  native  of  the  Empire  State  and  the  mother  of 
Pennsj'lvania.  Soon  after  their  marriage  thcj'  lo- 
cated in  St.  Louis,  where  they  remained  many 
years,  the  father  carrying  on  the  business  of  a 
druggist.  Late  in  life  he  removed  to  this  county 
where  his  demise  took  place  in  1875.  His  widow 
is  still  living,  making  her  home  in  Canton. 

Grandfather  Davis,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Barnard, 
was  a  descendant  of  a  Welsh  family,  the  old  stock 
being  of  the  Quaker  faith.  He  was  a  large  prop- 
erty owner,  having  a  farm  of  seven  hundred  acres 
near  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  was  a  man  of  in- 
fluence throughout  the  section  in  which  he  lived. 

Dr.  Barnard  passed  his  school  days  in  his  native 
city,  attending  the  public  schools  and  then  tauing 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


453 


up  tlie  liigber  branches  in  the  St.  Louis  University. 
He  first  learned  tlie  drug  business  and  then  studied 
medicine  un<lcr  Dr.  A.  S.  Barnes,  of  St.  Louis,  a 
|)hysician  of  high  repute  for  liis  theoretical  knowl- 
ei^ge  and  practical  jkill.  In  due  time  Mr.  Barnard 
entered  the  St.  Louis  Medical  College  fi-om  which 
he  was  graduated  in  187.'5,  immediately  beginning 
the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  in  the  same 
cit}-.  In  1876  he  removed  to  Canton  where  he 
has  since  been  conducting  a  good  practice  and 
building  up  a  fine  reputation. 

Dr.  Barnard  is  regarded  as  one  of  those  men  of 
progressive  ideas  who  endeavor  to  kee|j  pace  with 
the  latest  investigations,  to  appl}'  every  principle 
and  new  theory  judiciousl}',  and  to  weigh  carefully 
the  merits  of  every  proposed  remed\'.  B}'  those 
who  believe  in  the  establishment  of  homes.  Dr. 
Barnard  may  be  considered  as  having  failed  in  one 
of  his  duties,  being  still  unmarried.  In  other  re- 
spects he  is  honorably  disciiarging  his  obligations 
as  a  citizen  of  the  great  commonwealth,  a  member 
of  a  learned  profession,  and  a  private  individual. 
He  affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party. 


-^: 


e- 


m. 


^ 


ffj  OHN  JAY  ELDER.  Tlie  active  business  in- 
terests of  Farmington  are  no  better  repre- 
sented than  bj'  this  gentleman,  a  well  known 
grain  dealer.  He  was  born  June  21,  1823, 
in  tlie  town  of  Petersburg,  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio.  His  father  was  David  Elder  and  liis  mother 
was  in  her  maiden  days,  Isabella  L.  Wray.  The 
father  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  in  171)8, 
and  the  mother  in  Philadelphia  in  1800.  John 
Elder  his  grandfather,  was  an  American  by  birth, 
but  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  served  as  a  private 
soldier  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  He  reared 
a  family  of  ten  children,  and  his  two  eldest  sons, 
Abraham  and  John,  were  soldiers  in  the  war  of 
1812.     Grandfather  Wray  was  an  Irishman. 

David  Elder  moved  from  Columbiana  County', 
Ohio,  to  Seneca  County,  the  same  State,  in  1832, 
and  operated  the  St.  John's  flour  and  saw-mills  on 
the  S.andu8ky  River.  He  subsequently  removed 
to  Logan    Ciiunty  in  1840  and  carried  on  farming 


there  until  185.5,  when  ho  joined  the  pioneers  of 
Warren  Countj'  in  this  State,  locating  on  Hender- 
son Prairie.  The  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed 
there,  his  death  occurring  in  1885.  His  wife  de- 
parted this  life  in  1877  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years.  They  had  eight  children:  John  Ja}',  Ange- 
linc,  who  died  in  infancy;  Rebecca  Ann,  wife  of 
William  Campbell,  of  Canton,  Ohio;  Margaret 
Jane,  wife  of  R.  J.  Law  herd,  of  Logan  County, 
Ohio;  William  A.,  a  reside:it  of  Alexis,  Warren 
County-;  David  Clark,  general  agent  for  and 
dealer  in  church  and  school  furniture,  a  resident  of 
Washington  County,  Iowa;  Abraham  Alonzo,  furni- 
ture dealer  at  Tingley,  Iowa;  James  who  was  a 
volunteer  during  the  late  war,  serving  with  the 
Thirty-sixth  Illinois  Regiment,  was  killed  on  the 
first  day  of  the  battle  of  Stone  River. 

Our  subject  began  his  school  life  in  his  native 
county.  He  was  nine  years  old  when  his  parents 
removed  to  Seneca  County,  and  he  attended  the 
seminary  at  Tittiu.  He  was  a  very  bright,  quick 
scholar  and  at  the  youthful  age  of  fifteen  was  quali- 
fied to  teach,  passed  an  exiimination  and  secured  a 
certificate.  Luther  A.  Hall,  at  that  time  school 
examiner,  took  a  liking  to  the  boy  and  offered  him 
a  position  in  his  ollice,  he  being  Clerk  of  the  Com- 
mon Pleas,  and  in  February,  1839,  our  subject  en- 
tered u))on  his  duties  as  Deputy  Clerk  of  that 
Court.  He  served  until  1841,  when  he  went  to 
Bucyrus  to  take  charge  of  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of 
Common  Pleas  in  Crawford  County.  He  was  there 
one  year  and  was  afterward  engaged  in  Wooster, 
Wayne  Countj',  Ohio,  as  Second  Teller  in  a  bank 
for  a  short  time.  After  that  he  returned  to  Tiffin 
where  he  had  charge  ^of  a  grain  elevator  for 
R.  W.  Shawhan.  In  1843  he  went  to  Logan  County 
where  his  father  then  lived,  and  for  two  3"ears  at- 
tended school,  as  he  was  ambitious  to  improve  his 
education. 

After  his  marriage  in  1845  Mr.  Elder  located  on 
a  large  farm  and  for  two  j'ears  devoted  himself  to 
the  sheep  business,  but  in  that  was  not  successful. 
In  1848  he  went  into  the  hardware  business  at 
Huntsville,  and  also  bought  grain  in  connection 
therewith.  In  1853  he  once  more  resumed  a  cleri- 
cal life,  becoming  Deputy  Clerk  of  Logan  County, 
Ohio,  and  he  was  also  appointed  Clerk  (jf  the   Su- 


454 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


preme  Court  of  that  county'.  In  1854  he  was  elec-led 
Justice  of  the  Peace  at  Bellefontaine  and  received 
his  commission  from  Gov.  William  Mediil.  In  the 
}-ear  1856  lie  made  a  new  departuie,  and  coming  to 
this  Stale  located  on  a  farm  in  .Spring  Grove  Town- 
ship, Warren  Count}'.  He  soon  abandoned  farming, 
however,  and  in  1860  we  hear  of  him  as  a  school- 
teacher at  fc;U)y  Center  in  Knox  County.  In  the 
month  of  March,  1862,  lie  came  to  Farmington  and 
at  once  engaged  with  D.  Fargo  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness. He  also  acted  as  agent  for  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  <fe  Quincy  Railroad,  and  acted  in  that 
capacity  and  as  a  grain  dealer  here  until  1870, 
when  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Ipava,  where  he 
put  up  a  grain  house  and  was  engaged  in  buying 
o-rain  until  1877.  Ciiicago  then  attracted  his  ven- 
turesome spirit,  and  for  three  years  he  was  engaged 
in  brokerage  and  the  grain  trade  in  that  metropolis. 
In  1880  he  went  back  to  Alexis  and  his  attention 
was  there  given  to  the  grocery  and  grain  business. 

In  1886  ilr.  Elder  once  more  took  up  his  abode 
in  Farmington.  He  fitted  up  the  '-Q''  Elevator  for 
the  puriiose  of  doing  business  with  the  Buckle}'- 
Pursley  Company  of  Ptoria.  He  handles  the  greater 
part  of  the  grain  brought  to  Farmington  and  has 
bou.o-ht  more  than  any  other  man  in  the  town.  He 
weighed  the  first  lot  of  grain,  a  load  of  wheat,  that 
was  ever  shipped  over  the  "Q"  from  Farmington. 
He  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  thft  pertains  to 
the  welfare  of  the  village,  iiis  public  spirit  and  lib- 
eralit}'  helping  on  all  schemes  for  its  improvement 
and  he  is  a  prominent  civic,  political,  social,  and 
religious  factor  in  the  community.  He  has  se/ved 
as  Clerk  of  the  Board  of  Farmington.  In  politics 
in  early  days  he  was  a  Wliig  and  though  a  mere 
hoy  at  the  time  of  the  nomination  and  election  of 
the  illustrious  grandfather  of  our  present  President 
he  bore  an  active  part  in  the  campaign.  Since  the 
origin  of  the  Republican  party  he  has  been  true  to 
its  principles.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and 
Odd  Fellows  fraternities.  He  inherited  his  relig- 
ious views  from  his  forefathers  and  is  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

January  14,  1845,  Mr.  Elder  was  married  to  Miss 
Eleanora  C.  Funk,  a  native  of  Gettysburg,  Adams 
County,  Pa.,  and  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Elizabeth  (Beitler)  Funk.     They  moved  to  Cham- 


paign County,  Ohio,  in  1828  and  were  pioneer 
farmers  there.  Mrs.  Elder  departed  this  life  in 
1886  at  the  age  of  fift^'-nine  3'ears.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Elder's  pleasant  wedded  life  was  blessed  to  them 
by  the  birth  of  five  children.  Their  son  Orr  Gibson 
married  and  was  a  telegraph  operator  for  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railroad.  He  died  in  1880  leaving 
two  daughters — Blanche,  fourteen  years  old.  and 
Ethel.  Their  son  Manlj'  P.,  married  Miss  Belle 
Grinnell.  He  was  agent  of  the  Chicago.  Burling- 
ton &  Quincy  Railroad,  at  Farmington  for  more 
than  twenty-one  years,  and  was  acting  in  that  ca- 
pacity at  the  time  of  his  death  in  February  1888. 
He  left  two  boys,  Fred  G.  and  Orr  J. 

A  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Elder  is  sho^/n  on 
another  page  of  the  Albi'm. 


^^  ATRICK  H.  SMITH  occupies  an  important 
position  both  in  the  public  and  business  life 
of  Union  Township,  of  which  he  is  Super- 
visor, and  where  he  is  engaged  in  buying  and 
selling  hay  and  grain.  Kentuek}-  is  his  native 
State,  he  having  been  born  in  Union  Count}',  No- 
vember 5,  1830.  His  parents  were  Samuel  A.  and 
Louisa  (Clements)  Smith.  His  father  was  born  in 
St.  Mary's  County,  Md.,  in  1803,  and  earl}-  in  the 
present  century  was  taken  to  Kentucky  by  his 
father,  who  was  a  physician,  and  a  pioneer  of  that 
State.  He  was  of  English  descent.  Samuel  Smiin 
became  a  farmer,  but  in  1849  he  abandoned  his 
farm  and  removed  to  Uniontown,  Ky.,  with  his 
family,  .and  there  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, until  his  death  the  following  year  deprived 
the  community  of  an  enterprising  and  valued 
citizen. 

Patrick  H.  Smith  was  twenty  jears  old  when  his 
father  removed  into  town,  and  he  assisted  him  in 
the  management  of  the  store  until  the  death  of  the 
latter,  when  the  business  was  sold,  and  our  subject 
continued  his  mercantile  career  as  a  clerk  in  the 
store  of  William  While,  of  the  same  town,  remain- 
ing with  him  a  year.  He  was  ambitious  to  try  life 
in  the  West,  and  in  1850  came  to  this  State,  which 
was  then  considered  to  form  a  part  of  the  "Great 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


455 


West,"  and  was  still  in  the  hands  of  the  pioneer. 
He  took  up  his  residence  at  St.  Augustine,  and 
there  entered  into  a  jiartnership  with  his  cousin,  E. 
M.  Clements,  in  tlie  inereantile  business,  which  they 
conducted  under  tlic  Unu  name  of  Clements  & 
Smith  three  jcars. 

Mr.  Smith  was  then  seized  with  the  gold  fev(  r 
that  was  sending  so  many  hundreds  of  people 
from  all  parts  of  tiie  country  across  the  plains  and 
mountains  to  seek  the  precious  metal  on  the  Pacific 
Slope,  and  he  joined  a  company  of  twelve,  with 
three  teams  of  oxen,  and  thoj'  made  their  way 
slowly  across  what  was  then  called  the  "Great 
American  Desert,"  and  over  the  huge  rocky  barrier 
that  towered  between  that  and  the  golden  coast. 
Arriving  in  San  Francisco  our  subject  first  ob- 
tained employment  of  a  wholesale  butcher  named 
Danos,  and  was  with  him  for  about  a  year,  and  he 
also  worked  for  a  Frenchman  at  the  Washington 
Street  market.  After  that  he  turned  his  attention 
to  mining  on  Nelson  Creek,  Plumas  Count}',  and 
rrospected  with  varied  success  for  a  year.  His 
thoughts  often  tended  homeward,  and  he  then  de- 
cided to  return  to  Illinois,  and  while  awaiting  a 
steamer  at  San  Francisco,  the  famous  riot  took 
place,  in  which  Cary  shot  King;  the  city  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Vigilance  Committee,  so  noted  in 
the  history  of  San  Francisco,  who  cleared  it  of  the 
desperadoes.  In  August,  1856,  Mr.  Smith  sailed 
for  New  York,  landed  there  in  September,  and  ar- 
rived in  St.  Augustine  about  the  1st  of  October. 

During  his  absence  in  California. ISIr.  Smith  made 
some  money,  which  lie  invested  in  tlie  lumber  trade 
in  St.  Augustine  after  iiis  return  to  these  parts, .and 
aj'ear  later  he  extended  his  operations  to  include 
grain  buying  and  selling,  and  also  did  some  blind 
draining,  and  he  is  still  engaged  in  the  grain  and 
hay  business,  conducting  it  in  the  village  of  Avon, 
where  he  has  fine  facilities  for  trading,  aiid  is  one 
of  the  substantial  members  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Smith  has  been  twice  married.  In  1857  he 
was  wedded  to  Catherine  R.  Gittings,  a  daughter 
of  B.  B.  Gittings,  of  Terre  Haute,  lud.,  a  contrac- 
tor and  builder.  Three  children  were  born  to  our 
subject  by  that  marriage — Cora  J.,  Mary  Ellen  and 
Catherine — i>ll  of  whom  are  living  at  home  with 
the  exception  ()f  Ellen,  who    is  a  Sister  of  Charily 


and  a  teacher  at  St.  Florisaut  Academy  near  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  Mrs.  Smith  departed  this  life  in  1867, 
leaving  a  worthy  record  of  a  life  well  spent,  though 
cut  off  in  its  prime. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  his  present  estimable 
wife  in  November.  1869.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Anna  M.  Robey,  and  she  is  a  daughter  of  F.  II. 
Robe}%  of  St.  Augustine.  Three  children  have 
blessed  this  union,  named  as  follows:  Francis  C„ 
aged  eighteen;  Louis  B.,  sixteen;  and  Elizabeth  L., 
fourteen,  all  at  home  with  their  parents.  The  family 
are  all  members  in  high  standing  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Catholic  Church  of  Avon,  and  are  respected  and 
esteemed  by  all  about  them. 

Mr.  Smith's  course  as  a  business  man  has  demon- 
strated that  he  has  excellent  financial  talent  and 
is  cool-headed  and  clear-sighted  in  the  management 
of  his  affairs.  These  traits  of  character  have  at- 
tracted the  favorable  notice  of  his  fellow-citizens 
who  have  called  him  to  the  important  office  of  Su- 
pervisor, to  represent  I'nion  Township  on  the 
Count}'  Board,  and  he  is  zealously  guarding  its  in- 
terests without  regard  to  personal  or  party  consid- 
erations. In  his  political  views  he  is  decidedly  a 
Democrat.  Our  subject  was  Postmaster  at  Avon, 
under  Grover  Cleveland's  administration. 


^^~ 


'.TrjIjENJAMIN  C.  TOLER,  M.  D.  The  calling 
|Li^,  of  a  physician  is  not  only  one  of  the  most 
j'^MlJIj  arduous,  but  one  of  the  most  responsible 
^^^^  pursuits  in  which  man  can  engage,  and  he 
who  attains  a  high  reputation  in  this  iirofession 
must  necessaril}'  be  endowed  with  ph3sical  endur- 
ance, keen  intelligence  and  excellent  judgment. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  whose  extensive 
practice  and  high  standing  in  professional  circles 
l)rove  conclusively  his  mental  and  physical  endow- 
ments, his  careful  culture,  his  painstaking  efforts  to 
continually  add  to  his  theoretical  knowledge  and 
practical  skill.  As  a  private  citizen  he  is  highly 
esteemed  for  his  public  spirit,  personal  example, 
and  interest  in  all  that  is  beneficial  to  the  members 
of  the  community  and  the  county  at  large. 

Dr.  Toler  is  of  remote  English  ancestrv.  his  fore- 


45G 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


fathers  having  been  numheied  among  the  early 
Virginia  coh)nisls.  His  grandfathers,  William 
Toler  and  William  Hunton.  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionar}-  Arnij-  under  Gen.  Washington,  and  the 
former  was  a  planter  of  abundant  means.  His 
son,  Thomas  U.,  received  a  first-class  education, 
began  teaching  when  quite  j-ouug,  and  at  one  time 
occupied  a  Chair  at  Bethany  College.  In  1832  he 
removed  to  Kentucky  with  his  wife  and  two  chil- 
dren, making  the  entire  journey  with  teams,  cross- 
ing the  mountains  and  locating  in  Winchester, 
Clarke  County.  There  he  established  a  select 
school,  pui suing  his  pedagogical  labors  until  1846, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  bought  a  tract  of 
l:in<l  in  Mason  Count}',  and  turned  his  attention  to 
farming.  l)ut  in  1852,  on  account  of  failing  health, 
he  S(jld  antl  removed  to  Texas.  Settling  in  Tarrant 
County  he  followed  civil  engineering  for  a  time, 
until  elected  Circuit  Clerk,  which  office  he  held 
about  seven  jears.     His  death  took  place  in  1865. 

The  wife  of  Thomas  N.  Toler  was  Mary  Cath 
eriue  Hunton,  like  himself  a  native  of  the  Old  Do 
minion,  aiid  possessed  of  sterling  traits  of  charac- 
U-r.  the  housewifely  skill  and  hospitable  spirit 
which  animate  all  Virginia's  daughters.  She,  too 
breathed  her  last  in  Tarrant  County,  Tex.,  in  1860. 
She  and  her  husband  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  named  respectively,  William  T..  Benjamin 
C,  Thomas  H.,  Addison  E.,  Mathew  Henry,  Marj- 
C,  and  Sarah  C. 

Dr.  Toler  was  born  October  2,  1829,  near  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  and  was  three  3'ears  old  when  the  re- 
moval to  the  Blue  Grass  State  took  place.  He  re- 
ceived his  education,  embracing  both  the  classical 
and  scientific  courses,  at  the  hands  of  his  father, 
pursuing  an  extended  course  of  study,  and  being 
thoroughly  drilled  in  the  various  branches  which 
he  undertook.  When  twenty  vears  old  he  taught 
a  term  of  school  in  Mason  Country,  this  State,  after 
which  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
O'Neal,  of  Bath.  The  gold  fever  had  broken  out 
about  this  time,  and  the  young  student  determined 
to  visit  the  Eldorado  toward  which  so  manj'  were 
hastening,  and  which  to  numbers  proved  but  the 
grave  of  their  hopes. 

In  1851,  therefore,  young  Toler  formed  one  of 
a  party  who,  with  ox-teams,  set  out  from    Mason 


County,  on  the  9th  of  April,  performed  the  tedious 
journey  overland,  crossing  the  Missouri  River  at  the 
present  site  of  Nebraska  City,  which  was  then  oc- 
cupied by  Ft.  Kearne}-,  and  arrived  at  the  Truckee 
River  on  the  9th  of  August.  When  they  crossed 
the  plains,  there  was  not  a  white  settler  in  Neb- 
raska or  Kansas,  over  which  deer,  antelope  and 
buffalo  roamed  at  will,  the  latter  in  great  numbers. 
Arriving  at  tlie  Truckee  River,  the  party  disbanded, 
and  our  subject  in  company  with  Thomas  Athey 
started  on  foot  for  Downieville.  eighty  miles  dis- 
tant. They  reached  that  place  on  the  13th,  their 
joint  capital  on  arriving  being  ten  cents.  They  at 
once  secured  employment  in  mining  at  ^6  per  day 
and  board,  remaining  at  that  point  until  the  first  of 
December.  Mr.  Toler  then  went  to  the  Yuba  River, 
near  P^oster's  Bar.  where  he  continued  his  mining 
operations  during  the  greater  part  of  five  J'ears, 
after  which  he  was  in  the  mercantile  business  un- 
til 1857.  During  all  this  time  he  practiced  the 
profession  of  which  he  had  acquired  some  knowl- 
edge, but  charged  nothing  for  his  services,  as  medi- 
cine was  then  a  secondary  matter  with  him. 

In  1857  Dr.  Toler  returned  to  the  States  via  the 
Isthmus,  landing  in  Texas,  and  spending  some 
time  with  his  parents,  after  which  he  came  to  this 
count}',  and  resumed  the  study  of  medicine  with 
his  brother,  William  T.,  a  well-known  and  highly 
reputed  physician,  whose  recent  death  was  a  per- 
sonal loss  to  a  large  circle  of  friends.  After  a  few 
months  our  subject  repaired  to  Keokuk,  Iowa, 
where  he  devoted  himself  assiduously  to  the  lec- 
tures at  the  medical  college  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated the  following  spring.  He  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Astoria,  which  has  since  been 
his  home,  and  is  the  center  of  a  wide  and  success- 
ful business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State  Medi- 
cal Society,  the  Militarj'  Tract  Medical  Society, 
and  of  Astoria  Lodge,  No.  100,  F.  efc  A.  M. 

Dr.  Toler  won  as  his  companion  in  life.  Miss 
Mary  E.  McLaren,  a  native  of  Woodland  Town- 
ship, and  daughter  of  Peter  and  Lueinda  (Saffer) 
McLaren,  of  whom  further  mention  is  made  in  the 
sketch  of  R.  F.  McLaren,  on  another  page  in  this 
volume.  Mrs.  Toler  is  a  quiet,  unassuming  lady, 
whose  chief  aim  in  life  is  to  discharge  well  her  du- 
ties as  wife    and    mother,    allhougli    ready    at   all 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


457 


times  to  bear  such  a  part  in  the  social  affairs  of  the 
place  as  are  consistent  with  her  prime  duties..  She 
became  the  wife  of  our  subject  in  1  858,  and  1  he  union 
has  been  blest  by  the  birth  of  nine  children — Emma, 
Sarah  C,  George,  Charles  W.,  Thomas  W.,  Lu- 
cinda,  Nellie,  ]\Iaiide  and  Benjamin  C.  Emma  is 
now  the  wife  of  Dr.  A.  J.  Baxter,  and  .Sarah  is  the 
wife  of  George  Darling,  of  Rock  Springs,  Wyo., 
George  married  Mittie  Gilbert,  a  young  lady  whose 
sweet  voice  has  frequently  charmed  Astoria's  citi- 
zens and  visitors. 

Doctor  and  Mrs.  Toler  belong  to  the  Christian 
Church,  in  whose  present  prosperity  the  Doctor  has 
been  a  most  important  factor.  His  political  ad- 
herence is  given  to  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a 
strict  prohibitionist  in  principle. 


W^^  IRAM  WALTERS.     This  gentleman  is  num- 
jfj]  bercd  among  the  successful  agriculturalists 


of  Farmers  Township,  having  by  dint  of 
i(^  energy  and  prudent  management  become 
the  possessor  of  several  hundred  acres  of  the  fine 
land  for  %vhich  this  county  has  become  noted.  The 
greater  part  of  his  life  has  been  spent  within  its 
confines,  and  i)robably  no  citizen  now  living  has  a 
more  thorough  knowledge  of  the  trials  which  were 
endured  by  the  hardy  pioneers  and  dangers  with 
which  they  were  surrounded  for  many  years.  In 
recalling  the  surroundings  of  his  earl}'  life,  Mr. 
AValtcrs  says  that  with  Indians,  snakes,  wild  cats 
and  other  "varmint,"  life  was  scarcely  worth  living, 
and  that  he  would  not  pass  through  such  a  period 
again  for  all  of  Fulton  County. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  William  Walters, 
a  native  of  Jefferson  County,  Tenn.,  who  was 
reared  among  the  mountains,  developing  qualities 
which  well  fitted  him  for  the  pioneer  life  which  he 
took  up  in  the  Prairie  Stale.  He  was  of  mixeil 
ancestry,  his  paternal  grandmother  having  been 
German  and  his  mother  of  Irish  stock.  The  latter 
belonged  to  a  family  whose  male  members  took 
part  in  the  Revolution,  while  the  females  not  only 
carried  on  the  home  work  which  had  formerlj-  been 
done  by  fathers,  sons  and  brothers,  but  also  assisted 


the  army  by  providing  the  Colonists  with  food 
whenever  it  was  possible.  She,  herself,  carried 
provisions  to  tlie  soldiers,"  sometimes  wading  in 
water  to  her  arm-pits,  and  at  times  being  obliged 
to  break  the  ice  before  she  could  ford  the  streams. 
Her  father  and  the  father  ofCher  husband,  both 
belonged  to  the  Continental  Arnj}-,  and  from  these 
sturdy  ancestors  the  father  ofrour  subject  inherited 
much  of  his  own  valor. 

William  Walters  married  Elizabeth  Royer,  a  na- 
tive of  the  same  county  as  himself,  and  about  1820 
they  took  up  their  abode  in  Sangamon  County,  111. 
In  1825  they  removed  to  this  county,  first  locating 
near  Lewistown  and  then  removing  to  section  9, 
Farmers  Township,  where  they  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  lives,  Mr.  Walters  living  to  the  extreme 
age  of  ninety  years.  At  the  time  of  their  arrival 
in  this  county  there  were  but  twelve  voters  within 
its  present  bounds.  The  Indians  were  so  trouble- 
some that  Mr.  Walters  hnd  to  carr}'  his  gun  with 
him  when  he  went  to  feed  stock,  having  especial 
need  of  watchfulness  when  he  became  known  as  a 
Captain  of  the  Indian  fighters,  and  so  obnoxious 
to  the  savages  that  they  offered  one  hundred  buck- 
skins for  his  scalp.  He  killed  several  red  men  who 
were  endeavoring  to  obtain  that  coveted  prize, 
and  the  alertness  which  prevented  the  savages  from 
getting  the  drop  on  him  grew  upon  him  so  that 
his  sharp  eyes  would  snap  at  an  unexpected  sound, 
and  he  was  continually  casting  quick  glances  about 
him. 

Many  stories  are  told  of  the  physical  powers  of 
Mr.  Walters  and  his  excellent  markmanship.  He 
could  shoot  a  gun  from  his  shoulder,  hitting  the 
center  instantly  with  an  unrested  weapon;  could 
take  a  two-bushel  sack  of  wheat  in  his  teeth  and 
throw  it  over  ten  feet,  and  it  is  recorded  that  atone 
time  he  shot  a  deer  across  Spoon  River  when  the 
ice  was  floating,  swam  the  river,  got  the  deer  in  the 
water,  and  taking  its  ear  in  his  mouth  brought  it 
back.  This  feat  was  accomplished  in  the  presence 
of  Jimmy  Hale,  who  afterward  became  his  son-in- 
law.  As  may  well  be  supposed,  he  was  a  member 
of  the  army  during  llie  liJlack  Hawk  War.  After 
the  savages  became  hostile,  his  wife  was  alwaj's 
nervous  about  him,  and  our  subject  well  remembers 
her  standing  and  wringing  her  hands   in   agony  as 


458 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


she  watelied  his  retreating  form  disappear  in  the 
woods.  During-  Iho  later  years  of  his  life  he  had 
his  second  sijiht. 

During  Die  time  wlien  the  Indians  wore  peace- 
able, tliey  often  candied  near  the  home  of  the  Wal- 
ters, gathering'  by  dozens  and  even  bj'  hundreds. 
Our  subject  recalls  the  comical  appearance  made  by 
the  pappooses  who,  strai)ped  fast  to  a  board, 
were  set  around  the  porch,  where  their  little 
black  eyes  snap|)ed  at  every  movement  within 
the  range  of  their  vision.  Tiie  lad  learned  many 
Indian  phrases,  such  as  "cho  ira,"  won't  do  it; 
■•pueka  ciiee,"  to  go  off,  etc.  At  one  time,  when 
eleven  years  old,  young  Walters  was  in  the  woods, 
actcompanied  by  tliree  dogs.  He  was  startled  bj'  a 
wild  crj'  proceeding  from  a  l_ynx,  with  which  the 
dogs  immediatelj'  closed,  a  *ight  following  which 
is  worthy  of  record.  The  big  bulldog  got  the 
animal  by  the  neck,  but  the  lynx  would  double  him- 
self up  and  with  the  claws  on  his  hind  feet  tear  the 
bowels  of  tlie  dog.  Each  of  the  other  dogs  at  last 
succeeded  in  getting  hold  of  a  hind  leg,  thus  en- 
abling tlic  large  dog  to  choke  the  lynx  to  death. 
The  lad  then  came  up  with  a  stick,  and  finding  the 
animal  dead  ordered  off  tiie  dogs,  two  of  whom 
were  verj^  seriously  injured,  liaving  their  entrails 
protruding.  He  picked  up  the  largest  and  started 
toward  home,  two  n>.iles  distant,  calling  for  his 
father  who  at  length  answered  his  cry,  relieved  him 
of  his  burden,  and  togetlier  they  carried  the  dogs 
to  the  liouse,  where  the  wounds  were  sewed  up  and 
tiie  animals  nursed  back  to  liealth.  The  canines 
were  valued  in  those  dangerous  regions,  and  as 
carefully  cared  for  b}'  the  peo|»le  as  were  the  chil- 
dren. At  that  time  tlie  nearest  neighbor  of  the 
Walters  family  was  John  Barker,  whoso  home  was 
two  miles  distant,  and  at  Table  Grove,  five  miles 
away,  lived  Mr.  Nott. 

In  the  year  1846  our  subject  was  married  to 
Miss  Mar^'  Ann  Hojde,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
whose  parents  had  emigrated  thither  from  England. 
They  afterward  resided  in  the  Bucke3'e  State, 
whence  they  came  to  this  section  of  Illinois  in  1844. 
Immediately  after  their  marriage  the  young  couple 
took  possession  of  a  forty  acre  tract  of  land  in  the 
woods,  laboring  together  to  advance  their  fortunes, 
and,  notwithstanding  their  [jrimilive  surroundings. 


passing  their  happiest  days  in  the  little  log  cabin 
which  they  moved  into  before  it  was  chinked.  The 
tirst  morning  they  awoke  to  find  their  bed  covered 
two  inches  deep  with  snow.  Mr.  Walters  hauled 
fifty  bushels  of  corn  to  Bernadotte  and  traded  it 
for  a  little,  square  table,  off  which  he  and  bis 
wife  ate  their  first  meal  in  their  new  home.  They 
raised  the  llax  which  Mrs.  Walters  broke,  swingled, 
spun  and  wove,  making  a  tick  for  their  first  bed, 
into  wiiich  they  put  straw.  Tlie  little  farm  grew 
in  extent  to  a  tract  of  five  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  and  is  now  one  of  the  finest  estates  in  this 
section. 

Our  subject  and  lii3""good  wife  have  reared  five 
children — having  lost  three'ir.  infanej'.  The  eldest, 
George  W.,  is  married  and  has  one  daughter;  he  is 
a  farmer  operating  a  portion  of  his  father's  land  in 
Harris  Township.  Andrew  J.,  also  lives  on  a  farm 
obtained  from  his  father;  he  has  been  married 
fourteen  years  but  has  no  children;  Olive,  the 
wife  of  Franklin  Waid,  and  the  mother  of  three 
children,  occupies  land  given  her  by  her  father; 
Cora  Ann,  wife  of  George  Wilson,  has  three  chil- 
dren, they  being  occupants  of  a  good  farm  pur- 
chased by  the  husband.  Eva  married  I.  Brown, 
has  three  children,  and  is  now  living  on  an  eighty- 
acre  tract  belonging  to  our  subject. 

Mr.  Walters  is  Democratic  in  politics  as  was  his 
father,  and  has  alwaj^s  taken  an  active  interest  in 
party  affairs.  He  has  served  as  School  Director, 
and  held  various  township  offices,  serving  faithfully 
in  every  position  to  which  he  has  been  called.  The 
family  are  identified  with  the  Christian  Church, 
are  looked  upon  with  respect,  and  have  many  warm 
friends  wherever  tliej'  are  known. 

ENRY  LEEPER  is  a  member  of  one  of  the 
y'l  most  popular  and  prosperous  families  in 
Fairview  Township,  and  has  inherited  all 
(^)  the  nobility  of  character  and  strength  of 
will  that  have  combined  to  bring  success  to  each 
member  of  the  Leeper  family.  He  is  a  brother  of 
Hon.  John  Leeper  and  Isaac  N.  Leeper,  whose 
sketches  appear  in  this  Album. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


459 


Our  subject  was  bom  on  section  24,  on  the  old 
homestead  of  AVilliam  Leeper,  and  there  Ue  passed 
liis  youth,  being  the  youngest  son  in  bis  father's 
family.  His  father,  William  L«eper,  was  one  of 
the  old  pioneers  of  Fulton  County,  settling  on  the 
section  above  mentioned  in  1840,  and  his  mother, 
Eleanor  (Lake)  Leeper,  came  with  her  father,  John 
Lake,  who  settled  on  the  same  section  in  1838. 
The  Lake  and  Leeper  families  both  eiune  from 
Ohio,  the  former  coming  originally  from  New  Jer- 
sey and  being  connections  of  Anneke  Jans,  whose 
vast  estates  have  been  for  such  a  long  period  in  liti- 
gation. Of  the  Leeper  children  there  are  eight  liv- 
iiig,viz :  John  A.,  Isaac  N.,  Harriet,  Emmaline,  Oli- 
ver,Charles  E.,  Henry  and  Nettie  M.  Harriet  is  the 
widow  of  Joseph  McMillan,  and  resides  at  Ft.  Scott, 
Kan. ;  Emmaline  married  Josiah  Brooks  and  lives  in 
Kan.;  Oliver  makes  his  home  in  the  AVest:  Charles 
E.  resides  in  Sabetha,  Kaii.,  and  is  a  farmer;  Nettie 
M.  married  William  Slack,  and  makes  her  home  in 
Farming'ton  Township. 

Our  subject's  father  was  a  noble  looking  man. 
and  was  prominent  in  political,  social  and  religious 
matters,  and  his  business  career  was  exceedingly 
prosperous.  His  death  occurred  in  June,  1888, 
after  he  had  attained  his  eightieth  year,  and  at 
that  time  he  owned  about  eighteen  hundred  acres 
of  land  in  Fulton  and  McDonough  Counties,  and 
also  some  in  Iowa.  His  wife  died  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-six, in  July,  1890. 

Mr.  Leeper  was  born  March  1 ,  1 85(*,  and  re- 
ceive<l  a  common-school  education,  after  which  he 
entered  the  Lombard  University'  at  Galesbui-g, 
when  eighteen  years  of  age.  But  after  one  year 
there  he  returned  home  and  began  to  work  on  his 
father's  farm  and  has  up  to  the  present  time  beeji  in- 
terested in  a  stock  farm  which  he  has  run  most  suc- 
cessfully. He  owns  a  considerable  amount  of  land 
and  is  prominent  both  as  a  farmer  and  a  horseman, 
and  is  well  thought  of  b}'  his  fellow-men,  having  a 
large  circle  of  acquaintances  and  friends.  His 
country  residence  is  a  ver}' attractive  place  and  his 
barns  are  unusually  good  ones.  He  breeds  Clay 
and  Hamhletonian  horses,  having  on  his  farm  six- 
teen head  of  the  same. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  married  Januaiy 
1,  1871,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Gentle,  daughter  of  Ben- 


jamin and  Rebecca  (Higdon)  Gentle.  Her  parents 
came  from  Ohio  and  settled  in  Farmington  Town- 
ship. To  them  were  born  four  children,  viz:  Mary 
A.,  Jidia,  Lottie  and  Emma.  Our^subject'sjwife  died 
in  1872,  and  September  30,  1874,  he  was  married  to 
Mils  Evaline  Garnsey,  daughter  of  Sylvanus  and 
Margaret  (Knickerbocker)  Garnsey.  She  was  born 
in  Ontario.  Canada,  and  came  with  her  parents  to 
Illinois  when  quite  young.  To  this  marriage  have 
been  born  two  children,  viz:  Earl  L.,  who  is  four- 
teen 3'ears  of  age;  and  Cora  E., 'who  is  eleven  years 
of  age. 

Mr.  Leeper,  besides  his  other  possessions  has 
four  hundred  and  fifty  head  [of  Shropshiredown 
sheep.  He  is  a  prominent  mankind  served  as 
School  Director  for  nine  years  and'also  as  Highway 
Commissioner.  He  is  a  member  of^^lhe  Republican 
party  and  a  strong  advocate  of  those  measures  that 
benefit  this  community. 


-^^^^;!^^^^::f!^^^--^ 


'RANKLIN  CLARY.  Fnltou  County  is 
J  justly  proud  of  her  native  born  citizens, 
who  are  honorably  bearing  their  share 
In  sustaining  her  interests  and  extending  her 
wealth.  Among  these  is  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical review,  who  is  chiefly  engaged  in  stock- 
raising  in  Deerfleld  Townshif),  and  is  one  of  its 
most  progressive  and  enlightened   farmers. 

The  parents  of  our  suljject  were  among  the  pio- 
neers of  Fulton  County,  coming  here  in  1848.  His 
father,  Henry  Clar}',  was  born  in  Kentucky  in 
1824.  His  mother,  Sarafi  E.  (Davis)  Clar3%  was 
born  in  that  State -in  1830.  After  coming  here 
they  located  in  Lewistown  Township,  where  they 
lived  about  ten  years.  They  then  removed  to 
Woodland  Township,  where  the  father  died  in 
1868,  thus  depriving  his  community  of  a  good 
citizen.     The  mother  is  still  living  there. 

Mr.  Clary  was  born  in  this  county,  February  17, 
1856.  He  has  four  brothers  and  five  sisters  living. 
He  was  reared  and  educated  in  this  county,  obtain- 
ing his  schooling  in  the  district  schools.  He  re- 
mained an  inmate  of  the  parental  home  till  the  age 
of    twenty-three  years,    when   lie   married   Ida  M. 


4G0 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Hcndee,  tlieir  marriage  taking  place  February  1, 
1880.  Mrs.  Clary  was  born  in  Texas,  March  19, 
1858.  Slie  is  the  daughter  of  .Josiah  and  Marj- 
(Watkins)  Hendee,  natives  respectively  of  Con- 
necticut and  Kentucky. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  began  their  wedded  life 
on  laud  rented  from  William  Craig.  Mr.  Clary 
farmed  tbat  place  for  two  years,  and  at  the  end  of 
that  time  bought  eighty  acres  of  laud  on  section 
10.  Deerfleld  Township,  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  He  has  greatly  improved  his  farm  and 
added  to  its  value,  by  tiling,  building  fences,  barns, 
elc.  and  has  here  a  fine  looking  place.  His  prin- 
cipal business  is  stock-raising,  he  having  his  farm 
well  stocked  and  is  doing  a  i)rofitable  business  in 
that  line. 

As  a  young  ni^n  of' clear,  well-balanced  mind, 
with  a  good  insight  into  business  matters,  and  much 
capability,  our  subject  is  considered  to  be  well 
adapted  to  public  life,  and  last  year  was  elected  by 
his  fellow  citizens  to  a  position  on  the  County 
Board  of  .Supervisors  b^'  a  verj' large  majority.  He 
is  an  ardent  Democrat  in  his  political  views  and 
uses  his  influence  to  advance  party  interests.  He  is 
not  a  member  of  anj'  churcii  but  is  a  liberal  con- 
tributor to  religious  organizations,  as  his  wife  is  a 
devoted  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  The3' 
have  one  of  the  coziest  of  homes  and  to  them  has 
come  a  little  daughter,  Mabel,  born  April  24, 
1890. 


HARLES  G.  STAFFORD  has  a  very  fine 
location  on  section  32,  Vermont  Township, 
where  he  has  successful!}-  prosecuted  his 
calling  for  more  than  thirty  years,  and  is  entitled 
to  recognition  as  a  pioneer  on  account  of  what  he 
has  accomplished.  He  is  of  New  England  birth 
and  antecedents,  and  was  born  in  Apponaug,  R.  I., 
June  10,  1817,  to  Tiiomas  R.  and  Sarah  (Taylor) 
Stafford  who  were  natives  and  residents  of  that 
place  till  their  death  when  quite  old.  The  Stafford 
family  came  originall}'  from  England.  The  father 
was  a  sailor  and  a  devoted  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church.     He  and  his  wife  reared  the 


following  children:  Thomas  R.,  who  died  in  Ver- 
mont Township,  leaving  two  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter; Enropa,  who  married  Marshall  G.  Freeman,  a 
farmer  of  Vermont;  William,  of  Rhode  Island,  a 
painter  by  trade,  who  is  married  and  has  one  son 
and  a  daughter;  John  R.,  of  Nalick  R.  I.,  who  is 
married  but  has  no  cliildreii;  Charles  G.;  Sarah, 
wife  of  Willard  Perce;  Henr}-,  a  carpenter  of 
Charleston,  S.  C,  who  married  and  had  two  daugh- 
ter? and  who  is  now  living  with  his  second  wife. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  town.  When  a  lad  of  eight  years  he  entered  a 
cotton  factor}',  and  when  twelve  jears  of  age,  be- 
gan spinning  at  §3  a  week,  subsequently  spending 
four  or  five  vears  in  the  dressing  room  at  -i^l  a  daj'. 
We  next  hear  of  him  in  the  eitj'  of  Providence,  in 
his  native  State,  and  there  he  began  to  acquire  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter,  which  he  followed  till  he  was 
thirt3"-two  j'ears  old.  After  that  he  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  v.ith  his  father  in-law  lill  he 
came  to  Illinois  in  the  spring  of  18.5G.  After  his 
arrival  in  the  Prairie  State, he  took  up  his  residence 
in  'N'ermont  Township,  purchasing  at  that  time 
sixty  acres,  to  which  he  later  added  sixty  more 
acres  on  section  32,  and  subsequentlj-  bought  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres  where  he  now  resides  on 
j  the  same  section.  At  one  time  he  owned  two 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  but  he  has  dis- 
posed of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  at  a  good 
price,  and  retains  but  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres, 
which  is  finely  cultivated.  Upon  his  estate  he  has 
placed  many  valuable  improvements,  having  a 
beautiful  lake  and  park  and  a  very  pleasant  home. 
A  view  of  this  residence,  with  its  convenient  appur- 
tenances, appears  on  another  page. 

In  the  month  of  Maj-,  1839.  now  more  th.an  half 
a  century  ago,  our  subject  and  Miss  Mar}'  P.  Bur- 
rows, of  Providence,  R.  I.,  united  their  lives  and 
fortunes.  Her  death  iu  1878,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
nine  years,  was  a  serious  blow  to  her  family  .as  she 
had  ever  been  a  true  and  faithful  wife,  and  a  kind 
mother.  She  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  her 
neighbors  and  friends  and  was  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  John  R.  and  Mary  Philli|)S  Burrows, 
the  father  a  carpenter  and  a  lumber  dealer  in  Rhode 
Island,  his  native  State.     He  had  a  family  of  thir- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


463 


teen  children,  of  whom  three  sons  and  three  dauiih- 
ters  grew  to  maturit\'. 

Our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  had  liorn  to 
them  seven  children  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy. 
The  others  are:  Sallie,  who  married  John  Mercer, 
and  has  four  sons  and  three  daughters;  Salina, 
who  married  Jones  Adams,  and  died  leaving  one 
daughter — p]tha;  AV^illard,  a  resident  of  Tamora, 
Seward  County,  Neb.;  Rilla;  and  Charles,  who 
was  drowned  at  the  age  of  seven  years  while  in 
Rhode  Isl.Tud.  Our  subject  has  so  conducted  liim- 
self  in  his  career  as  a  farmer,  citizen,  husband, 
father  and  neighbor,  as  to  win  the  resi^ect  and  re- 
gard of  all  who  know  him.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stanch  advocate  of  the  Democratic  part}'. 


^^ 


DHOMAS  L.  YOUNG.  An  honorable  posi- 
j;,  tion  among  the  agriculturists  of  Banner 
'/■'  Township  is  held  by  the  gentleman  above 
named,  who  is  the  fortunate  possessor  of  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  fine  land  on  section  4. 
The  well-tilled  .acres  are  devoted  to  raising  mixed 
crops  and  the  ordinary  amount  of  stock,  both 
grains  and  animals  being  of  good  quality.  A 
homelike  dwelling  and  various  outbuildings,  to- 
gether with  a  welLkept  orchard  and  garden  and 
neat  fences,  inilicate  to  the  passer-by  that  the  land 
is  occujiied  by  a  family  of  enterprise  and  good 
judgment. 

Mr.  Young  is  the  third  of  six  children  born  to 
John  and  Mary  (Lommason)  Young,  whose  home 
was  in  Warren  County,  N.  J.  In  that  county  two 
sons  and  one  daughter  are  now  living — George, 
who  married  Jane  Moore;  Sarah,  now  the  widow 
of  James  Cool;  Peter,  who  married  Josephine 
Crissman.  Two  members  of  the  parental  familj- — 
John  and  iSIary — are  now  deceased. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  born  Januarj'  17, 
1833,  on  the  homeste,ad,  and  reared  there,  receiv- 
ing such  an  education  as  the  common  schools  of 
the  day  afforded.  To  that  foundation  lie  has 
added  by  reading  and  ol)servation,  his  effort  being 
to  keep  liiraself  well  informed  regarding  current 
events  and  topics  of  general  interest.     In  1858  Mr. 


Young  came  to  this  county  and  securing  work  on 
a  farm,  spent  a  year  in  lalioring  by  the  month. 
He  then  rented  a  farm  in  Mason  County,  began 
tilling  the  soil  for  himself  and  gradually  accumu- 
lated means  with  which  to  purchase  his  present 
fine  estate. 

Mr.  Young  was  fortunate  in  his  choice  of  a  life 
companion,  winning  for  his  wife  Miss  KUen  Weaver, 
to  whom  he  was  united  January  17,  18G7.  Mrs. 
Young  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  A.  Weaver 
who  settled  in  this  county  in  1839  and  reared  a 
family  of  nine  children.  Mr.  Weaver  was  a  native 
of  Virginia.  The  ha[)|>y  union  of  our  subject  and 
his  estimable  wife  has  been  blest  by  the  birth  of 
the  following:  Lenora  is  the  wife  of  Douglas 
McCann  and  lives  in  Canton  Township;  John  is 
still  witli  his  parer.ts;  JIary  married  Albert  Provard 
and  lives  in  Buckhart  Township;  Judson,  Abbie, 
Thomas  and  Jessie  are  yet  with  their  parents. 
Mathew  Weaver,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Young,  died 
at  the  home  of  his  son  Jacob  at  the  age  of  one  bun- 
dled and  one  years,  seven  months  and  five  days. 
He  had  never  been  sick  a  day  until  his  last  illness. 
Jacob  Weaver  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years. 

Our  subject  is  of  a  retiring  disposition  and  takes 
no  active  part  in  political  matters,  except  to  deposit 
his  vote,  which  is  a  Democratic  one.  He  and  his 
wife  belong  to  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church  at 
Monterey  and  earnestly  endeavor  to  practice  in 
daily  life  the  grand  principles  in  which  thej^  be- 
lieve. 


"if^OSEPH  DeFORD.  Bernadotte  Township  is 
a  rich  agricultural  center  and  the  men  who 
conduct  its  farming  interests  are  entei'pris- 
ing,  self-reliant  and  shrewd  business  men. 
Among  these  the  subject  of  this  sketch  occupies  no 
unimportant  place.  His  parents  were  among  the 
l)ioneers  of  the  county,  coming  here  in  1838.  He 
was  then  a  lad  of  eleven  years,  having  been  born 
July  19,  1827,  in  Richland  County,  Ohio.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-two  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself 
in  the  spring  of  1849.  He  early  secured  the  co- 
operation of  a  callable  trusty  helpmate  and  a  true 
wife  in  the  person  of  Eliza  M.,  daughter  of   David 


46t 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  Eliza  Rouse,  of  Wapello  Count}'.  Iowa.  The 
foUowinj;  is  recorded  of  the  three  children  two 
daughters  and  one  son,  the  fruit  of  their  mar- 
riage: Milton  J.,  boru  in  1852,  married  Amanda 
Ooudy,  and  tliey  live  on  a  portion  of  his  father's 
farm,  one  mile  south  of  the  paternal  home;  Louisa 
A.,  born  March  16,  1855,  married  Frank  Sheets 
and  they  live  one  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of 
the  city  of  Lewistown,  on  a  farm  of  their  own  con- 
tainino;  over  one  hundred  acres  of  land;  Anna  L., 
born  in  1866,  lives  at  home  with  her  parents.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  DeFord  have  also  taken  to  their  homes 
and  hearts  a  nephew  whom  Ihej*  reared  from  child- 
hood. He  is  now  thirty-one  years  old  and  still 
makes  his  home  with  them. 

When  Mr.  DeFord  first  began  hi?  career  as  a 
farmer,  he  rented  a  farm  west  of  Canton  for  one 
year.  He  then  took  up  his  residence  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  Bernadotte  Township  on  what  is 
known  as  the  Plngle  farm.  A  year  l&ter  he  rented 
a  farm  west  of  Cuba,  which  he  operated  two  3-ears. 
He  next  became  the  proprietor  of  a  farm  of  his 
own,  buying  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  14. 
Bernadotte  Township,  on  which  he  now  makes  his 
iiome.  Twelve  years  later  he  added  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  fine  farming  land  on  section  23, 
to  his  original  purchase.  This  last  tract  was  cov- 
ered with  woods.  He  h."is  since  cleared  off  the  tim- 
ber and  has  purchased  twent}--two  and  one-half 
acres  of  land  on  section  14,  so  that  now  he  has  two 
hundred  and  fort3'-two  acres  of  as  fertile  farming 
land  as  ever  the  sun  shone  on.  He  has  a 
handsome,  substantial  two-stor}'  frame  residence;  a 
large  barn,  50x30  feet  in  dimensions;  granaries, 
cattle  sheds,  etc.  His  farm  is  well-stocked  with 
high  bred  horses  and  cattle. 

Mr.  DeFord  is  a  Democrat  in  principle,  but  is 
independent  in  action,  voting  for  the  man  and  not 
the  part}'.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  Road  Com- 
missioner, School  Director  and  School  Trustee,  and 
has  discharged  the  duties  thus  devolving  upon  him 
with  characteristic  fidelit}-.  He  has  witnessed 
much  of  the  pioneer  growth  of  this  county  and  has 
acted  well  his  part  in  its  development.  Those  were 
very  trying  times  in  the  early  da\'s  of  the  Sfttle- 
ment  of  this  county  as  the  pioneers  had  much  to 
contend  with.     There   were  scarcely  any  facilities 


for  carrying  on  labor  such  as  the  farmer  of  to-day 
enjoj's.  He  can  well  remember  when  their  flour  was 
made  b}-  the  most  primitive  methods,  and  the  pio- 
neers had  to  grind ;the  grain  bj-  hand  or  go  hungry. 
It  ma}'  be  his  pride  tliat  he  has  not  only  witnessed 
the  growth  of  this  county  but  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  its  advancement.  Mr.  DeFord  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  his  life  is 
ihtxt  of  a  true  Ciiristian. 


OLOMON  STROU.SE.  whose  sketch  now 
claims  attention,  is  one  of  the  representa- 
tive farmers  in  Pleasant  Township,  and  a 
gentleman  highly  respected  alike  for  his 
good  business  qualifications  and  his  upright  cliar- 
acter.  His  birth  occurred  in  Beaver  County, 
Pa.,  on  the  2ud  of  May.  1813,  he  being  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Barbara  Strouse.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  his  fatlier 
was  born  in  Berks  County,  Pa.,  as  was  also  his 
mother. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood's  estate  in  his 
native  county,  spending  most  of  the  time  on  a 
farm,  and  wlien  about  twenty  years  of  age  com- 
menced learning  the  tanner's  trade,  being  appren- 
ticed for  that  purpose  for  nearly  two  years.  He 
subsequently  followed  tliis  trade  and  that  of  a 
journeyman  for  a  number  of  years.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  early  subscription  schools  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  the  system  at  that  time  was 
not  thorough  as  at  the  present  time. 

In  1842  Mr.  Strouse  moved  to  Illinois,  living  for 
a  short  time  in  Stark  County,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming.  He  moved  to  Lewistown,  and  there  su- 
perintended the  tannery  of  William  Proctor,  re- 
maining in  his  employ  a  number  of  years.  In  1852. 
our  subject  went  to  California,  traveling  over  the 
plains  and  being  ninety-six  days  on  the  way. 
While  in  California  he  turned  his  attsntion  to  gold- 
mining  and  during  the  four  years  of  his  sojourn 
there  was  financi.illy  very  successful.  However, 
he  failed  to  find  a  desirable  place  for  a  home  and 
returned  to  Fulton  County  in  the  year  1856.  and 
two  years  later  purchased  his  present    farm.     At 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


465 


■€-^B- 


<^  l^>ILLIAM  PARRY,  the  son  of  .in  early  pio- 
\rJ/  neer  f.amily  of  tliis  county,  is  a  prosperous 
\^^  member  of  its  f.arming  community,  owning 
and  managing  a  good-sized  farm  in  Astoria  Town- 
ship. He  was  born  twelve  miles  east  of  New  Phil- 
adelpiiia,  Ohio,  June  16,  1822.  Heisasonof  Caleb 
and  Rebecca  (tangle)  Parry.  His  father  settled  in 
the  wilderness  of  Ohio  in  a  very  early  day,  and 
cleared  and  improved  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land.     He   was  a    keen    calculator, 


that  time  there  was  a  double  log  house  and  a  log 
barn  on  the  place,  and  the  land  was  not  cultiv.ated. 
Naturally,  therefore,  he  had  great  ditliculty  in 
bringing  it  to  its  present  state  of  cultivation  and 
prosperity.  He  built  an  elegant  brick  residence  in  ; 
1868  and  repLaced  the  old  barn  with  a  very 
handsome  one.  His  estate  embraces  one  hundred 
and  eighty-three  acres  of  fine  farming  land  and 
3'ields  every  year  a  fine  income. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  married  in  1850 
to  Miss  Belle  Wallace,  daughter  of  Isaiah  and  I 
Elizabeth  Wallace,  pioneer  settlers  of  Isabel  Town-  [ 
ship,  this  county.  This  marriage  was  blessed  with  : 
three  children,  viz.:  Addie;  who  is  at  home  with  her  ' 
parents;  Ilarrj-,  who  resides  in  Uiis  place;  and 
Frank,  who  is  dead. 

Mr.  Strouse  served  two  terms  as  Supervisor  of  [ 
Pleasant  Township,  and  served  also  as  Collector. 
In  politics  he  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  takes  much  interest  in  affairs  of  public  import- 
ance. He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  at 
Lewistown,  Lodge  No.  104.  While  he  is  wliat  is 
commonly  designated  as  a  self-made  man,  he  is 
well  educated,  and  being  fond  of  books  is  a  great 
reader,  and  keeps  himself  thoroughly  posted  both 
in  literary  and  political  matters.  He  is  a  public 
spirited  man  and  one  who  delights  to  advance  both 
his  own  interests  and  those  of  his  neighbors.  Today 
he  ranks  among  the  wealthy  and  influential  agri- 
culturists of  this  county,  and  is  surrounded  by  all 
the  comforts  of  life,  proving  the  truth  of  the  old 
assertion  that  "industr3'  will  win  in  the  race  for 
fortune  and  position." 


possessing  an  aiithmetical  turn  of  mind,  and  was 
successful  financially.  In  the  fall  of  1834  he  came 
to  Menard  County,  111.,  with  a  team,  being  thirtj'- 
one  da3-s  on  the  road.  In  the  spring  of  1835,  he 
came  to  Fulton  County,  and  located  on  a  tract  of 
ooe  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he  had  entered 
during  the  winter.  He  sold  that  shortly  after  and 
bought  anotlier  farm  on  which  he  lived  until  his 
demise.  Before  his  death  he  gave  each  of  his  ten 
children  eiglit3'  acres  of  land.  When  he  came  to 
this  State  his  property  was  comprisedjin  8500  of 
monej'  and  four  horses.  He  lacked  eight  days  of 
being  eightj'-three  years  old  when  he  died,  and  his 
wife  was  within  eighteen  days  of  being  ninety-three 
years  old  at  the  time  of  her  death.  She  always  en- 
joj'ed  good  health  and  was  an  active  worker  almost 
to  the  last.  For  further  parental  history,  see  sketch 
of  subject's  brother  Enoch,  which  appears  |ou  an- 
other page  in  this  volume. 

William  Parry  grew  to  man's  estate  on  the  farm. 
He  is  self-educated  and  all  the  time  that  he  spent 
in  school  was  before  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age. 
He  chose  the  calling  to  which  he  had  been  bred  and 
since  1864  has  lived  on  his  present  farm.  He  has 
here  three  hundred  and  eighteen  acres  of  well  cul- 
tivated land, upon  which  he  has  placed  many  valu- 
able improvements.  He  sold  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  land  to  his  son  Ste()hen.  When  our 
subject  began  his  life  as  a  farmer  on  his  own  ac- 
count he  had  eight}'  acres  of  woodland  which  cost 
$100.  He  cleareil  it  and  improved  it  into  a  sub- 
stantial farm,  and  from  time  to  time  added  more 
land  by  further  purchase.  The  first  three  3'ears  he 
lived  in  a  hewed  log  house,  and  all  his  household 
goods  had  been  taken  to  it  on  a  one-horse  sled.  lie 
has  accumulated  the  rest  of  his  property  by  his  own 
efforts.  He  has  assisted  his  children  to  the  amount 
of  $1,000  each.  In  his  early  days  Mr.  Parry  was 
a  Whig.  He  was  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  Union 
during  the  war  and  joined  the  Republican  party 
after  its  formation.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Henr3'  Cla3',  and  has  never  missed  'being 
present  at  an  election  since  that  time. 

The  pleasant  wedded  life  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife  began  August  10,  1842.  Nine  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  three  of  whom,  Isaac,  Caleb  and 
Rheuam  died  young.     Those  living  are,  Catherine, 


466 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


wife  of  William  DuPuy;  Jesse,  John,  Williatn,  i 
Stephen  anri  Flora  B.,  wife  of  Georije  Sbeuman.  ' 
They  all  received  excellent  educations  in  the  public 
schools.  Mrs.  Parry's  maiden  name  was  Miranda 
"Walker.  .She  was  boru  in  Ohio  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Jesse  and  Catiierine  (Barnhart)  Walker,  who  were 
earl}'  settlers  of  Fulton  County,  coming  to  this 
State  from  Knox  County,  Ohio  in  1840.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Parry  have  long  been  faithful  and  valued 
members  of  the  Jlethodist  Episcopal  Church,  with 
which  he  identified  himself  thirty  years  ago,  and 
she  united  herself  with  the  church  before  marriage. 


<^  LFRED  J.  BAXTER,  M.  D.,  though  still 
^/^l    ^  young  man  has  already  acquired  a  One 

jjj  lil  reputation  as  a  skillful  surgeon  and  a  suc- 
(^'  cessful  ph)'sician,  and  has  built  up  an  ex- 

tensive practice  in  Astoria,  where  he  has  one  of 
ths  most  beautiful  homes  in  the  county. 

Ur.  Baxter  was  born  Februar}'  28,  1855,  in  New- 
ark, N.  J.  His  father,  Emil  Baxter,  v.as  born 
either  in  England  or  Scotland.  The  grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Scotland.  He  was 
a  lace  manufacturer  and  operated  a  factory  in  Lisle, 
France,  making  his  home  in  that  countr}'  and  in 
his  native  land.  He  paid  frequent  visits  to  the 
United  States,  as  he  had  an  importing  house  in 
New  York  City.  His  last  j-ears  were  spent  with 
his  son  Emil  in  Newark,  N.  J.  He  reared  but  two 
children,  one  of  whom  died  in  earl}-  manhood. 

'J'he  father  of  our  subject  came  to  America  In 
early  manhood  to  attend  to  his  father's  business, 
and  made  his  home  in  Newark.  On  account  of 
ill-health  he  was  obliged  to  abandon  commercial 
pursuits,  and  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  staid  here 
but  a  short  time  on  that  occasion,  but  in  1860 
returned  to  make  a  permanent  settlement,  and 
located  in  Nauvoo,  where  he  bought  land  and 
turned  his  attention  to  horticulture.  He  has  met 
with  more  than  ordinary  success  in  that  line,  and  is 
one  of  the  leading  horticulturists  of  Illinois.  He 
has  been  especiallj'  successful  in  the  culture  of  the 
grape  and  has  the  largest  vineyard  in  the  State. 
He  has  been  twice  married.     The  maiden  name  of 


his  first  wife,  mother  of  our  subject,  was  Annette 
Powell,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Connecticut.  Her 
father,  Thomas  Powell,  was  an  inventor  of  much 
skill,  and  at  different  times  lived  in  Hartford, 
Meriden,  and  Waterbur}',  Conn.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  died  in  Nauvoo  iu  1863,  leaving  six 
children,  all  of  whom  survive,  as  follows:  Emil, 
Alfred  J.,  Annette,  Thomas,  Cecil,  and  Alice.  The 
father  has  one  daughter  by  his  second  marriage, 
Addie. 

Dr.  Baxter  received  his  earl}-  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Nauvoo,  and  advanced  it  by  at- 
tendance at  the  academy  in  Denmark,  Iowa.  After 
leaving  that  institution  of  learning  he  began  teach- 
ing in  1876,  first  in  a  district  school  in  Hancock 
County,  and  then  was  elected  Principal  of  the 
Nauvoo  schools,  and  held  that  position  three  years. 
During  that  time  he  commenced  the  study  of  medi- 
cine with  Prof.  J.  C.  Hughes,  of  Keokuk.  Iowa. 
He  attended  medical  lectures  at  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Keokuk,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  there  in  the  spring  of  1880.  Thus 
well-fitted  for  his  profession,  he  immediately  en- 
tered upon  its  duties  in  Nauvoo,  his  old  home, 
where  he  was  well-known  and  had  many  friends. 
In  1 882  he  made  an  extended  trip  through  the 
West,  going  even  to  the  Pacific  Coast.  He  gleaned 
much  pleasure  and  profit  from  his  journey  and  re- 
turned refreshed  to  his  labors. 

In  1883  the  Doctor  came  lo  Astoria,  and  has 
since  been  in  active  practice  here.  He  iias  been 
eminently  successful,  not  only  financially,  but  pro- 
fessionally, and  is  conceded  to  be  one  of  the 
brightest  and  ablest  medical  men  in  the  county. 
Although  his  time  is  so  occupied  with  his  numer- 
ous patients,  he  manages  to  keep  himself  well-in- 
formed in  all  that  concerns  his  profession,  and 
keeps  abreast  of  the  times.  He  is  the  only  member 
of  the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society  in  Fulton 
County,and  is  a  member  of  the  Military  Tract  Med- 
ical Society.  He  is  identified  with  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  as 
a  member  of  Astoria  Lodge,  No.  112.  Possessing  a 
genial,  frank  disposition  ana  many  pleasant  per- 
sonal attributes,  he  is  very  popular,  and  with  his 
amiable  wife  occupies  a  high  social  position  among 
the  liest  people  of  Astoria. 

Dr.  Baxter  was  married  March  29,  1886,  to  Miss 


PORTRAir  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


4G7 


Emma,  oldest  daughter  of  the  wtll-kiiown  physi- 
cian, Or.  B.  C.  Toler,  who  is  represented  elsowlieie 
in  this  volume.  Three  children — Bessie  May, 
Annette  Lulu  ami  Alfreil  J.,  have  been  born  to  our 
subject  and  Ills  wife.  In  the  month  of  .lanuary, 
1890  tlie  Ductor  bought  one  of  the  lincst  residences 
in  the  county:  it  is  a  commodious  brick  house 
occuiiying  am|)le  grounds,  whose  grassy  lawns, 
shaded  by  beautiful  trees  and  slirubbery,  and 
adorned  with  lovely  flowers,  combine  to  make  it  a 
very  attr.'ictive  home. 


RANK  A.  MORTON.     To  an  activL-.  wide- 


awake young  man  who  is  the  happy  pos- 
sessor of  that  energy  and  aml)ition  that 
almost  invariably  wins  success,  there  is  always  a 
broad  field  in  which  to  hew  out  a  flattering  career. 
After  the  declining  years  of  life  are  reached  there 
is  little  to  expeci;  or  achieve,  but  while  the  bloom 
of  youth  lingers,  one  may  accomplish  nearly  any 
desired  end  in  the  commercial  and  political  world. 
Everywhere  and  among  every  class  of  men  there 
is  a  feeling  of  reverence  for  a  man  who  taking  up 
llie  threads  of  his  destiny  in  a  firm  hand  has  woven 
them  into  a  beautiful  wliole.  It  is  often  a  diflicult 
matter  to  realize  the  importance  of  each  passing 
moment  that  robs  life  of  tiiis  energy  and  strength 
of  purpose,  but  such  men  as  Frajk  A.  Morton  real- 
ize fully  that  '-life  is  real,"  and  so  endeavor  to 
leave  behind  them  "footsteps  on  the  sa;ids  of  time." 
Our  subject,  who  is  an  aspiring  young  politician, 
was  first  ushered  into  this  mundane  sphere  on  the 
2d  of  Marcii,  18.55,  being  the  son  of  H.  D.  Morton, 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 
Frank's  birth  occurred  on  the  old  Morion  home- 
stead and  there  he  passed  his  early  youth,  atten<l- 
ing  the  common  schools  and  at  a  later  date  the 
High  School  at  Farmingtou.  Even  in  youth  he 
evinced  a  liking  for  his  books  and  made  rapid 
progress  in  his  studies. 

Mr.  Morton  was  married  in  1880  to  Miss  Anice 
Eshelraan,  daugiUer,  of  Samuel  Eslielman,  of  Can- 
ton, and  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  in  that  place. 
Mrs.  Eshelman,  previous  to  her  marriage,  was  Miss 


Catiierine  Deffenbough,  of  Pennsylvania,  where 
her  iiusband  was  also  born  and  where  they  were 
married.  Mr.  Eshelman  died  in  1886,  at  the  age  of 
scventy"^two,  and  his  wife  continues  to  live  at  the 
old  homestead.  To  them  were  born  seven  children 
— Mary,  Amanda,  David,  Susan,  Samuel,  Alice  and 
Anice.  Mrs.  Morton  passed  lier  girlhood  in  Can- 
ton and  there  received  a  good  eductUiun.  She  is 
the  mother  of  two  children — llattie  and  Maria 
Adel. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  owns  a  valuable  estate 
comprising  one  hundred  and  fort}'  acres  of  fine 
farming  land,  and  has  besides  ten  acres  of  timber 
land.  He  has  resided  on  his  present  farm  for  the 
past  three  years,  and  lias  served  as  School  Trustee 
for  his  district.  Mr.  Blorton  is  an  ardent  member 
of  the  Republican  party  and  takes  great  pride  in 
supporting  the  party  principles  of  the  same.  His 
fallier  is  an  equally  strong  Democrat. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  deserves  great  praise 
for  the  interest  he  manifests  in  jjublic  affairs  and 
the  amount  of  information  he  possesses  regarding 
the  chief  issues  of  the  da}-. 


_gc:ii. 


ENJAMIN  ALWARD.  The  man  who 
chooses  the  vocation  of  a  farmer  will  in  all 
(!^)iij  probability  be  spared  the  excitements  which 
'  belong  to  some  pursuits  and  the  stirring 
events  which  characterize  life  in  the  centers  of 
commerce.  He  has,  however,  abundant  opportu- 
nities for  the  exercise  of  the  sterling  qualities  of 
manhood  and  the  exhibition  of  those  habits  which 
are  worthy  the  emulation  of  mankind.  Examples 
of  unremitting  zeal,  sincere  kindliness  and  the 
strictest  integrity  may  be  met  with  in  every  agri- 
cultural district  of  our  country.  It  affords  us 
pleasure  to  embody  in  this  Album  a  brief  outline 
of  the  life  of  an  unassuming  citizen  of  Canton 
Township,  who  is  yet  well  known  and  highly  hon- 
ored for  his  noble  character  and  useful  life. 

Mr.  Alward  comes  of  a  good  family  from  the 
Atlantic  Coast.  His  parents,  Stephen  and  Joanna 
(Poole)  Alward,  were  natives  of  New  Jersey,  the 
former   having   been    born   in    Somerset    County. 


168 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


They  removed  to  Penns3ivania  in  1823  and  in 
1836  journeyed  still  farther  westward,  taking  up 
theii  abode  in  this  county.  The}'  made  their  home 
in  Canton  until  1848.  then  settled  in  the  township 
of  the  same  name,  where  they  suhsequently  died. 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  of  whom 
our  subject  is  the  third  child  and  only  son.  The 
others  are:  Sarah,  now  the  widow  of  John  Law- 
rence; Esther,  who  became  the  wife  of  Edmund 
Richmond  and  died  in  Knox  Count}';  Phebe,  who 
married  Wilson  Peck  and  died  in  Marshall  County. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in 
Warren  County,  N.  J.,  May  U,  1822.  His  early 
life  was  passed  in  no  unusual  manner,  the  first 
prominent  event  in  liis  career  being  the  journe}'  to 
this  State  when  he  was  fourteen  years  old.  This 
was  in  1836,  and  in  1847  ho  was  able  to  purchase 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  9, 
Canton  Township,  to  which  his  parents  removed 
the  following  spring.  He  continued  to  successful!}' 
prosecute  his  chosen  calling,  adding  to  the  value 
of  his  estate  by  its  continual  improvement  and  ex- 
tended acreage.  It  now  amounts  to  three  hundred 
and  eiglity-flye  acres  which  are  carefully  and  in- 
telligently tilled.  So  numerous  and  well-built  are 
the  outbuildings  upon  it,  that  at  a  little  distance 
it  presents  quite  the  appearance  of  a  hamlet.  In 
the  spring  of  1890  the  house,  which  was  erected  In 
1856, was  destroyed  by  fire,  but  during  the  summer 
a  modern  dwelling  was  built  to  supplj'  its  [ilace. 

At  the  home  of  the  bride  in  Peoria  County, 
March  27,  1856,  Mr.  Alward  was  united  in  mar- 
riage  with  Miss  Eliza  Holcomb.  This  lad\'  was 
born  in  Peoria  County,- Januar)'  12,  1838,  and  is 
the  youngest  child  of  the  late  John  and  Harriet 
(Richmond)  Holcomb.  She  is  a  consistent  Chris- 
tian, an  earnest  worker  in  the  fields  of  religion  and 
benevolence,  a  symjjathizing  counselor  to  her  hus- 
band and  a  tender  and  wise  mother  to  her  children, 
i^he  has  borne  twelve  sons  and  daugliters,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy,  and  a  son,  John,  wlien  lie 
was  just  entering  his  teens.  The  survivors  are 
Harriet  J.,  Ida,  Eilizabeth,  Benjamin,  George  W., 
Charles,  Henry,  Grace,  Carrie  and  Mabel. 

Mr.  Alward  has  never  been  an  office-seeker,  but 
manifests  an  intelligent  interest  in  political  affairs 
and  unfailingly  supports    the    Democratic    ticket. 


He  has  been  quite  deaf  since  he  was  twelve  years 
old,  the  misfortune  having  been  brought  about  by 
an  attack  of  scarlet  fever.  He  and  his  wife  are 
active  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


.-nsij,sj.';.-   ' 


r^lLTJAH  MANNING.  The  Manning  home- 
stead, now  operated  by  our  subject,  consists 
f!  of  two  hundred  and  sixty-six  and  one-half 
acres  on  section  12,  Fairview  Township.  It  has 
been  the  life-long  home  of  our  subject,  who  is 
a  very  successful  cultivator  of  mixed  crops.  He 
pa^'s  considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of  Gallo- 
way cattle,  at  the  head  of  his  herd  being  the  cele- 
brated bull.  Mountain  Lady. 

John  Manning,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  the  Emerald  Isle,  near  the  city  of  Dublin, 
and  came  to  America  when  seventeen  ypars  of  age. 
His  first  employment  in  this  country  was  as  a  farm 
laborer  in  the  n(jrthern  part  of  New  York  State, 
but  he  afterward  found  occupation  on  public 
works.  He  was  induced  to  come  to  Illinois  and 
worked  on  the  Michigan  and  Illinois  Canal  for 
some  lime,  then  went  down  to  Kentucky  and  found 
a  situation  on  a  farm  near  Covington.  There  he 
married  Miss  Theodosia  Morton,  an  aunt  of  H. 
D.  Morton,  of  Farmington  Township,  whose  biog- 
raphy is  included  in  this  volume.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Manning  came  to  this  section  in  1837-38,  the  hus- 
band purchasing  forty  acres  of  Government  land. 
This  has  never  been  out  of  the  Mannings'  hands 
and  never  mortgaged.  It  fell  to  a  daughter,  Mrs. 
Margaret  Harden,  who,  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Sherinaii,of  Lonrlon  Mills,  and  our  subject,con- 
stitute  the  Manning  family  of  to-day.  The  onl}' 
other  member  of  the  parental  family  was  Mary 
Jane,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  father  lived  to  the 
ripe  age  of  eighty-two  years,  passing  away  in  1888. 
The  mother,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  died  in  1866, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  She  was  a  very 
hospitable  lady  and  had  many  friends. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was  born 
November  11,  1844,  on  the  farm  that  is  still  his 
home.      He  was  brought   up  under   the  educational 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


469 


advantages  of  the  township  schools  and  the  excel- 
lent home  training  bostowed  by  his  worthy  par- 
ents. In  1861  he  attempted  to  enlist  in  the 
Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Infaiilry,  bnt  was  not  accepted 
as  a  volunteer  on  account  of  his  tender  years. 
Denied  the  privileges  of  participating  in  the  battles 
of  the  Union,  he  resumed  his  duties  on  the  home 
farm,  and  from  year  to  year  bore  a  greater  share 
until  he  finally  had  control  and  possession. 

ilr.  Man.iing  was  married  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years  to  Ella,  daughter  of  IL-imilton  and 
IMary  Ann  (Yerkes)  Roberts.  Her  parents  are  na- 
tives of  Ohio  and  are  now  living  in  Southwestern 
Nebraska.  They  came  to  this  .State  about  1 8G0, 
sojourning  here  a  few  years.  JMr.  Roberts  is  a 
blacksmith  h3'  trade.  The  family  circle,  of  which 
Mrs.  Manning  is  the  third  member,  consists  of  seven 
living  children,  the  others  bearing  the  names  of 
Paxon,  Willie,  Charles,  Everett,  George  and  Hat- 
tie.  Mrs.  Manning  was  born  in  the  Buckeye  State, 
brought  hither  in  childhood,  and  reared  in  the 
townshi|)  of  whose  society'  she  is  still  an  hon- 
ored member.  She  and  her  husband  are  noted 
for  their  hospitality,  receiving  under  the  roof  of 
their  tasteful  and  comfortable  home  large  num- 
bers of  friends,  and  even  bestowing  a  cordial  wel- 
come upon  the  stranger  within  their  gates. 

It  is  the  aim  of  Mr.  Manning  to  vote  for  men  of 
worth  who  will  carry  out  the  principles  of  the  Gov- 
ernment designed  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  greatest 
number,  and  particularly  those  of  laboring  men. 
In  national  affairs  he  casts  his  ballot  with  the  Dem- 
ocracy. In  his  treatment  of  his  fellow  men  he 
observes  the  Golden  Rule,  and  he  is  therefore 
very  popular  among  the  people,  to  whom  he  is  fa- 
miliarly' known  as  '"Lige."  He  is  a  hearty,  whole- 
souled  man,  bright  in  intellect  and  energetic  in 
manner. 


URTIS  D.  BROWN,  Assessor  of  Farming- 
ton  Township,  is  a  gentleman  of  kindly  and 
courteous  manners  that  have  won  for  him 
many  warm  personal  friends  both  in  political  and 
social  circles,      lie  was  the  first  Mayor  of  Farming- 


e 


ton,  and  has  for  many  years  been  closely  iden- 
tilied  with  all  the  important  business  affairs  of 
this  place.  Though  past  the  meridian  of  life  he  is 
still  very  strong  and  active,  and  is,  in  fact,  the 
very  picture  of  health.  Since  185G  he  has  been  a 
prominent  man  in  Fulton  County,  and  with  the 
exce[)tion  of  eight  years  has  made  his  home  in 
Farmington  Township.  For  two  years  he  was  on  a 
farm  in  linox  County,  and  was  for  six  years  en- 
gaged in  re()resenting  a  marlile  firm  in  Canton. 
His  father,  Alex  Urown,  was  born  in  New  York 
State,  and  was  a  prosperous  farmer.  He  died  when 
our  suliject  was  only  fourteen  years  of  age,  having 
at  the  time  attained  his  fifty-tifth  year.  His  mot'.ier 
previous  to  her  marriage  w.as  ^Nliss  Sallie  Mc- 
Dougall. 

Mr.  Brown  belongs  to  an  old  and  highly  re- 
spected Scotch  familv.  all  his  ancestors  coming 
origin.-illy  from  the  "land  of  thistles  and  of  oat- 
nieal."  His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of 
1812,  and  his  mother  died  in  1839.  To  his  par- 
ents were  born  six  children,  viz:  Neal  A.,  Anna 
Lorain,  Marian,  Alexander,  Jr.,  Curtis  D.  and 
Charles,  all  of  whom  have  prospered  and  are  well 
fixed  in   life. 

Our  subject  was  born  March  3,  1834,  and  re- 
mained at  home  until  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
five,  at  which  time  his  mother  died  and  he  was 
ado[)ted  by  the  family  of  David  Lester,  and  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm.  Being  an  orphan  and  liv- 
ing at  a  time  when  schools  were  not  so  thorough, 
he  received  only  a  limited  education,  and  since  four- 
teen years  of  age  has  fought  the  battle  of  life  for 
himself.  He  first  worked  on  a  farm,  receiving  in 
compensation  for  his  services  >fS  per  month.  He 
contiiuied  to  labor  faithfully  until  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  and  being  anxious  to  make  some  decided 
headw.av  in  business,  he  determined  to  follow  Hor- 
ace Greeley's  advice,  and  came  West.  He  first  set- 
tled at  Farmington,  giving  his  attention  to  farming, 
and  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  the  i!,500,  that  he 
had  brought  from  his  native  State.  He  went  to 
Canton,  where  he  engaged  with  a  marble  company 
as  traveling  salesman,  and  at  a  later  date  was  ap- 
pointed general  agent  for  the  Woolen  Mills  in  that 
city,  representing  his  house  through  different  por- 
tions of  Illinois. 


470 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mr.  Brown  was  married  in  1871  to  Miss  Orena 
Loomis,  a  native  of  Washington  Count}%  N.  Y., 
and  a  daughter  of  Norton  and  Joanna  (Miller) 
Loomis.  Her  father  was  a  farmer  and  moved  with 
his  fnmily  to  Illinois  in  1840,  settling  in  Farming- 
ton  Townshi[),  where  he  died  when  seventy  years 
of  age.  Her  mother,  though  seventy-six  years  old, 
still  enjoys  comparative  good  health.  The  Loomis 
family-  is  a  ver\**promineut  one.[2:Prof.  Loomis  is 
a  kinsman  of  hers. 

Mrs.  Brown  was  but  three  years  old,  when  she 
came  with  her  p.arents  to  Illinois,  and  was  one  of 
the  four  children  born  to  her  parents,  viz:  Orena, 
Mary.  Jane,  and  Dexter  who  died  at  the  age  of 
five  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  has  been  born 
one  child — Charles  Marion,  who  is  eight  years  of 
age. 

Our  subject  belongs  to  Olive  Branch  Lodge, 
So.  15,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Canton.  He  is  a  very  prom- 
inent citizen  and  has  held  many  public  offices, 
being  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  all  who  know 
him. 


OWARD  W.  SEBREE.  Among  the  resi- 
|i  dents  of  Canton  who  have  prosecuted  a 
successful  business  career  for  many  j'ears, 
and  then,  investing  their  means  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  derive  a  good  income  without  undue 
exertion,  have  retired  from  the  arduous  labors  of 
life,  is  the  gentleman  above  named.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  the  manuf.acture  of  w.agons  upwards  of 
thirty-three  years,  the  product  of  his  establishment 
finding  a  ready  sale  over  an  extended  region  of 
country.  He  was  engaged  to  some  extent  in  other 
lines  cf  business  both  before  and  after  this  experi- 
ence, an(i  for  some  time  p.ast  has  been  the  owner  of 
dwellings  and  business  houses,  in  which  the  greater 
part  of  his  capital  is  invested. 

Our  subject  is  the  youngest  sim  of  James  and 
Elizabeth  (Trotter)  Sebree.  His  mother  was  horn 
in  Virginia  to  the  wife  of  George  Trottei-,  moved  to 
Kentucky  when  a  small  girl,  and  there  grew  to 
womanhood.  Not  long  after  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
.' cbree  removed  to  Indiana,  remaining  in  that  Slate 


some  sixteen  j^ears,  after  which  they  took  up  their 
residence  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio.  Severrd 
3'ears  later,  in  1S32,  they  came  to  this  countj-,  where 
for  a  time  th.ey  were  engaged  in  hotelkeeping.  Mr. 
iSebree  died  in  Canton  in  1865,  but  the  mother  of 
our  subject  h.ad  passed  away  manj-  years  before. 
Their  family  comprised  six  sons  and  two  daughters 
of  whom  three  sons  and  one  daughter  survive. 

The  birth  of  Howard  W.  Sebree  took  place  in 
Scott  County,  Ind.,  not  far  from  Madison,  October 
17,  1822.  In  that  county  and  in  Canton,  which  be- 
came his  home  when  ten  years  old,  he  took  advan- 
tage of  every  opportunit}'  offered  to  obtain  an 
education,  although  his  school  privileges  wore 
meagre  compared  with  those  of  the  present  time. 
On  leaving  school,  when  seventeen  years  old,  he  be- 
gan work  at  the  cooper's  trade,  making  all  kinds  of 
barrels,  but  principally  those  for  packing  pork, 
which  was  an  important  industry  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. 

There  being  quite  a  demand  for  wagons  he  de- 
termined to  turn  his  attentiijn  to  their  manufacture, 
and  meeting  with  success  in  his  enterprise,  continued 
it  as  before  mentioned  fur  a  lengthy  period  of 
jears.  He  finally  invested  considerable  capital  in 
buildings  and  also  became  interested  in  the  manu- 
facture of  brick.  At  present  his  brick3-ard  is  leased, 
and  he  finds  sufficient  occupation  in  overseeing  ids 
investments,  devoting  the  remainder  of  his  time  to 
domestic  and  social  life  and  the  enjo3"ment  of  the 
pleasures  suited  to  his  j-ears.  In  earlier  days  he 
was  one  of  the  stanch  Abolitionists  of  this  vicinity, 
and  afterward  ideutiBed  himself  with  the  Republi- 
can part}',  whoso  principles  he  still  sup[)orts.  He  is 
in  sympathy  with  prohibition,  liberal  in  religious 
matters,  and  imbued  with  the  spirit  which  leads 
him  to  take  a  deep  interest  in  all  which  will  advance 
the  real  welfare  of  the  community  and  State.  He 
has  never  sought  office,  but  as  a  private  citizen  has 
discharged  his  duties  in  a  quiet  and  reliable 
manner. 

The  home  of  JMr.  .Sebree  is  ah  old-f.ashioned,  sub- 
stantial brick  structure  on  West  Cole  street.  On 
May  27,  1852,  he  was  married  to  Margaret  Simpson, 
who  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  but  at  the  time  of 
her  marriage  was  living  in  Farmington  Township, 
wliither  her  parents,  John   and   Margaret  Simpson, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


473 


had  removed  in  1834.  She  bore  her  husband  five 
children,  liut  two  of  whom  nre  living.  Those  who 
have  already  crossed  the  river  of  death  are  Clara, 
John  S.  and  Anne.  The  living  nre  Emma,  wife  of 
Charles  W.  Wilson,  and  Stella  T.,  whose  presence 
still  gladdens  the  home  fireside,  and  she  is  now  l\eep- 
ing  house  for  her  father.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Sebree 
took  place  Blarch  3,  188L 


<^0U^  HENRY  JOHNSON.  This  gentle- 
man has  had  a  ver^-  successful  career  since 
he  established  himself  in  London  Mills  in 
the  drug  business  in  May,  1885.  He  has  a 
large  store,  22x50  feet,  tastefully  arranged  and 
supplied  with  a  verj^  full  stock  of  goods.  Those 
include  the  articles  generally  to  be  found  in  a  first- 
class  pharraac}^  He  usually  carries  from  three  to 
six  hundred  ounces  quinine  and  cinchona,  a  large 
variet}'  of  plusli  goods  in  their  seasoli,  and  a 
heavy  stock  of  tobacco  and  cigars.  He  carries  as 
high  as  forty-flve  butts  of  tobacco,  from  seven  to 
eight  thousand  cigars,  fifteen  to  twenty  pails  fine 
cut  and  three  hundred  pounds  of  smoking  tobacco. 
He  does  not  sell  a  drop  of  liquor  and  never  keeps 
it  on  hand.  His  is  probably  the  only  strictly  tem- 
perance drug  store  in  the  county.  He  manufac- 
tures his  own  tinctures  and  within  twent^'-four 
hours  after  the  alcohol  comes  in,  he  has  it  made  up. 
He  saves  from  fifteen  to  tliirty  cents  |)er  pint  on 
these  preparations,  sending  only  for  what  he  needs 
of  the  required  ingredients. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Richard 
Johnson,  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  a  minister  m 
the  Christian  Church.  He  emigrated  from  his  na- 
tive State  to  Illinois,  being  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers in  Knox  County.  He  bought  and  improved 
what  is  Ivnown  as  the  Mound  Farm  near  Abingdon, 
but  after  some  years  moved  across  the  line  into 
Warren  County  but  still  near  Abingdon.  There  he 
resided  until  his  death,  preaching  the  Gospel  as 
well  as  operating  his  farm.  He  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  Christian  Church  in  that  part  of  the 
county. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was   Patton   Johnsoi: , 


who  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  removed  to  this 
State  when  quite  young.  He  was  reared  in  Knox 
County  and  after  his  nvirriage  removed  to  Warren 
County  where  he  settled  on  a  farm.  After  a  time 
he  removed  to  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  but  after  re- 
siding there  a  few  years  returned  to  this  State,  lo- 
cated at  Prairie  City  and  was  a  contractor  for  stone 
work  seven  3ears.  He  had  picked  up  the  mason's 
trade,  being  apt  in  mechanical  work.  For  a  few 
3'ears  following  he  carried  on  a  farm  here,  then  re- 
turned to  the  city  and  remained  two  years.  In 
1865,  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Abingdon,  working 
at  his  trade  as  a  contractor  until  1875,  when  he 
spent  a  shoit  time  in  Galesburg. 

We  next  find  ;\lr.  Johnson  in  Monmouth,  begin- 
ning the  practice  of  the  Tliompsonian  system  of 
medicine  and  meeting  with  success.  He  was  a  fine 
botanist,  well  acquainted  with  the  properties  of 
herbs  and  roots,  from  which  he  prepared  his  medi- 
cines. In  1879  he  went  to  Vona,  Col.,  took  up  a 
claim  and  lived  there  until  his  death,  in  1889.  He 
He  was  an  active  and  consistent  menjber  of  the 
Christian  Church.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 
The  mother  of  our  suliject  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky and  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Meadows. 
She  was  a  lineal  descendant  in  the  maternal  line  of 
JNIartin  Coffee,  wlio  came  from  England  to  America 
and  died  in  Kentucky  at  the  age  of  one  hundred 
and  one  years.  A  large  estate  in  England  was  left 
by  a  member  of  this  family  but  the  record  is  not 
suflficiently  complete  to  prove  the  claims  of  our 
subject's  family  upon  it.  Her  father,  Henry 
Meadows,  likewise  a  native  of  the  Blue  Grass  State, 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Warren  County, 
near  Abingdon.  He  bought  land  and  engaged  in 
farming,  finally  becoming  the  owner  of  a  large 
tract  of  land  from  which  he  gave  each  of  his  chil- 
dren a  farm.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and 
helped  to  build  the  old  court  house  at  Knoxville. 
He  built  his  own  rude  log  house  and  other  build- 
ings, gradually  imi)roved  his  dwelling,  putting  on 
clapboards,  plastering  it,  etc.  He  was  quite  a  hun- 
ter and  one  of  the  most  hospitable  among  the  pio- 
neers with  whom  hospitality  was  a  prominent 
virtue.  No  stranger  nor  luingr}'  man  passed  his 
door  without  being  entertained.  He  was  a  very 
active  man  in  church  matters,  a  leader  aniong    the 


474 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


people,  and  before  a  church  was  built,  had  services 
held  in  his  house.  He  and  grandfather  Johnson 
built  the  first  Christian  Church  in  that  section,  lo- 
cated at  Meridian.  Mrs.  Johnson  is  now  living  at 
Abingdon,  iu  quite  poor  health  and  Bftv-six  years 
old. 

The  parental  family  included  Althea,  who  died  in 
childhood;  Mary  E.,  Sarah  J.  ami  Martha  A.,  who 
live  in  Abingdon;  John  Henry ;  Minnie  I.,  whose 
home  is  in  Peoria;  Erastus  R.,  of  Denver,  Col.; 
Artie,  who  died  at  Prairie  Cilj'  when  a  child; 
Charles  W.,  in  the  employ  of  the  Toledo,  Peoria  & 
Warsaw  Railroad  at  Peoria;  Milicent  Z.,  who  lives 
in  Galesburg. 

The  natal  day  of  our  subject  was  January  11, 
1  856,  and  his  birthplace  Cedar  Rapids,  Linn  County, 
Iowa.  When  six  months  old  lie  was  brought  to 
Prairie  Cit}-,  111.,  which  was  his  home  until  the  age 
of  nine  years.  He  then  went  to  Abingdon  and  at 
that  earl_y  age  began  working  his  own  way.  He  la- 
bored on  a  farm  in  the  summer,  and  attended 
school  in  Abingdon  iu  the  winter  until  he  acquired 
a  good  education,  pjarly  in  January,  1875,  he  be- 
gan clerking  for  F.  P.  Foltz,  the  pioneer  merchant 
and  leading  pharmacist  of  Abingdon,  from  whom 
he  learned  the  drug  business  and  the  art  of  com- 
pounding medicines.  So  skillful  did  he  become 
that  during  the  last  four  years  of  the  seven  which 
he  spent  in  Mr.  Foltz's  employ  he  had  charge  of 
the  store.  He  was  registered  as  a  pharmacist  in 
1881. 

In'the  spring  of  1882,  Mr.  Johnson  took  a  trip 
to  Kans.as  City  and  Topeka  but  returned  to  this 
.State  in  the  course  of  a  month  and  in  April  came  to 
London  Mills.  The  Fulton  County  Railroad  had 
just  been  completed  and  the  town  then  had  but 
four  stores  and  a  mill.  Our  subject  took  charge 
of  the  drug  store  of  H.  C.  AVIiitnah,  carrying  it  on 
three  years.  He  then  bought  a  new  stock  of  drugs 
worth  §1500  and  opened  his  own  establishment. 
The  first  year  he  rented  a  building,  19x23  feet,  but 
as  the  rent  was  high  and  the  room  too  small  for  his 
growing  trade,  he  determined  to  build.  He  bought 
lumber  on  nine  months'  time  ami  put  up  the  struc- 
ture he  now  occupies.  He  was  able  to  pay  his  bills 
in  five  months,  as  his  increasing  popularity,  chwe 
application  to   business  and   pharmaceutical    skill 


added  continually  to  his  custom.  His  location  is 
the  best  in  the  town  and  he  is  undoubtedly  the 
most  prosperous  dealer  there.  He  owns  one-eight 
of  a  block  of  land  with  a  store  and  residence,  and 
is  also  interested  in  Chicago  lots  in  what  was  form- 
erly the  suburb  of  Englewood.  He  and  his  wife 
carry  ten  years'  endowment  policies  to  the  amount 
of  86,000  in  the  ^tna  Life  Insurance  Company. 

The  marriage  ceremony  which  united  the  lives 
of  John  Johnson  and  Marj^  Catterlon  was  per- 
formed bv  Judge  Dennis  Clarke,  uncle  of  the 
groom,  in  Galesburg,  October  15, 1883.  The  grand- 
father of  the  bride  was  Dilar  F.  Catterton,  a  native 
of  Virginia  and  of  Welsh  descent.  He  was  an 
early  settler  iu  Kentuck}^  where  his  son,  James  R., 
father  of  Mrs.  Johnson,  was  born.  The  last  named 
gentleman  came  to  Lawrence  County.  111.,  iu  1820 
and  farmed  there  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1850 
he  located  in  Elba  Township,  Knox  County,  where 
he  has  successfully  pursued  his  calling  and  now 
owns  two  hundred  and  three  acres  of  fine,  improved 
lanil.  He  w-as  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  War,  and 
in  1862  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Second 
Illinois  Infantry,  serving  as  a  private  three  years. 
During  that  time  he  was  injured  1)\'  a  team  in  a 
wagon  train  and  was  transferred  to  the  invalid 
corps.  Although  seventy  one  3'ears  old  he  is  still 
actively  engaged  iu  his  business.  He  is  a  strong 
Republican  and  a  member  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  Johnson  is  of  English  an- 
cestry and  grand-daughter  of  a  Revolutionarv 
soldier.  Her  father,  Daniel  Organ,  a  Captain  in  the 
Black  Hawk  War,  died  in  Lawrence  County,  this 
State,  whence  he  had  removed  from  Kentucky. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Catterton  is  still  living  and  is  now 
sixty-one  years  old.  She  is  the  mother  of  seven 
children,  three  of  whom  are  still  living.  These 
are,  Mrs.  Aurora  McKee  of  Summit;  Mrs.  John- 
sou;  and  Mrs.  Lura  Norton  of  Bloomington. 

Mrs.  Johnson  was  born  in  Elba  Township,  Knox 
County,  .and  h.as  a  practical  education.  After  hav- 
ing attended  Abingdon  College  two  years  she  en- 
gaged in  teaching,  afterward  spending  three  months 
more  at  her  Alma  Mater.  She  held  five  certificates 
from  Mary  Allen  West  who  has  been  so  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  educational  work  of  this 
country  during  the  past  few    years.     To    Mr.   and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


475 


Mrs.  Johnson  one  child  has  been  Ijorn,  a  charming 
little  (laughter,  Stella  Fay. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  Treasurer  of  London  Mills  one 
term,  the  second  year  after  the  ineor|)or:ition  of 
the  town.  He  has  since  declined  otHce  as  he  is  too 
busy  in  conducting  his  store  to  properly  discharge 
duties  of  a  public  nature.  He  belongs  to  London 
Lodge,  No.  734,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  Mrs.  Johnson  is  a 
Rebecca.  The  lodge  witii  which  she  was  identified 
is  now  extinct.  She  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  an  ex- 
president  in  the  society,  and  is  a  believer  in  pro- 
hil)ition  as  a  party  measure.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a 
stanch  Republican.  Both  are  active  members  of 
the  Church  of  Christ.  Mr.  Johnson  is  now  Deacon 
and  Treasurer  and  his  wife  Assistant  Superinten- 
dent in  the  Sunday-school.  They  move  in  the  best 
circles  of  society  and  are  highly  regarded  for  their 
mental  culture,  useful  and  energetic  lives  and 
Christian  characters.  As  will  be  seen,  Mr.  Johnson 
is  self  made  both  as  to  education  and  finances.  For 
years,  even  when  but  a  salaried  clerk,  he  su[)ported 
his  mother,  to  whom  be  still  lovingly  gives  of  his 
abundance. 

The  attention  of  the  reader  is  directed  to  a  litho- 
graphic portrait  of  Mr.  Johnson,  presented  on  an- 
other page. 


,LIVE  A.  BOWTON.  -Our  schools  are  the 
hope  of  our  country,"  and  no  more  fitting 
subject  for  representation  in  a  Biockafhical 
Album  can  be  found  than  one  whose  talents  are 
given  to  promote  the  cause  of  education.  Our  sub- 
ject is  engaged  in  teaching  and  is  using  her  most 
earnest  efforts  to  elevate  and  enlighten  the  minds  of 
those  who  are  placed  under  her  instruction.  She 
was  born  in  Orion  Township,  September  5,  1868, 
and  is  the  fourth  of  the  nine  children  who  made 
up  the  familj-  of  John  and  J^izzie  (Cox)  Bowton. 
The  other  surviving  members  of  the  family  circle 
are  Fred,  born  September  15,  1865;  Horatio,  Feb- 
ruary 18,  1873;  Algie,  January  26,  1878;  and  Lil- 
lie  L.,  August  26,  1880. 

The  father,  John  Bowton,  was   born   in   the  city 


of  New  York,  September  29,  1828,  of  English  par- 
ents, Mark  and  Mary  Bowton.  While  he  was  very 
young  his  parents  removed 'to  Dearborn  County, 
Ind.,  where  the  old  homestead  still  retains  the  Bow- 
ton name.  Not  many  years  after  the  removal 
Mark  Bowton  died,  leaving  five  sons  to  support 
their  widowed  mother  and  themselves  as  best  they 
could  by  such  labor  as  was  presented  to  them. 
During  the  gold  fever  of  1850  John  Bowton  and  an 
oldei  brother,  James,  went  to  California,  enduring 
many  hardships  on  their  journey,  at  one  time  sub- 
sisting nine  days  upon  tougli  beef  alone,  broiled 
without  seasoning.  The  party  was  taken  over  an 
untried  route  bj'  a  guide,  who  was  tempted  by  an 
offer  of  $1,000  to  laj'  out  a  new  way  across  the 
plains  and  mountaui  ranges  to  the  great  gold  fields. 
At  one  place  they  were  led  to  a  summit,  where 
their  belongings  had  to  be  let  down  a  seventy-five- 
foot  descent  with  ropes. 

Troubles  do  not  come  singly,  and  upon  reach- 
ing California  Mr.  Bowton  was  caught  in  a  freshet, 
which  threw  him  into  the  inflammatory  rheuma- 
tism. After  his  recovery  he  began  mining,  but 
his  labor  did  not  pay  his  exiienses,  and  after  sink- 
ing 1500,  he  returned  home  in  1851  bv  wa}'  of  the 
ocean  and  Isthmus.  At  his  old  home  he  set  in- 
dustriously to  work  to  replenish  his  pocket  book. 
In  1858  he  came  to  Illinois,  purchasing  a  farm  of 
about  two  hundred  acres,  where  he  still  resides,. 
On  New  Year's  Day,  1861,  he  married  Lizzie, 
daughter  of  David  and  Mary  (Hand )  Cox.  This 
lady  was  born  in  Orion  Townshi[),  this  county, 
December  1 4,  1 838,  and  was  four  years  old  when  the 
parents  returned  to  their  former  home  in  Indiana. 
There  Grandmother  Cox  died  when  her  daughter 
Lizzie  was  twelve  years  old,  leaving  her  little  fam- 
ily to  shift  fur  themselves  as  best  they  could,  the 
father  being  a  happy -go  easy  man,  who  in  his 
younger  days  spent  much  of  his  time  hunting  deer 
and  other  wild  game  with  the  Indians. 

The  following  lines,  written  by  Mrs.  Lizzie  Bow- 
ton, will  give  the  reader  an  understanding  of  the 
situation: 

"When  at  the  age  of  twelve  3'ears  old, 
I  gazed  upon  my  mother  cold. 
Three  sisters  we  and  brothers  five; 
No  one  to  guide  our  youthful  lives. 


476 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALIJUM. 


Now  worse  than  orphans  left  were  we 
For  our  father  (jfteu  took  a  spree. 
And  when  a  father's  brain  is  wild 
He  little  tiiiuks  of  starving  cliild. 

So  we  scattered  from  the  lonely  liive. 
Wo.  sisters  three  and  brothers  five. 
Where  are  thej'  now?     I  cannot  say 
For  one  is  lost  and  strayed  away, 

And  one  has  crossed  the  river  deep 
And  is  laid  to  rest  in  lier  long  last  sleep, 
And  one  lives  down  in  Fithian  town — 
A  soldier  boy  was  he. 

In  battle's  roar  he  was  drenched  with  gore, 
As  he  faced  the  battle  wild. 
No  mother  near  to  drop  a  tear 
On  her  suffering,  lonely  child. 

May  God   to  the  rest  liis  mercy  show. 
Forgive  and  guide  them  where'er  tliey  go, 
And  when  tlie  storms  of  life  are  past 
I'nited  be  in  Heaven  at  last. 

Yet  I  know  that  God  is  kind. 
And  witli  the  fire  gold  is  refined. 
This,  dear  reader,  bear   in  mind, 
A  friend  in  Hiiu  you'll  always  find. 

Owing  to  the  unsettled  slate  of  the  country  the 
early  education  of  Mrs.  Bowtonwas  somewhat  lim- 
IUmI,  although  she  spent  the  winter  of  1858  at  the 
Presbyterian  Union  Seminary,  in  Danville.  In 
18()0  she  returned  to  this  county  to  become  an  in- 
mate of  the  home  of  her  grandparents,  Aaron  and 
.Margaret  Hand,  under  whoso  careful  instruction 
her  mother  had  grown  to  womanhood  with  the 
most  desirable  qualities  of  character.  Although 
reared  principally  under  the  religious  teaching  of 
the  Methodist  denomination  she  is  identified  with 
Christ's  Church.  She  takes  an  active  interest  in 
all  Christian  work. 

Aaron  Hand,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Bowtou, 
was  born  in  Maryland  in  1793,  and  died  in  this 
county  .March  7,  1873,  at  tiie  age  of  eighty  years. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  was  honor- 
ably discharged,  but  would  never  acce[Tt  of  a  pen- 
sion, declaring  his  belief  that  it  was  not  right  for 
people  who  were  able  to  live  without  it  to  accept 
Government  aid.  He  was  au  oldiiue  Whig,  very 
firm  in  his  belief,  and  a  member  of  the  Free-Will 
Baptist  Church,strictly  adhering  to  the  (iolden  Rule. 
His  daughter  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  David 


Cox,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1814,"  and  went  witli  her 
parents  to  Indiana  among  the  first  settlers  in  their 
section  of  the  .State.  When  she  was  about  six  years 
old  she  barely  escaped  being  carried  awa}'  on  an 
Indian  pony  by  an  old  squaw  wlio  had  become  at- 
tached to  her.  Tlie  days  of  her  childhood  were 
trj'ing  times,  the  family- often  retiring  with  drunken 
Indians  lying  a  short  distance  from  the  door, 
whom  they  dared  not  drive  away  for  fear  of  offense. 
Mr.  Hand  named  a  town,  Rockville,  which  was  laid 
off  on  liis  farm  in  Parke  Count}-.  Ind.  Early  in 
the  '30s  he  removed  to  Fulton  County,  111.,  ac- 
companied by  his  daughter  and  her  husband,  who 
afterward  returned  to  the  Hoosier  State,  as  before 
mentioned. 

The  lady  whose  name  initiates  this  skclch  was 
reared  in  a  home  where  honesty,  truthfulness  and 
industry  were  thoroughly  instilled  into  her  nature. 
Her  family  being  of  that  substantial  class  which  is 
equally  removed  from  the  rich  and  poor,  she  has 
been  happy  in  comparative  exemption  from  the 
temptations  which  are  incident  to  both  poverty 
aud  riches.  She  attended  school  in  the  countrj- 
district  from  the  age  of  seven  to  fifteen  years,  after 
which  she  spent  nine  months  at  the  Canton  IligU 
School.  She  still  further  advanced  her  education 
at  Kuos  Academy,  Galesburg,  during  two  terras 
in  1887.  While  there  the  Christian  spirit  which 
had  been  formed  b}^  the  close  sympathy  of  a  parent 
was  full}'  developed,  and  she  firmly  resolvid  so 
to  live  as  to  be  an  accepted  daughter  of  the  (ireat 
King.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association,  Woman's  Auxiliary,  and  a 
promoter  of  the  Christian  cause. 


I— O ■       .  1  *^ 


RA  A.  KUYKENDALL,  whose  sketch  now 
claims  attention,  is  one  of  the  most  popular  and 
_  highly  esteemed  gentlemen  in  Liverpool  Town- 
ship, and  after  a  long  life  well  and  pleasantly  spent 
looks  back  uijon  the  years  with  great  satisfaction 
in  remembering  how  faithfully  he  performed  every 
duty  that  fell  to  him. 

Our  subject's  father — James  Kuykendall — was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  his  grandfather,  Henry 


PORTRAIT  AND  1510GRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Kuykcnclall,  was  also  a  native  of  that  State,  living 
to  tlie  advanced  age  of  seventy-live  and  devoting 
bis  attention  to  farming.'  He  reared  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  and  died  in  iiis  native  State.  He 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  the  gun  he 
used  is  now  in  Culia,  this  comity,  in  tlie  possession 
of  John  Ilarmison. 

Mr.  Kuykendall's  father  moved  to  Ohio  about 
1817,  being  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  State.  He 
made  the  trip  on  liorsebacii,  and  settled  in  Rich- 
land County,  where  he  entered  two  hundred  acres 
of  land.  The  country  was  very  wild,  wolves 
prowling  around,  and  deer  abounding  in  the  woods. 
He  continued  to  farjQ  tliere  until  1837,  at  which 
time  he  moved  to  this  county,  settling  near  Cul)n. 
in  Putman  Township.  Here  again  he  numbered 
among  the  pioneers,  and  in  186G,  having  lost  his 
wife,  he  came  and  made  his  liome  with  our  subject 
until  he  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-seven.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  his  remains 
rest  in  the  cemetery  at  Cuba.  He  was  drafted  into 
the  war  of  1812,  but  was  never  c:Uicd  into  service. 
He  married  Miss  Elizabetii  Attn,  who  was  born  in 
Allegheny  Count}',  Pa.  She  lived  to  be  about 
sixty-seven  3'ears  old  and  at  the  time  of  her  death 
was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
To  their  union  were  born  nine  cluldren,  viz: 
Ira  A.,  Matilda,  Lucinda,  Abigal,  Sarah,  Henry, 
Susan,  Anna,  and  Jennie,  who  died  in   infancj'. 

Our  subject  remained  at  home  until  after  reach- 
ing his  tvventj'- fourth  year  and  attended  the  schools 
in  ins  neighborhood  ;  they  were  subscription  schools 
where  each  pupd  paid  $1.50  tuiiion,  and  were  nat- 
urally witliout  the  improvements  that  liave  since 
been  made  in  educational  matters.  He  worked  on 
a  farm  during  the  summer  and  at  an  earl}'  age 
developed  a  great  fondness  for  agricultural  pur- 
suits. When  twenty-four  years  of  age  lie  married 
Miss  Rebecca  Neff,  tlie  ceremonj'  taldng  place  on 
January  19,  1836.  Miss  Neff  was  born  in  Shenan- 
doah Countj',  Va.,  and  was  a  daugliter  of  Christian 
Neff,  who  was  also  a  native  of  A^irginia  and  a  far- 
mer and  rope-maker  by  occupation. 

Our  subject,  after  selling  out  his  property,  came 
to  Fulton  County,  settling  in  Liverpool  Township, 
having  made  the  trip  b}'  wagon  and  being  five 
weeks  on  the  road.     After  his   arrival    he    entered 


one  hundrel  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  section  6, 
and  spent  several  years  clearing  it  up.  He  bnilt  a 
rude  log  cabin  sucii  as  were  common  to  those  pio- 
neer days,  and  worked  faithfully  and  well  to  im- 
prove liis  proi)erty. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kuykendall  have  been  born 
three  children,  viz:  ChristianN,  Anna  A.  Mrs.  Rob- 
erts, who  is  dead;  and  INIary  Electa  Jane.  Mrs.  Phil- 
lijis.  They  are  both  members  of  the  Baptist  Church 
and  have  been  married  for  over  fifty  3'ears  and  have 
celebrated  their  golden  wedding.  Our  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  party  and  has  served  as 
Township  Commissioner  for  several  terms.  He  is  a 
prosperous  man,and  one  much  liked  throughout  this 
community  for  his  sterling  worth  and  integrity. 


-^^ 


R.  REAMER  A.  SAUNDERS,  a  wealthy 
and  popular  citizen  of  Avon,  was  for  many 
\'ears  one  of  the  foremost  physicians  in  this 
county;  his  learning,  hie  extensive  knowledge  of 
medicine,  and  iiis  marked  success  In  the  skillful 
treatment  of  disease  in  its  various  forms  placing 
him  at  the  head  of  his  profession.  After  an  active 
practice  of  thirty-five  years  he  was  obliged  to  retire 
on  account  of  an  injury  he  received  that  in- 
capacitated him  for  the  further  exercise  of  his  noble 
calling.  Besides  attending  to  his  duties  as  a  phy- 
sician the  Doctor  has  been  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  this  part  of  the  State  as  a 
farmer  and  druggist,  and  he  has  been  greatly  pros- 
pered as  a  business  man,  has  acquired  wealth,  is  a 
large  owner  of  real-estate,  and  is  one  of  the  leading 
men  of  Fulton  County  in  financial  as  well  as  in 
social  circles. 

Abraham  and  Sarah  (Kimes)  Saunders,  parents 
of  our  subject,  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the 
county,  locating  In  what  Is  now  known  as  Farming- 
ton  in  the  fall  of  1834,  and  their  names  will  ever 
be  cherished  among  those  of  the  honored  pioneers 
of  Illinois  who  aided  in  laying  the  solid  foundation 
of  its  prosperity  and  present  high  standing  as  one 
of  the  first  States  of  the  Union. 

Dr.  Saunders  was  a  boy  of  tliirtecn  wlien  became 
with  his   father  and  mother  from   the   place   of  his 


478 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


birtli  in  Meigs  Conntj',  Oiiio,  where  lie  was  born 
May  8,  1821.  amid  |)ioneer  surroundings.  He  as- 
sisted liis  father  in  the  work  of  developing  the  tract 
of  wild  prairie  in  P'armington  Townsliip  iiHo  a 
well-itnprovL'd  farm,  woriving  hard  on  the  old 
homestead  until  he  was  twenty-one,  witli  seldom 
ever  a  holiday  to  break  tlie  monotony  of  a  farmer's 
life.  In  his  boyhood  da^ys  his  education  was  only 
such  as  the  district  schools  afforded,  and  he  had  an 
intense  desire  to  increase  it.  having  scholarl}'  tastes 
and  being  a  lover  of  books,  and  after  he  attained 
his  majority  he  proceeded  to  gratify  his  ambition. 
He  first  took  one  term  of  an  academic  course  at 
Galesburg,  and  then  returning  to  his  native  Ohio, 
lie  attended  the  Gallopolis  Academy  one  terra. 
Wishing  to  enter  the  medical  profession,  for  which 
he  had  a  natural  taste,  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
Farmington.  and  in  the  winter  of  1843-'44,  read 
medicine  with  Dr.  Christie.  After  that  he  had  the 
benefit  of  one  term  of  lectures  in  the  State  Univer- 
sity of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  the  winter  of  1844-'45. 
Coming  back  to  this  county,  he  pursued  his  studies 
in  Canton  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Davidson, 
remaining  with  him  until  the  spring  of  1846.  He 
then  entered  upon  his  career  as  a  [thysieian,  estab- 
lishing himself  at  Greenbush,  in  Warren  County. 
He  did  not,  however,  abandon  his  studies,  although 
a  steadily  growing  practice  kept  him  quite  busy, 
and  in  the  winter  of  1848-'49  he  again  became  a 
student  in  the  University  of  St.  Louis,  where  he  at- 
tended an  advanced  course  of  lectures  and  received 
his  dii}lonia.  He  resumed  his  practice  in  Green- 
bush,  but  he  still  thirsted  for  greater  knowledge  of 
his  profession,  and  in  18.55  he  went  to  New  York  to 
avail  himself  of  the  supeiior  advantages  to  be  de- 
rived in  studying  under  the  eminent  pliysicians 
that  were  connected  with  the  L'niversity  of  Medi- 
cine in  that  city,  avd  he  gained  great  profit  by  at- 
tendance at  a  course  of  lectures  in  that  institution. 
The  Doctor  continued  to  administer  relief  to  the 
sick  people  of  Greenbush  and  the  surrounding 
country  until  the  fall  of  1859.  and  having  been 
successful  financiall}'  as  well  as  otherwise,  he  then 
invested  some  of  his  funds  in  a  farm  in  Berwick 
Township.  Warren  County,  and  taking  up  his  abode 
thereon,  combined  farming  with  his  practice,  which 
he   had  wished    to  abandon,  but  his  old  neighbors 


and  patients  would  not  allow  Lira  to  do  so.  such 
was  their  confidence  in  his  skill  and  learning.  In 
August,  1861,  he  offered  his  services  to  his  country, 
enlisting  in  Company  E,  Thirty-third  Illinois  In- 
fantry, under  Col.  Hovey.  The  Thirty- third  was 
known  as  the  "Normal  Regiment,"  as  it  was  com- 
posed almost  entirely  of  students  and  professionals. 
Our  subject  did  noble  work  while  he  was  connected 
with  the  ariri3%  but  the  hardships  and  privations 
that  he  had  to  endure  undermined  his  health,  and 
at  the  end  of  five  months'  service  he  was  discharged 
on  account  of  disabilit}-. 

After  he  left  the  army  Dr.  Saunders  returned  to 
his  farm,  and  in  1872  took  up  his  residence  in  Avon, 
and  in  1873  he  made  a  six  months'  tour  of  England. 
Scotland,  France,  Belgium,  and  Holland.  On  re- 
turning he  bought  a  stock  of  drugs  and  opened 
a  store  in  Avon  in  connection  with  his  practice. 
He  managed  it  for  about  a  j'ear,  and  at  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time  moved  to  Galesburg  in  January, 
1876.  In  the  winter  of  187S-'79  he  went  to  the 
South.  In  the  following  spring  he  located  on  one 
of  his  farms  in  Warren  County,  on  which  he  lived 
two  years,  and  then  once  more  returned  to  dwell  in 
Avon.  In  the  spring  of  1881  he  received  an  in- 
jury, which  precluded  his  further  practice  of  his 
profession. 

In  the  spring  of  1885  our  subject  took  a  new 
depariure,  and  we  find  him  pleasantly  situated  in 
Riverside,  Cal.,  where  he  became  extensively  inter- 
ested in  orange  culture,  setting  out  an  orange  grove 
of  fire  jicres,  which  he  had  in  bearing  in  three 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1890  he  revisited  Avon 
temporarily  to  superintend  the  erection  of  a  fine 
residence,  to  cost  about  $5,000,  in  which  he  intends 
to  make  his  home  summers,  while  he  will  continue 
to  pass  his  winters  in  California.  He  is  a  man  of 
high  personal  standing,  being  well  known  and  hon- 
cred  throughout  this  anti  other  counties.  He  is  a 
gentleman  of  wide  experience  and  varied  informa- 
tion, and  his  wit,  his  geniality,  and  other  pleasant 
social  qualities  make  liim  a  favorite  in  social  circles 
wherever  he  m.ay  be.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republi- 
can, but  has  never  allowed  the  use  of  his  name  for 
office. 

Dr.  Saunders  is  happy  in  his  domestic  relations, 
as  bj-  his  marriage  in  the  month  of  November,  1846, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


479 


with  Miss  Mary  Ann  Kirkpatrick,  lie  secured  the 
companionsliip  of^one  who  fills  in  a  p(M'fec't  meas- 
ure the  [lositioiis  of  wife,  mother  and  friend.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  dead.  Their  daughter, 
Juliet  was  born  in  1848  and  died  in  infancy;  Sarah 
ftlariiida,  born  in  1850,  luarried  in  1870,  and  died 
in  187'J,  in  the  month  of  April,  leaving  one  son. 
Her  husband,  Robert;Johnson,  died  in  188.5.  One 
daughter,  Clara  E.,  born  February ^7,  1854,  remains 
'"to  comfort  the  declining  years  of  iier  jjarents.  The 
family  are  valued  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church. 


)  EORG  E  B.  ROLLER,  is  a  practical  and  wide- 
awake business  man  of  Canton,  and  is  a 
brick  manufacturer  of  some  prominence 
throughout  this  county.  His  birth  occurred  at 
Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  February  21,  1855,  he  being 
the  son  of  Matthew  and  Susan'(Bronson )  Roller. 

Our  subject  has  lived  in  Canton  since  he  was  two 
years  of  age,  receiving  his  education  in  the  High 
School  of  this  city.  He  partially  learned  the  black- 
smith trade  from  his  father,  and  then  took  a  posi- 
tion in  the  Parlin  &  Orcndorff  manufacturing 
establishment.  Naturally  this  position  at  first, 
when  he  commenced  to  work  in  1872  was  but  a 
poor  one,  but  in  a  short  time  he  became  an  expert 
in  the  manufacture  of  plows.  He  continued  his 
connection  with  this  firm  until  1889,  at  that  date 
starting  to  manufacture  brick  jnst  outside  of  the 
city  limits  of  Canton,  and  at  the  termination  of 
Illinois  Street.  Mr.  Roller  is  the  sole  proprietor  of 
his  business,  and  even  from  the  start  met  with 
marked  success,  and  as  the  months  passed  by  his 
trade  continued  to  increase,  until  at  present  time  he 
works  a  large  force  and  is  doing  a  first-class  busi- 
ness. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  married  Miss  Juliet 
Palmer,  a  native  of  Canton,  and  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Amanda  A.  (Talmage)  Pajmer.  Mrs.  Roller's 
parents  were  formerly  from  New  York,  and  num- 
ber among  the  oldest  residents  in  this  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roller  were  married  on  March  27, 


1877,  and  to  them^have  been  born  two  children, 
viz:  Henry  P.  and  Ethel  M.  Mrs. '[Roller  is  a 
member  of  tliejRebecca  SDegree  of  |^Odd. Fellows. 
Mr.  Roller  is  an  Odd^Fcliow,  and  a'member  of  the 
Olive  Branch  Lodge,  and  Star  Encampment.  He  is 
one  of  the  brightest  and^most  active  members  of  tiiis 
order.  At  the  present  time  he  is  Alderman  for  the 
First  Ward  of  Canton,  and  held  the  same  position 
in  1885. 

Our  subjectCis  turning  out  ten  thousand  brick 
per  day,  and  having  worked  up  to  all  the[]different 
branches  of  his  business  is  well  qualified  to  achieve 
unlimited  success  in  this  line. 

Our  subject's  father  was  born  at  Baden  Baden, 
Germany  in  1824  and  emigrated  to  America  while 
quite  a  young  man,  and  after  reaching  this  country 
settled  in  Allegheny  City,  Pa.,  where  he  worked  as 
a  blacksmith  for  a  number  of  years.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  was  Miss  Susan  Bronson,  previous 
to  her  marriage  and  was  born  in  the  State  of  Ohio 
in  1829.  They  settled  in  Canton  in  1857  and 
through  the  passing  3'ears  have  continued  to  make 
this  their  home,  the  father  working  at  his  trade 
until  the  last  six  or  seven  years,  during  which  time 
he  moved  to  the  country.  However,  he  had  re- 
turned to  the  citj'  previous  to  his  death  which 
occurred  in  March  1884 — his  wife  dying  in  August 
the  same  year.  Our  subject's  parents  had  live  chil- 
dren, viz:  Anna  Mary,  wife  of  Lee  N.  Gillett,  of 
Canton;  our  subject;  Joseph;  John  Albert,  who 
died  in  infancy,  and  Laura,  who  resides  in  Canton. 

Mr.  Roller's  career  up  to  the  present  time  has 
been  a  most  successful  and  deserving  one,  and  his 
prospects  for  the  future  are  indeed  bright  and 
promising. 


¥ 


ILLIAM  R.  CLARK,  an  old  resi<lent  and 
prosperous  farmer  of  Liverpool  Township, 
W^  made  his  first  appearance  into  this  world  in 
Miami  Countj',  Ohio,  on  July  15,  1823.  His  an- 
cestors were  of  Irish-German  origin.  His  father, 
Isaac  Clark,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  but  moved 
to  Miami  County,  Ohio,  at  a  very  early  dale  num- 
bering among  the  pioneers  of  that  county.  He  took 
up  Government  land  and  cleared  a  farm  from   the 


480 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


woods  which  was  full  of  heavy  beech  timber.  His 
prosperity  was  great  and  in  course  of  time  lie  owned 
quite  a  large  and  valuable  farm.  B}-  trade  he  was 
a  blacksmith,  and  continued  to  work  at  it  in  con- 
nection with  his  other  employment.  In  1830  he 
came  to  Sangamon  County,  this  -State,  where  he 
bought  a  quarter  of  a  section  of  land.  .Many  of  the 
stones  used  in  Uie  construction  of  the  State  Capi- 
tol were  taken  from  a  quarry  on  his  farm  in  Sanga- 
mon County.  He  moved  to  Liverpool  Township 
and  immediatel}'  settled  on  section  21.  where  he 
purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  land.  He  built  a 
double  log  house,  and  a  saw  and  grist  mill  on  the 
Little  Sister  Creek  and  operated  it  for  ten  years. 
His  death  occurred  after  he  had  attained  his  sixtv- 
sixlh  3'ear.  and  he  died  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  Mr.  Clark's  mother,  who  previous  to  her 
mari'iage  was  ]Miss  Sarah  Royal,  was  born  in  Ohio 
and  lived  to  be  fift3'-four  years  old.  To  his  parents 
were  born  six  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
turity :  L3-dia,  Mrs.  Snell ;  Ezekiel  F. ;  Margaret, 
Mrs.  Grigsby;  Amj-,  Mrs.  Bryant,  and  James.  Mr. 
Clark's  maternal  grandfather.  James  Royal,  was  a 
native  of  England,  and  upon  coming  to  the  United 
States  settled  in  Ohio  and  later  came  to  Sangamon 
County,  111  ,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  ninety. 

Our  subject  received  only  a  moderate  amount  of 
education  in  the  log  schoolliouses  common  to 
those  days.  At  an  early  age  he  was  emplojed  to 
help  clear  up  the  land,  and  remained  at  the  home 
farm  until  he  was  twentj'-one years  of  age,  at  which 
time  he  commenced  working  for  himself.  For  five 
years  he  worked  on  the  old  home  place  and  then 
bought  forty  acres,  ten  nf  which  was  improved.  He 
was  very  industrious  and  in  a  period  of  six  years 
was  able  to  increase  the  size  of  his  farm.  He  has 
been  an  exceedingly-  hard  working  man  and  is  noted 
for  his  strict  integrity  and  intelligence.  He  has 
made  over  ten  thousand  rails  on  his  place  and 
raised  stock  besides  attending  to  his  farming  duty. 
He  has  been  three  times  married.  First,  in  1849,  to 
Miss  Elcy  Fitzgerald,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  who 
lived  to  be  forty-six  3ears  of  age.  To  this  union 
were  born  four  children,  viz:  Emr}'  W.;  Jessie  B.; 
Orville  W.,  and  Lydia.  His  wife  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church  and  is  buried  at  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant Cemeterj-.     In  18G3,  Mr.   Clark  married    Miss 


Sarah  E.  Grisby,  and  to  this  marriage  wei"e  born 
four  children,  viz:  Delta  M. ;  Carrie;  Nellie,  and 
William  M.  Mrs.  Clark  was  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  and  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty -six,  being  buried  at  Mt.  Pleasant  Cemeterj'. 
Once  more  in  1879.  our  suliject  was  married,  this 
time  to  Miss  Huldy  ^IcCuraber.  a  native  of  Fulton 
County.  To  their  union  were  born  five  children, 
viz:  liadie  E. ;  Phcebe;  Burleigh  W. :  Iv^'  P.,  and  a 
babe  unnamed. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  are  both  members  of  the  Mt. 
Pleasant  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  he  is  a 
member  of  no  political  part}',  but  votes  for  the  man 
he  thinks  capable  of  filling  the  desired  position.  At 
the  present  time  he  is  a  I'rosperous  and  highl}'  re- 
^;pected  man  and  has  the  pleasure  of  looking  back 
upon  a  long  course  of  life  well  spent. 


EDWARD  F.  WIESNER.  Among  the  at- 
tractive estates  of  Orion  Township  there  is 
'  one  com4)rising  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 

uf  land  on  section  2,  to  which  the  eye  of  the  p.asser- 
by  returns  again  and  again.  Everything  about  the 
place  boars  an  air  of  neatness  and  order,  while  a 
complete  line  of  excellent  buildings,  an  orchard, 
and  well-kept  fences  add  to  the  pleasing  prospect 
afforded  by  well-cultivated  fields.  This  place  is 
owned  and  occupied  by  the  gentleman  with  whose 
name  we  initiate  this  sketch,  and  who,  although 
3'oung,  holds  an  excellent  rank  among  agricultur- 
ists. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  only  living  child 
of  John  C.  and  Mary  (Metzner)  Wiesner,  natives 
of  German}',  whence  the>'  emigrated  to  America 
about  thirty-five  j'ears  ago.  They  are  now  living 
in  Box  Butte  County,  Neb.,  and  have  accumulated 
considerable  property.  The  father  served  nine 
j'ears  and  six  months  in  the  Prussian  arinj'. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  in  Peoria 
County,  November  3,  18G1.  He  acquired  a  good 
practical  education  in  the  common  schools,  and 
entered  upon  his  career  in  life,  well  equipped 
with  industrious  habits,  useful  knowledge  and  good 
principles  of  living.   In  politics  be  is  a  Republican. 


^$7  "^ie^^ZZ^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


4  S3 


On  January  30,  1883,  he  took  for  a  helpmate  and 
companion  Miss  Nellie  V.,  daughter  of  Jolin  and 
Mary  Scovil,  early  settlers  of  Peoria  Count}'.  Mr. 
and  Mis.  Wiesner  have  one  child,  Claude  Leroy, 
born  September  2,  1886.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scovil  were 
natives  of  New  York  and  Ohio,  respectively. 


,ETER  YERGER  CUSTER.  Among  the  citi- 
zens who  have  contributed  their  quota  to- 
ward the  development  of  our  native  land, 
and  who,  by  patience  and  perseverance  have 
made  America  what  it  is,  may  be  properly  men- 
tioned this  gentleman,  who  is  well  known  for  his 
integrity  as  a  citizen  and  his  public  si)irit  as  a  pa- 
triot. He  was  for  many  years  an  active  and  suc- 
cessful farmer  in  Fulton  Township,  and  carried  on 
his  o])erations  with  more  than  ordinary  thrift  and 
sagacity.  He  became  prosperous  in  the  pursuit  of 
his  calling,  establishing  what  was  considered  one 
of  the  model  farms  of  the  count\-,  and  when  old 
age  came  upon  him  he  was  enabled  to  retire  to  a 
comfortable  home  in  Canton,  where  he  lives,  re- 
spected and  esteemed. 

ISIr.  Custer  was  born  in  Montgomery  County, 
near  what  is  now  the  village  of  Trajjpe,  Pa..  Jnly 
31,  1818.  His  father,  Jacob  V.  Custer,  was  born 
in  the  same  county,  Februar}- 5,  1890.  His  grand- 
father, whose  given  name  was  Peter,  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  that  county,  and  was  of  Low  Dutch  descent. 
He  was  born  November  20,  1761.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  was  Catherine  (Yerger)  Custer,  and 
she  was  born  in  Mo>itgomery  Countj-,  Pa.,  Decem- 
ber 13,  1795,  and  ditd  March  14,  1869.  Her  father 
bore  the  name  of  David  Yerger.  She  became  the 
mother  of  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, namely:  David  Y. ;  Rebecca  Y.,  wife  of 
Jacob  Rambo;  Peter,  of  whom  we  write;  Jacob  Y., 
deceased;  Catherine,  who  married  John  Nace  and 
is  now  deceased. 

Our  subject  was  the  second  son  and  third  child 
in  the  family  and  was  reared  in  his  native  village, 
receiving  his  education  in  its  schools,  which  he  at- 
tended until  he   was  twenty  years  old.     He    also 


attended  a  boarding  school  at  Trappe.  the  princi- 
pal of  which  was  the  Rev.  Henry  S.  Rhodenbaugh. 
After  leaving  school,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
teaching,  and  for  several  years  successfully  fol- 
lowed that  profession  and  also  gave  lectures  on  as- 
tronomy one  winter.  Subsequently  he  opei'ated  a 
woolen  mill  in  the  village  of  Parker's  Ford.  Ches- 
ter County,  Pa.,  for  seven  years,  then  farmed  for  a 
time. 

In  the  spring  of  1857,  having  resolved  to  come 
West,  Mr.  Custer  sought  Canton,  where  he  resided 
for  one  year.  Then  buying'  a  farm,  four  miles 
northwest  of  tiial  city,  he  managed  tin;  eighty  acres 
of  which  it  consisted  for  twenty  years.  He  gave 
his  attention  principally  to  raising  hogs  and  corn 
for  the  market.  In  the  meantime,  he  placed  his 
land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  erecting 
substantial  and  convenieirtly  arranged  buildings; 
everything  about  the  i)lace  betokened  the  industi'y 
and  thrift  of  the  owner.  Apropos  of  this  it  may 
be  mentioned  that  Mr.  Custer,  in  1872,  was 
awarded  first  premium  for  the  best  conducted  farm 
in  Fulton  County.  It  contained  eighty  acres  of 
well-tilled  land. 

In  1877  Mr.  Custer  sold  his  farm  to  his  son-in- 
law,  Joseph  Thornborrow.  and  retired  to  his  pleas- 
ant home  in  Canton.  His  career  throughout  his 
life,  as  a  gentleman  and  a  citizen,  and  in  all  the 
relations  he  has  sustained  towards  others,  h.ns 
shown  him  to  be  possessed  of  an  honorable  charac- 
ter. His  honesty  and  integrit}'  have  never  been 
questioned  and  he  is  highly  esteemed  by  the  entire 
community.  Religiously,  he  is  a  member  of  tiie 
Lutheran  Church,  to  which  his  first  wife  belonged 
for  fifty  years  prior  to  her  death.  In  politics  he  is 
a  stanch  Republican,  and  is  always  willing  to  work 
for  his  friends  and  anxious  to  see  them  successful 
when  nominated.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  William  Henry  Harrison,  and  fifty  j'ears 
later  had  the  pleasure  of  voting  for  that  illustrious 
President's  grandson. 

Mr.  Custer  has  been  twice  married.  In  Septem 
ber,  1842,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mijs 
Hannah  B.  Albright,  of  Berks  County,  Pn.,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  K.  Albright,  and  a  sister  of  Dr. 
Albright,  formerly  of  Canton.  She  was  born  in 
1817  and    died  in    Canton   in  June,  1.S87.     Of  her 


484 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


marriage  six  children  are  living,  namelj'':  Emanuel 
A.;  Emma  A.,  wife  of  Joseph  Thornbonow;  Jacob 
A.,  a  resident  of  Washington  County,  Iowa;  David 
H.  A.,  deceased;  Peter  A.,  a  resident  of  Pike 
County,  III.;  Catherine,  who  married  James  P. 
Miller,  of  this  county,  and  Henry  A.,  a  moulder  of 
Canton. 

Mr.  Custer  was  married  to  his  present  wife  Sep- 
tember 20,  1888.  She  was  formerly  Ellenor  M. 
AVebb,  of  Canton,  and  was  the  widow  of  William 
A.  Webb,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Maria 
Johnson.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  the  cit}'  of 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  her  mother  was  born  in 
Greenwich,  near  Albany.  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Custer  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  the  same  State  as  her 
mother,  and  is  universally  esteemed  for  her  many 
excellent  traits  of  character. 

A  lithograijhie  portrait  of  Mr.  Custer  is  shown 
in  connection  with  this  brief  biographical  sketch. 


^,  TEPHEN  A.  KELLY,  a  son  of  a  well- 
known  and  highly  respected  i)ioneer,  John 
B.  Kelly,  and  a  native  of  this  county,  is 
one  of  its  most  progressive  and  popular  citi- 
zens, and  is  an  intelligent  and  efficient  civic 
official.  He  is  prominently  identified  with  the 
farming  interests  of  Orion  Township,  where  he 
is  ablj'  managing  his  extensive  agricultural  inter- 
ests on  his  father's  finely  improved  farm  on  section 
1 1,  which  the  latter  purchased  half  a  century  ago, 
and  developed  by  bard  and  persistent  labor  into 
one  of  the  choicest  estates  in  this  localitv. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Cattarau- 
gus County,  N.  Y.,  February  .6,  1820.  His  first 
marriage  was  in  1840,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Smith,  who 
died  in  1841  leaving  no  children.  He  was  married 
the  second  time  to  R.acliael  Proctor,  of  McLean 
County,  111.,  tiieir  union  taking  place  February  19, 
1842.  She  was  born  April  24.  1821.  Mr.  Kelly 
had  come  to  Orion  Township  in  tiie  spring  of  1840, 
:ind  purchased  the  farm  on  which  he  resided  wiih 
his  family  until  his  death.  August  10.  1890.  He 
w.as  very  much  ])rospered  ir.  his  pioneer  labors  and 
accumulated   a  comfortable  properlj-.     For  many 


years  he  took  an  active  part  in  public  affairs,  but 
transmitted  to  his  son  Stephen,  our  subject,  that 
interest  formerly  held  by  himself,  .as  he  was  in 
very  feeble  health,  he  having  been  severely  injured 
in  the  Chatsworth  disaster,  August  10,  1887,  hav- 
ing been  one  of  that  large  part3'  of  excursionists 
that  started  from  Peoria  to  visit  Niagara  Falls. 
He  was  one  of  the  original  Republicans  of  this  State 
and  voted  for  Fremont,  was  ver^'  active  in  aiding 
to  raise  troops  for  the  late  war,  and  gave  two  of 
his  sons  to  the  service.  He  was  intrusted  with  all 
the  numerous  township  offices  at  some  period  of 
his  residence  in  the  township,  and  wiis  v.ak!ed  very 
highlj-  in  his  civic  capacity. 

Hy  their  marriage  John  B.  and  Rachael  Kelly 
became  the  parents  of  fourteen  children, as  follows: 
Elizabeth,  born  September  14,  1844.  married  John 
W.  Tyndall,  Februarj'  13.  1868,  and  lives  in  Orion 
Township;  Nelson,  born  December  25,  1845.  mar- 
ried Sophia  Bitts  and  lives  in  Peoria  Count}-; 
Alonzo,  born  Februarj-  10,  1847.  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany £,  Twelfth  Illinois  Cavalr},  and  died  at  Baton 
Rouge,  La.,  February  1,  1864;  AVilliam,  born  April 
15,  1848,  lives  in  Pekin;  Jennie,  born  September 
12,  1849,  married  Walter  Eagles  and  lives  in  Orion 
Township;  Hannah,  born  November  14,  1850, 
married  Mark  Bowton,  and  died  January  8,  1872; 
Hanson,  born  August  29,  1852,  married  Alice 
Richardson  and  lives  on  the  homestead  ;  Alice,  born 
November  6,  1853,  married  F.  Rice,  December  12, 
1872,  and  lives  in  Orion  Township;  Stephen  A., 
born  November  26,  1856,  married  Lyde  Kleffman 
January  21.  1888,  who  died  November  20,  1 889, 
leaving  one  daughter,  Lj'de;  John  F.,  born  Sep- 
tember 3,  1857,  married  Alice  Bell  and  lives  in 
Orion  Township;  Orren,  born  December  7,  1859, 
died  in  infancy;  Cassia  A.,  born  January  8,  18GU, 
married  Lemuel  R.  Vandeventer,  and  lives  in  Orion 
Township;  Emma,  born  August  15,  1862,  died 
August  22,  1866;  Warren,  born  July  6,  186J.  mar- 
ried Annie  Duffield  and  lives  in  Peoria. 

Stephen  A.  Kelly,  of  this  sketch,  was  reared  and 
educated  in  this  county,  and  early  adopted  the 
calling  to  which  he  bad  been  bred.  In  1883  he 
went  to  Dakota,  and  there  he  engaged  in  stock-rais- 
ing and  w.as  quite  successful  financially.  He  sub- 
sequeutl}'  returned  to  Orion  Township,  and   is  now 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


■4H5 


managing  his  father's  valuable  faini  on  section  U. 
This  comprises  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
and  is  amply  supi)lied  with  substantial  and  conven- 
iently arranged  buildings,  and  all  the  appurte- 
nances of  a  flrst-class  farm. 

Mr.  Kelly  is  a  true,  courteous  gentleman,  con- 
siderate and  genial  in  his  intercourse  with  others, 
and  a  general  favorite  among  his  associates.  In 
business  matters  he  is  wide-awake  and  keen,  and  is 
judicious  and  fair  in  his  dealings.  His  character 
ami  capability  eminently  fit  him  for  positions  of  trust 
and  honor,  and  he  is  following  in  his  father's  foot- 
steps as  a  public  otlicial.  He  represents  Orion 
Township  on  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors, 
and  the  fact  that  the  township  is  a  Democratic 
stronghold,  yet  he,  a  stanch  Republican,  was  elec- 
ted by  a  majority  of  fifty-one,  demonstrates  his 
popularity. 


(^^HOMAS  OFFICER  CAMRON.  Those  in- 
,fcj^.  terested  in  pioneer  experiences  would  derive 
Vi^'  much  pleasure  from  conversation  with  this 
gentleman  who  well  remembers  many  incidents  of 
frontier  life  in  this  county.  His  father,  James 
Camron,  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  whence  he  came 
to  White  Couut3'  when  but  a  child.  He  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Joel  Harrell,  a  Kentuckian 
and  a  slaveholder,  who  on  removing  to  what  was 
then  the  Territory  of  Illinois  brought  slaves  with 
hira.  The  m;irriage  of  this  couple  was  probably 
the  first  celebrated  in  Cass  Township.  Their  first 
home  was  near  Smithfield  where  their  first-born, 
our  suliject,  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  February 
1H.1828.  His  parents  had  eleven  children,  nine  of 
whom  lived  to  maturitj'.  The  mother  entered  into 
rest  in  1872  and  the  father  subsequently  contracted 
a  second  marriage. 

AVhen  our  subject  was  about  six  years  old  his 
parents  removed  to  a  farm  near  Bcrnadotte,  being 
accompanied  liy  his  uncles,  Tliomas  and  John.  The 
latter  had  begun  building  a  mill  which  was  the 
starting  point  of  the  town,  and  was  the  first  water- 
mill  on  Spoon  River.  He,  of  whom  we  write,  dis- 
tinctly remembers  the  journey  hither  and  that,  the 


river  being  up,  the  goods  were  brought  across  in 
an  Indian  dugout  while  the  men  were  obliged  to 
swim  and  drive  their  stock.  A  cabin  was  built  in 
the  brush  from  which  their  land  extended  on  to 
•the  prairie  to  the  south.  This  part  of  the  farm  was 
soon  placed  under  cultivation,  and  by  the  aid  of 
their  cattle,  of  which  the}-  owned  a  consideral)le 
number,  the  brush  was  soon  killed  around  the 
house.  The  stock  grazed  about  at  will  aiui  Mrs. 
Camron  was  in  the  habit  of  sprinkling  salt  about 
in  the  brush  when  the  dew  was  on  to  induce  the 
animals  to  graze  there  and  so  tramp  down  the 
bushes. 

The  sod  of  the  prairie  was  turned  b}'  a  plow  with 
a  wooden  moldboard,  drawn  by  an  ox-team,  and 
the  tract  upon  which  our  subject  now  lives  is 
one  of  the  first  pieces  subdued  from  its  primitive 
wildness.  Mr.  Camron  i-emembers  an  Indian  scare 
which  was  occasioned  by  a  settler  named  Welsh  who 
lived  some  five  miles  northwest,  passing  Mr.  Cam- 
ron's  yelling  and  comporting  Irimself  in  a  savage 
manner,  thus  giving  the  impression  that  the  rod 
men  were  in  the  neighborhood.  On  another  occa- 
sion Indians  had  camjied  in  the  vicinity,  and  refus- 
ing to  leave  when  ordered  to  do  so  were  set  upon 
with  hickory  switches  and  whiijped  awaj'.  AVhile 
the  home  of  our  subject's  |iarents  was  near  Smith- 
field  there  was  an  unusual  fall  of  snow  wlsich  is 
distinctly  recalled  by  Mr.  Camron.  His  father  was 
gettuig  in  wood  by  hitching  the  horse  to  a  "drag" 
and  starting  him  homeward  in  a  place  which  he  had 
broken  down  somewhat  in  the  snow.  The  wife 
would  unhitch  the  horse  and  start  him  back  to  her 
husband,  in  this  way  saving  his  passage  to  and  fro 
in  the  drifts. 

He  of  whom  we  write,  received  his  education  in 
an  old  log  sehoolhouse  about  two  miles  from  his 
home,  his  text  books  being  Webster's  Speller  and 
a  [jaddle,  and  during  the  latter  part  of  his  ,attend- 
ance,  a  geogra|>hv'.  He  lived  on  the  home  farm 
until  he  was  twenty-two  years  old,  when  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  MaryC.  Ellis,  entered 
a  prairie  farm  in  Boone  County,  Iowa,  and  estab- 
lished his  home  there.  Mrs.  Camron  is  a  daughter 
of  Solomon  H.  Ellis,  one  of  the  olil  settlors  in 
While  County,  where  she  was  born  and  lived  to  the 
age  of  eighteen  years.  She  belongs  to  a  famil\'  which 


486 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


is  of  the  Dunkaid  religion.  She  has  borne  her  hus- 
band nine  chihlien,  two  of  whom  died  it!  infanc}'. 
The  survivors  are  Joel  Franklin,  Permclia  J., 
Emma  A.,  Ellen,  Eiios  A.,  William  II.  and  Alice  S. 
The  oldest  of  these  has  a  wife  and  three  children 
and  is  uow  farming  in  Calhoun  Count}',  Iowa.  Per- 
nielia  is  the  wife  of  J.  F.  Harrold,  of  Farmers 
Township,  and  Ellen,  the  wife  of  M.  Diinblazier.also 
a  farmer  in  this  township.  The  others  arc  unmar- 
ried and  still  reside  under  the  parental  roof. 

The  Iowa  home  of  our  suliject  was  about  sev- 
enty miles  from  ,S|)irit  Lake  where  the  massacre 
took  place  in  1.S47,  the  section  at  the  lime  of  his 
residence  being  quite  on  the  frontier.  When  the 
war  luoke  out  Jlr.  Camron  returned  to  his  native 
State  with  the  intention  of  leaving-  his  family  at 
home  and  going  into  the  arm}'.  His  people,  how- 
ever, were  so  set  .-^gainst  his  intention  that  he  finally 
abandoned  it  and  settled,  selling  his  Iowa  land  and 
buying  about  two  miles  north  of  his  present  resi- 
dence. There  he  remained  twelve  years,  then 
traded  for  about  eleven  hundred  acres  in  Arkan- 
sas Couut}',  Ark.,  where  he  made  his  home  three 
years.  He  then  returned  to  this  county,  traded  a 
part  of  his  land  for  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in 
Bernaiilotte  Township,  near  the  village,  upon  the 
corporation  line  of  which  the  tract  corne'S.  The 
most  of  this  property  is  under  a  fine  state  of  culti- 
vation, but  our  subject  makes  his  home  on  his  fa- 
ther's homestead  in  order  to  keep  it  in  proper 
condition. 

Although  favoring  Democratic  views  in  the 
main,  Mr.  Camron  is  not  so  radical  a  party  man  as 
many  of  his  associates.  He  has  never  been  an  of- 
fice-holder, finding  sufficient  occupation  in  his  per- 
sonal affairs,  the  quiet  duties  of  citizenship  and  the 
pleasures  of  social  and  domestic  life. 


present  sketch  is  a  man  whose   history  it  is 


^!^EORGE  W.  DOBSON.     The  subject  of  our 

'^^41  a  pleasure  to  place  in  our  At.iiuM.  from  the 
fact  that  his  success  in  life  is  an  aihnirable  example 
to  the  younger  members  of  our  society,  and  be- 
cause a  record  of  his   faithful  and  courageous  ser- 


vice during  the  late  war  cannot  fail  to  be  of  interest 
to  the  genejal  reader.  He  was  horn  in  Woodland 
Township,  July  23,  1845,  being  a  son  of  Joseph 
Dobson. 

Our  suhjoct's  father  was  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
but  came  to  this  |)lace  in  1830,  making  the  trip  by 
means  of  a  flalboat  down  tiie  Ohio  River  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  coming  up  that  river 
and  the  Illinois  River  landed  at  Point  Isabel,  being 
one  of  the  first  settlers  here.  He  came  in  1833 
and  took  up  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  Gov- 
ernment land.  The  country  was  very  wild  and  the 
land  Covered  with  heavy  timber  and  he  was  com- 
pelled to  content  himself  with  a  lude  log  cabin 
while  he  cleared  the  land  preparatory  to  farming. 
He  next  moved  to  Woodland  Township  where  he 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on 
section  1.  He  lived  there  until  the  spring  of  1805 
at  which  time  his  death  occurred.  He  served  in 
the  Mexican  War  for  one  year  and  was  discharged 
at  Comargo,  Mexico,  on  account  of  disabilitj-.  He 
was  at  one  time  a  Whig  and  afterward  a  member 
of  the  Republican  party.  lie  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Shealds,  who  was  born  in  Corydon,  Ind.  She 
lived  to  be  sixty-eight  years  of  age,  and  was  the 
mother  of  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  grew  to 
maturity,  viz.:  Martha.  William  M..  James  V., 
John  M.,  Anna,  Mrs.  Rancaus,  Martin  K.,  George 
W.,  Ellen,  Hardin,  and  Winfleld  S. 

Mr.  Dobson  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  like  the 
majority  of  boys  at  that  daj-,  attended  school 
through  the  winter  and  worked  on  tlie  farm  through 
the  summer.  When  only  eighteen  3'ears  of  age  he 
enlisted  in  the  army  August  23.  1863,  in  Company 
K,  Sixteenth  Illinois  Cavalr}^  and  was  sent  to  Cov- 
ington, and  then  through  the  Cumberland  Moun- 
tains and  was  at  the  siege  of  Knoxville.  Tenn.  He 
was  captured  at  Jonesville,  ^'a..  in  January.  1864, 
and  was  taken  on  foot  bare-footed,  to  Lynchburg, 
and  then  to  Richmond,  where  he  was  placed  in 
prison  for  four  weeks,  and  then  sent  to  Anderson- 
vdle  Prison  where  he  reniained  another  four  weeks. 
He,  with  other  prisoners,  flanked  out  and  went  to 
Richmond,  where  he  was  taken  sick  and  sent  to  a 
hospital.  He  was  i)aroled  and  sent  to  Annapolis 
and  in  August  was  sent  home.  In  October,  1864, 
he    returned    to   his    regiment    and    was    in  Hood's 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


487 


cam|)aign  avouiiil  Nashville  until  1865,  ari'l  was 
discliarged  on  August,  25,  of  that  year  at  Nashville, 
In  1874  he  came  here  and  settled,  renting  land  in 
Isaliel  Township  where  he  lived  until  1878  and 
then  moved  to  Kerton  Tovvnship,  taking  possession 
of  the  eighty  acres  of  land  which  his  wife's  fatlier 
had  given  her  in  that  tovvnship. 

The  subject  of  our  sketcli  was  married  November 
4,  1874,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Brown,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Brown,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  Al- 
BU5(.  To  this  marriage  were  horn  three  children, 
viz.:  Lnliend  E.,  Freddy,  and  John  M.  Mr.  Dob- 
stni  is  in  sympathy  with  the  Republican  party  and 
is  largely  interested  in  all  public  measures  that 
promise  to  benefit  the  community  in  which  he 
resi<les. 


E.  OVERTON,  the  subject  of  the  present 
sketch,  is  a  native  of  Bernadotte  Township, 
Fulton  County,  111.,  having  been  born  July 
25,  1841.  His  parents,  Francis  L.  and  Sarah  (Van 
Dorn)  Overton,  settled  in  Bernadotte  Township 
near  Ira  Elrod,  in  the  year  1853,  and  two 
years  later  removed  to  section  7,  where  they  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  the  father's  death.  Francis 
L.  Overton  taught  school  in  his  younger  days,  l)ut 
after  coming  to  this  county  devoted  his  time  to 
farming  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  local  affairs, 
at  various  times  holding  offices  of  trust  and  respon- 
sibility. He  was  especial}}'  interested  in  educa- 
tional matters.  His  wife,  who  at  the  time  of  their 
marriage  was  Mrs.  Sarah  AViicox,  owned  the  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  a  part  of  which 
her  son  now  resides.  Their  union  was  blessed 
with  the  following  children:  Cliarles  E. ;  Luther  M., 
who  was  married  first  to  Miss  Mary  Fate,  and  after- 
ward to  Miss  Alice  Vorhees,  and  who  lives  on  a 
part  of  the  old  homestead;  Harriet  M.,  who  mar- 
ried George  Fate,  and  died  nineteen  years  ago; 
Alice  A.,  who  married  Mrs.  Curtis  J.  Strode,  lives 
in  Lee  Township,  this  county;  and  Francis  L.  The 
latter  and  his  wife  Sarah  are  buried  in  the  Randall 
gravey'ard  side  bj'  side. 

Charles   Overton    was    educated    in    the    public 
schools,    and    passed  one  term  in  the   Lewistown 


Seminary,  acquiring  thus  a  sufficient  amount  of 
knowledge  to  begin  teaching  at  the  early  age  of 
eighteen.  However,  after  two  terms  of  teaching 
and  when  he  had  reached  his  twentieth  year,  he  en- 
listed as  a  soldier  in  the  I'luon  Army  on  Septem- 
ber 10,  18G1.  He  was  in  Company  G,  Fiftieth 
Regiment  Illinois  Infantry,  which  was  organized  at 
(_iuiney.  111.,  and  his  first  service  was  in  Missouri 
along  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Railroad.  He 
figured  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  narrowly  es- 
caped a  very  serious  wound,  a  ball  striking  the 
metal  on  his  leather  belt  and  glancing  off.  He  also 
took  part  in  the  battle  and  siege  of  Corinth  on  the 
3d  and  4th  of  October,  besides  which  he  was  in 
many  smaller  engagements  and  served  in  Missouri, 
Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Mississippi  and  Louisiana. 
Being  transferred  to  the  "Fifty-fifth  United  State^ 
Colored  Infantry,  he  received  a  commission  as 
First  Lieutenant  of  Company  C,  and  later  was  Cap- 
tain for  a  year  and  a  half.  Mr.  Overton  continued 
in  service  until  January  1,  1866,  at  which  date  he 
was  mustered  out  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  and  imme- 
diately returned  to  his  home  in  Bernadotte  Town- 
ship, where  he  devoted  his  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits. 

In  October,  1856,  Mr.  Overton  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Laura  E.  Heckard,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Mary  (Kimball)  Heckard.  After  his 
retuin  from  war  he  bought  the  eastern  half  of  the 
old  homestead,  but  subsequently  exchanged  it  for 
the  western  half,  and  to  this  he  has  continued  to 
add  until  his  estate  at  the  present  writing  embraces 
two  hundred  and  seventy- five  acres  of  highly  im- 
proved and  valuable  land.  LTpon  this  he  has  a 
large  frame  house  and  many  barns  which  have  been 
erected  by  himself.  For  several  years  after  his 
marriage  he  taught  school.  They  are  the  parents 
of  two  children,  viz:  Frink  L.,  who  was  born  Au- 
gust 10,  1867,  and  is  now  Assistant  Cashier  of  the 
Arkansas  Banking  Company,  of  Stuttgart,  Arkansas 
County,  Ark.;  and  Cora  B.,  who  was  born  March 
20,  1875,  and  lives  at  home.  The  Overtons  weie 
of  Scotch  origin,  and  the  Van  Dorns  an  old  and 
prosperous  German  family. 

In  politics  Mr.  Overton  is  a  Republican,  and  like 
his  father  was  a  strong  Abolitionist,  having  assisted 
several    slaves    to    escape — whole    families   going 


488 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


through  at  once.      He   has  served    his  township  as 
Collector,  Assessor  and  School  Director.     Besides 
farming  he  is  interested  in  stock-raising,  and  ranljs 
among  the  most   prominent  and   successful  men  in 
the  count}-.     He  is  also  largely  interested  in  real- 
estate  in  Stuttgart,  Ark.,  being  a  large  stockholder 
in   the  bank  at  that   place,   and   being  one  of  the 
three  men  who  secured   the  charter  for  the  Stutt 
gart  &  Arkansas  Eiver  Railroad.  His  son  Frank  L. 
was  educated  in  the  Fulton  County  schools,  and  at 
the  Normal  School.  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  from  which  he 
was  graduated   with  honors  on  June   2,   1887.     He 
afterward  went  through  a  commercial  course  at  the 
same  institute,  being  graduated   March   21,   1889. 
Miss  Cora  Overton  has  up  to  Uie   present  time  at- 
tended  school   in   her   native  count}-   and  also    at 
Cuba,  and  her  parents  are  making  arrangements  to 
have  her  most  thoroughly  educated.     Mr.  Overton 
has  been  of  much  beneQt  to  thecommunit}'  in  which 
he  resides,   being  at  all  times  interested   in  public 
matters  and  a  willing  contributor  to  worthy  causes. 


ORNELIUS  MIMMERT.  Among  the 
j-ounger  farmers  who  are  active  in  carrying 
'^'  on  the  agricultural  interests  in  this  county 
but- few  have- met  with  more  success  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  their  noble  calling  than  our  subject.  He 
is  one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers  in  Woodland  Township,  and  bids  fair  to 
place  himself  among  the  most  substantial  citizens 
of  this  part  of  the  State. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
born  in  York  Count}%  May  8.  1854.  His  father, 
Jonas  Mummert  was  also  a  native  of  that  county, 
while  his  father  came  from  Holland.  After  arriv- 
ing in  this  country  he  bad  located  on  a  farm  in 
Penns3-lvania  and  there  his  remaining  days  were 
passed  in  peace  and  f.ranquillily. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  bred  to  the  life  of  a 
farmer  on  the  old  homestead  in  Pennsylvania  and 
was  there  married,  taking  as  his  wife  Elizabeth 
Stremmel,  a  native  of  the  same  county.  .She  is 
still  living,  being  now  over  sixty  years  old  and  is 
a  faithful  member  of  the  (jcrman   Baptist  Church. 


Mr.  Muuimert  owned   two   hundred   acres  of  land 
and    was    one  of  the   extensive    farmers  of    York 
County.     He  also  operated  a  gristmill  seven  years. 
He  finally   disposed  of  his   property   in   1866,  and 
coming  to   this  count}'  purchased   three    hundred 
acres  of  choice  land  on  sections  7  and  8,  Woodland 
Township.     There  were  but  few  improvements   on 
the  place  and  it  was  only   by  years  of  hard   labor 
that  it   was   brought   to   its  present  fine  condition. 
He  erected  the  handsome  brick  house,  in  wliich  our 
subject  now  lives  Jind  put  up  buildings  of  a   good 
class  for  every  needed  purpose.     He  farmed  exten- 
sively and  raised  a   great  deal  of  stock.      He   was 
quite   prominent   in    public    affairs    and    while    in 
Pennsylvania  served   in  various  official  capacities 
and  assisted  in  tlie  draft  during  the  war.     He   was 
a  Democrat  in  politics.     He  was  a  member  of  the 
German    Baptist    Church    from    the    time  he    was 
twenty-one  until  his  premature  death  at  the  age  of 
forty-eight  years,  when  not  only  his  church  was  de- 
prived of  a  valuable   worker    but  his  community 
lost  a  good  citizen.     Fourteen  children  were   born 
to  him  and  his  wife,  of  whom  the  following  grew 
to  maturity :  John,  George,  Conrad.  Amanda,  Cor- 
nelius, Jonas,  Moses,   Polly,    Andrew,    Elizabeth, 
Savilla  and  Barbary. 

Young  Mummert  was  reared  to  a  farmer's  life  on 
his  father's  homestead  in  this  county  he  being  a  lad 
of  twelve  years  when  his  parents  removed  hither. 
He  received  his  early  education  in  a  German  school 
in  Pennsylvania  and  as  a  boy  he  worked  in  his 
father's  gristmill  and  on  the  farm.  He  was  of 
great  assistance  to  his  father  in  clearing  and  improv- 
ing his  land  here.  After  his  father's  death  the 
farm  was  sold  to  his  father-in-law.  and  our  subject 
is  now  living  on  the  place  and  managing  it.  It 
comprises  three  hundred  and  four  acres,  a  part  of 
which  ]SIr.  Mummert  owns  and  he  has  besides  one 
hundred  and  forty-seven  acres  of  fine  farming 
land  in  ^'ern^ont  Township,  all  well-improved  and 
I  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Our  subject  is 
a  stirring,  wide-awake  man,  possessing  shrewd  busi- 
ness talents  and  other  fine  qualifications.  He  has  re- 
cently completed  the  finest  barn  in  Fulton  Counts 
at  a  cost  of  §1.800  besides  his  own  labor  upon  it. 
He  lives  in  a  commodious  twostory  brick  house, 
which  occupies  a  high   prominence,    is   shaded    by 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


489 


lovel}'  trees  and  Las  a  beautiful  lawn,  makiufj  this 
one  of  the  liandsomest  and  most  desirable  places  of 
residenre  in  this  part  of  tlie  county. 

Mr.  Mummert  and  Miss  Saiali  J.  Cassell  were 
married  October  1^2,  1878,  and  they  have  reared 
three  children  whom  they  have  named,  Ida,  Will- 
iam and  .lonas.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Muniniert  are 
members  of  the  German  Baptist  Clinrch  and  politi- 
eallv  h  >  is  a  Democrat. 


I7rER  CRICK,  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of 
Pleasant  Township,  is  the  subject  of  the 
present  sketch,  and  is  a  native  of  Perry 
County,  Pa.,  liavinsj  been  born  there  on 
the  29th  of  .lune,  1817.  His  jjarents,  Jolin  and 
Margaret  (Troutner)  Crick,  were  also  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  his  pateinal  ancestors  were  of 
German  extraction. 

Mr.  Crick,  at  the  age  of  ten  years  removed  with 
liis  parents  to  Ohio,  and  in  that  State  passed  bis 
boyhood  and  youth.  He  received  only  a  moderate 
education,  owing  to  the  imperfect  educational  fa- 
cilities of  those  days,  aud  at  an  early  age  learned 
farm  work,  and  so  fitted  himself  to  be  through  af- 
ter life  a  successful  agriculturist. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Ohio  in  1841,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Fulker.  This  union  was  blessed 
with  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living, 
viz:  Samuel,  who  resides  in  Pleasant  Township;  Jo- 
siah,  who  lives  in  Marshall  County,  Kan. ;  Emeline, 
wife  of  Lester  Shago,  of  Pleasant  Township;  John, 
who  makes  his  home  in  Pleasant  Township;  and 
Anna,  wife  of  Allen  Lovell,  of  Marshall  County, 
Kan. 

Mr.  Crick  was  called  upon  to  sustain  the  sad  loss 
of  his  wife  in  18()1,  and  was  again  married  in  Ohio, 
in  1862,  this  time  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Black,  widow 
of  Frederick  Black,  of  Miami  County,  Ohio.  In 
that  county  Mrs.  Crick  was  born  on  the  24th  of 
September,  1827,  being  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Mary  Yerty,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio, 
respectively. 

To  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  two 


children,  one  of  whom,  Jacob,  is  living  in  Pleasant 
Townsliip,  and  the  other,  Miranda,  is  dead.  After 
coming  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Crick  for  a 
short  time  resided  in  McDonough  County,  where 
he  devoted  his  attention  to  farming.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Iowa  County,  Iowa,  but  after  one  }"ear 
returned  to  McDonough  County,  ami  finally  at  the 
expiration  of  a  year  settled  in  Fulton  County. 
Those  earl}'  d.ays  were  fraught  with  much  that  is 
amusing  to  remember,  but  that  was  very  hard  at 
the  time.  Many  were  the  jirivations  both  for  hus- 
band and  wife,  and  tiie  Biblical  instruction  was  car- 
ried out,  the  wife  being  iu  reality  the  helpmate 
in  affairs  both  great  and  small. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crick  are  identified  with  the  Dunk- 
ard  Church,  and  are  held  in  the  Inghest  possible 
esteem  by  all  who  know  them.  He  is  indeed  a 
self-made  man,  and  one  who  undoubtedly  has 
achieved  unusual  success  both  in  business  and  so- 
cial circles,  having  a  comfortable  fortune,  and  a 
host  of  friends.  His  estate  embraces  eighty-three 
acres  of  fine  farming  land  under  good  cultivation. 
Mrs.  Crick  had  by  her  first  marriage  with  Frederick 
Black,  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  living,  viz: 
Andrew,  in  Pleasant  Township;  John  W.,  Ipava, 
111.;  and  Mar}',  wife  of  W.  A.  R.  Lowell,  of  Ipava; 
Jacob  and  Aaron  are  dead.  We  are  gratified  to 
represent  such  popular  people  as  Mr.  Crick  and  his 
wife,  iu  our  Album,  and  realize  fully  that  to  such 
citizens  the  glory  of  Fulton  County's  progress  is 
largely  due. 


JrinTi  :|pj|:lliixic 


■FERDINAND   WEIRATHER,  a   well-to-do 


farmer,  resident  of  Lewistown  Township,  was 
born  in  Baden,  Germany,  in  January,  1825. 
His  father,  Francis  Joseph  Weirather,  was  a  native 
of  the  same  place.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade, 
and  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  Fatherland.  He  was 
a  descendant  of  an  ancient  famil}'  that  emigrated 
from  Italy  to  Germany  during  the  Roman  conquest. 
I>rdinand  was  the  only  son  of  his  father,  and 
was  very  young  when  the  latter  died.  He  was 
cared  for  by  his  mother  and  stepfather  and  receiyed 
a  sound  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  land. 


A 


490 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


which  he  attended  until  he  was  fourteen  years  old. 
At  that  age  he  was  apprenticed  to  learu  the  trade 
of  a  cabinet-maker  at  which  he  served  two  and  one- 
half  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  as  was 
then  the  custom,  he  traveled  and  worked  in  differ- 
ent cities  in  Germany  the  ensuing  three  years.  He 
was  ambitious  to  better  his  condition  and  in  March, 
1846,  emigrated  to  America  to  find  what  life  held 
for  him  here.  He  went  first  to  Liverpool,  England, 
and  from  there  set  sail  on  a  vessel  hound  for  these 
shores  and  landed  at  New  York  after  a  vo^'age  of 
thirty-five  days.  A  stranger  in  a  strange  land  who 
could  not  talk  the  language  of  its  people  and  with- 
out money,  our  suliject  was  in  a  forlorn  condition 
wdien  he  arrived.  But  witli  good  courage  he  set 
out  to  find  work,  and  soon  obtained  employment 
at  his  trade  in  the  city.  He  remained  in  New  York 
two  3'ears,  and  tlien  went  to  New  Orleans.  After 
a  short  stay  there  he  ascended  the  Mississippi  River 
to  Quincy  and  worked  there  for  a  lime.  He  tlien 
boarded  a  steamer  bound  for  Peoria,  but  on  his 
arrival  at  that  place  he  vvas  disappointed  to  find  it 
a  much  smaller  village  than  he  expected,  so  he  did 
not  land  but  kept  on  to  Peru,  and  thence  went  by 
canal  to  Chicago.  That  city  was  not  then  a  very 
large  town  and  though  he  could  get  work  there  he 
could  not  get  his  pay  in  cash,  but  had  to  take  it  in 
orders  on  a  store.  That  did  not  suit  him  so  he 
concluded  to  go  further  eastward  and  jjuslied  on  to 
Buffalo  by  the  way  of  the  Lakes  and  then  by  rail- 
r(.iad  and  Hudson  River,  and  anally  found  him.self 
once  again  in  New  York  City.  He  secured  em- 
ployment in  a  piano  factory  and  remained  there 
until  1855. 

In  that  year  our  subject  I'cturned  to  Illinois,  ami 
for  one  year  worked  at  his  trade  in  Peoria.  During 
that  time  he  visited  Fulton  County,  and  bought  the 
farm  where  he  now  resiilcs  which  is  pleasantlj-  lo- 
cated on  section  G,  Lewistown  Township.  He  set- 
tled on  the  place  in  I85()  and  has  since  made  his 
home  here.  His  f;irm  is  one  of  the  choice  farms 
of  the  township,  is  under  excellent  cultivation  and 
is  provided  with  neat  and  widl-built  frame  buildings 
and  ever3-thing  for  carrying  on  agriculture  advan- 
tageously. 

Mr.  Weirather  has  proved  as  capable  a  farmer 
ai  he  has  shown  himself   to  be  a  skilled  mechanic, 


and  has  been  well  prospered  in  his  agricultural 
ventures.  He  is  a  man  of  solid  virtues,  sensible 
and  thoughtful  in  his  views,  and  in  him  and  his 
wife  the  P>aptlst  Church  finds  two  Christian  mem- 
bers. 

Mr.  Weirather  was  married  in  1850  to  Nathalie 
Weidensee,  a  native  of  Saxony,  Germany.  Thev 
have  been  eminently  hai)[)y  in  their  domestic  rela- 
tions and  have  been  blessed  by  ten  children:  Fer- 
dinand, Edward  .J.,  Herman,  Amelia,  Charles,  Mar}-, 
Ida,  George,  Sidney  and  Harrie,  all  living. 


EP^ 


/^EORGE  KEEFAUVER.  On  section  36,  in 
III  (=•  the  southeast  corner  of   Joshua  Township, 

'^^/^  lies  a  pleasant,  finely  tilled,  and  well-im- 
[H'oved  farm,  which  is  the  property  of  our  subject. 
He  has  been  a  resident  of  this  countv  for  nearl}' 
forty  years,  and  has  aided  in  the  pioneer  labors 
that  have  brought  it  to  its  present  condition. 

Mr.  Keefauver  is  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  was 
born  in  Washington  County,  in  December,  1816. 
In  the  prime  of  early  manhood,  he  went  from  his 
early  home  to  Preble  County,  Ohio,  and  was  a  pio- 
neer of  that  region.  In  the  year  1851,  he  left  the 
Buckeye  Si.'ite  to  lake  up  his  residence  on  the  prai- 
ries of  Illinois.  He  then  bought  sixty-seven  acres 
of  his  present  farm  in  Joshua  Township,  and  has 
since  added  to  it  until  it  comprises  eighty  acres  of 
as  choice  farming  land  as  is  to  be  found  in  this  part 
of  the  county.  The  land  is  valued  at  §75  per  acre. 
He  has  erected  on  it  a  fine  set  of  farm  buildings, 
and  everything  aliout  the  place  is  well  ordered,  and 
betokens  the  care  of  a  neat,  thrifty  and  capable 
owner.  He  has  accumulated  his  property  b}'  down- 
right hard  labor,  by  that  wise  economy  that  knows 
how  to  spend  as  well  as  to  save,  and  bj-  the  exer- 
cise of  sound  judgment  in  his  dealings.  His  place 
is  among  the  most  respected  citizens  of  Joshua 
Township,  and  his  honesty  and  uprightness  in  all 
the  affairs  of  life  have  gained  for  him  the  confi- 
dence of  the  entire  community.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  voted  for  Benjami'i  Harrison 
for  President. 

Mr.  Keefauver  h.as  been  twice  married.    Novem- 


■x^-w^iu.v^.^.-^,::  -■: 


RE5iDENceoF  GEORGE  Keefauver,  Sec.36  .  JoshuaTp.  Fulton  Co. III. 


Residence  of  D.M.  Higgins,  5ec.25.  Deerfield  Tp  Fulton  Co.  III. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


493 


ber  15,  1838,  he  was  werldedto  Miss  Lizzie  Miller, 
near  Wincliester,  Oliio.  After  nearly  fori}'  years 
spent  together,  their  peaceful  and  happy  married 
life  was  brought  to  a  close  by  Mrs.  Keefauver's 
death,  May  16,  1878.  Mv.  Kecfauver  vvas  married 
to  his  present  estimable  wife,  formerly  Malissa 
Parker,  February  13,  1879,  in  Fulton  County,  111. 
She  is  a  sinceie  Christian,  and  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Kpiscoi)al  Church. 

On  another  page  the  reader  will  notice  a  view  of 
tliefine  farm  of  Mr.  Keefauver,  including  the  resi- 
dence and  other  substantial  buildings. 

ANIEL  M.  IIIGGINS.  Although  this 
gentleman  is  still  quite  a  young  man,  he 
has  become  well-known  as  a  successful 
farmer,  who  pursues  the  most  approved 
metliods  in  the  management  of  his  estate,  keeping 
it  above  par  in  its  improved  and  orderly  appear- 
ance, and  making  of  it  an  attractive  as  well  as  re- 
munerative piece  of  proi)ert_y.  He  is  also  held  in 
good  repute  as  an  honest,  upright  man  and  citizen, 
wlio,  although  not  a  mrmber  of  any  religious  or- 
ganization, is  a  libera!  contributor  to  the  church 
and  all  good  causes. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Hiram  Higgins  and 
Elizabeth  Baughman,  were  married  February  14, 
1844,  and  took  up  their  residence  in  Cass  Town- 
ship, this  county.  The  mother  liad  lieen  born  in 
that  township  December  10,  1828,  and  the  father 
had  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  in  Kentucky, 
March  4,  1820.  They  occupied  a  farm  in  the  town- 
ship mentioned  until  the  death  of  the  husband,  Oc- 
tober 27,  1883.  The  widow  remained  at  the  old 
home  two  years,  then  took  up  her  residence  with 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  Ellen  Landis,  with  whom  she 
still  makes  her  home. 

Our  subject  was  born  October  25,  1852,  being 
the  fourth  son  in  a  family  that  included  seven  sons 
and  two  daughters.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  his  native  township,  and  re- 
sided under  the  parental  roof  until  his  marriage, 
which  was  solemnized  December  20,  1883.  He 
then   established   his  own  home  on  the  homestead. 


remaining  there  until  the  1st  of  March,  1889,  when 
he  took  possessio  i  of  his  present  place  of  abode. 

The  property  purchased  by  Mr.  Higgins.  con- 
sists of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  section  25, 
Deerfield  Township,  upon  which  the  various  im- 
provements had  been  made  that  make  it  a  desirable 
place  of  residence.  The  dwelling  is  a,  two-story 
brick  structure,  well  built,  and  designed  with  a 
view  to  the  comfort  of  the  occupants,  the  main  part 
being  18x36  feet,  with  an  "L"'  of  the  s.une  size.  It 
contains  eight  large  rooms  with  porches,  etc.,  and 
has  pleasant  surroundings.  The  barn  is  36x40  feet, 
with  an  immense  shed  attaclied  16x80  feet  in  size, 
affording  adequate  shelter  for  a  large  number  of 
animals,  and  much  fodder. 

The  charming  woman  who  has  the  oversight  over 
the  home  and  household  affairs,  was  formerl}'  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Heller.  She  was  born  in  Deerfield  Town- 
ship, September  17,  1858,  to  worthy  parents  who 
gave  her  a  good  education  and  home  care.  Her 
father,  John  .1.  Heller,  was  born  in  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  and  died  March  29,  1879,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
nine  years.  Her  mother,  Lydia  (Zimmerman) 
Heller,  who  is  still  living,  is  a  native  of  Deerfield 
Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Higgins  have  three  lit- 
tle sons:  Howard  C,  born  September  25,  1884; 
Charles  M.,  June  6,  188C,  and  Boyd  V.,  January 
31,  1890. 

Mr.  Higgins  takes  no  active  part  in  pt>litical  work 
other  than  to  deposit  a  Democratic  ballot  upon  elec- 
tion day.  He  evinces  no  desire  for  public  office, 
but  served  satisfactorily  as  Collector  in  Cass  Town- 
ship. He  is  a  member  of  South  Fiatt  Grange.  No. 
1644. 

The  reader  will  notice  on  another  pigc,  a  view 
of  the  pleasant  homestead  of  Mr.  Higgins. 


jEV.  MARCELLUS  T.  COOPER.  Looking 
r  upon  the  present  prosperity  of  P'ulton  County 
and  Pleasant  Township,  it  is  almost  impossi- 
ble to  realize  that  only  a  few  years  ago  the 
country  around  here  was  little  more  than  a  wilder- 
ness with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber  and  thick 
shrubs.  Strange  what  energy  and  perseverance 
can  accomplish,  luid    how  man  in  a   brief  s[)ace  of 


494 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


time  can"  transform  a  spot  where  Nature  runs  riot 
into  a  most  liabital)le  and  attractive  business  center. 
Among  the  early  settlers  of  this  place,  and  of  those 
who  underwent  all  the  privations  and  hardships  in- 
cident to  pioneer  life,  were  Levin  and  E'eanor 
Cooper,  natives  of  Maryland  and  Delaware  re- 
spectively. The)'  reached  Fultou  County  and  for 
a  time  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Vermont,  but 
afterward  came  to  Pleasant  Township,  settling  on 
section  21.  Everything  was  in  a  crude  state,  and 
their  dwelling  place  was  :■.  small  log  cabin  but  they 
worked  faithfully  and  constantly  to  improve  the 
land  and  bring  about  a  happier  state  of  affairs. 
The  fatlier  was  an  exceedingly  kind  hearted  man 
besides  possessing  much  ability  and  was  enabled 
thus  to  be  of  much  benefit  to  the  community.  His 
popularity  was  great  and  at  different  times  he  held 
public  offices,  being  for  a  number  of  3'ears  Justice 
of  llie  Peace,  and  afterward  Constable.  His  politi- 
cal sympathies  were  at  one  tiiae  with  the  Whigs, 
but  he  later  became  a  member  of  the  Republican 
parly.  Mr.  Cooper  died  on  the  28th  of  -luly,  1863, 
his  death  being  caused  b}'  a  runaway  horse.  His 
widow  still  resides  at  the  old  homestead,  though  in 
lur  eightieth  year.  To  them  were  born  twelve 
cliildren,  of  whom  the  following  are  living:  Mary 
E.,  wife  of  .1.  Rutledge.  of  Keokuk,  Iowa;  Mar- 
garet, now  Mrs.  William  Robinson,  of  Smithfield, 
111.;  Irena  F.,  wife  of  N.  R.  Knowles,  of  Pleasant 
Township;  William  H.,  who  makes  his  home  in 
lawa;  Serepta,  wife  of  J.  W.  Weese,  of  Lewistown 
Township;  Theresa,  who  lives  in  Pleasant  Town- 
sliip;  and  Marcellus  T.,  the  subject  of  our  sketch; 
Christopher  T.,  of  Havana.  III.;  K.  Perry,  and  Phil- 
etus  II.,  both  of  Pleasant  Township. 

Marcellus  Cooper  was  born  in  Fulton  County  on 
the  10th  of  June,  1846,  and  here  grew  to  manhood, 
receiving  only  a  common  school  education.  He 
enlisted  in  the  Civil  War  on  the  24th  of  March, 
1864,  in  Company  H,  Twentj'- eighth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  became  a  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Gulf 
under  Gen.  Canby.  He  was  in  the  siege  of  Spanish 
Fort,  and  spent  most  of  the  time  in  garrison  duty, 
spending  nine  months  in  Texas  and  nine  months  in 
Mississippi.  He  was  honorably  discharged  at 
Brownsville,  in  the  "Lone  Star"  Stale,  on  March 
17,  1866,  and  returned  to  Illinois. 


Mr.  Cooper  was  married  October  28,  1869,  to 
Miss  Artha  Littleton,  a  native  of  Fulton  County, 
and  daughter  of  W.  A.  and  A.  J.  Littleton.  Her 
birth  occurreii  May  24,  1852,  and  she  was  the  eldest 
of  the  five  children  born  to  her  parents.  Those 
living  at  the  present  date  are:  Mrs.  Cooper;  Su- 
sanna, who  lives  in  Colorado,  and  Ella,  wife  of 
Samuel  Bassford,  of  Colorado. 

To  our  subject  and  his  wife  has  been  born  one 
son,  William  T.,  whose  birth  occurred  September 
12,  1870.  Mr.  Cooper  owns  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  fine  farming  land.  For  the  [jast 
thirteen  j-ears  he  has  been  engaged  in  ministerial 
work,  and  at  the  present  writing  is  pastor  ot  the 
Christian  Church  at  New  Howard,  this  State.  In 
politics  he  is  in  sympathy  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  'as  an  intelligent  and  kindly  Christian 
man  has  won  many  warm  friends. 


GEORGE  HUNT  SWITZER.  The  journal- 
(^— ,  istie  profession  is  one  of  such  a  peculiar 
^j  nature,  so  complicated  in  its  literary  and 
business  channels,  that  to  call  a  man  an  editor  has 
become  equivalent  to  saying  that  he  is  apt  in  speech, 
acute  in  perception  and  well  versed  in  miud.  In 
this  age  of  the  world  an  uneducated  man  c.innot 
conduct  a  paper  even  in  what  migiit  be  called  the 
"backwoods,"  and  much  less  in  the  midst  of  an  en- 
lightened community,  who  demand  that  their  local 
papers  shall  be  spicy,  news^-  and  readable.  All 
these  characteristics  are  true  of  the  London  Times, 
a  weekly  pai)er  edi',.ed  by  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical notice. 

Mr.  Switzer  is  a  grandson  of  William  Switzer. 
who  was  born  in  Clermont  County,  Ohio,  and  be- 
came a  farmer  there.  He  made  an  early  settlement 
in  the  Hoosier  State,  whence  he  came  to  Illinois  in 
1843,  locating  in  Chestnut  Township,  Knox  County. 
He  pursued  his  vocation  of  agriculture  until  his 
death  in  that  township.  In  politics  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican, and  in  religion  a  believer  in  the  doctrines 
laid  down  in  the  creed  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  John  AV.  Switzer,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject,   was   born   in   Indiana,   near  Covington,   but 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


495 


reared  in  Knox  County,  this  State,  from  tlie  age  of 
eii> lit  years.  He  adopted  the  calling  of  his  father 
and  became  the  owner  of  a  good  funn.  which  he 
sold  in  1 867  to  remove  to  Macon  County.  Mo. 
There  he  purchased  laud  on  which  he  lived  a 
twelvemonth,  when,  the  family  being  ill,  he  re- 
turned to  Knox  County,  III.,  finally  'mying  the 
old  homestead.  On  it  he  still  lives,  now  engaged 
in  fiiiit  growing  and  ,the  nursery  business,  having 
abandoned  general  farming  in  1880. 

Mr.  Switzor  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Cliurch,  and  gives  his  suffrage  to  the 
Republican  party.  His  estimable  wife  liore  the 
maiden  name  of  Pliiebe  Hunt,  and  is  a  native  of 
the  Buckeye  State.  Their  family  included  our 
subject;  Elizabeth  B.,  now  Mrs.  B.  F.  Brown,  of 
Orange  Township,  Knox  County;  William  I.,  still 
at  home;  Jane,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
months;  .John  E.  and  Peter  C).,  who  are  yet  at 
Home. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
George  Hunt,  a  native  of  Kentuckj-,  who  located 
on  a  farm  in  Ohio  and  later  removed  to  this  State. 
He  vvas  a  pioneer  of  Indian  Point,  Knox  Count}', 
and  at  one  time  owned  a  large  amount  of  land.  He 
was  very  liberal  and  gave  a  site  for  a  schoolhouse, 
himself  also  putting  up  the  building.  In  the  War 
of  1812  he  was  wounded  b}"  a  ball  passing  through 
his  side.  His  commander  was  Gen.  Hull,  by  whom 
he  was  given  up  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  afterward 
si)ending  nine  days  without  food.  In  addition  to 
his  farm  Mr.  Hunt  carried  on  a  large  sawmill  un 
Cedar  Creek.  He  was  quite  a  hunter.  When  called 
hence  he  was  over  seventy  years  of  age. 

George  HuntSwitzer  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light 
of  da}'  iu  Cedar  Township,  Knox  County,  May  22, 
18C2.  He  was  given  the  advantages  of  the  com- 
mon scliools  in  the  different  localities  in  which  he 
passed  his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  when  twenty 
years  old  entered  Heddiiig  College  at  Abingdon. 
In  that  excellent  institution  he  spent  three  j'ears, 
pursuing  a  literary  course  two  yeais  and  then  tak- 
ing up  the  commercial  course,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1885.  He  secured  a  teacher's  certif- 
icate and  in  the  fall  began  teaching  in  Maquon 
Township.  There  and  in  Chestnut  Township  he 
carried    on  his    pedagogical    labors    a   j'ear,  after 


which  he  became  traveling  manager  for  tfie  firm  of 
Lan%  King  tVr  Law,  of  Chicago,  for  whom  he  estab- 
lished agencies  in  the  northern  half  of  the  State. 

After  spending  a  year  in  this  manner  Mr.  Switzer 
engaged  in  the  insurance  l)usiness  in  Knoxville 
under  the  style  of  Hill  &  Switzer.  handling  lire, 
life  and  accident  policies.  Owing  to  unforeseen 
circumstances  the  partnership  was  dissolved  by  Mr. 
Switzer,  who  in  February,  1890,  came  to  London 
Mills.  Here  he  entered  the  employ  of  W.  W. 
^'ose  in  the  office  of  the  Times,  and  after  working 
two  months  leased  the  plant  and  personally  con- 
ducted the  publication.  It  is  a  five-column  quarto 
whose  increasing  circulation  indicates  that  the  new 
editor  has  ability  for  journalism.  The  paper  is 
conducted  as  a  neutr.al  political  sheet,  the  editor 
believing  that  in  this  way  he  can  exert  a  greater 
influence  and  better  meet  the  wants  of  the  peo|)le 
than  under  a  party  banner.  Mr.  Switzer,  person- 
ally, is  a  Republican.  He  belongs  to  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  its 
most  efficient  3'oang  members. 


OHN  SWIGART  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the 
valuable  farms  in  Young  Hickory  Township, 
located  four  miles  from  London  Mills  and  six 
[^!^l>  from  Fairview.  It  consists  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  14,  which  have  been 
placed  under  the  best  of  improvement,supplied  with 
substantial  buildings  and  thoroughly  stocked  with 
fine  animals.  Jlr.  Swigart  is  one  of  the  most  prom- 
inent farmers  in  the  township  and  all  who  know 
him  rejoice  in  the  success  which  has  attended  diis 
labors.  In  addition  to  the  home  farm  he  owns  a 
line  property  in  Fairview  Township  and  a  tract  of 
timber  land  on  section  27,  Young  Hickory  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Swigart  is  of  German  ancestry,  being  a  son 
of  John  and  Susan  (Snyder)  Swigart.  The  former 
was  born  iu  the  Fatherland  and  brought  to  America 
when  a  babe  by  his  father,  George  Swigart.  The 
father  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War  after  which 
he  settled  in  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  following  farm- 
ing so  successfully  that   he   became   the  owner  of 


496 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIUGRAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


more  tlfan'two  humlred  acrei  uf  laiul.  He  liveil 
to  llie  ripe  age  of  eighty-two  jears.  He  belonged 
to  tlie  Presbyterian  Chiircii.  John  Swigart,  Sr., 
farmed  on  the  homestead  in  Penus3'lvania  and 
teamed  to  Baltimore  and  from  that  city  to  Pitts- 
burg. In  1S45,  he  sold  his  property,  came  west 
ami  located  in  Fairview  Township,  this  county. 
He  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  im- 
proved land,  adding  to  it  until  he  possessed  over 
two  hundred  acres.  He  lived  on  the  farm  until 
1872  when  he  entered  into  rest  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  He  was  an  active  worker  in  the  Lu- 
theran Church,  highly  respected  as  a  citizen  and 
considerate  in  his  family-  relations.  He  belonged 
to  the  Democratic  party. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Henry  Snyder  who  was  born  in  Germany  and  set- 
tled in  Franklin  County,  Pa., where  his  dauL'liter  was 
born,  reared  and  married.  Mrs.  Swigart  died  some 
time  before  her  husband.  She  was  the  mother  of 
six  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  the  following 
may  be  noted  :  Emanuel  lives  in  Livingston  County 
and  is  a  retired  farmer ;  George  died  in  Fairview 
Township,  this  county;  Mrs.  Catherine  Ura[)stcd 
lives  in  Ellisville  Township;  Mrs.  Susan  Robb 
lives  in  Farmington  Towushiii;  John  is  the  subject 
of  this  notice;  Henry  lives  on  the  old  homestead; 
William  lives  at  Rapatee.  Knox  Count}-;  Jerry 
died  when  quite  young. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  near  Green- 
castle,  Pa.,  January  21,  1827,  and  reared  on  a  farm. 
He  attendeil  subscription  schools  in  the  old  log 
school  house  of  "ye  olden  time"  and  was  early  set 
to  work  at  home  duties.  In  the  fall  of  1845  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  tti  the  Prairie  State  and  can 
give  an  interesting  account  of  the  journey.  The 
traveling  outfit  consisted  of  three  wagons  drawn 
l)y  six  two-horse  teams.  The  Allegheny  River 
was  crossed  at  Pittsburg,  the  Wabash  at  Torre 
Haute  and  Illinois  at  Havana  Ferry.  The  farm 
produce  which  was  raised  in  the  new  home,  was 
hauled  to  Copperas  Creek  and  sent  to  a  market 
down  the  rivei'.  Our  subjict  found  some  recrea- 
tion in  hunting,  killing  deer,  wolves,  etc,  which 
were  still  quite  numerous  in  the  uncultivated  por- 
tions of  the  count}'. 

When  twenty-two  years  old  Mr.  Swigart  left  the 


parental  roof  and  rented  a  farm  in  Fairview  Town- 
ship. In  1857  he  bouglit  that  which  he  now  oc- 
cupies, paying  §1  4  an  acre  for  the  land  whereon 
the  only  improvements  were  thirty  acres  of  plowed 
ground  and  a  log  house.  For  a  few  years  he  had  a 
hard  struggle  but  gradually  placed  about  him  the 
improvements  he  wished  and  secured  greater  remu- 
neration for  his  industrious  efforts.  In  1869  he 
bought  one  hundred  aiid  si;xty-five  acres  on  section 
4,  Fairview  Tuwnship.  pa\ing  §50  an  acre  for  this 
improved  farm.  He  operated  it  several  years,  liut 
now  rents  it,  occupying  the  homestead  around 
which  the  memories  of  his  struggles  and  successes 
cluster.  The  home  farm  is  neatly  fenced,  tiled, 
and  su[>plied  with  adequate  machinery,  as  well  as 
a  comi)lete  line  of  buildings.  The  owner  raises 
full-blooded  Poland  China  hogs,  graded  cattle  and 
Shropshire  sheep.  Of  tiie  latter  he  has  the  largest 
flock  in  the  vicinity,  and  is  the  heaviest  seller  of 
wool  and  mutton. 

The  tine  qualities  of  Miss  Mary  Tipton  won  the 
lasting  regard  of  our  subject  jNud  they  were  mar- 
riage February  22,  1849.  The  ceremony  took 
place  in  Fairview  Township  at  the  home  of  the 
bride.  That  lady  was  born  in  Ohio  near  Colum- 
bus, October  15.  1825,  and  was  in  her  teens  when 
her  parents  came  to  this  State.  She  had  only  a 
common-school  education,  but  learned  man}-  useful 
ways  and  has  the  best  of  all  knowUdge — that  of 
the  Christian.  >Sheis  th?  first-born  in  the  parental 
family,  her  brothers  and  sisters  being  Mrs.  H.innah 
Combs  of  Kansas;  Isabella,  who  died  in  Fairview 
Township;  Samuel,  of  New  York;  Thompson,  a 
commission  merchant  in  Chicago;  Mrs.  Lydia 
Ramsey,  of  Farmington;  Mrs.  .Sarah  Swigart,  of 
Fairview  Township;  John,  of  Council  Blufifs,  Iowa; 
and  Mrs.  Nettie  Meeker,  of  Neliraska.  .Samuel  was 
a  lieutenant  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  having  enlisted  in  1862. 

The  father  of  ilrs.  Swigart  was  John  Tipton,  a 
native  of  ^laryland,  who  accompanied  his  father, 
.Sylvester  Tipton,  to  Ohio  when  quite  young.  He 
operated  a  farm  in  that  .Slate  until  1840  when  he 
removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  this  county.  He 
jourTieyed  hither  with  three  wagons,  driving  his 
cattle,  and  bringing  a  wife  and  nine  children.  He 
bought  the  land  in  Fairview  Township  now  owned 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


497 


by  our  subject,  improved  It  and  lived  tbereon  un- 
til death.  His  demise  tooli  place  in  Marcli,  1869, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  His  wife,  Eliza, 
daughter  of  John  Crawford,  was  born  in  Franklin 
County,  Ohio,  and  died  in  Pottawatamie  County, 
Iowa,  while  on  a  visit  to  a  daushter.  After  the 
death  of  her  husband  she  had  made  her  home  with 
Mrs.  Swigart,  wife  of  our  subject.  She  was  an  ac- 
tive member  of  the  Jlethodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Our  subject  and  his  good  wife  have  nine  chil- 
dren,'^of  whom  we  note  the  following:  Jerry  P.  is 
in  the  grocery  business  in  Aurora,  Mo.;  William 
II.  farms  in  Farmington  Tovinship;  Samuel  T.,  for- 
merly a  teacher,  is  now  a  salesman  in  th3  school 
supplv  establishment  of  Andrews  &  Co.,  at  Chi- 
cago; Lydia  L.  is  the  wife  of  F.  M.  Fisher,  a  mer- 
chant in  Clair;  Sarah  C,  Mrs.  Gardner,  is  with  her 
parents;  John  Frank  is  farming  in  Fairview  Town- 
ship; George  M.  lives  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa;  Annie 
E.  married  G.  A.  Taylor  and  lives  in  Knox  County ; 
Susan  B.  is  the  wife  of  F.  Voorhees,  a  farmer  in 
Fairview  Township. 

Mr.  .Swigart  was  Townshi|)  Supervisor  one  year. 
Collector  an  equal  length  of  time,  and  has  been 
Commissioner  of  Highway's  and  School  Director  for 
years.  In  former  days  he  was  a  Greenbacker  but 
is  now  a  member  of  the  Union  Labor  party.  IMrs. 
Swigart  is  a  consistent  and  valued  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  The  worthy  couple  take  great 
delight  in  the  exercise  of  hospitality  and  few  there 
are  who  spend  any  time  in  their  vicinage  without 
enjoying  the  good  cheer  for  body  aiTd  mind  that 
abounds  under  their  roof.  Tiiey  have  raan^'  friends 
by  whom  their  genuine  worth  is  highlj'  valued. 


i^.AYID  D.  TALBOTT,  M.D.,  stands  at  the 
head  of  his  profession  in  this  county,  and  is 
the  leading  phj-sician  of  Lewistwon.  He  is 
also  prominent  in  business  circles,  as  President  of 
the  Lewistown  Electric  Light,  Heat  and  Power 
Company,  and  his  well-known  public  spirit,  liber- 
ality and  enteri)rise  have  been  the  means  of  fostering 
many  schemes  devised  for  the  further  advance- 
ment of  the  city.     Our  subject  did  noble  service  in 


his  professional  capacity  throughout  the  late  Civil 
War,  and  his  name  is  held  in  honor  by  many  brave 
officers  and  soldiers  in  various  parts  of  thecountiy, 
who  remember  with  gratitude  the  skill,  tenderness 
and  devotion  that  he  exercised  in  alleviating  their 
sufferings  and  saving  their  lives. 

David  D.  Talbottwas  born  in  Warrenton,  Jeffer- 
son Cmmty,  Ohio,  a  son  of  Richard  and  Margaret 
(Humiihre}')  Talbott,  natives  respectively  of  Tal- 
bott  County,  Md.,  and  Jefferson  County,  Ohio. 
His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  David  Humphrey, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  Jefferson  County,  his 
parents  having  been  earl^'  settlers  of  that  part  of 
Ohio.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
Adam  Talbott,  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  native 
of  Maryland,  his  father,  William  Talbott,  having 
come  from  England  in  Colonial  times,  and  settled 
in  that  State.  Adam  Talbott  was  among  the  early 
pioneers  of  Ohio,  and  there  he  died  during  the 
cholera  epidemic  of  1818. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  young  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Ohio  and  located  amid  the 
primeval  wilds  of  CairoU  Count}',  where  the  re- 
maining years  of  his  boyhood  were  passed.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  a  tanner,  and  followed  that 
calling  in  Warrenton  a  number  of  years.  He  sub- 
sequentl}'  bought  a  farm  in  Jefferson  County,  on 
which  he  resided  until  1858.  when  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  his  family  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
Fulton  County.  In  1873  he  went  still  further 
Westward,  and  in  York  County,  Neb.,  bought  a 
farm,  which  was  his  home  until  his  death  in  1879, 
a  valued  citizen  being  then  lost  to  his  community. 
His  wife  departed  this  life  in  Lewistown  in  1872. 
They  reared  ten  children,  named  Joseph,  Elizabeth, 
David  D.,  Martha,  Nanc\',  Jane,  Margaret,  William 
and  Absalom  (twins),  and  Sarah. 

Dr.  Talbott  received  his  early  educhtion  at  Jen- 
kins Academy,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Ohio.  After  leaving 
that  institution  he  was  employed  three  years  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that 
time  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  Uni- 
versit}'  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor.  His  first  term 
there  was  spent  mostl}'  in  the  laboratory,  where  he 
laid  a  substantial  foundation  for  the  knowledge 
of  medicine  that  he  afterward  acquired,  and  the 
second  term   lie  pursued   the  regular  course.     The 


498 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


following  year  he  went  to  Iowa  City  and  became  a 
student  in  the  University  of  Iowa,  frnm  wiiich  he 
was  graduated  in  the  class  of  '60.  At  the  close  of 
his  university  career  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  there 
we  find  him  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  With 
a  patriotic  desire  to  assist  his  country  in  the  best 
way  that  he  could,  he  offered  his  services  as  phy- 
sician and  surgeon,  his  devotion  to  his  profession 
and  his  recent  connection  with  two  of  the  best 
medical  schools  in  the  country  offsetting  his  lack 
of  experience.  He  became  Acting  Assistant  Sur- 
geon in  the  United  -States  service,  and  for  eight 
months  was  stationed  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  then 
went  to  Nashville,  where  he  remained  until  the  war 
was  brought  to  a  close,  and  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  June,  1865. 

After  his  experiences  of  life  in  military  hospitals 
our  subject  came  to  Lewistown  and  opened  an 
office,  and  at  once  entered  upon  a  successful  and 
extensive  practice  in  this  citj'  and  county.  His 
professional  duties  were  very  ai'duous,  and  the  in- 
cessant labor  finally  undermined  his  health,  and  in 
1875  he  was  obliged  to  relinquish  his  practice  and 
seek  by  change  of  scene  and  climate  to  regain  his 
physical  vigor.  He  went  to  Chej-enne,  Wj-o.,  and 
was  there  until  1876,  vvlicn  he  returned  to  Lewis- 
town.  In  1877  he  again  went  Westward,  the  Black 
Hills  being  his  objective  point.  At  that  time  Syd- 
nej',  Neb.,  was  the  nearest  railway  station  from 
which  the  Hills  could  be  reached,  and  from  there  a 
stage  journej'  of  two  days  and  two  nights  brought 
the  Doctor  to  the  present  site  of  Deadwood.  He 
actively  interested  himself  in  the  founding  of  a 
city  on  that  spot  and  assisted  in  platting  it,  he  be- 
ing one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  that  famous 
town.  He  was  also  the  first  practicising  physician 
in  Deadwood.  After  a  few  months  he  came  back 
to  Illinois,  and  in  1878  revisited  the  Black  Hills, 
where  he  still  has  interests. 

With  the  exception  of  his  temporar}'  residence  in 
the  Far  West,  Lewistown  has  been  the  home  of  Dr. 
Talbott  for  a  quarter  of  a  centurj'.  and,  as  we  have 
seen,  he  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  highests 
interests  of  the  city  during  that  period,  and  no  one 
has  been  more  active  in  promoting  its  welfare  than 
he.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  State 
Medical  Societ3',  and  is  prominent  in  Grand  Army 


circles  as  an  active  member  of  Thomas  Layton 
Post,  No.  151. 

Dr.  Talbott  was  married  to  Miss  Amelia  F.  Wal- 
ker, a  native  of  Lewistown,  in  1872,  and  their 
pleasant  wedded  life  has  been  blessed  to  them  by 
the  birth  of  one  son.  Willis  N.  Mrs.  Talbott  is  a 
daughter  of  Maj.  Newton  Walker,  who  was  born 
in  Madison  County,  Va.,  December  10,  1803.  His 
father.  Merry  Walker,  was  born  in  the  same  county 
in  1760,  and  is  a  son  of  William  Walker,  who  is 
supposed  to  have  been  a  native  of  England,  who 
came  to  America  in  Colonial  times  and  settled  in 
Virginia,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Mrs.  Talbott's  grandfather  was  a  life-long  resident 
of  Virginia,  and  was  there  engaged  as  a  farmer 
until  his  death  in  1811.  He  owned  large  tracts  of 
land  in  Madison  Count3-,  which  was  operated  by 
slave  labor.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Elizabeth  Kirtley,  and  she  was  also  a  ^'irginian  bj' 
birth  and  breeding.  Her  father,  Jervy  Kirtlej', 
was  a  farmer  of  that  Slate,  and  moved  from  there 
in  1794  to  the  Kentucky  wilds,  and  was  a  pioneer 
of  North  Bend,  in  Boone  County,  where  he  lived 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mrs.  Talbott's  grand- 
mother married  a  second  time,  and  died  in  Virginia 
in  1860. 

Newton  Walker  was  reared  and  married  in  ^'ir- 
ginia,  and  resided  there  until  1835.  when  he  too 
became  a  pioneer,  .starting  with  his  wife  and  child 
for  Illinois,  and  making  the  entire  jonrnc^y  over- 
land with  a  pair  of  horses  and  a  wagon,  being  two 
months  on  the  waj-.  Fulton  County  at  that  time 
was  sparsely  settled,  and  Lewistown  was  but  a 
small  village,  with  whose  interests  he  soon  became 
prominently  identified.  The  courthouse  was  a 
little  frame  structure,  and  in  1837  he  took  aeon- 
tract  to  re|)lace  it  by  a  more  substantial  and  com- 
modious building,  which  he  completed  in  1838, 
and  it  is  still  in  use.  At  that  time  it  w.as  one  of 
the  finest,  if  not  the  finest  public  building  in  tlie 
State.  When  Mr.  Walker  came  here  wolves,  deer, 
wild  turkeys  and  other  kinds  of  game  were  plenti- 
ful, and  venison,  turkey  and  |)raiiie  chicken  formed 
a  welcome  addition  to  the  limited  fare  of  the  pio- 
neers. 

Mr.  Walker  rented  a  house  until  1S37,  then 
bought  the  Ossiau  Ross  homestead,  which  was  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALHUM. 


499 


first  place  settled  in  this  vicinity,  and  the  second 
place  in  Fulton  County.  Mr.  Ross  locating  on  it  in 
1821,  and  it  has  benn  the  residence  of  Mr.  Walker 
for  a  period  of  fifty-three  years.  In  1844  he'en- 
gaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Lewistown. 
which  he  continued  until  1851.vvlien  he  sold  f  ut 
and  turned  his  attention  to  farming. 

Maj.  Walker  was  married  May  15,  1834,  to  Miss 
Ann  Eliza  Sinims.  a  native  of  Madison  County,  Ya. 
Her  father,  Iveul)en  Simms.  was  born  in  Orange 
County,  Va.,  where  he  was  a  planter  until  1835, 
when  he  came  to  Fulton  County,  and  died  here  at 
a  ripe  old  age.  The  maiden  name  of  liis  wife  was 
Frances  Graves,  and  she  was  a  native  of  Madison 
County,  Va.  Her  father,  Thomas  Graves,  was  a 
life-long  resident  of  that  .Slate.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Walker  have  four  children  living:  JIary,  widow  of 
Edwin  Harris,  resides  in  Lewistown;  Henrietta 
lives  with  her  parents;  Robert  lives  on  a  farm  in 
this  county;  Amelia  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Talbott. 


W;ILLIAM  McLaren  was  a  pioneer  of  this 
county  and  for  many  years  was  very  act- 
ive in  developing  its  agricultural  resources 
and  was  on§  of  the  leading  farmers  and  stock  grow- 
ers of  Woodland  Township.  His  death  July  12, 
1890,  was  a  loss  to  the  community  of  which  he  had 
been  so  long  a  valued  member. 

William  McLaren  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  Ijorn 
March  15,  1820.  His  father  and  mother  were  also 
n.Ttivcs  of  that  country,  but  concluding  that  they 
could  better  their  condition  by  emigration,  they 
came  to  America  in  1822.  They  settled  in  Indiana 
amongst  its  early  pioneers.  They  had  been  too 
l)Oor  to  pay  their  passage  on  the  shii),  and  had  con- 
tracted to  work  for  a  man  by  the  name  of  Robbs 
after  lauding  here,  he  paying  their  steamer  fare. 
The  country  in  which  they  settled  was  new  and 
very  thinly  inhabited.  The  father  labored  there  at 
farm  work,  and  died  about  1837.  After  that  the 
mother  of  our  subject  moved  with  her  children  to 
this  county  and  made  her  home  near  Astoria  the 
rest  of  her  life. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  only  two  years  old 


when  his  parents  brought  him  from  the  land  of  his 
nativity  to  this  country.  His  early  boyhood  days 
were  passed  amid  the  primitive  scenes  of  pioneer 
life  in  Indiana  and  he  attended  school  in  a  rude 
log  schoolhouse.  He  worked  at  odd  jobs  and  care- 
fully saved  up  the  money  that  he  thus  earned.  He 
^was  about  seventeen  years  old  when  bis  father 
died,  and  soon  after  that  came  to  tliis  county  with 
his  mother,  making  the  journey  overland  with  an 
ox-team  and  luml)er  wagon.  He  was  very  indus- 
trious and  a  hard  worker  and  supported  his  mother 
comfortably  in  her  olil  days. 

In  early  manhood,  Mr.  McLaren  entered  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  sections  5  and 
8,  Woodland  Township,  and  erected  thereon  a 
hewed  log  house  for  the  shelter  of  the  family.  His 
farm  was  heavily  timbered  and  he  cleared  and  im- 
proved it  in  a  good  shape  placing  upon  it  substan- 
tial farm  buildings,  making  neat  fences  and  doing 
all  that  he  could  to  make  it  a  model  farm.  In  1870, 
he  left  the  farm  and  retired  to  Suramum  in  the 
same  township,  where  he  )jurchased  a  house  and 
lot.  He  superintended  his  farm  for  sometime  after 
moving  into  the  village  and  raised  a  goodly 
amount  of  stock.  For  four  years  he  carried  the 
mail  from  Suninuim  to  Astoria.  Always  a  true 
and  consistent  Christian  whose  upright,  unblem- 
ished life  was  an  example  for  others  to  follow,  our 
subject  was  a  valued  member  of  the  JMethodist 
Church.  In  politics  he  agreed  witli  the  Rei)ublican 
party.  He  held  several  minor  offices  in  the  town- 
ship and  was  accounted  a  good  civic  official  b}'  all 
who  knew  him. 

Mr.  McLaren  was  greatly  indebted  for  the  posi- 
tion he  attained  in  life  and  for  what  he  accom- 
plished to  the  invaluable  assistance  of  a  wife,  who 
is  a  woman  of  great  capability  and  is  an  exceed- 
ingly good  manager.  Her  marriage  with  our  sub- 
ject was  solemnized  July  18,  1841.  Mrs.  IMcLaren 
was  formerly  Miss  Rachael  Fike,  and  she  was  born 
in  Ohio,  June  12,  1823.  Her  parents  John  and 
Sallie  (Wilkey)  Fike,  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  were  there  reared  and  married  and  had 
two  children  bom  to  them  before  they  became  pio- 
neers of  Ohio.  They  resided  on  a  farm  in  the 
Buckeye  State  for  a  time  and  then  removed  to  In- 
diana and  from  there  to  Morgan  County,  111.  They 


oOO 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


subsequently  took  up  their  residence  in  Pike 
County,  wiience  tljoj-  started  for  Texas.  When 
about  sixty  miles  beyond  the  Red  River  in  the 
Lone  Star  State,  the  son  died  and  the  family  was 
so  discouraged  that  they  started  back.  When  they 
arrived  in  Arkansas,  the  father  died  near  the  Ar- 
kansas River  and  the  remaining  members  of  the 
sorrowing  family  returned  to  this  State  and  settled 
once  more  in  Morgan  Count}'.  The  father  was 
forty  3-ears  old  at  the  time  of  his  premature  death. 
He  was  a  prominent  Methodist  and  was  Class 
Leader  in  his  Ciuiroh.  In  politics  he  sided  with 
the  Democrats.  The  mother  of  our  subject  also 
died  comparatively  young  as  she  was  but  forty 
\ears  old  at  the  time  of  her  death.  She  reared 
eight  children:  Jeremiah,  Josiah,  Abraham,  James 
B.,  Rachael,  Mahala,  Sallie,  and  William.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  also  a  devout  .Aletho- 
dist. 

The  happy  wedded  life  of  our  subject  and  his 
amiable  wife  resulted  in  the  birth  of  nine  children, 
eight  of  whom  grew  to  maturity  as  follows:  Nancy 
J.,  Mrs.  Palmer,  John  N.,  Christopher  C,  William 
R..  IMary  C  Mrs.  Shanks,  Israel,  Francis  M.,  and 
Belle,  Mrs.  Markely.  Mrs.  McLaren  is  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  She 
is  a  woman  whose  kind  heart,  motherly  ways,  and 
many  sterling  qualities  have  gained  her  general 
esteem  throughout  the  community. 


^= 


z^ 


HARLES  M.  SMITH  owns  and  occupies  a 
fine  tract  of  land  on  section  7,  Banner 
Township.  The  estate  consists  of  eighty 
acres  of  thoroughly  cultivated  landj  bearing  a  com- 
plete set  of  fine  buildings  and  the  other  improve- 
ments which  stamp  tlie  owner  as  a  j-oung-  man  of 
enterprise  and  good  taste. 

Mr.  Smitli  was  born  in  the  township  of  which  he 
is  now  an  honored  resident,  Februar}'  26,  1868,  was 
roared  on  a  farm  and  received  a  district-school  ed- 
ucation. His  father,  William  H.  Smith,  Esq.,  was 
quite  extensive!}' engaged  in  farming  .and  milling  . 
and  our  subject  assisted  him  until  he  had  reached 
his  majority.     He  then  established  himself  in  life, 


beginning  a  career  which  promises  to  prove  suc- 
cessful in  a  financial  sense,  and  in  securing  for  him 
the  further  good  vvill  of  those  about  him.  Mr. 
Smith  inherits  from  his  fatlier  a  belief  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  Democracy,  which  he  therefore  supports 
with  his  ballot.  He  possesses  agreeable  traits  of 
character,  pleasant  manners  and  a  good  character. 
On  September  19,  1889,  Mr.  Smith  was  happily 
married  to  Clara,  daughter  of  Thomas  Fonts,  one 
of  the  old  and  prominent  settlers  of  the  county. 
The  home  of  the  young  couple  has  once  been  vis- 
ited by  the  angel  of  life  and  tliey  liave  a  young  son 
named  Elmer. 


EV.  ALEXANDER  H.  WIDNEY.  For 
more  than  thirty  years  this  gentleman  has 
'^  %  been  aiding  in  tlie  spread  of  tht  gospel,  de- 
^!  voting  himself  .with  nssiduity  and  loving 
zeal  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Tlie  center  of 
his  present  field  of  labor  is  the  town  of  Cuba, 
where  he  has  held  a  pastorate  for  over  two  years. 
He  is  a  man  of  broad  intelligence,  decided  literarj'^ 
ability,  and  the  dignified  yet  winning  manners  so 
thoroughly  in  keeping  with  his  profession. 

The  ancestors  of  our  subject  settled  in  Ireland  in 
the  year  1688,  John  Widney  having  been  a  colonel 
in  the  army  of  AVilliam,  Prince  of  Orange,  and  hav  • 
ing  received  a  valuable  estate  in  County  Tyrone, 
in  consideration  of  services  rendered  in  the  war  be- 
tween William  and  James.  John  Widney,  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Ern3'vale,  Ireland,  in 
the  year  1779,  and  at  the  age  of  five  years  was 
brought  bj'  his  father  to  America.  The  famih'  set- 
tled in  the  upper  part  of  Path  Vallej',  Franklin 
Countj',  Pa.,  whence  the  descendants  of  the  two 
brothers  and  three  sisters  who  settled  in  this  rug- 
ged region  together,  scattered  to  various  portions 
of  the  United  States. 

Our  subject  was  born  July  29,  1834,  in  Toboyne 
Township,  Perry  County,  Pa.,  and  is  the  j'oungest 
son  in  a  family  of  eleven  children.  At  the  age  of 
three  j-ears  he  lost  his  father  by  death,  and  the  fam- 
ily soon  after  following  the  spirit  of   adventure, 


.'%■ 

i 


,0^ 


fW 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


503 


became  identified  with  the  early  settlement  of 
Northeastern  Indiana.  They  made  a  home  on  the 
Little  St.  Joseph  River,  DeKalb  County,  Ind. 
There  an  older  brother,  who  had  received  a  good 
education  in  the  East,  became  a  school-teacher  for 
the  earl>-  pioneers. and  would  often  take  his  younger 
brother  on  his  back  and  carry  him  a  distance  of 
two  or  three  miles  through  the  unbroken  forest  to 
the  log  selioolhouse  where  he  taught. 

In  the  year  1848,  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  our  sub- 
jecCvleft  his  widowed  mother,  and  returned  to  the 
old  home  in  Pennsylvania,  where  for  five  years  he 
apprenticed  himself  to  his  eldest  brother,  who  was 
the  proprietor  of  a  w.igon  shop.  Returning  to  In- 
diana in  1853,  he  began  his  struggle  for  an  educa- 
tion b}'  teaching  a  district  school  at  $1.5  a  month, 
he  to  have  his  board  among  the  people.  But  board- 
ing around  was  not  pleasant,  and  he  took  the  only 
alternative,  securing  his  own  boarding  place.  His 
pedagogical  labors  were  followed  by  two  years  of 
close  application  to  study  at  the  LaGrange  Insti- 
tute at  Ontario.  Ind.,  and  he  then  beg.au  in  a  small 
way  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  the  Methodist 
Protestant  Church. 

For  thirteen  years  Mr.  Widney  pursued  his  chosen 
profession  in  Indiana,  traveling  the  extensive  cir- 
cuits of  that  day,  and  often  preaching  five  or  six 
times  each  week.  During  the  fall  of  1858,  while  on 
a  circuit  in  Fountain  County,  he  was  seized  with 
the  terrible  disease  known  as  "milk  sick,"  and  nearlj' 
lost  his  life.  In  the  struggle  through  which  the 
church  passed  in  1867-58  over  the  slavery  question, 
Mr.  Widney  was  branded  as  an  Abolitionist,  and 
the  doors  of  one  of  the  churches  on  his  charge  were 
shut  against  him.  In  1869  he  removed  to  Illinois, 
wliLrein,  with  the  exception  of  three  }-ears,  his  sub- 
sequent life  has  lieen  spent  and  his  labors  expeiided. 

During  the  three  year.?,  from  1877  to  1880,  the 
Rev.  ]\Ir.  AVidiiey  was  settled  in  Copiah  County, 
Miss.,  on  what  is  now  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad. 
The  removal  to  the  South  was  for  the  benefit  of 
his  health,  liis  throat  having  become  diseased.  In 
those  years  Mr.  Widney  improved  a  small  fruit 
farm,  and  traveled  extensively  through  the  "piney 
woods,"  preaching  whenever  called  upon  to  do  so, 
and  writing  up  that  country  for  the  Northern  press. 
In  1880  he  returned  to  Illinois,  since  which  time  he 


has  been  pastor  at  Lima  and  Ursa,  Adams  County, 
for  two  j'cars,  DeLand  and  Weldon,DeWitt  County, 
four  years,  one  year  each  at  Foosland  and  Clinton, 
and  is  now  for  the  third  year  at  Cuba. 

Mr.  Widney  has  been  for  over  thirty  years  a  con- 
tributor to  the  religious  press,  chiefly  of  his  own 
church,  and  occasionally  to  the  secular  papers.  At 
present  he  is  editor  of  the  Cuba  Journal  an  inde- 
pendent paper  in  the  village  where  he  holds  his  pas- 
torate. He  enjoys  the  full  confidence  of  the  church 
in  which  for  thirty-four  years  he  has  been  a  minis- 
ter, and  has  been  honored  with  membership  in  the 
General  Conference,  has  been  for  four  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Missions,  etc.,  etc.  The  good 
which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Widney  has  accomplished  in 
the  uplifting  of  humanity  can  only  be  measured 
when  time  shall  be  no  more. 

Mr.  Widney  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
union  was  solemnized  in  1856,  his  bride  being  Miss 
Martha  A.  Wigent,  who  died  in  1866,  leaving  six 
children.  The  second  union  was  with  Mrs.  .Susan 
E.  Norton,  who  is  the  mother  of  one  son  by  Mr. 
Widney.  Of  the  various  members  of  his  farail}', 
one  daughter  is  a  milliner,  one  son  and  one  daugh- 
ter are  teachers,  one  son  is  managing  a  newspaper, 
one  is  a  recent  graduate  of  the  Law  School  at  Ann 
Arbor,  and  located  at  Denver,  Colo.,  and  one  is 
clerking.  The  eldest  son  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years. 


_SE 


=1^ 


hM  ORRELL  HIGBIE,  a  history  of  whose  life 
III     IV    is   herewith   presented  to   the   public,  and 
II       w  whose  portrait  is  shown   on  the   opposite 
*  page,  has  passed  from  the  scene  of  earthl}' 

joys  and  sorrows  to  his  final  resting  place.  For 
weeks  his  numerous  friends  had  known  that  the  end 
was  near  and  all  hope  of  his  recovery  had  been 
abandoned.  Still,  when  on  the  eve  of  March  12, 
1890,  he  breathed  his  last,  surrounded  by  his  de- 
voted family  and  a  few  intimate  friends,  the  shock 
was  felt  throughout  the  community.  Such  was  his 
popularity,  and  such  devotion  his  noble  life  had 
won,  that  strong  men  were  affected  to  tears  upon 
hearing  the  s.ad  news. 

Mr.  Higbie's  birth  occurred  on  January  10,  1833, 


504 


PORTRAIT  AN£)  biographical  ALBUM. 


at  Oppenbeim,  N.  Y.  Re  was  one  of  a  family  of 
fourteen  cliildren,  twelve  of  wliom  lived  to  matur- 
itv,  auci  five  of  whom  survived  him,  viz-.  Mrs. 
Je.innette  Plautz,  of  Warsaw,  111.;  Mrs.  Maria 
Buell,  of  Keokuk,  Iowa;  Mrs'.  D.i\  James,  Whites- 
town,  N.  Y. ;  James  Higbie,'of  Utida,  N.  Y. ;  and 
William  Higbie,  of  Kansas. 

Our  subject  came  to  Illinois  in  lft57,' locating 
in-  Canton,  and  wis- at  first  manager  for  E.  P. 
Buell,  a  railroad- contractor,  who  constructeil 
what-  is  now  thS  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Western  Knil 
road.  Mr.  Higbie  was-  married  in-  June,  1859, 
to  Miss  Luc3'  Ann  Sp6nce;  and  this- union  was 
blessed  with  six  children,  of  whom  the  only  one 
living  at  the  present  time  is  Frankie,  wife  of  F.  G. 
Pitt,  whose  sketch  appearsin  this  volumfe. 

In  the  year  1859  the  subject  of  our  sketch 
assumed  control  of  the  old  Mississippi  Hotel,  then 
the  leading  house  of  Canton,  and  standing  ou  the 
site  now  occupied  by  the  Churchill  House;  He  con- 
tinued in -this  business  for  about  two  years,  and 
subsequently,  in  connection  With  F.  S.  Buell.  man- 
aged the  hotel  arid  a  livery  and  stock  business. 
They  sold  the  hotel  above  raentiorted  to  Babcock 
&  Hoblitt,  Barber  &  Higbie  continuing  to  engage 
in  tlie  stock,  business  until  February,  1881.  At 
that  date  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  Mr. 
Higbie  and  his  brother  George  erected  an  immense 
livery  stable  on  South  Main  Street,  and  opened  the 
largest  live rj'  and  sale-  business  tliat  this  city  has 
ever  known.  Our  subject  won  a  national  reputa- 
tion as  a  horseman  in  handling  such  horses  as 
George'  Sprague,  Little  Fred,  Floral-  Bell,  Dan 
Brown,  Ivate  Sprague,  and  numerous  ofhei'  valuable 
ones.  I  '  '        ■         ■ 

The  strong  ties  of  friendship  that  existed  between 
Mr.  Higbie  arid  the  leading  citizens  of  Canton 
proved  the  high  estefenJ  in!  ■Which- he  was  held  in 
this' community.  •'-He  'had  a  kihd' heart  and  a  gen- 
erous disposition,  and  no  uilfortrinate  person  was 
ever  turned  away  by -him  or  d'ehied  assistance.  His 
Christianity  was  of  a  practical  kind,- and  as  father, 
husband  and  friejid;  hewas  devotedly  loved. 
■•  In  the  Chicago  Horseman,  the  leading  turf  journal 
of  the  West,  in  speaking  of  his  death,  appeared  tiiese 
words:  '-Actions,  words,  looks,  and  steps  form  llie 
alphabet   by  which    we  may   spell  character,"  and 


rae.asured  by  tliis  rule  Mr.  Higbie  merits  untold 
praise.  There  was  nothing  neutral  or  insignificant 
in  Iris  composition,  and  the  limits  of  a  village  did 
not  furnish  sulticient  scope  for  his  numerous  and 
diversified  talents. 

Our  subject  was  born  and  educated  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  passed  over  the  intellectual  field 
by  rapid  stages.  He  was  a  man  of  deeds,  not  of 
words,  but  such  was  his  integrity  that  his  promise 
was  as  good  as  a  bond;  and  even  his  political  foes 
both  respected  and  liked  him.  Mr.  Higbie's  widow 
and  children  are  justly  )jroud  of  his  reputation,  and 
they  too  occupy  a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  their 
neighbors. 


ACOB  P.  HENSLEY,  a  progressive  farmer 
of  Cass  Township,  has  risen  to  a  position  in 
agricultural  affairs  which  many  might  env^-. 
Since  1853  he  has  made  his  home  between 
Harris  and  Cass  Townships,  and  has  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years  resided  in  the  latter  named  place. 
His  birth  occurred  on  December  22,  1837,  in  Clay 
Coun'ty,  Ind.,  being  the  son  of  John  A.  Hensley,  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  who  was  born  in  that  State  in 
Montgomery  County,  October  6,  1816.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  ]\Iinerva  Yocum,  also  a  Kentuckian,  but 
their  marriage  took  place  in  Clay  County,  Ind.,  in 
1836,  they  continuing  to  reside  in  that  place  for  a 
period  of  Seventeen  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time  they  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  near 
Marietta,  where  the  mother  died  in  1865. 

To  our  subject's  parents  were  born  nine  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living  at  the  present  time,  viz: 
he  whose  sketch  now  claims  attention;  Mary  C, 
wife  of  Hiram  Bartlett,  has  three  children,  and  re- 
sides in  Harris  Township;  William  O.  married  Jen- 
nie Johnson,  has  three  children,  and  lives  in  Harris 
Township;  Algon  H.,  who  married  Linda  Jones,  is 
the  father  of  eight  children,  and  lives  with  his 
family  in  Cass  County,  Mo.;  Eva,  wife  of  Jeremiah 
Pierce,  lives  in  Mound  Township,  McDonough 
County,  and  has  three  children. 

Our  subject's  father  is  still  living,  and  makes  his 
home  with  iiis  son.  Jacob  received  a  common- 
school  education  at  Marietta,  and   was  diligent  in 


PORTRAIT  AMD  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


505 


preparing  his  lessons  and  in  laying  tiie  foundation 
for  a  prosperous  future.  When  twenty -one  years 
of  age  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  and  set- 
tled in  Lynn  Count}-,  Kan.,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  breaking  up  and  cultivating  thei)rairie  land. 
He  then  returned  home  and  worked  for  others,  re- 
ceiving only  a  small  amount  of  money  in  compen- 
sation for  his  services — a  state  of  affairs  which 
existed  until  1865.  Buying  a  farm  on  section  21, 
he  lived  there  eleven  years.  And  then  purchasing 
propert}'  on  section  20,  made  that  his  liome  during 
the  next  five  years.  He  finally  settled  upon  his 
present  farm,  which  embraces  two  hundred  acres  of 
valuable  land.  When  he  took  possession  of  the 
same  it  was  one  unbroken  stietch  of  brush  and  tim- 
ber, and  the  hand  of  civilization  had  not  robbed  it 
of  one  primitive  charm;  but  by  means  of  inex- 
haustible energy  and  good  business  judgment,  he 
has  cleared  this  land  and  has  it  well  under  cultiva- 
tion. In  1 870  he  built  his  residence  at  a  large  cost, 
and  loses  no  opportunity  to  add  to  the  comfort  and 
valuation  of  his  estate. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch,  who  as  before  stated, 
devotes  much  attention  to  farming,  is  chiefly  inter- 
ested in  stock-raising,  and  lias  in  his  possession  sev- 
enteen valuable  horses,  including  the  two  famous 
stallions,  '-Oxney  Samson"  and  "Baryton,"  half  a 
dozen  of  good  Southdown  sheep,  and  fifty  full- 
blooded  Poland-China  hogs,  and  also  some  fine 
Galloway  cattle. 

Mr.  Hensley  was  married  March  9,  1862,  to  Miss 
Margaret  Baughman,  daughter  of  Gabriel  Baugh- 
man,  one  of  the  old  settlers  in  this  township,  and 
who  is  now  deceased.  He  emigrated  from  Ohio  to 
Cass  Township  in  1834,  and  was  the  father  of  four- 
teen children,  seven  boys  and  seven  girls;  nine  are 
still  living,  and  most  of  them  in  this  county.  The 
daughter's  birlh  occurred  December  27,  18-'54.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hensley  have  been  born  three,  chil- 
dren, living  and  one  deceased,  viz:  Hannah  Jane, 
Mrs. James  E.  Drummond,  of  this  place;  John  G.; 
Marcellus  O.,  who  married  Ellen  J.  Sterling;  and 
Mary  M.,  deceased. 

Our  subject  and  wife  are  devout  Christians  and 
faithful  attendants  at  the  Christian  Chui'ch.  He  is 
a  strong  temperance  man  himself,  and  a  great  ad- 
vocate of  this  cause.     Being  a  man  of  prominence. 


he  is  naturall}'  called  upon  to  fill  responsible  posi- 
tions, and  has  for  the  past  fifteen  years  sensed  as 
School  Director,  and  helped  build  two  school- 
houses.  He  is  actively  interested  in  political  mat- 
ters, and  has  voted  for  the  Greenback  party,  and  of 
late  years  for  the  Prohibition  ticket,  having  cast 
his  first  vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  His  father  is 
a  member  of  the  Democratic  party,  casting  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Xan  Buren. 

/^W)  I'^RLES  E.  JOHNSON.  To  behold  the 
[l(  progress  and  culture  of  Pleasant  Township 

^^^'  one  would  scarcely  imagine  that  a  few  years 
back  it  was  little  more  than  a  forest  primeval  and 
possessed  only  the  charm  of  nature.  This  place  is 
rightly  named,  being  in  very  truth  an  exceedingly 
pleasant  township  .and  one  well  adapted  to  business 
and  pleasure  alike.  Among  the  early  pioneers, 
tliose  who  hewed  out  the  foundation  upon  which 
the  little  city  has  been  built,  numbers  the  subject  of 
our  sketch.  He  makes  his  home  on  section  9,  and 
is  largely'  instrumental  in  biintjing  about  many 
of  the  new  and  successful  methods  of  advancing 
business,  educational  and  social  standards. 

Mr.  Johnson's  birth  occurred  in  Saratoga  Count}-, 
N.  Y.,  on  the  13th  of  July,  1830,  being  the  son  of 
Lemuel  and  Lydia  (Rowley)  Johnson,  natives  of 
New  York.  His  paternal  ancestors  were  of  Klnglish 
descent  and  came  to  this  country  to  seek  a  broader 
scope  for  their  ai)iiities  than  was  afforded  in  the  old 
and  crowded  country.  He  passed  his  childhood  and 
youth  in  his  native  State,  and  there  received  as  good 
an  education  as  the  times  offered,  though  he  did  not 
receive  half  the  training  that  is  given  j'oung  men 
of  the  present  day,  and  yet  his  success  has  been 
greater  than  will  be  achieved  periiaps,  by  most 
of  these  highly  educated  young  men.  There  is 
nothing  so  well  calculated  to  bring  out  all  the 
energy  and  ambition  a  man  possesses  as  the  neces- 
sity early  in  life  for  making  his  own  way. 

Mr.  Johnson  in  the  fall  of  1849  removed  to  Illi- 
nois, coming  by  way  of  Buffalo  and  the  lakes  and 
Chicago.  Upon  reaching  this  State,  he  located  in 
Fulton  County.    In  1853  he  married  Jliss  Harriett 


506 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Lacey,  who  was  born  in  Tompkins  Count}',  N.  Y., 
on  tlie  lOth  of  September,  1833,  and  daugliter  of 
John  Lacey  whose  sketcii  appears  in  this  volume. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  viz:  Laura  A.,  wife  of  James  Parkison,  of 
Bernadotte  Township;  Milburn  H.,  of  Bernadotte 
Township;  Mattie  C,  who  lives  with  her  parents; 
Blake   E.     Those  deceased  are,  John  L..  Cora  A. 

and  Carrie  I. 

Tlie  subject  of  our  sketch  after  his  marriage 
farmed  on  section  9,  on  the  farm  of  John  Lacey, 
and  purchased  his  present  farm  in  1882  and  has 
continued  to  make  this  his  iiome  up  to  the  present 
writing.  He  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  that  is  well  cultivated  and  his  lesidence  is 
two  miles  east  of  Ipava  village.  He  is  truly  a  self- 
made  man  and  has  met  with  both  friendship  and 
financial  success  in  his  journey  through  life.  He 
started  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder  and  has  climbed 
without  other  assistance  than  his  courteous  manners 
and  «;ood  judgment. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
party.  He  is  a  member  of  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Lodge 
No.  213  at  Ipava.  He  has  for  several  years  been 
Road  Commissioner  of  this  township  and  also  Con- 
stable and  Collector.  Being  a  very  public-spirited 
man  and  one  possessed  of  undaunted  courage,  he 
has  always  advocated  the  cause  of  worthy  under- 
takings that  were  calculated  to  advance  the  inter- 
ests of  the  community  in  which  he  resides.  Mrs. 
Johnson  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  she  and  her  husband  are  popular  in 
social  circles  and  noted  for  their  intellectuality. 
Indeed  the  subject  of  our  sketch  is  classed  among 
the  most  influential  and  wealthy  citizens  of  this 
place,  and  is  highly  respected  both  here  and 
throughout  the  surrounding  county. 

-^ #3-^ ^ 


M.  WATSON.  It  is  impossible  in  a  brief 
biographical  sketch  to  render  full  justice  to 
prominent  men,  and  yet  there  are  some  who 
are  so  intimately  and  clearly  identified  with 
the  county's  welfare,  and  whose   names  are  so  fa- 


miliar to  all  that  it  is  only  justice  to  dwell  upon 
what  they  have  done  and  the  influence  of  their 
career  upon  others,  not  as  empty  words  of  praise, 
but  the  plain  statement  of  a  plain  truth.  To  this 
class  belongs  J.  M.  Watson,  commonly  called  "Roe" 
Watson,  Assessor  of  Cass  Township.  He  is  a  young 
man  of  indisputable  ability  and  good  business 
habits,  and  is  alike  popular  in  social  and  financial 
circles.  He  is  an  active,  wide-awake  farmer  and 
has  won  great  success  in  pursuing  this,  his  favorite 
occupation. 

Our  subject's  birtli  occurred  on  section  29.  of  the 
township   named,  July    19,  1852,  lie  being  the  son 
of  John  D.  and  Catherine  (Cameron)  Watson,  na- 
tives   of  Indiana  and    Illinois    respectively.     His 
father  is  numbered  among  the   pioneer   settlers  in 
this  State  and  experienced   all  the  hardships  and 
privations   incidental   to  a  resident  in  an  undevel- 
oped  country.     He  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  beloved  wife   in   1856.     To   them    had 
been  born  three  children,  all  of  whom  grew  t-i  ma- 
turity, but  of  whom    our  subject   is   the  only  one 
living    at    the    present    writing.     The    father  was 
married  again  and  now  makes  his  l.'orae  in  Oregon. 
The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  the  recip- 
ient of  a  common-school  education  and  at  an  early 
age    manifested   a  lively    interest    in    educational 
matters   and  an  amount  of  industry  and  inlegiity 
of  purpose  that  could  but  result  in  success.     Fol- 
lowing   the   footsteps   of  his  father  he  has  always 
devoted  his   attention  to  farming,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  years  during   which    time    he  tried 
railroading.     At   the  early  age  of  twenty-one  he 
commenced   to  make  a  business  record  for  himself 
and    is    now  the  owner  of  a  valuable  estate  near 
Sraithfield   and  also  of  an  elegant   residence.     His 
farm  comprises  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  ex- 
cellent land   all   in   a  body,  one   hundred   acres  of 
which  are  in  a  state  of  perfect  cultivation.     Beside 
agriculture   he  is  also   largely  interested  in  stock- 
raising,  buying  and  selling  all  the  time. 

Mr.  Watson  was  married,  April  3,  1873.  to  Miss 
Mary  C.  Cable,  daughter  of  Solomon  Cable,  and 
immediately  after  his  marriage  settled  upon  his 
present  farm.  To  himself  and  wife  have  been  born 
six  chihlren— Carrie  15.,  Sadie  C.  Josie  M.,  James 
H.,  John  II.  and  William  E.,all  of  whom  are  living. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


507 


The  interest  of  the  parents  in  school  matteisis 
very  pronounced  anil  tlie  children  are  one  and  all 
receiving  excellent  instruction.  Their  morals  are 
carefully  guarded,  the  father  being  a  man  of  good 
principles  and  tlie  mother  a  consistent  raeraDer  of 
the  United  Brethren  C'ljurcli. 

Mr.  Watson  is  a  member  of  Smithfield  Lodge 
No.  103,  I.  O.  O.  F..  jjas  held  the  offices  of  Treas- 
urer, Right  Support  and  Vice  Grand.  He  takes  an 
active  interest  in  political  issues,  voting  the  Demo- 
cratic ticiiet,  and  lias  at  various  times  been  a 
delegate  to  conventions.  He  has  been  a  School 
Director  for  four  years,  lias  served  as  Constable 
for  an  equal  length  of  time  and  is  now  filling  the 
office  of  Township  Assessor  for  the  fcnirth  term. 
He  is  classed  among  the  pre-eminently  successful 
agriculturists  of  Cass  Township,  and  has  lost  no 
opportunity  for  in)|iroving  his  estate  or  contribut- 
ing to  the  general  welfare  of  the  community,  who 
hold  him  in  such  high  esteem. 


ijICHARD  E.  GOULD  oiierates  a  farm  of  two 
4^  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Fairview  Town- 
\V  ship,  wliich  is  a  part  of  the  old  Travers 
estate.  The  best  traits  in  the  English  char- 
acter find  an  exemplification  in  him  and  are  com- 
bined with  some  sterling  qualities  derived  from  his 
maternal  ancestors,  who  were  German.  His  father, 
Edwin  Gould,  w.as  born  in  Exeter,  England,  and 
came  to  America  when  a  young  man  of  about 
twenty-three  years,  in  company  with  members  of 
the  Travers  familj',  so  jirominent  in  this  section  of 
Illinois.  Mr.  Gould  married  Sophia  Ernst,  who  bore 
him  seven  children,  our  subject  being  the  second  in 
order  of  birth. 

The  other  members  of  the  parental  family  are 
Sally,  a  teacher  in  the  schools  of  St.  Louis,  Mo. ; 
William  F.,  book-keeper  for  Donk  Bros.  Coal  Com- 
pany, of  St.  Louis;  P^dwin  J.,  book-keeper  for  the 
Ludlow  Saylor  Wire  Company,  of  St.  Louis; 
Walter  Carr,  railroad  clerk  at  Sedalia,  Mo.;  Harry 
P.,  a  resident  of  Fairview,  this  county;  George  A., 
an  emplo3'e  in  the  Ludlow  .Saylor  Wire  Company. 
The  father  of  this  family  was  possessed  of  more 


than  ordinary  enterprise,  and,  being  a  roiiemaker 
by  trade,  worked  up  a  good  business,  finally  build- 
ing a  large  rope  manufactory  in  St.  Louis.  He 
embarked  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  cord  for 
tying  cotton  bales,  investing  a  large  amount  of  cap- 
ital in  the  enterprise.  About  that  time  the  wire 
baud  for  the  same  purpose  was  invented,  and  tak- 
ing the  place  of  the  cotton  tie  fi)rmerly  used,  so 
affected  the  business  of  Mr.  (Jould  as  to  almost 
cause  his  Insolvency.  Beginning  again  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  financial  ladder,  he  climbed  upward, 
but  never  regained  his  former  position.  When  he 
died  he  was  worth  about  ■i'OiOOO.  He  was  the  first 
manufacturer  of  iron  and  steel  rope  west  of  the 
Mississippi  River. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  biographical  sketch  was 
born  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  December  2,  1859,  the  day 
.lolin  Brown  was  hung.  He  grew  up  in  his  native 
place,  followed  his  father's  trade  for  some  3'ears,  and 
then  found  employment  as  a  distributing  clerk  in 
the  post-office  department  of  his  native  city.  He 
was  filling  that  position  at  the  time  of  his  marriage 
and  continued  to  make  his  home  in  St.  Louis  for  n 
year  longer.  He  then  came  to  this  county  to 
reside. 

After  the  death  of  his  father  oui'  subject  came  up 
to  this  county  to  visit  his  parents'  old-time  friends 
— the  Travers  family.  He  found  much  to  admire 
in  the  character  of  Agnes  A.,  the  3-oungest  living 
child  (if  Charles  and  Jane  (Hutchins)  Travers,  and 
determined,  if  possible,  to  win  her  for  his  wife. 
His  wooing  [iroved  successful  and  on  September  2, 
1884,  the  young  couple  were  joined  in  the  bonds 
of  holy  wedlock.  Mrs.  Gould  was  born  at  White 
Oak  Sjirings,  Wis.,  and  was  but  eleven  years  old 
when  she  came  to  this  State.  After  acquiring  a 
preliminary  education  she  entered  the  Normal 
School  at  Normal,  but  after  attending  some  time 
her  health  failed,  and  she  was  obliged  to  abandon 
her  studies  before  graduation.  Reared  by  parents 
who  have  not  lost  their  belief  in  the  wisdom  of 
English  laws  and  English  customs,  she  became  capa- 
ble of  managing  a  home,  fitted  for  the  duties  which 
might  devolve  upon  her  in  society,  and  estimable 
in  character. 

Mr.  Gould  is  a  Republican  in  principles,  but  in- 
quires  into  the  character  and  fitness  for  office  of  a 


508 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


candidate  for  his  suffrage,  and  lays  by  party  preju- 
dice wlien  l\v  so  doing  he  can  secure  better  service 
in  any  (it>vernii]ental  position  of  trust.  He  is  a 
very  intelligent  mail,  possessing  sound  sense, 
coupled  with  various  manly  qualities,  such  as  win 
respect  from  bis  fellow-nicn.  He  an<]  his  wife  be- 
long to  the  Kpiseopal  Cluirch.  Their  home,  though 
modest,  is  an  abode  of  comfort  and  a  center  from 
wliii'li  pleasing  influences  extend. 


lEUT.  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  CONE. 
It  is  a  well  known  fact  iliat  circumstances 
in  life  may  make  or  mar  the  prospects  of 
man  to  a  certain  extent,  but  a  determined  spirit  will 
bend  even  the  force  of  circumstances  to  its  will. 
The  career  of  Lieut.  Cone  since  his  arrival  on  the 
stage  of  human  action  is  abund;int  proof  of  this 
trite  saying:  That  which  is  better  than  silver  or 
gold,  a  good  name,  gains  added  lustre  in  adverse 
circumstances,  and  tlie  sterling  rpialities  of  char- 
acter are  strengthened  in  the  comlials  of  life. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  is  tlie  fifth  son  of  Jo- 
seph Cone,  founder  of  Farraington,  and  a  man  of 
extended  fame,  whose  life  and  character  are  appro- 
priately set  forth  in  the  sketches  of  Spencer  and 
Henry  Cone,  found  elsewhere  in  this  Album.  Born 
in  Harwinton,  Conn,,  .luly  10,  1821.  George  Cone 
received  an  excellent  education,  first  attending  the 
common  schools,  and  later  the  Harwinton  Acad- 
em}',  as  well  as  institutions  of  learning  in  this 
State.  He  was  a  lad  of  but  thirteen  jears  when  he 
accompanied  liis  father  to  Illinois,  and  here  he  at- 
tended the  primitive  log  schoolliouses.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  years  he  entered  the  Peoria  Academy, 
which  vvas  at  that  time  under  the  charge  of  the 
Rev.  David  Page.  Possessing  groat  natural  abil- 
itj%  and  a  fondness  for  study,  \'oung  Cone  found 
no  difiiculty  in  mastering  the  depths  of  hidden 
lore. 

Lieut.  Cone  continued  to  live  at  home  until  his 
marriage  in  1848,  to  Miss  Cordelia  Ann  Smith, 
who  died  within  a  year.  In  18.j0  he  was  united 
with  Miss  Harriet  Berge,  a  daughter  of  Deacon 
Luther  Berge,  who  was  well  known  to  the  pioneers 


of  this  State  for  his  rousing  utterances  on  abolition 
and  temperance,  as  well  as  his  religious  zeal.  Mrs. 
Cone  inherits  much  of  the  energy  and  strength  of 
character  which  made  her  father  so  prominent,  and 
in  her  these  traits  are  combined  with  the  softer 
qualities  of  womanhood,  thus  qualifying  her  for 
the  important  duties  which  devolve  upon  her  in 
home  life  as  well  as  in  society.  She  is  the  mother 
of  four  children,  viz:  Cordelia,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  Frank,  who  lived  to  the  age  of  but  sis  years; 
Everett  Luther,  who  is  at  home;  and  (jeorge  C,  a 
student  in  the  University  of  Illinois,  at  Champaign, 
belonging  to  the  class  of  '93. 

Mr.  Cone  improved  a  wild  quarter-section  of 
land  before  his  marriage,  the  tract  being  near 
Elmwood.  He  sold  it  and  next  bought  a  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  near  Henry, 
where  lie  established  a  home  of  his  own.  In  a 
short  time  he  sold  the  farm  and  embarked  in  the 
dry-goods  business  at  Elmwood,  where  he  carried 
on  a  prosperous  business  career  for  seven  years. 
He  was  enjoying  a  happy  and  successful  life  when 
the  Civil  War  broke  out  and  his  loyalty  drew  him 
from  liis  peaceful  pursuit  to  a  place  amid  his  coun- 
try's defenders.  He  enlistee!  in  Company  I,  Sev- 
enty-seventh Illinois  Infant!'}'  in  the  fall  of  18G2, 
and  went  to  the  front  under  command  of  Col. 
Grier,  who  afterward  became  a  General.  The  com- 
pany was  mustered  in  at  Peoria,  and  after  spend- 
ing a  brief  time  in  (billing,  left  for  the  front,  their 
objective  i)oiut  being  Lexington,  K_y.  They 
marched  from  Covington  to  Lexington,  and  were 
ordered  on  to  Louisville,  where  they  embarked  on 
a  boat  from  which  they  landed  to  participate  in  the 
Yicksburg  campaign. 

The  first  heavy  engagement  in  which  Mr.  Cone 
participated  was  Port  Gibson,  which  was  followed 
by  Haines'  Bluff,  where  the  Union  forces  met  with 
a  rc|iulse.  At  Arkansas  Post  they  took  six  thou- 
sand prisoners,  at  Champion  Hills  had  a  hard  fight, 
as  also  at  Black  River  Bridge.  Before  the  com- 
pany left  the  North,  our  subject  liad  iTeen  elected 
Second  Sergeant,  and  immediately  after  the  en- 
gagement at  Black  River  Bridge,  he  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  Second  Lieutenant  for  valiant  ser- 
vices, the  commission  being  signed  by  U.  S.Grant. 
In  the  grand  charge  on  Vicksburg,  May  22,  Lieut. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


509 


Cone  was  sbot  tlirouglit  the  left  ankle,  and  was  on 
ci'iitflies  for  eight  uiocths.  He  resigned  and  was 
honorably  discharged  on  account  of  physical  dis- 
al)i!ity  at  New  Orleans  in  November.  1S63.  He 
returned  home  scarcely'  more  than  a  physical  wreck, 
but  with  a  war  record  of  which  any  man  might  be 
justly  proud. 

.Since  llic  war  Mr.  Cone  has  carried  on  farming, 
and  now  has  [uoperty  at  Great  Falls,  Mont.,  and  at 
Peoria.  In  18ti;i  ho  went  to  Mempliis,  tfiok  a  per- 
mit to  trade  with  the  people  ofj  the  South,  and 
bdugiit  mill  property  there.  He  sustained  a  heavy 
loss  in  this  venture,  never  receiving  pay  for  the 
property  r.nd  being  thereby  practically  mined.  He 
did  not  appl_y  for  a  pension  until  about  seventeen 
3'ears  after  the  war,  when  reverses  com|ielled  him 
to  do  so. 

In  politics  Lieut.  Cone  is  in  sympathy  with  the 
Republican  party,  but  is  no  olHce  [seeker.  He  is 
noted  for  integrity  and  honesty,  wliich  character- 
istics have  been  maintained  throughout  adversity 
and  prosperity  alike.  He  is  sliglitl3'  inclined  to- 
ward the  Swedenborgian  religion,  liberal-minded 
toward  those  of  diverse  faiths,  and  generous  in  aid 
of  worthy  enterprises. 


'[#ING  DAVID  BOWERS,  a  well-known  farmer 
<?.  of  Young  Hickory  Township,  is  one  of  its 
most  public-spirited  and  enterprising  citi- 
^^  zens.  One  of  his  most  prominent  charac- 
teristics is  his  thorough  loyalt}',  coupled  with  a 
grateful  remembrance  of  the  services  rendered  by 
the  brave  boys  who  gave  up  home  and  friends  to 
battle  for  the  Union.  Two  of  his  own  sons  gave 
up  their  lives  for  their  country  and  lie  himself  ex- 
perienced some  of  the  trials  whicli  befell  Union 
men  where  the  majority  was  against  them.  The 
farm  of  Mr.  Bowers  consists  of  eighty- four  acres 
on  section  10  and  eighty  acres  on  section  9,  watered 
by  Swigle  Creek,  and  having  the  practically  inex- 
haustible soil  of  tlic  bottom  lands. 

Mr.  Bowers  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Pa., 
near  \Va3n1esboro,  September  25,  1816,  and  was 
two  years  old  when  his  parents   removed  to  Wasli- 


ington  County,  Md.  Seven  years  later  they  changed 
their  abode  to  Frederick  Couijty,  where  the  lad 
was  reared  on  a  farm,  beginning  to  share  in  its  cul- 
tivaiion  when  but  ten  years  old.  The  only  school- 
ing which  he  ever  had-  was  at  a  subscription  seliool 
for  three  months,  where  he  learned  to  read  and 
write.  He  is  pre-eminently  self  made  and  many 
who  have  had  the  best  of  school  privileges  have 
not  so  good  a  knowledge  of  geneial  topics  and 
current  events  as  he.  When  fifteen  years  old  he 
began  working  by  the  month;  doing  men's  work 
and  receiving  men's'wages  of  -i>8  per  month.  He 
has  spent  manya  day  cradling  grain  and  perform- 
ing other  labor  which  is  now  generally  accomplished 
by  machinery.  , 

Mr.  Bowers  was  married  April  20,  1-840,  to  Miss 
Susan  Zeiger,  the  ceremony  taking  place  at  the 
bride's  home  in  Mercersburg,  Franklin  County,  Pa. 
That  capable,  industrious  woman  was  born  in  the 
Keystone  State  and  reared  on  tiie  farm  of  her 
fatlier,  .Tacob  Zeiger.  The  latter  was  a  soldier  in 
the  War  of  1812.  After  his  marriage-Mr.  Bowers 
removed  to  Morgan  County,  Va.,  where,  after 
working  for  wages  a  year,  he  rented  a  farm  in  the 
vicinity  of  Bath.  Two  years  later  he  went  to 
Franklin  County.  Pa.,  and  worked  out  by  the 
month  for  a  year,  his  wages  being  $9  per  month. 
On  this  he  kept  the  family,  which  included  two 
children,  and  after  ■  paying  $30  a  year  for  house 
rent,  was  able  to  live  as  well  as  now.  At  the  end 
of  a  year  he  bought  five  acres  of  land  near  Mer- 
cersburg and  shortly  afterward  added  six  acres,  it 
being  a  part  of  the  estate  of  his  mother-in-law. 
He  chopped  trees,  hewed  logs,  and  himself  put  up  a 
log  house  in  which  m.any  happy  hours  were  spent 
by  his  little  family.  He  set  out  an  orchard  and 
otherwise  improved  the  place  which  he  cultivated 
while  at  the  same  time  working  as  a  carpenter,  be- 
ing very  handy  in  the  use  of  tools  and  in  wood 
work. 

Until  he  came  West,  Mr.  Bowers  continued  to  do 
cari)enter's  work,  finallj'  contracting  for  small 
buildings,  making  shingles  and  coopers'  stuff,  but 
making  a  specialty  of  building,  double  corn  cribs. 
He  also  continued  to  do  some  farm  work,  particu- 
larly in  the  harvest  field,  as  otherwise  he  would 
have  been  boycotted  by  his  neighbors.    He  became 


510 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


particularly  expert  in  cradling  grain  and  found 
plenty  to  do,  being  even  sent  for  b}'  farmers  in 
Virginia.  There  he  received  ^2.50  per  day  as  he 
could  work  much  faster  than  the  slaves,  while  at 
home  he  leceived  but  $1.50  a  day.  In  1855  he 
sold  his  farm  and  goods  and  started  with  a  team 
toward  the  setting  sun.  At  Pittsburg  he  embarked 
on  the  ''Star  of  the  West"'  from  which  he  disem- 
barked at  Copperas  Landing.  The  team  had  been 
shipped  and  he  drove  on  to  Liverpool,  then  to 
Fairview  where  he  lived  a  year.  During  the  sum- 
mer he  busied  himself  at  carpenter's  work  theie 
and  in  the  fall  worked  at  London  Mills.  He  bought 
eighty-four  acres  of  his  present  estate  which  was 
raw  land  but  took  possession  of  a  rented  farm  on 
Spoon  River. 

Being  drowned  out  on  the  Spoon,  Mr.  Bowers 
returned  to  FairviewJ  wlience  he  teamed  to  Cop- 
l)eras  Creek  and  other  points  for  a  year.  He  next 
moved  on  to  the  Harshbarger[]farm;and  after  rent- 
ing it  a  year,  built  on  his  own  land  and  removed 
thither.  He  got  out  the  timber  from  his  own 
woods,  hewed  it  to  a  frame,  scored  and  put  it  up, 
."ind  hauled  lumber  from  Avon  for  the  lighter  parts 
i>f  the  building.  He  broke  the  land  and  gradually 
made  the  various  improvements  upon  it,  devoting 
the  spring  and  summer  to  farm  work  and  laboring 
at  his  trade  from  harvest  time  until  winter.  Until 
!!  year  ago  he  was  able  to  build  but  he  has  now 
given  up  carpenter's  work. 

Mr.  Bowers  was  able  ere  long  to  buyadjoining 
land  and  added  a  quarter  section  to  his  estate.  He 
sold  a  part  of  this,  however,  leaving  his  acreage 
one  hundred  and  sixty-four.  It  is  all  neatly  fenced 
and  is  well  stocked  and  supplied  with  necessary 
buildings.  The  residence  standi  on  one  side  of 
the  road  and  the  barns  on  the  other.  Three  acres 
were  given  by  Mr.  Bowers  to  the  Narrow  Gauge 
Railroad  as  a  right  of  way  and  he  also  subscribed 
to  the  fund  raised  to  push  the  road  through  this 
part  of  the  county.  The  land  is  excellent  for  pas- 
turage and  well  adapted  to  the  raising  of  hay  and 
grain.  Mr.  Bowers,  therefore,  does  general  farm- 
ing and  feeds  stock  of  various  kinds.  He  raises 
about  fourteen  head  of  good  roadsters  and  draft 
horses,  together  with  cattle  and  hogs.  In  all  his 
work  he  uses  the  latest  farm  machinery.     Of  the 


children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowers  we  note  the 
following:  William  H..  died  here  in  1857;  Daniel 
W.  and  Joseph  enlisted  in  1861  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Tliird  Illinois  Infantry.  Company  B,  were 
mustered  in  at  Peoria  and  served  until  killed; 
Daniel  died  at  Jackson,  Tenn.,  in  1863,  and  Joseph 
was  killed  Iw  the  falling  of  a  tree  when  on  picket 
duty  at  Resaca.  The  latter  had  accompanied  Sher- 
man on  the  march  to  the  sea  and  had  been  in  all 
the  battles  of  his  regiment  during  the  three  years 
of  his  service;  Jacob  lives  in  Peoria;  Martha  V., 
Catherine  R.,  and  John  G.,  triplets,  are  unmarried 
and  at  home;  Rinaldo  is  also  at  home;  Winlield 
Scott  died  in  the  East. 

Mr.  Bowers  has  been  School  Director  nine  3-ears 
and  is  much  interested  in  the  advancement  of  the 
cause  of  education.  Other  projects  and  enterprises 
which  will  tend  to  elevate  the  material,  moral  and 
intellectual  status  of  the  couimunitv.  receive  a 
helping  hand  from  him.  He  contributes  to  the 
building  fund  of  churches  and  gave  §115  toward 
the  soldiers'  monument  at  Midway.  He  was  for- 
merly a  strong  Abolitionist  and  is  now  an  equally 
stanch  supporter  of  Republican  principles.  lie  has 
been  a  delegate  to  count}"  and  Congressional  con- 
ventions. Mrs.  Bowers  is  a  consistent  and  honored 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

John  Bowers,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  and  farmsd 
there  during  his  earlier  life.  He  removed  to 
Washington  County.  Md.,  where  he  continued  to 
farm  and  also  did  teaming.  He  finally  ni.ade  his 
home  in  Williamsport,  living  to  an  extreme  old 
age.  He  was  a  famous  shot  and  a  great  fighter,  and 
although  left-handed,  was  never  known  to  be  beaten 
by  an  ojiponeut.  He  was  the  son  of  a  man  who 
emigrated  from  Germany. 

John  Bowers.  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
likewise  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  and  took 
part  in  the  War  of  1812  while  still  a  single  man. 
He  afterward  went  to  ilar_\  land,  operated  a  rented 
farm  for  a  time,  then  settled  in  Frederick  Countv, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  at 
the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  Although  a  good 
soldier,  ready  to  take  up  arms  in  defense  of  his 
country,  he  possessed  a  very  peaceable  disposition. 
His    religious    leaning    was    toward    the   Lutheran 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


513 


Church.  He  nianied  Sarah,  daiigliter  of  Jacob 
Coon,  who  was  born  in  Washington  Count}',  Md., 
an<l  reared  on  a  farm.  She  spent  her  entire  life  in 
her  native  Slate,  d3'ing  in  Cavetown.  Grand- 
mother Coon  lived  to  the  extreme  age  of  ninety- 
nine  years.  The  family  are  of  German  descent. 
The  parental  fiimily  included  nine  children  besides 
our  subject,  he  being  the  first-born.  Pvlizabeth  and 
John  died  in  Maryland,  and  Henry  in  Cedar  Rap- 
ids. Iowa;  Christian  lives  in  La  Salle  Count}',  this 
State;  Samuel,  near  Greenbush;  Susan,  in  Franklin 
County,  Md.;  Xancy.  in  Smithburg.  Md.;  Katie  F., 
and  George  also  in  that  State. 


>;ILLIAM  H.  SMITH,  owner  and  occu- 
pant of  a  fine  farm  in  Banner  Township, 
and  of  much  other  valuable  property, 
was  born  in  Smitlifield,  Jefferson  County.  Va.,  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1819.  His  father,  Henry  Smith,  born  in 
Brandenburg,  Prussia,  July  4,  1777,  landed  at 
Baltimore,  Md.,  July  4,  1799.  He  was  a  shoemaker, 
and  in  accordance  with  the  customs  of  those  days, 
went  from  house  to  house  with  his  kit  of  tools, 
making  up  shoes  for  an  entire  famil}'.  On  one  of 
these  trips  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  Mary  Fry, 
witii  whom  he  was  afterwards  united  in  marriage, 
and  who  bore  him  nine  children.  The  family  con- 
sisted of  six  daughters  and  three  sons,  named  re- 
spectively, John  F.,  Catherine,  Phcebe,  Frances, 
Mary  Eliza,  Harriet,  William  H.,  Elizabeth  and 
Braxton  D. 

The  mother  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Ya., 
June  5,  1783,  and  died  February  14,  1829,  at  the 
age  of  forty-five  years,  three  months  and  nineteen 
days.  The  father  subsequently  married  a  second 
wife,  by  whom  he  bad  two  children — Mary,  who 
married  a  Mr.  Homer,  and  Matilda  S.,  who  married 
Thomas  T.  Bybee,  and  after  his  death,  Lucian  B. 
Farnsworth.  The  father,  mother  and  stei)-mother 
of  our  subject  lived  and  died  in  the  same  house,  it 
having  been  built  b}'  Mr.  Smith  when  first  mar- 
ried. The  father  took  part  with  the  American 
Army  in  the  last  war  with  Greai;  Britain,  and  died 


December  4,  1865,  at  the  age  of  eighty -eight  years 
and  five  months. 

During  the  boyhood  of  our  subject  free  schools 
were  unknown  in  \'irginia,  instruction  being  ob- 
tained from  a  teacher  who  would  secure  patrons  by 
subscription.  Our  subject  began  his  attendance  at 
one  of  these  schools  when  seven  years  old,  and 
freely  confesses  that  while  his  parents  were  anxious 
for  and  did  all  in  their  power  to  secure  his  advance- 
ment in  his  learning,  he  did  not  see  the  importance 
of  it,  and  secured  but  a  limited  education.  When 
fourteen  j'ears  old  he  went  to  the  home  of  his 
brother-in-law,  Samuel  League,  a  tailor,  from  whom 
lie  intended  to  learn  the  trade,  but  his  eyesight 
being  impaired  by  the  loss  of  one  of  his  eyes  a  few 
years  before,  he  abandoned  the  idea. 

After  a  short  time  he  went  to  another  brother-in- 
law,  George  F.  Ludwig,  with  whom  he  learned  the 
milling  business.  The  agreement  was  made  between 
Mr.  Ludwig  and  the  father  of  our  subject  that  the 
boy  should  have  82.50  per  month,  but  the  account 
being  kept  between  the  older  parties  it  was  seldom 
that  he  had  money  to  handle.  Needful  clothing 
was  bought  for  him  by  Mr.  Ludwig,  and  he  had 
little  use  for  sponding-money,  without  which  he 
enjoyed  life,  there  being  plenty  of  company  about 
the  mill,  and   the  days  passing  happily. 

In  the  fall  of  1836,  there  being  much  talk  of  the 
West,  our  subject  encouraged  by  his  father,  de- 
termined to  set  forth.  His  greatest  difficult}-  was 
money,  but  Mr.  Ludwig  gave  him  the  privi- 
lege of  buying  a  shoat  and  feeding  it  with 
his  hogs,  and  when  fattened  the  animal  was  sold 
for  §12.18.  An  old  smooth-bore  rifle  had  been 
given  to  j'oung  Smith  by  his  father,  and  having  it 
stocked  up  new  he  was  able  to  sell  it  for  §12.  He 
managed  to  get  together  about  $30,  with  which  he 
left  his  native  soil  on  the  1st  of  May,  1837, 
to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  West. 

Our  .subject  was  obliged  to  economize,  and  so 
started  out  on  foot  for  AVheeling,  at  which  place 
he  was  to  meet  his  brother-in-law,  (k'orgc  Glass- 
ford,  and  his  sister  Elizabeth,  who  journeyed 
thither  by  stage,  and  with  whom  he  was  to  con- 
tinue his  journey  to  Peoria.  111.,  where  a  brother  of 
Glassford  was  living.  Over  hills  and  mountains 
the  youth  of  eighteen  trudged  manfully  on,  passing 


r.u 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tlirousjli  jMaiyland,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  native 
Stale,  having  no  troublti  to  Biul  his  way  after  reach- 
ing the  iSational  road.  His  feet  were  soon  blistered 
by  walliing  over  the  hard  roads,  which  were  an  al- 
most continuons  bed  of  beat-up  stone,  malving  his 
journey'  one  ever  to  be  remembered.  His  expenses 
were  very  ligiit,  as  be  could  obtain  a  cold  lunch  at 
a  cost  of  ninepence,  and  lodging  at  the  taverns  along 
the  route  was  proporticmately  cheap.  By  securing 
a  deck  passage  and  helping  to  carry  in  wood  (there 
were  no  coal  mines  along  the  river  then),  the  young 
man  paid  low  vale  for  his  fare  from  Wheeling  to 
Peoria. 

This  being  the  first  trip  of  any  note  which  our 
subject  had  taken,  it  opened  up  a  new  life  to  him, 
and  impressions  were  made  upon  his  mind  never  to 
be  obliterated.  No  incident  of  special  importance 
occurred  until  they  were  ascending  the  Mississippi 
River  when  they  attempted  to  pass  another  boat. 
The  channel  being  near  the  right  shore,  the  boats 
ran  close  together.  -Tnst  as  the  "Swiss  Boy"  was 
passing  her  opponent,  the  latter  swung  around,  and 
l)eing  heavily  loadei],  her  guards  came  under  the 
wheel  of  the  "Swiss  Boy,"  breaking  the  buckets 
and  doing  some  damage  to  her  own  guards. 
Becoming  interlocked  it  took  some  time  to  separate 
the  boats.  There  was  much  profanity'  among  the 
officers,  with  threats  of  liaving  satisfaction  before 
tlu'v  leached  St.  Louis,  but  as  the  "Swiss  Boy"  was 
cimipellfd  to  hi}-  by  for  some  time  to  put  on  new 
buckets,  it  did   not  again  overtake  the  other  boat. 

Peoria,  which  was  reached  about  the  middle  of 
ALay,  was  but  a  small  place,  the  principal  buildings 
being  on  Lake  and  Water  Streets,  above  Main,  the 
old  court-honse  back  of  the  town,  and  the  sui-round  • 
ing  country  almost  in  a  state  of  iiature.  An  oc- 
casional house  was  to  be  seen  along  tiie  bluff,  but 
wild  grass  had  possession  of  the  soil,  and  the  scen- 
ery was  wild  and  beautiful.  Our  subject  had  about 
^7  in  money,  from  which  he  paid  fifty  cents  for 
lodging  the  first  night,  much  troubled  at  the  price, 
but  not  all  by  the  hard  bed  upon  which  he  la\'.  He 
made  an  eager  search  for  eni|iloyment  at  his  trade, 
but  fonnd  none  in  the  few  rude  mills  in  that  sec- 
tion. 

While  talking  with  a  Pennsylvanian  named 
iiinehardt,  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  a  few  days  after 


his  arrival,  Mr.  Smith  was  approached  by  a  Mr. 
Davis,  who  run  a  brickyard  back  on  the  blufif.  He 
wanted  to  hire  two  hands  and  agreed  to  give  the 
young  men  §25  a  month  each  and  board.  Mr. 
Smith  w,is  not  certain  whether  he  could  stand  the 
work,  but  feeling  the  necessity  of  having  some  em- 
ployment, accepted  the  oflfer  and  was  set  to  work 
tending  one  of  the  raolders.  He  soon  blistered  his 
hands,  but  kept  his  table  full  of  mortar.  Two  sets 
of  hands  were  run.  each  having  a  certain  number 
of  bricks  to  mold  and  take  care  of.  The  molder 
at  our  subject's  table  was  inclined  to  be  lazy,  luid 
the  other  set  of  hands  would  get  theii-  tasks  com- 
pleted first.  This  did  not  please  Mr.  Smith,  who 
soon  began  molding  himself  whenever  his  molder 
would  leave  the  table.  The  business  seemed  natu- 
ral to  him,  as  in  a  short  time  lie  w.as  able  to  lead 
anyone  in  the  3-ard  in  molding. 

The  result  of  the  energy  of  Mr.  Smith  led  to  his 
being  offered  the  position  of  molder,  which  was 
much  easier  than  wheeling  mortar,  and  afforded 
him  the  satisfaction  of  getting  his  day's  work  done 
in  good  season,  while  he  also  aimed  to  gain  Satur- 
day afternoon  free.  He  worked  some  time  without 
receiving  any  money,  the  pay  being  taken  in  cloth- 
ing, as  there  was  little  good  money  in  the  country 
and  traffic  was  the  rule.  Seeing  an  opportunity  to 
do  better  he  settled  up  with  Mr.  Davis,  taking  an 
order  on  the  store  for  what  was  due  him.  Mr. 
Davis  desired  him  to  remain,  r.nd  finally  proposed 
to  give  him  an  interest  in  the  yard,  allowing  him  a 
certain  share  of  the  bricks  as  he  could  make  no 
su'-e  calculations  on  money.  Finding  that  his  share 
of  the  brick  would  perhaps  double  his  former 
wages,  Mr.  Smith  agreed  to  stay. 

Not  long  after  this  arrangement  was  made, 
Messrs.  Rowland  and  Orrin  Hamlin  came  to  the 
yard  one  day  inquiring  for  a  young  Smith  who  in 
May  had  been  seeking  a  berth  in  a  mill.  They  had 
bought  a  steam  mill  located  at  llicn.  Fulton  Coun- 
ty, and  wished  the  young  man  to  go  down  and  take 
charge  of  it.  As  the  season  for  bricklaying  was 
nearly  over  and  milling  promised  employment  dur- 
ing the  winter.  JIi'.  .'^mith  gave  ud  a  good  business 
in  Peoria,  leaving  what  proved  to  be  a  live  town, 
to  enter  upon  a  life  of  toil  and  hardship. 

Mr.  Smith  landed  at  Copperas  Creek  and  passed 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


515 


along  a  road  where  the  prairie  grass  was  taller  than 
his  head  to  reach  the  mill  of  which  he  took  charge. 
In  the  course  of  the  next  year  he  and  Israel  INIiller 
rented  it  for  two  months,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
Mr.  ismith  alone  rented  it  for  a  year,  and  also  re- 
fitted a  distillery  which  was  connected  with  it,  but 
in  need  of  repairs.  He  hired  men  to  run  the  dis- 
tillery and  himself  took  charge  of  the  mill,  doing 
very  well  that  year,  and  renting  the  plants  for  the 
second  year.  Thomas  Maxwell,  of  I'tica,  made 
a  proposition  to  go  into  partnership  with  him, 
claiming  to  have  monej-  and  ability  to  enlarge  the 
business.  After  becoming  a  partner  this  man  did 
not  balance  up,  so  our  subject  sold  out  and  went 
into  other  business. 

The  School  Directors  wished  to  hire  him  to 
teach,  but  he  said  he  was  not  qualified,  and  ought 
rather  to  attend  school  himself.  They  would  take 
no  excuse,  however,  and  no  certificate  being  re- 
quired, Mr.  Smith  took  charge  of  the  institution 
of  learning,  where  scholars  older  and  larger  than 
himself  attended.  The  next  enterprise  of  our  sub- 
ject was  carr3-ing  on  a  small  store  in  I'tica,  which 
was  broken  into  by  thieves  who  stole  about  $300 
in  money  and  some  goods.  The  money  had  been 
collected  for  the  purpose  of  recruiting  his  stock, 
and  the  loss  completely  prostrated  Mr.  Smith  and 
left  him  in  debt.  In  some  of  his  trailes  he  had  come 
into  possession  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  two  miles  below  Utica,  and  the  only  chance 
left  him  seemed  to  be  to  take  possession  of  the 
place,  and  try  to  cultivate  it. 

This  land  had  been  secured  from  Warner  Ilurd, 
who  was  separated  from  his  wife,  the  deed  conse- 
quently lacking  her  signature.  Mr.  Hurd  died  not 
long  after,  and  Mr.  Smith  was  obliged  to  buy  the 
l)roperty  again  from  the  widow,  who  laid  claim  to 
it.  About  three  acres  of  land  was  cleared,  the  bal- 
ance being  heavy  timber.  Taking  possession  of 
the  log  cabin  Mr.  Smith  fought  bis  way  onward, 
encumbered  by  a  debt  of  several  hundred  dollars, 
on  which  he  paid  twelve  per  cent,  interest.  Oh 
looking  back  he  often  wonders  how  he  made  his 
way  through  the  privations  which  beset  his  way 
dnring  the  many  years  in  which  he  was  often  de- 
nied the  real  necessaries  of  life,  in  order  to  save 
and  be  prepared  for  any  vicissitude  that  might  be- 


fall himself  or  family.  Ho  attributes  the  greater 
part  of  his  success  to  the  good  management,  in- 
dustry and  economy  of  his  wife,  whom  he  feels  to 
have  been  one  of  the  best  helpmates  a  struggling  man 
ever  had.  It  is  with  deep  grief  that  he  recalls  her 
efforts  and  the  fact  that  she  was  removed  from  his 
side  just  as  they  were  becoming  able  to  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  their  toil. 

Whenever  Mr.  Smith  had  a  few  dollars  to  invest 
he  bought  calves  or  other  stock,  and  when  he  could 
control  sufficient  money  would  buy  unimproved 
land  which  could  always  be  bought  cheap  for  ready 
cash.  This  would  be  sold  on  time  at  an  advance 
and  interest,  and  it  was  seldom  that  Mr.  Smith  had 
to  take  the  land  back.  Before  railroads  were  built 
here  he  had  a  large  trade  in  beef,  vegetables  and 
other  garden  stuffs  to  supply  steamboats.  In  1856 
he  built  a  steam  mill  which  accomplished  a  great 
deal  toward  opening  up  and  developing  the  coun- 
try, and  by  dint  of  hard  work  gave  him  some  profit 
In  1868  he  bought  the  Fidler  farm,  adjoinino- 
his  old  place,  and  some  time  afterward  twelve  quar- 
ter sections  in  Seward  and  Butler  Counties,  Neb. 
In  November,  1881,  he  purchased  of  James  Turner 
the  tract  on  which  he  now  resides,  paying  |!1 4,300 
for  the  same.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1885  he  paid 
over  s'SiOOO  for  two  hundred  and  twelve  acres  in 
the  south  part  of  tue  McKinley  lands.  He  also 
owns  three  hundred  and  seventy-nine  acres,  with 
good  buildings,  in  Mason  County,  eighty  acres  of 
the  Turner  land,  known  as  the  Walnut  Grove, 
another  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventj'-five 
acres  in  Peoria  County,  and  other  pieces  of  propertj' 
on  none  of  which  is  there  a  dollar  of  incumbrance. 

On  May  24,  1839,  Mr.  Smith  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Lovina,  daughter  of  T.  T.  Bybee,  the 
ceremony  taking  place  at  the  residence  of  the  bride, 
and  the  entire  neighborhood  being  present.  The 
groom  being  but  twenty  5'ears  old,  Mr.  Bybee  be- 
came security  to  the  County  Clerk  before  he  could 
obtain  the  license.  The  young  couple  made  their 
home  in  Utica  until  September,  when  the  wife  sick- 
ened and  was  taken  to  her  parents'  roof.  There 
she  breathed  her  last  October  3,  after  a  wedded  life 
of  but  four  months  and  ten  da^'s.  After  having 
lived  a  widower  until  November  19,  1840,  Mr. 
Smith    married    Elizabeth    C,  daughter    of  Elijah 


516 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   ALBUM. 


m^ 


Wileoxen,  and  a  cousin  to  bis  first  wife.  This  ludy 
sliai't'il  his  fares  anci  privations  until  April  4,  1863, 
when  she  too  passed  away  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight 
jears,  seven  months  and  five  days.  This  marriage 
w.is  blessed  by  the  birth  of  five  sons  and  seven 
daughters,  four  of  whom  died  when  quite  j'oung. 
On  May  6.  1866,  Mr.  Smith  was  again  married,  his 
bride  being  Miss  Abbie  Mason,  who  has  borne  him 
two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

On  another  page  of  this  volume  will  be  found  a 
lithographic  jiortrait  of  Mr.  Suiith. 

'  AMES  GARDNER.  A  traveler  throughout 
this  county  would  be  forcibly  impressed  by 
some  fe.atures  of  the  estate  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
sketch.  In  approaching  it  his  eyes  would  be  at- 
tracted liy  the  appearance  of  order  and  thorough 
cullivalion  seen  on  everj'  hand,  as  well  .as  by  the 
extent  of  the  acreage  and  the  efforts  that  have  been 
made  to  add  to  its  original  lieauty.  Perhaps  the 
most  conspicuous  object,  liowever,  to  the  stranger 
would  be  the  residence — a  large  bnihiing  present- 
ing llie  appearance  of  great  comfort  ami  homelike- 
iicss  and  built  of  stone  and  wood.  It  is  so  situated 
as  to  overlook  the  Illinois  Valley  for  manj'  miles, 
furiii>inng  one  of  the  grandest  views  of  natural 
scenery  in  the  State.  From  the  front  door  one  can 
look  i:ito  Schuyler,  Cass  and  Mason  Counties.  It 
will  be  seen  at  a  glance  that  the  mansion  has  been 
built  many  years,  as  there  is  no  appearance  of  mod- 
ern architecture  but  one  of  great  solidity  and  the 
fasiiion  of  a  former  day.  Inquir}'  elicits  the  infor- 
mation that  it  has  stood  since  1845,  and  was  built 
by  the  father  of  the  present  owner. 

Our  iidierited  traits  and  the  surroundings  of  our 
early  lives  prefigure  to  a  great  degree  our  own  ca- 
reers. It  therefore  affords  no  surprise  to  the  stu- 
dent of  human  nature  to  find  ihe  subject  of  this 
sketch  an  enlsrprising  and  orderly  agriculturist,  a 
moral,  intelligent  man,  and  a  relialdu  citizen,  when 
facts  in  the  ancestral  history  are  taken  into  consid- 
eration. The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born 
in  Scotland,  possessed  a   mind   of  more  than  ordi- 


nary strength  and  took  a  deep  interest  in  political 
matters.  Near  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century 
he  was  exiled  from  his  native  country  on  accoLint 
of  his  political  beliefs,  and  sending  his  family  to 
America  he  stole  away  in  the  night  and  followed 
them.  He  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  Empire  State 
and  about  1808  turned  his  footsteps  westward,  lo- 
cating in  Sangamon  County,  this  State.  As  he  was 
one  of  the  flrst  settlers  of  that  county,  it  is  probable 
that  Gardner  Township  was  named  in  his  honor. 

Andrew  (iardner  farmed  in  Sangamon  (,'ounty 
until  late  in  life,  when  he  came  to  live  with  his 
son.  father  of  our  sul.iject,  in  this  county.  He  was 
industrious  even  in  his  old  age  and  obtaining  apple 
seeds  from  St.  Louis  planted  the  first  orchard  in  the 
county,  on  his  son's  farm.  It  covered  twelve  acres 
and  bore  large  crojis.  Buyers  used  to  come  from 
Iowa,  Missouri,  and  the  city  of  S[)ii]igfield.  and  the 
receipts  from  the  sale  of  apples  wag  frequently  as 
high  as  «100  per  daj-.  Mr.  Gardner  died  here  and 
his  mortal  remains  were  first  interred  at  Sjiring- 
field,  but  in  1858  were  removed  to  their  final  rest- 
ing place  in  the  Foutch  burial  grounds  in  this 
county. 

James  Gardner.  Sr.,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Saratoga  County,  N.  Y.,  about  the  j-ear 
1800,  shortly  after  the  arrival  of  his  parents  in 
America.  He  came  to  the  Prairie  State  with  them 
in  his  boyhood  and  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm 
m  Sangamon  County.  Hehilnted  quite  a  good  deal 
during  his  youth,  and  when  eighteen  years  old  be- 
gan to  assist  the  Government  Survej'ors,  aiding 
them  for  several  years.  In  1 8 1  8  he  crossed  the 
Illinois  River  near  the  place  where  he  afterward 
settled  and  where  our  subject  now  lives.  At  one 
time,  while  he  was  with  a  surveying  party,  the  sup- 
ply of  tobacco  gave  out  and  he  was  sent  on  fool  to 
St.  Louis,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles, 
to  get  some.  While  on  this  journey  he  suffered  so 
from  thirst  that  he  was  compelled  to  drink  water 
from  holes  in  wdiich  bull  frogs  staid.  His  route 
to  St.  Louis  lay  through  a  dense  wilderness  and  he 
was  guided  by  a  compass.  He  remained  with  the 
surveying  party  until  he  was  competent  to  perform 
their  labors  and  on  one  occasion  took  the  place  of 
the  leading  surveyor  who  was  sick. 

In   the  fall  of  1822    James    Gardner,    Sr.,   and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


517 


CInrles  Gai-dner,  acconipanipd  by  a  stranger  left 
Sanjramon  Comity  to  seek  a  location  in  tiiis  sct'tion 
of  tiio  State.  Tl'ey  crossed  the  Illinois  River  at 
Havana  where  they  found  tliree  white  settler^  and 
saw  no  further  trace  of  white  men  until  they 
reached  Lewistown  where  Ossian  M.  Ross  had  lo- 
cated. They  found  a  [ilace  to  suit  them  on  section 
34,  Isabel  Township,  and  .Tames  Gardner,  Sr.  built 
a  log  cabin  at  the  foot  of  the  bluffs  just  below  the 
mansion  afterward  erected.  He  |)lanted  corn  and 
m^ons  the  following  spring  and  increased  his  agri- 
cultural operations  as  he  was  able  to  prepare  the 
land  for  crops  and  add  to  his  conveniences  for  cul- 
tivating it.  When  he  first  came  the  Indians — Pot- 
tawatomies  and  Kickapoos — were  numerous  and 
would  come  in  his  absence  and  take  melons  from  his 
patch.  They  would,  however,  always  leave  a  piece 
of  venison  hanging  by  the  door  for  ])ayment. 

Mr.  Gardner  became  very  familiar  with  the  red 
men,  learning  tlieir  language  and  frequently  hunt- 
ing with  them.  He  was  an  expert  willi  a  rille  and 
successful  in  his  pursuit  of  various  kinds  of  game. 
His  son  now  has  the  old  flintlock  rifle,  hunting 
knife,  buckskin  coat  and  pouch  which  he  carried  on 
his  expeditions.  The  knife  saved  his  life  on  several 
occasions,  once  in  an  encounter  with  a  wolf  and 
once  with  a  wild  boar.  In  those  da3-s  Mr.  Gardner 
used  to  grind  corn  in  a  hand  mill  from  which  to 
make  johnnycakes.  At  the  time  of  his  death  which 
took  place  August  18,  1873,  he  was  the  owner  of 
tliree  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Isabel  Township, 
and  two  hundre<land  eighty  acres  in  Kcrlon  Town- 
ship and  was  carrying  on  extensive  agricultural 
operations.  In  religion  he  was  of  the  old  Scotch- 
Presbyterian  belief,  strictlj-  just  in  all  his  deal- 
ings, intensely  loyal,  and  careful  in  his  obser- 
vances of   law  and  principle. 

The  wife  of  James  Gardner,  Sr.,  was  known  in 
her  maidenhood  as  Delilah  Gr.ay.  She  was  born  in 
the  Buckeye  State  and  died  in  Illinois,  June  27, 
1853.  She  bore  her  husband  two  children — he  of 
whom  we  write,  and  Charles  who  died  in  1852  ai 
the  age  of  two  years.  Our  subject,  who  was  born 
on  the  homestead  he  novv  occupies,  February  17, 
1850,  was  left  motherless  at  a  tender  age,  but  re- 
ceived from  his  father  the  kindest  of  care  and  best  of 
training.     He  was  reared  on  the  home  farui  and  at- 


tended school  in  Havana  and  Lewistown.  The 
day  he  entered  school  he  took  his  position  in  the 
fifth-  reader  class,  having  |)reviously  been  taught 
at  home. 

Our  subject  follows  in  his  father's  footsteps  as 
an  extensive  farmer  and  also  raises  considerable 
stock.  He  has  spent  most  of  his  life  on  the  farm, 
his  only  other  home  having  been  in  Havana,  where 
he  resided  three  years.  Ho  has  held  various  town- 
ship oftices  but  is  not  a  seeker  after  public  honors, 
preferring  to  devote  himself  to  his  large  personal 
interests  and  the  enjoyments  of  private  life.  His 
vote  is  always  cast  with  the  Hei)ul)lican  party,  as 
his  judgment  concurs  with  the  principles  advanced 
by  it. 

A  congenial  companion  was  won  by  our  subject 
January  27,  1874.  when  Miss  Martha  E.  Hukill  be- 
came his  wife.  This  lady,  intelligent,  cultured  and 
etticient  in  womanly  duties,  was  born  in  Isabel 
Township,  this  county,  March  24,  1852.  The  un- 
ion h.as  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  four  children 
— Pearl,  James,  Charles  and  Lloyd — and  the  par- 
ents have  sustained  a  grievons  loss  in  the  death  of 
the  first  two  named. 


-€^-| 


LARK80N  Y.  GILMORE  is  one  of  the 
.,  ,.  leading  business  men  of  Fairview  and  one 
^^7  of  the  most  enterprising.  His  business 
establishment  is  located  on  State  Street  and  con- 
tains a  well-selei  ted  assortment  of  .agricultural  im- 
plements, horse  goods,  and  vehicles,  including 
wagons,  carriages,  road  carts,  horse  blankets,  robes, 
nets,  whips,  harness,  and  the  various  utensils  and 
machines  used  by  farmers. 

Mr.  Gilmore  was  born  in  the  village  of  Fairview, 
December  3,  1848,  and  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  His  parents,  Darius  and  Margaret  Ann 
Gilmore,  were  natives  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey 
respectively.  They  were  married  in  the  East  and 
came  to  Fairview  in  the  fall  of  1836.  Mr.  Gil- 
more built  the  first  frame  house  in  the  village  and 
was  one  of  its  first  residents.  He  worked  at  his 
trade,  that  of  wagon-making,  for  some  time  and 
then  removed  to  a  farm  one  mile  south  of  town,  in 


518 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Joshua  Township.  After  residing  there  thirty 
j-ears  he  retired  to  Fairview  where  he  died  in  1887 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years.  His 
widow  survived  until  October,  1887,  dying  when 
seventy-six  years  old.  ]\Ir.  Gilmore  was  prominent 
in  church  affairs  and  for  several  years  served  as 
Deacon  and  Elder  in  the  Reformed  Cliurch  of  Fair- 
view. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  seven  children, 
of  whom  we  note  the  following:  Sarah  (}.,  widow 
of  Josiah  Alcott,  lives  in  Holland,  Mich.;  William 
B.,  a  minister,  died  at  Havana,  this  Stale;  Sojjhia 
v.,  is  tlie  wife  of  J.  G.  Kline,  in  Fairview;  Julia 
G.,  Mrs.  Van  Raaltee,  lives  in  Holland,  Mich.;  John 
is  a  music  dealer  in  Selma,  Ala.;  Clarkson  Van 
Nostrand  is  the  subject  of  this  notice;  Darius  is  in 
the  music  trade  in  Seluia,  Ala. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  sketch 
grew  to  manhood  on  the  homestead  and  when  of 
age  started  out  for  himself,  going  to  Amelia  Court- 
house, Va.,  where  he  fulfilled  the  duties  of  Deputy 
Countj-  Clerk  for  two  years.  He  then  spent  a  3^ear 
in  New  Jeisej^  for  the  benefit  of  his  health  and 
after  a  length}'  visit  in  the  parental  home  went  to 
Texas,  remaining  there  a  year  and  a  half.  He  then 
rctvirned  to  this  State  and  engaged  as  a  hotel  clerk 
in  Bushnell,  McDonough  County,  sojourning  there 
until  1883.  At  that  date  he  came  to  Fairview  and 
in  1884  embarked  in  his  present  business  enterprise. 
His  affairs  are  in  a  thrifty  condition  and  his  trade 
very  satisfactory. 

One  of  the  attractive  homes  of  Fairview  is  oc- 
cupied by  our  subject  and  his  family,  and  presided 
over  by  a  capable,  estimable  and  accomplished 
lady.  She  was  formerlj-  known  as  Miss  Belle  A. 
Tunison  and  became  the  wife  of  our  subject  in 
1884.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Barn}'  and  Lucinda 
Tunison  who  came  hither  from  New  Jerse}'.  Mr. 
Tunison  was  a  stonemason.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilmore 
have  two  bright  children:  Myron  G.  and  Harold. 

Mr.  Gilmore  is  a  member  of  the  Village  Board  of 
Fairview  and  being  a  thoroughly  progressive  and 
public-spirited  man  takes  a  leading  part  in  munici- 
pal affairs.  He  belongs  to  the  lodges  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  and  Modern  Woodmen  in  Fairview. 
Mrs.  Gilmore  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
and  is  organist  for  that  society,  while  her  husband 


leads  the  choir.  Both  are  very  fond  of  music  and 
prove  very  helpful  in  getting  up  entertainments  of 
various  kinds,  particularly  musicales.  Mr.  Gilmore 
possesses  a  fine  voice  which  adds  greatly  to  the 
attractiveness  of  the  church  services  and  social 
gatherings. 

-   or>o    . 

^^^EORGE  GREEN  is  a  native  born  citizen 
'II  (^-^  of  Fulton  Count}',  and  since  attaining  man- 
'^^!|  hood  has  identified  himself  with  its  exten- 
sive agricultural  and  stock-raising  interests,  and  is 
prosperously  carrying  on  his  vocation  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Orion  Township,  which  is  the  place 
of  his  birth.  He  is  the  son  of  a  former  well-known 
pioneer  of  the  count}',  the  late  Zelman  A.  Green 
who  was  prominent  in  i)Ublic  life  and  whose  death 
was  a  blow  to  the  interests  of  this  locality. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review,  was 
born  in  Orion  Township,  June  26,  1843.  His  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  and  in 
the  opening  years  of  a  vigorous  manhood  he  came 
from  there  to  Fulton  County,  and  established  him- 
self among  its  early  settlers,  and  during  his  life 
bore  an  honorable  part  in  developing  the  country 
and  in  looking  after  its  civic  interests.  He  was  a 
man  of  sterling,  upright  character  and  of  excellent 
business  ability  and  was  naturally  selected  by  his 
fellow-citizens  to  take  a  part  in  the  management  of 
public  affairs,  and  for  several  years  he  served  ,as 
Supervisor  of  the  township  and  in  that  capacit} 
looks  ze.alously  after  the  interests  of  township  and 
county.  He  also  held  the  offices  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  Constable,  etc.,  and  in  whatever  capacity  he 
served  was  a  faithful  and  efficient  official.  He  was 
thoroughly  Democratic  in  his  political  views,  as  was 
his  father  before  him.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  for  many  years.  Mr.  Green 
was  a  victim  of  the  terrible  railw,a}'  disaster  at 
Chatsworth  in  1887,  when  he  was  instantly  killed, 
he  being  on  his  way  to  Niagara  Falls.  His  wife  had 
preceded  him  to  the  grave,  her  dejith  occurring 
some  fourteen  years  ago.  She  was  a  woman  of  ex- 
cellent character,  and  was  a  sincere  Christian.  Our 
subject  has  three  sisters,  one  of  whom.  Mrs.  Dora 
Hague,  lives  on  a  part  of  the  homestead;  Louisa  is 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


519 


the  wife  of  James  Hudson,  of  McDonough  Countjr, 
and  Mary  is  tlie  wife  of  Jeremiali  Wooding,  of 
Michigan. 

He  of  whom  we  write,  was  reared  to  manliood 
on  the  old  homestead,  receiving  his  education  in 
the  local  schools,  and  from  his  father  sound  prac- 
«  tical  knowledge  of  farming  in  all  its  branches. 
"When  ho  arrived  at  years  of  discretion  he  adopted 
the  calling  to  which  he  had  been  bred,  and  is  prin- 
cipall)'  engaged  in  raising  stock  although  he  also 
raises  considerable  grain  .and  other  produce.  The 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  .acres,  is  under  ad- 
mirable cultivation,  and  is  well  supplied  with  com- 
fortable and  commodious  buildings  and  ever}- 
appliance  for  conducting  agriculture  to  the  best 
advantage. 

Mr.  Green  was  married  in  February  1866,  to 
Miss  Matilda  Johnson  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  and  they 
have  established  a  cozy  home  which  is  the  center 
of  that  true  hospitality,  that  welcomes  the  coming 
and  si)eeds  the  parting  guest.  They  have  one 
child — Helen  Blanche,  a  young  ladj*  of  twenty-two 
years,  who  resides  at  Canton. 

;Mr.  Green  is  greatly  resiiected  in  this  township 
where  his  life  has  thus  far  been  passed,  and  his  ca- 
reer has  been  creditalile  to  his  native  county.  He 
holds  the  ottice  of  School  Director  and  is  earnest  in 
his  effoils  to  forward  the  educational  interests  of 
this  locality.  He  seems  to  have  inherited  the  po- 
litical faith  of  his  forefathers,  and  is  a  strong  Dem- 
ocrat. 


<i¥?OHN  H.  ALDEN.  The  agriculturists  of 
Lee  Township  are  as  a  rule  possessed  vf 
general  intelligence,  thorough  understanding 
of  their  own  calling,  and  great  energy,  and 
they  therefore  rank  well  among  farmers  the  world 
over.  One  of  these  gentlemen  who  are  successfully 
pursuing  the  peaceful  occupation  of  tilling  the 
soil  is  the  genlleman  above  named,  whose  com- 
fortable estate  consists  of  eighty  acres  on  section 
18.  The  land  is  under  thorough  tillage,  bears  a  full 
line  of   adequate   improvements,    and    protluccs  a 


goodly  store  of  the  various  crops,  to  the  raising  of 
which  it  is  devoted. 

Mr.  Alden  is  the  second  son  and  fourth  child  of 
Smith  D.  and  Sarah  E.  (Runyan)  Alden,  and  was 
born  in  this  county,  October  2.5,  1842.  His  edu- 
cational privileges  were  limited  to  the  district 
schools  of  Lee  Township,  but  he  made  such  good 
use  of  his  advantages  as  to  acquire  a  fair  share  of 
practical  knowledge.  In  1863,  when  twenty-one 
years  old.  he  enlisted  in  Company  L,  Twelfth 
Illinois  Cavalry,  remaining  witli  the  regiment  until 
after  the  close  of  the  war.  He  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  the  Red  River  and  many  other  heavy  en- 
gagements, and  bore  a  share  in  the  other  duties 
which  are  connected  with  a  soldier's  life.  June  20, 
1866,  he  was  discharged  at  S[)ringfield,  and  return- 
ing to  his  father's  house,  again  gave  his  attention  to 
farm  work. 

Realizing  that  it  is  not  good  for  man  to  live 
alone.  Mr.  Alden  won  for  his  wife  Miss  Mary  A. 
Swene3-,  with  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage 
December  17,  1868.  Mrs.  Alden  is  a  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Rebecca  (Leiniebauch)  Swcney,  and 
was  born  at  Galena,  December  17,  1850.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  the  Keystone  State,  whence 
the}-  came  to  this  county  in  1«37,  locating  in  Lee 
Township.  Mrs.  Sweney  breathed  her  last  about 
1865,  but  Mr.  Swonej-  is  still  living,  his  home  now 
being  in  Wilson  County.  Kan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alden 
have  six  children — John  D.,  born  November  22, 
1869;  Laura  G.,  December  21,  1871;  Charles  F.. 
July  6,  187-1;  William  B.,  April  26.  1877;  Clyde 
G.,  February  26,  1880;  Elmer  T.,  August  19, 
1883. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Alden  located  on  the  land 
where  he  now  resides,  and  where  he  and  his  inter- 
esting famil}-  enJDj-  the  comfcirts  of  a  good  home 
and  tiie  pleasures  of  a  charming  domestic  life. 
None  of  the  children  have  yet  left  the  home  fire- 
side, but  pursue  their  studies  and  the  occupations 
suited  to  their  years  under  the  eyes  of  parents  who 
are  devoted  to  their  interests.  Mr.  Alden  is  now 
Supervisor  of  the  Township,  and  School  Director, 
and  he  formerly  serveti  as  Township  Collector  and 
Constable.  He  is  a  member  of  the  society  known  as 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  in  politics 
is  a  good  Republican. 


520 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  the  Empire 
State  and  the  mother  in  Rhode  Island.  Their  mar- 
riage was  solemnized  in  New  York,  whither  the}' 
came  to  this  county  with  a  team  in  October,  1842. 
They  made  their  home  on  section  5,  Lee  Township, 
but  after  sojourning  there  until  1851  removed  to 
section  8,  and  in  1859  made  another  removal, 
settling  on  section  18,  where  they  spent  the  balance 
of  their  lives.  The  father  closed  his  ej'es  in  death 
March  9,  1870,  and  the  mother  in  August,  1887. 
They  were  the  parents  of  two  daughters  and  three 
sons. 


,,  ,^=^^., 5»-f^'^^:°^ ' 


^^^HOMAS  K.  FULTON  is  the  owner  and  oc- 
//'/p-\  cupant  of  a  well-developed  and  well-regu- 
\^^'  luted  farm  on  section  32,  Orion  Township. 
The  estate  consists  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-two 
fertile  acres  upon  which  the  improvements  have 
been  made  which  stamp  it  as  the  home  of  a  man  of 
enterprise,  good  judgment  and  a  lover  of  his  home. 
In  early  manhood  he  gave  the  strength  of  his  right 
arm  to  his  country's  cause,  winning  the  confidence 
of  his  superior  officers  in  his  patriotism  and  de- 
votion. B^-  all  who  love  their  country  he  is  honored 
for  his  soldier's  life,  while  his  good  citizenship  and 
manly  conduct  since  the  war  was  over  have  gained 
him  friends  in  the  home  which  he  had  made. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  is  the  fifth  in 
a  family  of  nine  children,  the  other  members  being 
Samuel,  Josepli  R.,  William,  Mary  E.,  John,  Rob- 
ert D.,  Isabella  C.  and  James  C.  Their  parents 
were  John  and  Hannah  (McMillan)  Fulton.  Our 
subject  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  May 
8,  1843,  and  when  but  eighteen  years  old  entered 
the  Union  Army.  On  September  24,  1861,  his 
name  Was  attached  to  the  muster  roll  of  Company 
A,  Eighty-fifth  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  under  Col. 
J.  B.  Howell. 

The  regiment  was  attached  to  the  Fu'st  Division, 
Tenth  Army  Corps,  until  the  spring  of  1863,  tak- 
ing part  in  the  Peninsular  campaign  in  1862  from 
Williamsburg  to  Fair  Oaks,  White  Oak  Swamp, 
Malvern  Ilill  and  Harrison's  Landing.  It  was  then 
attached  to  the  Eighteenth  Army  Corps  and    sent 


to  take  pnrt  in  the  siege  of  Fts.  Wagner,  Sumter  and 
Gregg,  and  in  1864  to  the  siege  of  Petersburg. 
Mr.  Fulton  participated  in  twent\-eight  battles, 
being  one  of  the  fortunate  number  who  passed 
through  the  trying  scenes  unscathed.  He  was  dis- 
charged at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  after  having  served  three 
3-ears  and  two  months. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Fulton  came  to  the  Prairie 
State,  locating  in  this  county  where  he  has  built  up 
his  reputation  as  a  worth.y  farmer  and  citizen.  He 
is  a  prominent  Republican,  being  in  full  accord 
with  the  policies  and  princii)les  of  his  party  and 
exerting  all  his  influence  for  their  success.  On 
October  18,  1865,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Cyrena  Swan,  daughter  of  William  and  Jane 
(Allison)  Swan,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio, 
reS|)ectively.  Mrs.  Fulton  has  looked  well  to  the 
waj's  of  her  household  since  the  day  she  became 
his  bride.  The  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth 
of  two  children — Frank  R.,  born  February  18, 
1869,  and  now  living  in  Peoria,  having  married 
Heiress  Baker,  and  Myrtle  B.,  born  January-  28, 
1872, who  is  still  with  her  parents. 

In  connection  with  this  sketch  the  reader  will 
notice  a  view  of  the  farm  of  Mr.  Fulton,  with  its 
princijial  buildings. 


R.    HOWARD,  M.  D.     In  London.  Eng- 
land,  March    19,  1851,  the  gentleman   of 
!4    whom  this  sketch  is  written  was  born.  His 
<^  father,  P.  P.  Howard,  and  his  mother,  who 

previous  to  her  marriage  was  Miss  Dorothy'  Carter, 
possess  great  talent  and  social  culture.  In  the  pa- 
ternal line  our  subject's  kinsmen  have  all  held  high 
positions  in  the  communities  where  they  have  re- 
sided, being  Members  of  Parliament,  theologians 
and  physicians. 

Peter  Theodore  Howard,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  physician  and  surgeon  and  also 
served  as  a  Member  of  Parliament  for  twelve  years ; 
an  uncle,  Matthew  M.  Howard,  was  also  a  Member 
of  Parliament  for  a  number  of  terms.  An  exhaus- 
tive family  tree  in  possession  of  this  family  show 
their  connection  with  many  of  the  noted  names  of 


Residence  of  Thoma5  K.  Fu  lt on, Sec. 32.  OrionTp. Fulton  Co. III. 


SsSppSij!P;."UJJBa"USjVJlW(*iJi^!i^ 


i>>^^.iaii»a^'4a^w^afe-A;a,s»>j»<^:-fl»fe.^ 


Residence  of  Dr.A.  R.  Howard, 305.  Main  5t. Canton.  Ill, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


^23 


England.  The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  a  high  official  in  the  British  army  during  the 
Revolutionary  AVar,  and  on  two  occasions  was 
threatened  with  hanging  by  American  citizens. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  1803  and 
is  still  living  and  owns  large  estates  both  in  Eng- 
land and  Canada.  To  him  and  his  wife  were  born 
five  children,  namely:  Josephine,  who  lives  in  Eng- 
land; Leonora  Annetta;  our  subject:  Eugene  Elgin 
and  Sarah  Isabella.  The  latter  is  bj-  marriage  a 
cousin  of  the  Rev.  T.  DeWitt  Talinage  and  resides 
in  Paris.     Eugene  E.  is  a  namesaice  of  Lord  Elgin. 

Tiie  second  daughter  in  this  family-,  Leonora, 
studied  medicine  in  Ontario,  was  graduated  in  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.,  and  went  to  Cliina  as  a  physician  and 
surgeon  under  the  auspices  of  the  Methodist  Eiiis- 
copal  Church  of  America.  In  connection  with  her 
medical  and  surgery  work  she  also  devoted  much 
time  to  missionary'  labor.  Her  naine  is  known  the 
world  over.  After  about  five  years  spent  in  China 
slie  became  the  wife  of  ti\e  Rev.  Alexander  King, 
of  Dundee,  .Scotland,  who  stands  in  the  same  rela- 
tion to  the  church  in  .Scotland  as  the  Rev.  Henry 
Ward  Beecher  occupied  in  America,  or  Mr.  Spur- 
geon  in  England. 

Even  after  lier  marriage  Dr.  Howard  King,  as 
she  is  now  called,  continued  j'ear  after  year  to  add 
to  her  fame.  She  cured  tlie  Viceroy's  wife  of  dis- 
ease after  all  native  pliysicians  had  failed.  This 
Viceroy  is  the  noted  Li  Hung  Chang,  who  is  in 
favor  with  the  white  people  and  holds  the  Kmperor 
in  check  when  occasion  demands.  In 'token  of  their 
gratitude  Li  Hung  Chang  and  his  wife  built  a  med- 
ical college  and  hospital  for  Mrs.  Dr.  King.  She 
is  the  phj'sician  of  the  aristocrac3'  of  Ciiina  and  be- 
ing a  well-known  philantliropist.  figures  as  such  in 
the  social  and  religious  affairs  in  every  part  of  the 
civilized  world. 

Wlien  our  subject  was  about  two  years  old  the 
family  removed  to  Toronto,  Canada,  but  after  so- 
journing tliere  two  or  three  years,  returned  to 
England,  where  Dr.  Howard  received  his  education 
under  a  preceptor,  as  is  customary  among  the  bet- 
ter classes  of  people  in  England.  When  he  was 
eleven  j^ears  of  age  he  once  more  accompanied  the 
family  to  America,  settling  in  Toronto,  Canada, 
where  he  attended  Prof.  W^illiam  Robbins'  Normal 


School  one  and  one-half  years.  He  studied  medi- 
cine under  his  noted  uncle,  Dr.  William  Wilkie 
Howard,  and  also  took  one  course  of  lectures  at 
Queens  Medical  College,  Kingston,  Canada.  He 
left  home  when  a  mere  youth  in  a  boyish  fit  of 
anger  and  has  never  attempted  a  reconcili.ation  with 
his  relatives,  his  knowledge  of  the  family'  being 
therefore  ver^'  limited. 

At  the  time  of  the  completion  of  his  medical 
studies  Dr.  Howard  was  twenty-eight  years  of  age 
and  for  a  time  lived  in  Chicago  and  later  took  three 
courses  of  lectures  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  was 
thoroughly  posted  in  his  profession  when  he  came 
to  Canton  and  such  is  his  popularity  that  while  he 
began  in  poverty  he  h.as  without  receiving  aid  from 
friends  or  relatives  made  a  comfortable  fortune  for 
himself.  In  all  his  efforts  he  has  received  the 
hearty  co-operation  of  his  wife,  who  was  prior  to 
her  marriage  Miss  Viola  Beever.  Slie  is  a  native 
of  Ohio  and  was  united  in  marriage  with  the  Doc- 
tor in  Galesburg,  III.  Dr.  Howard  is  a  conscien- 
tious worker  and  is  greatly  respected  tiiroughout 
the  county.  His  success  has  been  phenomenal  and 
he  has  effected  several  marvelous  cures,  but  mod- 
estly says  that  "so  far  .as  curing  people  goes,  no 
doctor  can  saj^  'we  give  them  medicine  and  they 
get  well.'  " 

The  Doctor  has  a  comfortable  home  in  Canton, 
and  a  view  of  this  with  the  lawn  and  other  pleasant 
surroundings  appears  in  this  volume. 


ife°= 


EWELL  PALMER  WOOD  is  a  bright  and 
talented  young  writer,  who  is  making  of 
the  Farmington  Bugle  a  wide-awake  and 
well  managed  newspai)er.  He  was  born  at 
Elaiwood,  Peoria  County,  February  17,  ISCl.  His 
father,  William  II.  Wood,  a  well-known  resident  of 
Farmington  was  born  in  Herkimer  Count}-,  N.  Y., 
fifty-nine  years  ago.  He  has  worked  at  various 
trades,  being  employed  at  different  times  as  sawyer, 
engineer,  and  for  seventeen  years  he  was  superinten- 
dent of  the  Phelps  farm  at  Elmwood.  At  present  he 
is  superintendent  of  the  Mound  Nurser}'  at  Farming- 
ton.  In  early  manhood  he  married  Hester  Ann  Pros- 


524 


POKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALKUM. 


sor.  n  native  of  Ri  chland  County,  Ohio.  He  came  to 
Fai'iuington,  December  '25,  1853,  when  he  was  but 
ejo^hteen  years  of  age.  His  wife  hart  come  to  Elni- 
wood  Township  with  her  parents  when  she  was  but 
two  years  olrt.  In  young  womanhood  she  came  to 
Fiirmington  where  she  worked  as  a  dressmaker  and 
tailoress  and  there  met  Mr.  Wood  and  was  married 
to  him  in  Elmwood  in  1857. 

Our  subject  is  the  onl^'  living  child  of  his  par- 
ents. He  is  a  worthy  descendant  of  one  of  tlie 
eaily  families  of  the  Moliawk  Valley-.  X.  Y.  His 
early  life  was  spent  at  Elmwood,  where  he  laid  the 
basis  of  a  sound  education  in  the  public  schools. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  engaged  as  an  appren- 
tice to  R.  H.  Miller,  editor  of  the  Elmwood  Ga- 
zette. Thirteen  months  after,  Mr.  Miller  gave  up 
the  paper  and  the  Gazette  was  given  into  the  charge 
of  our  subject  when  he  was  but  nineteen  years  old, 
and,  though  so  j'ouug,  he  displayed  marked  ability 
in  its  management,  and  conducted  it  very  success- 
fully for  two  and  one-half  years.  After  that  he 
made  a  lirief  visit  of  one  month  to  Dakota,  where 
for  a  short  time  he  had  charge  of  a  |)aper.  He  re- 
turned to  Farmington  in  October,  1883,  and  then 
purchased  the  Farmington  Bugle,  which  had  been 
established  by  Capt.  J.  I.  Wilson  in  1^80.  Being 
a  young  man  of  great  energy,  ability  and  tenac- 
ity of  purpose,  our  subject  has  made  a  decided 
success  of  the  Bugle,  having  within  the  past  six 
years  increased  its  list  of  subscribers  from  four 
hundred  and  eighty,  to  eight  hundred,  and  Las  en- 
larged the  paper  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  read- 
ing public.  Since  purchasing  he  has  withstood  the 
competition  of  two  other  newspapers  at  Farming- 
ton,  and  now  has  sole  possession  of  the  field. 

Mr.  Wood  has  a  comfortable,  well-furnished  res- 
idence in  the  north  part  of  the  village.  To  the 
lady  who  presides  over  this  attractive  home  he  was 
married  in  the  month  of  October,  1887.  Mrs. 
AVood  was  Lura  Lobaugh,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  Lobaugh  of  whom  see  sketch  in  this  Bio- 
graphical Albu.m.  She  is  a  lad^-  of  marked  re- 
finement and  culture.  She  was  born  in  Elmwood 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  her  education  at  the 
Elmwood  High  School  of  which  she  is  a  graduate, 
and  she  subsequently  spent  a  year  each  in  the  Iowa 
CiiUegeat  Grinnell,  and  at  Kuox  College  at  Gales- 


burg.  She  and  her  husband  have  two  children, 
both  boys.  Mr.  Wood  is  very  prominently  identi- 
fied with  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  as  a  member  of  Memento 
Lodge  No.  44,  of  which  he  is  at  present  Secretary, 
and  he  has  held  various  other  offices  in  the  order 
ever  since  his  connection  with  it.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Patriarch  Jlilitant.  As  the  editor 
of  a  good  newspaper  he  wields  marked  influence  in 
the  public  and  political  life  of  his  community.  He 
is  a  stanch  Republican  but  the  tenor  of  the  Bugle 
is  independent  as  regards  political  matters. 


^  ETER  DAILY,  a  retired  builder  and  capi- 
I)  talist,  one  of  the  wealthy  men  of  this 
county,  has  done  as  much  or  more  than  an}' 
other  man  to  promote  the  growth  and  ma- 
terial prosperity'  of  Canton.  He  was  born  in  the 
count}'  of  Meath,  in  the  vicinitj-  of  Dublin,  Ire- 
land, June  6,  1830,  the  eleventh  child  of  Garrett 
and  Frances  (Flood)  Dail)'.  His  father  was  a  mod- 
est farmer  and  in  1850,  emigrated  to  this  countrj' 
with  his  family,  landing  at  New  York  City.  He 
located  in  Somerset  County,  N.  J.,  and  there  died 
in  1853.  In  1856  the  mother  and  the  rest  of  the 
family  came  to  Fulton  County,  and  here  she  passed 
the  remainder  of  her  life,  dying  in  1879,  quite  ad- 
vanced in  jears. 

Peter  Dailj'  received  most  of  his  education  in 
his  native  country.  After  his  arrival  in  the  L'niled 
States,  he  went  to  work  on  a  farm  in  New  Jersey, 
and  on  coming  to  Fulton  County,  he  learned  the 
trade  of  a  bricklayer  and  plasterer.  For  a  short 
time  he  engaged  in  the  saloon  business,  but  soon 
abandoned  that  and  began  building  houses,  he  hav- 
ing prudenth'  saved  his  money  and  acquired  a  good 
capital.  He  bought  land  and  lots  which  increased 
in  value  and  he  built  fift3'-eight  houses,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  extensive  builders  in  Canton,  or 
this  part  of  the  county.  Fifteen  or  twenty  of  the 
buildings  he  put  up  were  dwellings,  from  whose 
rental  he  derives  a  handsome  income.  He  erected 
the  Canton  Opera  House,  the  first  in  the  place.  He 
has  a  fine  farm  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the 
city.     He  has  a   handsome  residence  on  Pleasant 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


525 


Street,  and  the  neat,  well-laid  out  grounds  with  the 
prett3'  fountain,  shrubbeiT  and  flowers,  add  to  the 
beauty  of  home  attractions.  He  owns  much  other 
valuable  property  and  has  all  his  money  judiciously 
invested  so  as  to  insure  him  good  returns. 

Our  subject  has  betn  twice  married.  His  first 
marriaufc  was  with  Ann  McGiunis.  and  was  con- 
tracted in  New  Jersey  in  \^;ti.  Slie  died  in  this 
county  in  1868,  leaving  two  children — Joseph  and 
Garrett.  He  married  his  second  wife,  Johanna 
McMahon,  in  1872.  She  is  a  native  of  this  county 
and  a  daughter  of  Michael  McMahon.  Her  union 
with  our  subject  has  been  productive  of  five  chil- 
dren: Elizabeth,  Agnes,  Fred,  Anna  and  Lillie. 

Mr.  Daily's  career  as  a  business  man  has  been 
marked  by  honest  and  fair  dealings,  and  his  name 
is  honored  in  finp.ncial  circles.  He  is  zealous  in 
promoting  the  religious  interests  of  the  community, 
where  he  has  dwelt  so  long,  and  is  one  of  the 
prominent  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  church  here  and 
was  a  liberal  contributor  towards  the  erection  of 
the  present  magnificent  brick  building  in  which  that 
society  now  worships,  presided  over  by  Father  Fall- 
ihee.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  decided  Demo- 
crat. 


^^ 


-^ 


AHLON  T.  MOWERY.  Among  the  prom- 
inent and  successful  business  men  ranks 
Mahlon  T.  Mowery,  the  subject  of  the 
piesent  sketch.  His  father,  Jacob  Mowery, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  being  of  Dutch  de- 
scent; and  the  mother,  Mary  Jane  (Henderson) 
Mowery,  was  born  in  Ohio  and  belonged  to  an  old 
and  honored  Scotch-Irish  family.  The  father  was 
a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  later  in  life  was  a  lumber 
dealer,  and  also  devoted  much  attention  to  culti- 
vating the  soil.  He  moved  to  Illinois  while  still  a 
young  man,  settling  in  Fulton  County,  and  was 
there  married,  and  continued  to  reside  there  until 
his  death  in  1885,  and  the  mother,  who  is  sixty-five 
years  of  age,  makes  Futmau  Township  her  home. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Chur(  h.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  now   living,  viz:  Eliz- 


abeth, Mrs.  Alf  McBroom,  of  Canton;  America, 
widow  of  J.  M.  Thomas,  who  lives  in  Cuba;  Mahlon 
T. ;  Judah  C,  the  wife  of  P.  W.Gallagher,  an 
attorney  at  Canton. 

Our  subject  was  born  July  2,  18.J5,  on  the 
farm  upon  which  he  now  resides.  His  education 
was  received  in  Cuba,  and  immediately  after  finish- 
ing school  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  and 
has  always  lived  in  this  place.  In  November,  1879, 
he  married  Miss  Emma  C.  Seiver,  daughter  of  Noah 
Seiver,  of  Lewistown,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  in 
Fulton  County.  Mrs.  Mowery  was  born  August  2, 
1868,  in  Fulton  County.  She  received  an  excellent 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  her  native  place, 
and  is  a  skilled  musician,  being  equally  proficient  in 
vocal  and  instrumental  music.  Shortly  after  their 
marriage  Mr.  Mowery  took  control  of  the  home 
farm.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  viz: 
Mabel  F.,  who  is  nine  3'ears  old  ;  and  Charles  Jacob, 
a  lad  of  seven  years.  Both  children  attend  ttje 
district  school  at  Cuba,  and  are  making  rapid 
progress  in  their  studies. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  is  a 
popular  business  man,  and  takes  a  lively  in*;erest 
in  all  political  issues,  and  devotes  his  energy 
to  the  advancement  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Mr.  Mowery's  time  and  attention  are  devoted 
to  the  successful  cultivation  of  his  estate,  which 
comprises  one  hundred  and  forty-seven  acres 
of  valuable  land,  and  lies  within  the  corporate 
limits  of  Cuba.  He  has  a  handsome  brick  residence 
which  was  built  in  1880.  In  that  year  the  house 
which  had  previouslj^  stood  on  the  same  spot,  was 
burned  to  the  ground.  In  addition  to  this  property 
Mr.  Mowery  owns  ten  acres  of  l.ind  in  Pulman 
Township,  and  a  half-interest  in  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  sections  7  and  8,  Cass  Township.  And 
also  a  half  interest  in  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine 
acres  of  section  18,  in  Cass  Township.  This  pro])- 
erty  is  well  improved,  and  the  rent  from  same  yields 
a  handsome  income. 

Our  sul'ject  is  a  wide-awake  energetic  man,  and 
one  who  by  strict  integrity  and  good  judgment  has 
succeeded  in  a  marked  degree  in  the  commercial 
world.  He  is  interested  in  all  worthy  matters  that 
affect  the  public  welfare  of  the  community  in  which 


526 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


he  resides,  and  is  at  all  times  a  willing  contributor 
to  churches,  schools,  and  other  public  causes.  He 
has  many  friends  and  leads  a  happy  life,  surrounded 
by  a  loving  famil3',  numerous  friends,  and  all  the 
comforts  which  wealth  can  secure. 


c4l  IkILLIAM  H.  KETCIIAM.  The  home  of  this 
\/\ii/  g^ntlt^man  is  on  section  12,  Lee  Township, 
\^J  his  farm  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres,  all  under  cultivation  or  in  pasture,  and 
devoted  to  general  farming.  Nearly  the  entire 
acreage  was  cleared  by  Mr.  Ketcham  or  men  whom 
he  hired  for  the  purpose.  It  bears  good  buildings, 
adequate  fences,  and  the  usual  amount  of  fruit,  and 
is  further  supplied  with  all  the  machinery  needed  in 
carrying  on  the  farm  labor.  The  owner  is  num- 
bered among  the  oldest  settlers  in  the  lownsiiip  and 
is  well-known  throughout  the  county. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  New  York,  May  14,  1825, 
and  his  parents.  Hiram  and  Nanc}'  M.  (Austin) 
Ketcham,  were  likewise  natives  of  the  Empire  .State, 
The  family  removed  to  this  county  about  1849, 
having  previously  spent  a  3'ear  or  two  in  Peoria, 
The  father  was  called  hence  about  1866,  and  the 
mother  about  1860.  The  son  had  received  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  State, 
and  in  1850  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  carpenter, 
at  Havana,  Mason  Countv.  After  working  there  a 
year  he  located  at  Babylon,  this  countj%  where  he 
followed  his  trade  a  twelvemonth,  after  which  he 
took  up  his  residence  with  his  father  on  section  12, 
Deerfield  Township,  He  remained  with  his  parents 
until  his  marriage,  November  14,  1861,  when  he 
established  his  own  home. 

The  excellent  woman  whom  Mr.  Ketcham  had 
won  for  his  wife  was  Julia  Ann,  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham and  Maria  Wagner.  She  was  born  Januarj'  25, 
1835,  and  died  January  30,  1868,  after  a  brief  but 
happy  wedded  life.  She  was  the  mother  of  two 
children,one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  survivor, 
Maria  C,  was  born  May  11,  1863.  married  John 
Worden  and  lives  in  Prairie  City  Township,  McDon- 
ough  County',  on  a  farm  of  their  own.  Our  subject 
contracted  a  second  matrimonial  alliance  March  15, 


1874,  being  at  that  time  united  with  Mrs,  Catherine 
(Shaffer)  Ackley,  who  was  the  mother  of  three 
children,  as  follows:  Alice  A,,  Ella  V.  and  Will- 
iam G.  This  lady  was  born  on  the  29th  of  June, 
1838,  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  to  Peter  and  Reg- 
ina  (Myers)  Shaffer,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mrs.  Shaffer  passed  awa3'  in  1888;  Mr.  Shaf- 
ffer  is  still  living,  beingan  inmate  of  the  home  of  our 
subject.  The  second  union  of  Mr.  Ketcham  has 
been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  son,  John  Henry, 
whose  natal  day  was  August  6,  1875,  and  who  re- 
sides with  his  parents, 

Mr,  Ketcham  takes  no  active  part  in  political 
aff,airs,  but  is  a  Democrat  in  his  belief.  He  lias 
served  as  Pathmaster  two  j^ears,  as  School  Director 
one  j-ear,  and  was  solicited  to  act  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  but  declined.  He  is  one  of  the  men  to  whose 
efforts  was  due  the  building  of  a  sawmill  at  Bab}'- 
lon.  A  reliable,  steady-going  citizen,  an  industrious 
farmer  and  a  good  neiglibor.  he  is  looked  upon 
with  due  respect,  and  his  wife  has  also  many 
friends. 


ICHARD  E.  GRIFFITH,  Postmaster  of 
Lewistown,  has  long  been  closely  connected 
iki  \\\  with  the  business  interests  of  the  city  and 
^'2^'  count}-  and  is  numbered  among  the  foremost 
citizens  of  the  community.  He  is  a  native  of  this 
State,  born  in  Peru,  January  28,  1853,  and  a  son  of 
Michael  and  Margaret  (McClaren)  Griffith.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  a  man  of  much  learning 
and  was  a  pioneer  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
Peru,  where  he  died  in  1853.  The  mother  subse- 
quently married  Thomas  Bowen,  who  established  a 
wagon  shop  in  Lewistown,  this  county,  and  carried 
on  business  as  a  wheelwright  here  until  his  death 
in  1872.     The  mother  passed  awaj'  in  1865. 

He  of  whom  we  write  received  a  substantial  edu- 
cation in  the  city  schools  and  when  but  a  boj'  com- 
menced to  work  with  his  step-father  and  learned  of 
him  the  trade  of  a  wagon-maker.  After  the  latter's 
death  he  and  his  brother  C.  V.  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness and  carried  it  on  until  1880  and  then  began 
to  deal  in  agricultural  implements,  and  also  dealt 
in  railroad  ties,  etc.     Mr.  Gritlith  continued  in  that 


PUKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


527 


business  until  his  appointment  as  Postmaster  in 
1889,  a  position  for  which  lie  is  amply  qualitied  in 
every  respect  and  whose  duties  he  is  discharging 
very  satisfactoril)'. 

December  31,  1S76,  the  marriage  of  our  suhject 
with  Miss  CalistaE.  Guernsey  was  duly  solemnized. 
She  was  born  in  Illinois,  in  Lee  Township,  this 
county.  They  have  here  a  very  pleasant  home  and 
the  gracious  cordiality  of  the  hostess  and  the  cour- 
teous hospitality  of  the  host  often  attract  to  it 
friends  from  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances. 

In  his  career  as  a  man  of  business  and  a  civic 
ollicial,  our  subject  has  displ.ayed  an  excellent  ca- 
pacity for  the  management  of  affairs  with  tact, 
promptness  and  discretion,  and  the  possession  of 
these  qualities  pointed  to  him  as  a  man  well  fitted 
for  the  responsibilities  of  the  federal  position  he  is 
so  ably  filling.  He  has  always  been  a  Republican 
and  has  given  his  party  his  most  earnest  support. 
He  has  served  eight  years  as  Deputy  .Sheriff  and 
for  two  years  was  a  member  of  the  City  Council. 
He  was  identified  with  that  honorable  body  at  the 
time  the  water-works  were  projected,  and  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  water-works  committee  was  very  active 
in  securing  their  establishment.  He  was  also  one 
of  the  committee  of  ways  and  means  and  of  streets 
and  alleys,  and  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
police  and  fire.  He  has  served  as  delegate  to  nu- 
merous county,  Senatorial  and  Congressional  con- 
ventions, and  his  wise  counsels  are  valued  by  his 
party.  He  is  a  member  of  Lewistown  Camp.  No. 
228,  M.  W.  A. 


lEV.  JOHN  AV.  JOHNSON.  It  has  been 
said  by  a  famous  poet,  "The  evil  that  men 
do  lives  after  them;  the  good  is  oft  interred 
^^)  with  their  bones."  It  is  the  purpose  of  the 
biographical  writer  to  change  this  order,  which  is, 
alas,  too  true  in  many  cases,  and  to  perpetuate  the 
good  deeds  and  worthy  efforts  of  the  citizens  of  the 
county.  We  are  therefore  glad  to  be  able  to  pre- 
sent to  our  readers  the  simple  facts  regarding  the 
gentleman  above  name<l,  whose  home  is  on  a  beau- 
tiful farm  in  Banner  Township. 


The  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  son  of  Abraham  and 
M.irtha  (Ciawford)  Johnson,  respected  citizens  of 
A'irginia,  who  are  now  represented  by  five  living 
children.  Rebecca  married  Mathew  McMillan  and 
lives  in  Ohio;  Robert  is  married  and  living  in  Indi- 
ana, so  likewise  is  William  ;  Anthouj-  3M.,  a  twin  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  married  Miss  Price  :ind 
h.is  five  daughters,  his  home  being  in  Marshall 
County,  W.  Va, 

The  ejes  of  our  subject  opened  to  l!ie  light  of 
day  November  24,  1837,  in  Marshall  Count)-, 
^V.  Va.  (then  \'irginia).  He  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  received  a  district-school  education.  March 
4,  1857,  he  arrived  in  this  county,  where  he  began 
work  on  a  farm  in  Buckheart  Township,  laboring 
by  the  month  about  three  3'ears.  He  finally  became 
the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 4,  Banner  Township,  which  he  has  improved 
with  fine  buildings,  including  all  that  is  needful 
to  the  successful  prcsecution  of  agriculture  and  the 
convenience  of  the  household.  -The  land  is  thor- 
oughly tilled  and  made  to  yield  abundantly  of  va- 
rious fruits  of  the  earth. 

In  1880  the  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson  received  Elder's 
orders  and  was  ordained  to  preach  in  the  Methodist 
Protestant  Church.  He  has  done  all  that  in  him  lay 
to  build  up  the  cause  of  Christianilj',  to  win  souls 
to  Christ  and  keep  those  who  have  entered  the 
straight  and  narrow  path  from  going  astray.  Be- 
lieving that  the  hope  of  the  church,  as  of  the  coun- 
try, lies  in  the  children  ,he  is  especially  engaged  in 
Sunday-school  work  in  the  county  and  having  now 
onljf  local  orders,  is  able  to  give  much  attention  to 
that  department  of  Christian  labor.  His  fellow- 
citizens  in  Banner  Township  have  elected  him  Su- 
pervisor six  terms  and  bestowed  upon  him  the 
position  of  School  Director  during  a  period  of 
probablj-  twenty  j'ears ;  he  is  at  present  School 
Trustee.  His  political  faith  is  fixed  on  the  policy 
of  the  Republican  party.  His  character  is  one  of 
such  purity  and  earnestness  that  he  is  beloved  by 
all  who  associate  with  him. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson  was  happily  married,  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1860,  to  Elizabeth  A.,  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert Johnson,  a  resident  of  this  county  and  formerly 
a  citizen  of  Washington  County,  Pa.  Mrs.  John- 
son is  of  German  descent,  is  a  devoted   wife  and 


528 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


mother,  a  true  home -keeper  and  an  excellent  neigh- 
bor. Her  union  lias  been  blessed  by  three  children, 
two  of  whom  are  living.  Patience  E.  was  born 
December  12,  1861,  was  married  November  15, 
1887,  to  Edgar  P.  Pool  and  lives  in  Canton;  Edgar 
A.,  born  February  11,  1867,  is  unmarried,  resides 
with  his  parents  and  is  now  attending  the  Canton 
Commercial  College. 


m 


"ill  OHN  M.  LANGSTON  is  a  lending  citizen  in 
Summuin,  where  he  holds  the  position  of 
Postmaster  and  is  engaged  in  business  as 
an  undertaker  and  furniture  dealer.  Our 
subject  is  a  native  of  this  State  born  in  .Sangamon 
County,  December  111,  1833,  and  he  comes  of  pio- 
neer stock  that  was  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Illinois.  " 

.Taconiah  Langston,  the  father  of  subject  was 
born  in  Tennessee  in  1810.  His  father,  bearing  the 
same  name  as  himself,  was  burn  in  1767  but  just 
where  is  not  known.  He  served  in  the  Revolution- 
ar3'  War  but  it  is  not  known  in  what  capacitj'.  At 
one  time  he  was  ca|)tured  1)3'  the  Tories  who  hanged 
him  to  a  tree  and  left  him  for  a  short  time.  He 
was  soon  cut  down  bj'  some  friends  and  was  re- 
vived. He  was  a  farmer  in  Tennessee  and  later 
became  an  early  settler  of  Kentucky  where  he  lived 
some  time.  About  1825  he  came  to  this  State  and 
located  among  the  very  first  settlers  of  Sangamon 
County.  There  his  life  was  rounded  out  on  a  farm 
in  1852  at  eighty-five  years  of  age. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  mostly  reared  in 
Sangamon  County,  he  having  been  but  a  boy  when 
liis  parents  took  up  their  residence  there.  He  was 
married  there  at  the  youthful  age  of  eigiileen 
years,  taking  as  his  wife  Mary  Martin,  w!>o  was 
born  in  Ohio  in  1809.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
John  Jlartin  who  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  native 
of  Ohio.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and 
came  to  Illinois  at  a  very  early  day  o*f  its  settle- 
ment and  located  in  that  part  of  Sangamon  County 
now  known  as  Logan  County,  where  he  died  on  a 
farm  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.     He  was  a,  volun- 


teer soldier  in  the  War  of  1812  and  was  in  the 
surrender  of  Hull.  The  maternal  great  grand-par- 
ents of  subject  c;unc  to  America  from  Germany, 
and  could  not  speak  a  word  of  English. 

.Taconiah  Langston,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
farmed  in  Sangamon  till  1842, when  he  came  to  this 
county,  took  up  his  residence  in  Vermont  Town- 
shi|i.  studied  law  and  was  .admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  had  cpiite  a  Large  office  business  in  shape  of 
counsel,  but  seldom  pr.acticed  in  the  courts  and 
then  only  before  Justices  of  the  Peace.  His  whole 
career  marked  him  as  a  man  of  honor  and  unswerv- 
ing integrit}'-,  and  in  him  the  Christian  Church 
found  one  of  its  most  faithful  members.  Politic- 
ally he  was  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  Whig  party. 
After  his  death,  his  widow  moved  to  Johnson 
County,  Mo.,  where  she  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years.  She  was  the  mother  of  ten  children, 
of  whom  eight  grew  to  maturity,  namely  :  Savilla, 
John  M.,  James,  Asa,  Rachael,  Anna,  William  and 
Nancy. 

The  gentleman  of  wh(>ra  this  sketch  is  written 
was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Logan  County  till  he  whs 
nine  years  old.  He  then  c;ime  to  Vermont,  in  this 
county,  with  his  [larcnts.  where  the  remaining  yeais 
of  his  bo.yliood  were  passed.  His  education  was 
conducted  in  the  primitive  log  schoolhouses  with 
slab  benches,  open  fir"-place,  etc.  From  the  time 
ho  was  large  enough  till  the  year  1852,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  driving  a  team.  After  that  he  gave  his 
attention  to  fai  luing  eiglit  years.  In  1859  our  sub- 
ject crossed  the  .plains  with  an  ox-team  in  search  of 
gold  in  California,  and  was  five  months  on  the 
way.  After  his  arrival  in  that  State  he  worked  in 
placer  mines  ten  months  and  then  with  the  money 
thus  procured  ho  returned  home  b^'  water.  In 
1861  he  again  crossed  the  plains  to  the  Golden 
State,  and  engaged  in  teaming  and  gardening  till 
1 863  and  then  came  back  to  Illinois  by  stage. 

Our  subject  is  a  veteran  of  the  late  war.  Feb- 
ruary IS,  1865,  his  name  was  enrolled  as  a  member 
of  Conipany  I).  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Illi- 
nois Infantry.  His  regiment  was  sent  to  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  thence  to  Dalton,  Ga.,  where  it  did 
guard  duty  until  April  30,  1865.  Our  subject  and 
his  fellow  soldiers  went  to  Kesaca,  (ia.,  after 
that  and  then  made  their  way  to   Kingston  in  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


529 


same  State  and  to  other  lai-jre  towns.  Mr.  Lang- 
ston  finally  went  to  Geneva,  Ga.,  where  he  and  his 
regiment  were  detailed  on  detached  service  till 
.lamiary  24,  1866,  when  they  were  mustered  out  at 
Columbus.  Ga. 

After  his  return  from  the  seat  of  war,  our  sub- 
ject followed  cariientcring  until  a  year  a<,'o.  In 
1869  he  removed  to  Summum,  and  in  ISS;")  he  es- 
tablished himself  in  business  here  as  an  undertaker. 
One  y^'ar  later  he  put  in  a  stock  of  furniture  and  he 
also  kee|)s  wall  paper,  window  glass  and  some  no- 
tions. He  is  conducting  an  excellent  business  after 
the. best  methods  and  is  making  money.  He  has  a 
neat  and  well-fitted  up  establishment,  and  his 
patrons  know  well  that  whatever  he  furnishes  them 
is  of  the  best  in  all  respects. 

Mr.  Langston  and  Miss  Martha  Shields  were 
married  Febru:iry  11.  1867,  and  to  them  have 
come  three  cliildren  :  Marietta,  INIeritt,  and  Charles 
R.  Mrs.  Langston  is  a  native  of  this  county,  liorn 
in  Woodland  Township,  May  12,  1839.  She  .and 
her  husb.'ind  have  a  home  that  is  well  furnished 
and  attractive  and  its  hospitality  is  noted  among 
their  numerous  friends.  Mr.  Langston  is  a  stal- 
wart among  the  Republicans  of  this  vicinity.  He 
was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Summum,  August  20, 
1889,  and  is  found  to  be  the  right  man  in  the 
right  place.  He  is  courteous,  gentlemanly  and 
considerate  in  his  dealings  with  all,  and  is  among 
our  best  citizens. 


^= 


E^-^ 


E^  NOCH  J.  PARRY,  son  of  an  oh 
this  county,  has  for  many  yea 
;  carrying  on  its  agriculture.     He 


>^j^)  NOCH  J.  PARRY,  son  of  an  old  pioneer  of 

years  aided    in 
e  has  a  good 

farm  on  section  27,  Astoria  Township,  which  is 
under  admirable  tillage,  and  is  well  i)rovided  with 
substantial  buildings  and  all  needful  appliances  for 
carrying  on  farming  to  the  best  advantage. 

Mr.  Parry  was  born  in  Ohio,  December  19,  1832, 
is  a  son  of  Caleb  and  Rebecca  (Engle)  Parry.  The 
Engles  were  of  Irish  extraction.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Llewellyn  Parry, who 
was  born  near  Manchester.  Va.  He  married  Deborah 
Barrett  and  they  reared   the  following  seven  chil- 


dren:  Sidney,  Margaret,  Hannah,  Caleb,  .John, 
Thomas  and  Stephen,  all  of  whom  married  and  h."d 
families  excepting  Margaret.  They  were  of  the 
Quaker  faith.  Llewellyn  Parry  was  a  grandson  of 
another  Llewellyn  Parrj',  who,  with  two  brothers, 
John  and  William,  crime  from  Wales  about  1672. 
and  settled  in  Virginiii.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject  had  two  brotjiers,  Stephen  and  Roland.  He 
removed  to  Ohio  in  1806.  with  his  wife  and  three 
children,  making  the  journey  on  hoiseback,  and 
settled  in  Harrison  County,  where  he  and  his  wife 
both  died,  his  death  occurring  the  following  year. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  February  8, 
1  784, in  Virginia.  In  early  manhood  he  went  to  Ohio 
and  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land, 
and  afterward  returned  and  took  his  parents  to 
that  State.  He  made  the  journey  on  foot  to  and 
from  his  old  home  several  times  building  his  resid- 
ence in  Ohio,  crossing  the  mountnins  seventeen 
times,  and  on  one  trip  he  averaged  fifty  miles  a 
day.  He  was  strong  stalwart  man  of  a  powerful 
physique,  and  by  hard  labor  accumulated  a  compe- 
tence. He  moved  from  Harrison  County  to  Tus- 
carawas County,  Ohio,  and  from  there  came  to 
Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1835.  He  first  located  in 
Sangamon  County,  but  in  the  spiing  of  1836  re- 
moved to  this  county,  and  was  an  early  settler  of 
Astoria  Township.  He  bought  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  on  section  27,  and  made  his 
home  thereon  till  1850,  when  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  the  northern  part  of  the  township.  He 
lived  there  six  ye.irs  and  then  he  and  Amos  Quillan 
bought  three  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  of  land  on 
section  27.  He  sold  his  interest  in  that  place  be- 
fore his  death,  and  during  the  last  eight  years  of 
his  life  lived  with  our  subject,  dying  J.anuary  29, 
1860.  His  wife  was  born  December  20,  1793  and 
died  November  20,  1886.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Levi  and  Nancy  ICngle,  who  went  to  Ohio  from 
Virginia,  and  were  early  pioneers  of  the  Buckeye 
State.  Mr.  Engle  died  in  Ohio  and  his  widow  in 
Sangamon  County,  this  State.  Their  children  were 
Michael,  Levi,  William,  Isaac,  Peggie,  Pollie,  Ellen 
and  Rebecca. 

The  following  is  recorded  of  the  children  of  the 
parents  of  our  subject.  Thomas  was  born  January 
19,  1812;    Llewellyn,  April   15,   1813;    Benjamin, 


530 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


December  26,  1814;  Mary,  December  8,  1816; 
John,  September  19,  1818;  Hannah.  November  27, 
1820;  William,  June  16,  1822;  Nancy  A.,  October 
17,  1824;  Rheuam.  March  29,  1828;  Rebecca,  May 
20,  1830;  Enoch  J.,  December  19,  1832.  All  grew 
to  manliood  antt  womanhoocl  and  reare<l  families, 
except  Thomas  and  Rebecca,  and  seven  are  siill 
livinsj.  The  mother  of  subject  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  seventy-six  years. 
She  was  a  woman  of  strong  constitution  and  was 
active  up  to  within  six  months  of  lier  deaJh  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years  eleven  months 
and  fourteen  days. 

iMioch  Parry  was  reared  on  a  faim  and  received 
the  basis  of  his  education  in  the  primitive  log 
schoolliouse  of  pioneer  times  with  its  inincheon 
doors,  greased  paper  windows  and  mud  and  stick 
chimneys.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  entered 
Iledding  College,  and  for  throe  months  diligently 
[lursued  an  excellent  course  of  study  in  that  institu- 
tion of  learning.  He  was  thus  well  qualified  to 
teach,  and  for  thirteen  winter  seasons  was  engaged 
in  that  profession.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  began 
his  career  as  a  farmer  by  renting  land.  When  he 
was  twentj--two  years  old  he  ?iouglit  his  first  farm 
of  seventy  acres.  In  1863  he  sold  tliatand  bought 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Schuj'ler 
County.  He  afterward  disposed  of  tliat  at  a  good 
price  and  in  18f;.5.  purchased  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres  on  section  27,  Astoria  Township,  where 
he  now  resides.  He  has  been  a  useful  citizen  in 
this  towiishii).  and  for  six  terms  served  as  Assessor. 
He  cast  his  first  vote  for  Fremont  and  has  not 
missed  an  opportunity  since  then  to  exercise  his 
privilege  of  suifrage.  He  is  a  man  of  sincere 
religious  views  and  since  he  was  nineteen  j^ears  old 
has  been  an  active  member  of  the  jMethodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  to  which  his  wife  has  also  belonged 
tlie  past  twenty  years,  and  she  is  an  earnest  worktr 
within  its  fold. 

January  14,  1858,  was  the  date  of  the  marriage 
of  our  subject  with  Julia  A.  Jennings,  who  was 
bora  in  Co.<liocton  County,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Lewi-,  and  Susan  Miller  Jeunings.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Virginia,  and  from  there 
went  to  Ohio,  and  thence  to  Wabasli  County, 
Ind.;  tlie  mollicrdied  iu  Miania  County,  Ind.    The 


father  came  to    Illinois   in    1853,   and   settled   in 

Astoria  Township,  wiiere  he  carried  on  in's  occupa- 
tion as  a  farmer.  Mrs.  Parry  did  not  come  to  this 
Stale  till  1856.  Her  mat  riage  witli  our  subject  has 
been  blessed  by  the  liirlli  of  one  child.  Caleb  J. 


->^|= 


ns^ 


jf7  EONARD  D.  SLOCUM.  Fulton  County  is 
I  /?p  tlie  home  of  a  goodly  number  of  men  who 
iJ'-^V  have  put  forth  such  industrious  and  well- 
directed  efforts  that  they  have  been  enabled  to  re- 
tire from  tlic  toils  and  cares  of  life  and  are  now 
.s|)ending  their  time  in  ease  and  enjoyment.  Among 
this  number  is  the  gentleman  above  named,  who 
occu|)ies  an  actractive  home  on  section  28,  Canton 
Township.  His  proiierty  here  consists  of  one  hun- 
dred and  eleven  acres  of  fertile  land  on  which  he 
has  erected  every  building  necessary  in  carrying  on 
the  work  of  the  estate,  all  being  substantial  and 
well  arranged. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  is  a  son  of 
Wanton  and  Sally  (Austin)  Slocum,  both  of  wluun 
entered  into  rest  in  Erie  County,  Pa.  The  father 
was  born  iu  Chenango  (bounty  and  the  nnither  in 
Genesee  County,  N.  Y.  Our  subject  was  liorn  in 
the  latter  county,  in  the  town  of  Leicester,  January 
1,  1824,  and  was  an  infant  of  six  months  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Chautauqua  County.  There 
he  passed  his  boyhood  days  until  twelve  years  old, 
when  a  removal  to  Erie  County,  Pa.,  took  place. 
After  he  became  of  age  young  Slocum  returned  to 
his  birthplace  and  in  its  vicinity  he  was  engaged 
in  farming  for  several  years.  For  some  ten  years 
he  was  employed  in  a  distillery  there. 

In  1858  Mr.  Slocum  came  to  Peoria  with  his 
family,  his  first  employment  being  as  foreman  in 
Morse  ife  Bradley's  distillery.  After  capably  dis- 
charging the  duties  of  that  position  for  two  years 
he  bought  the  old  Stipp  &  Maple  distillery,  which 
he  operated  in  company  with  J.  H.  McCall  for  five 
years.  The  two  gentleman  then  engaged  iu  farm- 
ing, a  pursuit  which  Mr.  Slocuni  continued  until 
recently.  While  carrying  on  his  personal  affairs 
with  zeal  and  enterprise.  Mr.  Slocum  has  found 
time  to  participate  actively  in   the  political    move- 


Wl  LLI  AM    ROSE 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


533 


mcnls  of  the  locality,  giving  his  lieartj'  support  to 
the  Democratic  partj'.  He  is  a  law-abiding  citizen, 
held  in  tiie  esteem  due  to  his  personal  qualities  and 
honorable  life. 

Mr.  iSlocum  was  fortunate  in  winning  for  his 
companion  a  lady  possessed  of  energy,  intelligence, 
notable  skill  as  a  housewife  and  excellent  charac- 
ter. This  lady  was  Miss  Eliza  Lear3',  who  was 
born  in  Ireland  in  1834,  and  became  Mrs.  Slocum 
May  14,  1854,  the  wedding  being  solemnized  in 
Rochester,  N.  Y.  Her  parents,  John  and  Margaret 
(Buckley)  Leary,  emigrated  from  the  Emerald 
Isle  to  America  in  1842,  settling  in  Westchester 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  both  subsequently  died.  Mr. 
and  Mis.  Slocum  are  the  parents  of  two  children; 
Charles  S.,  who  married  Mary  Barnard,  and  Ida, 
who  is  the  wife  of  William  A.  Ilowatt. 


ILLIAM  ROSE.  Among  the  pioneers  and 
substantial  farmers  of  this  county,  this 
gentleman  was  numbered.  He  began  life 
empty  handed,  but  by  unremitting  industry,  sec- 
onded 1)3^  sound  judgment  and  shrewd  business 
faculties  he  acquired  wealth,  became  an  extensive 
landowner  and  the  proprietor  of  several  valuable 
farms.  He  was  a  resident  of  Vermont  Township, 
which  was  deprived  of  a  good  citizen  by  his  demise. 
His  portrait  is  shown  on  the  opposite  page. 

Mr.  Rose  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  March  '22, 
1816,  in  Guernsey  County,  in  the  pioneer  home  of 
William  and  Susan  (DoUard)  Rose.  The  parents 
died  in  Ohio.  Their  marriage  was  productive  of 
seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely :  Thomas, 
Reuben,  William,  Uriah,  Robert,  Eliliu,  George, 
Jane  and  Eliza,  all  of  whom  married  and  reared 
families  excepting  the  latter. 

In  early  days.  Mr.  Rose  was  a  boatman  on  the 
Ohio  River.  About  1830  he  located  in  Clermont 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  married  at  a  very 
youthful  age,  December  31,  1831,  taking  as  his 
wife  Miss  Anna  Linn.  She  was  a  native  of  that 
county  and  was  born  October  24,  1816.  In  the 
month  of  October,  1836,  our  subject  came  to  Illi 
nois  vvith  a  yoke  of  cattle  and  a  horse,  accompanied 


by  his  family.  The  little  party  was  six  weeks  on 
the  road,  having  camped  out  every  night.  The 
first  winter  was  passed  south  of  Ipava,  and  the  next 
year  Mr.  Rose  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  in  Astoria  Township  on  section  3,  all  of 
which  was  heavily  timbered. 

Mr.  Rose  was  a  man  of  remarkable  energy  and 
industry  and  in  the  years  of  pioneer  labor  that  fol- 
lowed his  settlement  here  he  accumulated  a  hand- 
some property.  To  his  first  purchase  he  added 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  and  sub- 
sequently' became  the  proprietor  of  two  farms  in 
McDonough  County,  one  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  and  the  other  of  eighty  acres;  he  also  owned 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Waj'ne 
County,  Iowa,  besides  the  seventy  acres  south  of  the 
village  of  Vermont  on  which  his  widow  now  re- 
sides. When  he  left  Ohio,  his  earthly  possessions 
were  comprised  in  $600  in  money  and  a  yoke  of 
cattle.  He  had  left  home  early  in  life,  buying  his 
freedom  of  his  father,  and  every  dollar  of  his 
wealth  was  earned  by  his  own  hand. 

The  busv  and  honorable  life  of  our  subject  was 
brought  to  a  close  by  his  death  March  15,  1889. 
Thus  one  of  the  most  highl3'  esteemed  citizens  was 
removed  from  the  community,  one  wlio  had  been 
kind  and  obliging  as  a  neighbor  and  friend,  and  in 
his  domestic  rchtions  was  a  good  husband  and  a 
wise  father.  He  and  his  wife  were  devoted  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  with  which 
she  is  still  connected.  He  was  a  liberal  and  free 
giver  to  the  support  of  the  church  and  was  Steward 
for  many  3'ears.     He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

Mrs.  Rose  who  survives  her  husband  is  a  sincere 
Christian  woman  and  is  greatly  respected.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Elizabeth  (Van 
Sickle)  Linn,  who  were  born  in  Pennsylvania  and 
were  earl3-  settlers  of  Clermont  Count3',  Ohio. 
They  came  to  Illinois  with  Mr.  Rose  and  settled 
in  Fulton  County.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children — John,  Ada,  Jane,  Anna,  Elizabeth,  Nellie 
and  Amanda,  all  of  whom  married  and  reared 
families.  Mrs.  Linn  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  By  her  marriage  Mrs.  Rose  became  the 
mother  of  ten  children,  as  follows:  John  V.,  of 
Bushnell;  James;  Reuben,  deceased ;  Elizabeth  J., 
wife   of   Andy    Bryan  ;  Susan,  wife   of  K.  Lindsay; 


o34 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Ann     Eliza,     wife    of    Frank    Mumey,  of  Saline 

County,  Neb.;  ImIHIi,  ilcceased,  vvifc  of  John  S. 
Niick,  of  Iowa;  KsU'line.  deceased;  William  R.,  in 
Astoria  Township;  Uriah  T.,  of  New  Central  City, 
Neb. 


Ha- 


LFRED  III  GHBANKS  may  be  considered 
a  pioneer  of  Fulton  County.  Me  has  been 
iii  actively  identified  with  its  practical,  pros- 
,^j,  perous  farmers  for  many  3'ears,  and  is  the 

proprietor  of  a  large  and  valuable  farm  on  section 
,30.  in  the  southwestern  part  of  Joshua  Township. 
He  is  a  Kentuekian  by  birth,  born  near  the  town 
of  Newjiort,  November  15,  1823.  His  parents, 
George  and  Retty  Huglibanks,  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  respectively.  His  fa- 
ther was  a  fanner  and  removed  from  Kentucky  to 
Parke  County.  Ind.,  in  1837,  making  the  long  and 
tiresome  journey  through  the  intervening  wilder- 
ness with  a  yoke  of  oxen,  he  and  his  family  sub- 
sisting partly  on  the  game  that  they  killed  on  the 
road.  Mr.  Huglibanks  lived  in  Indiana  for  many 
years,  but  he  did  not  make  much  headway  in  ac- 
quiring property  so  he  concluded  to  try  life  in  the 
Prairie  .State,  and  in  1840  he  came  hither.  He  lo- 
cated in  Young  Hickory  Township,  and  lived  there 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1843. 
His  wife  departed  this  life  one  year  before  he  did. 
They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children. 

He  of  wliom  we  write,  remained  an  inmate  of  the 
parental  home  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  old 
and  was  of  great  assistance  to  his  father  in  his  farm 
labors.  In  1846  he  married  and  established  a  home 
of  his  own,  taking  Miss  Louisa  Wilson  as  his  wife. 
Her  parents  came  from  New  York  and  were  early 
settlers  of  this  State.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ilughbanks 
have  reared  a  large  family  of  children,  all  of  whom 
are  living  but  two.  Three  of  their  boys  are  at 
luinie  and  ali  of  them  are  interested  in  agricultural 
jiursuits  in  connection  with  their  father. 

Our  subject  may  be  considered  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Fulton  County  and  he  has  done  much  to 
promote  its  material  prosperity.  He  is  one  of  our 
self-made  men  and  had  to  start  out  in  life  with  but 
ittle    education.     A    cool  head,  sound    common 


sense,  and  good  business  tact  have  perhaps  served 
his  purpose  better  as  by  hard  work  and  close 
economy  he  has  placed  himself  amongst  the  wealthy 
farmers  of  this  part  of  the  county.  He  owns  two 
hundred  acres  of  good  farming  laiul,  which  is  well 
Stocked  with  cattle  and  hogs  of  a  tine  grade,  and 
from  his  agricultural  interests  he  derives  a  hand- 
some income.  When  he  and  his  wife  began  life 
together,  they  started  out  with  but  the  bare  neces- 
sities and  none  of  tlie  comforts  of  home.  They 
had  no  bed  to  sleep  on  but  had  to  devise  a  rougli 
couch  to  take  tiie  place  of  one,  and  their  other  furni- 
ture was  of  the  same  primitive  order.  Now  they 
have  a  [ileasant  home,  replete  with  every  comfort 
that  one  could  desire.  For  several  3'ears  iMr.  Hugh- 
banks  resided  in  McDonough  Coinitj',  and  liis  in- 
vestment in  land  in  that  count}'  in  eleven  years 
gave  him  a  net  proHt  of  §10.000,  or  forty  per  cent 
realized  on  the  worth  of  his  real  estate  in  that  re- 
gion. His  present  residence  is  on  his  fine  farm  on 
section  30,  in  the  southwestern  corner  of  Joshua 
Township. 

Mr.  Ilughbanks  is  a  strong  advocate  of  the  Re- 
publican part}'.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  have  been  for 
many  years,  and  they  take  a  consi)icuous  part  in 
church  matters.  They  are  worthy  people  whose 
pleasant,  social  and  moral  qualities  have  won  them 
many  friends  during  their  many  years  residence 
here  and  have  made  them  an  inBueuee  for  much 
gnod  in  social  and  religious  matters. 


-^^ 


ARCUS  R.  MORAN.  This  young  gentle- 
man is  numbered  among  the  live  business 
men  of  Canton  where  he  has  for  several 
years  been  established  as  a  photographer. 
He  is  a  native  of  this  county,  born  in  the  county 
seat  February  22,  18()1,  and  was  about  three  years 
old  when  his  parents  removed  to  Canton.  Here  he 
received  the  greater  part  of  his  education.  After 
his  parents  removed  to  a  farm  he  spent  a  jiortion  of 
his  time  working  thereon  until  he  liad  attained  his 
twentieth  year,  when  he  returned  to  the  city  to 
leain  the  art  of  photography. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


535 


In  the  gallery  of  C.  W.  Mangrura  young  Moran 
acquired  a  good  knowledge  of  his  art  and  in  1883 
embarked  in  the  business  for  himself.  Ho  opened 
a  gallery  at  No.  126  Slain  Street,  where  he  is  still 
located,  occupying  the  entire  upiier  floor  of  the 
building  and  having  liis  large,  airy  rooms  well  fur- 
nished with  all  the  late  appliances  known  to  jiho- 
tographers.  Ills  work  is  of  superior  finish  and  ho 
has  no  reason  to  be  dissatisfied  with  the  amount  of 
patronage  he  receives.  He  and  his  brother  own 
tile  building  in  which  he  is  located  and  also  the  one 
adjoining. 

The  intelligence  and  womanly  qualities  of  Miss 
Susan  Trites,  of  Canton  Township,  won  the  regard 
of  Mr.  Moran  and  after  a  successful  wooing  they 
were  united  in  marriage  February  22,  1885.  Mrs. 
Moran  is  the  youngest  daughter  of  George  J.  and 
Louise  Tiites  who  came  to  this  county  from  riiila- 
delphia  in  1848.  Here  she  was  born  and  reared 
and  possesses  a  large  circle  of  friends.  Her  capa- 
bility as  a  homekeeper  is  indicated  in  the  comfort- 
able surroundings  and  internal  arrangement."  of  the 
pleasant  residence  at  J^o.  209,  South  Main  Street, 
where  friends  are  ever  cordially  greeted. 

The  social  and  benevolent  qualities  of  our  sub- 
ject have  led  him  to  identify  himself  with  Jefferson 
Lodge  No.  7,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  he  having  obtained  all  the 
highest  honors  of  that  lodge.  He  is  well  informed 
*  regarding  general  topics,  and  having  carefully 
weighed  the  iiolitical  questions  of  the  day,  has 
identified  himself  with  the  Republican  party.  He 
is  a  popular  member  of  society,  and  has  an  excel- 
lent reputation  in  business  circles. 

The  parents  of  our  suliject  weie  living  in  this 
count}'  when  their  marriage  took  jjlace.  The  father, 
William  II.  Moran,  was  boi'n  in  the  city  of  Balti- 
more, ]\Id.,  being  a  son  of  Ric^hard  L.  Moran,  an 
early  settler  in  that  State  and  of  French  extraction. 
The  mother  was  Susan  Ann.  daughter  of  Samuel 
Evans,  a  native  of  England,  and  was  born  in  the 
city  of  New  York.  Her  parents  moved  to  this 
county  when  she  was  a  young  girl,  locating  in  Lew- 
istown  where  she  grew  to  womanhood.  After  her 
marriage  to  William  H.  Moran,  the  county  seat  was 
still  her  home  until  18C4,  wiien  the  family  removed 
to  Canton.  In  Lewistown  Mr.  Moran  followed 
blacksmithing,  which  trade  he  had   learned    in  the 


State  of  Mississippi.  In  Canton  he  lived  somewhat 
retired  for  a  few  years,  then  remf)ved  to  a  farm  in 
Buckheart  Township,  where  he  died  in  1877.  His 
wife  and  two  children  survived  him.  The  former 
subsequently  married  Robert  Sebree.  She  is  itill 
living  but  Mr.  Sebree  is  now  deceased.  The  brother 
and  sister  of  our  subject  are — William  H.  Moran, 
Jr.,  a  resident  of  Buckheart  Township,  and  Mary 
L.,  wife  of  Milo  G.  Rader  now  of  Chicago. 


^^  HARLES  W.  MFMMEY  is  the  leading  hard- 
II  ware  merchant  and  agricultural  implement 

"^^y  dealer  of  Farmington.  He  is  a  nian  of 
talent,  of  wide  experience,  and  stands  high  in  tlie 
financial  ciix-les  of  the  county.  He  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  in  McConnellsville,  Morgan  County, 
January  19,  1840.  In  Fiim  is  mingled  the  blood  of 
many  nationalities — English,  Welsh,  French  and 
Dutch — and  he  can  trace  his  ancestry  back  for  a 
period  of  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  j-ears, 
he  being  a  re|>resentative  of  one  of  the  earliest 
Colonial  families  of  America,  whose  members  were 
identified  with  the  early  American  wars. 

The  |)aternal  great-grandfather  of  our  subject, 
Christopher  Mummey,  was  born  in  Maryland,  and 
he  served  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  After 
peace  was  declared  he  continued  in  the  employ  of 
the  Government  until  1800  .as  an  Indian  soldier 
and  scout,  and  was  a  celebrated  frontiersman.  He 
was  with  St.  Clair  at  the  defeat  of  the  Americans, 
antl  took  part  in  several  of  the  Indian  skirmishes. 
He  rounded  out  a  life  of  eighty  years.  His  son  John, 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  lived  in  Brook  County, 
Va.,  till  his  death,  when  about  eighty  j-ears  old. 
The  grandmother  of  our  subject  was  a  Hammond. 
The  Hammonds  were  of  English  descent;  there  are 
relics  such  as  silver  buckles,  buttons,  etc.,  that  their 
forefathers  brought  from  England,  which  are  still 
in  possession  of  Ihe  family. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  David  and  Sarah  A. 
(Smith)  Mummey,  were  natives  respectively  of 
Wellsburg,  Brook  County,  Va.,  and  Morgan  County, 
Ohio.     His   father  was   an  earlv  settler  of   Morgan 


536 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


County,  and  was  a  pioneer  in  the  dry  goods  busi- 
ness there,  conducting  an  extensive  trade  at  Mc- 
Connellsville.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Kansas 
and  died  in  his  new  home  in  Milton,  Summer 
County-,  in  1885,  at  the  age  of  sixtj'-seven  years. 
He  was  twice  married;  liis  first  wife,  the  raotlier 
of  our  subject,  died  at  McConnellsville  in  1847, 
leaving  two  children,  Charles  W.,  and  William  H. 
By  his  second  marriage  he  had  the  following 
children:  Fletcher,  Homer,  Harry,  Fred,  Lida, 
Addie,  Ruth,  Fimnie.  Luin  and  Nellie.  The  father 
was  a  prominent  man  in  politics,  affiliating  with 
the  Whigs  and  was  once  a  candidate  of  that  party 
for  the  Legislature. 

Charles  Munimey's  early  life  was  passed  amid  the 
s?enes  of  his  birth,  and  he  acquired  a  good  knowl- 
edge of  business  in  his  youth  by  working  in  his 
father's  store.  His  father  handled  gre.at  quantities 
(>f  produce,  which  he  sent  away  on  flatboats,  and 
as  a  boy  Charles  managed  one  of  these  boats.  In 
18(U  he  commenced  as  a  pilot  on  the  Ohio  River, 
and  was  engaged  in  carrying  supplie?,  cannon  shot, 
shell,  etc.,  for  the  Government,  and  also  transported 
mules  and  soldiers  by  the  thousands  to  the  Union 
armies  in  the  South.  He  continued  as  pilot  till 
18(;s.  his  run  being  between  I'ittsburg  and  Cincin- 
nati. He  finished  a  course  of  stu()y  at  the  Mc- 
Connellsville graded  schools  and  at  tlie  High 
Schocil  in  his  youth,  and  laid  a  solid  foundation  for 
his  career  as  a  business  man. 

In  the  year  1871  Mr.  Muinmey  removed  with 
his  famil}'  to  Peoria,  where  he  entered  the  emplo}" 
of  Sloan,  Johnson  i\:  Co.,  of  that  city,  as  a  mercan- 
tile traveler,  remaining  with  them  in  that  capacity 
seven  years.  In  1878  he  went  to  Sumner  County, 
Kan.,  and  there  |uiicliased  five  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land.  He  improved  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  it,  and  besides  sold  goods,  took 
charge  of  a  post-otlice  and  loaned  money  to  the 
people  of  Sumner  County,  Kan.,  conducting  these 
various  operations  with  excellent  success.  He  sold 
out  his  interests  in  Kansas  in  1885,  and  came  back 
to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  the  liardware  business. 
In  1880  he  entered  into  the  employ  of  Charles  J. 
Off,  of  Peoria,  as  a  commercial  agent,  and  traveled 
on  the  road  till  1885.  He  has  been  very  prosperous 
as  a  hardware   merchant,  and   in  the  sale  of  agri- 


cultur.al  implements,  buggies  and  carriages,  he  has 
built  up  a  large  trade. 

January  18,  1862.  was  the  date  of  the  marriage 
of  JNIr.  Mumraey,  with  Miss  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of 
Simpkin  II.  and  Jane  (Gr.aham)  Brown.  Her 
father  and  mother  were  both  born  near  New  Athens, 
Harrison  County,  Ohio,  and  wtre  farmers.  Mrs. 
Mummey  is  the  fonrth  of  a  family  of  seven  children. 
She  was  well  educated  at  LTnionville,  Ohio.  Mr. 
and  iNIrs.  Mummey  have  a  large  and  interesting 
family  circle,  as  they  have  had  ten  children,  namely  : 
Mary  V.,  Annie  F.,  William  H.,  Charles  B.,  Fred 
(who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years),  F.  M.,  A  V.. 
Alice,  Edith,  and  Harry.  Miss  Mary  is  livini;  in 
Peoria.     The  others  are  at  home. 

Mr.  Mummey  is  a  man  of  fine  presence,  whose 
many  pleasant  social  qualities  make  him  a  favorite. 
He  is  prominent  in  fraternity  circles  as  a  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in 
politics  is  a  stanch  Republican. 


AVID  NAYLOR.  The  city  of  Canton,  Ful- 
ton County,  III.,  is  the  home  of  many  ener- 
getic and  prosperous  business  men,  who 
have  won  for  themselves  both  fame  and  fortune, 
but  none  merit  more  praise,  or  are  more  highly 
esteemed  than  he  whose  history  claims  attention. 
He  is  a  native  of  Somerset  County,  N.  J.,  being 
born  in  that  i)lace  on  the  31st  of  October  in 
the  year  1826,  and  is  the  son  of  Elias  and  Mary 
(Pittenger)  Naylor.  His  great-grandfather  was 
born  in  F^ngland.  ,and  emigrated  from  tiiat  country 
to  America,  settling  in  New  Jerse}-,  and  in  that 
State  was  born  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  his  name  being  David  Naylor.  He  was 
a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812  and  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Boozenlierry.  To  them  were  born  four 
children,  viz.:  Samuel,  Elias,  Eliza  and  Amos.  Of 
these,  Elias  married  Jliss  Mary  Pittenger,  of  Som- 
erset Count3',  N.  J.,  and  a  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Mary  (Lane)  Pittenger.  Mr.  Naylor's  ancestors 
on  the  maternal  side  were  of  Holland-Dulch  de- 
scent, and  for  several  years  were  residents  of  the 
State  of  New  Jersey.     His  mother  was  born  in  1800 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


539 


and  departed  this  life  in  1839,  leaving  five  cliil- 
dien,  viz.:  David  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  B. 
Gniman,  of  Connecticut;  Elias  V.,  who  is  dead; 
Sanuiel,  niio  is  at  the  present  lime  a  resident  of 
Pennsylvania;  Amos,  who  lives  at  Canton.  111.,  and 
owns  an  interest  in  a  coal  mine.  Mr.  Xaylor's  father 
is  living  in  Pennsylvania  and  has  reached  his 
eighty-seventh  year.  -He  was  a  farmer  and  mer- 
chant, and  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife  was 
married  again,  after  which  he  removed  to  Easton, 
Pa.  David  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  continued 
to  lead  that  life  until  lie  attained  his  twelfth  year, 
and  at  that  date  sustaining  the  sad  loss  of  his 
mother,  he  went  to  live  with  an  aunt,  whose  hus- 
band— ATiraham  Amerman — was  a  merchant.  In 
his  uncle's  store  he  learned  the  mercantile  business, 
clerking  there  until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and 
then  entering  into  a  partnership  in  the  grocery^ 
soap  and  candle  business  with  his  uncle  Samuel 
Naylor,  at  Somerviile,  Somerset  County,  N.  J  In 
1856  this  partnership  was  dissolved,  Mr.  Xaylor 
coming  west,  and  locating  in  Canton,  111.,  where  he 
Las  continued  to  reside  up  to  the  present  writing. 
Immediate!}-  after  his  arrival  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Isaac  F.  Stevens,  who  also  came  from 
the  East,  and  they  commenced  an  extensive  sonp 
and  candle  business  which  lasted  about  eight  years, 
but  since  that.  Mr.  Naylor  had  control  of  the  bus- 
iness three  or  four  3'ears. 

Afterward,  he  became  a  |)artner  of  Mv.  Krischke 
in  the  tanking  business,  which  proved  veiy  remun- 
erative. Just  at  the  present  writing  Mr.  Naylor  is 
not  actively  engaged  in  business  but  deals  exten- 
sively in  poultry, which  he  ships  in  large  quantities. 
His  educational  training  was  received  in  common 
.schools,  but  his  natural  industry  enabled  him  to 
acquirean  excellent  business  education.  On  Janu- 
ary 25,  1851,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Hannah 
Schenck.  a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Harriet  Schenck.  Mrs.  Naylor 
died  on  tlie  18th  of  May,  188G,  leaving  a  de- 
voted husband,  and  three  children  living  to  mourn 
her  loss.  Of  these  children.  John  is  a  resident  of 
Canton  and  ergaged  in  the  mercantile  business; 
Mary  Lena  remains  at  home  with  her  father;  The- 
odore W.  resides  in  Canton,  111.;  and  a  fourth  child, 
Delove,  is  deceased.     Mr.  Naylor  has  a  beautiful 


home,  and  is  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life. 
While  not  an  active  politician,  or  an  office  seeker, 
still  at  the  same  time  he  takes  pride  in  using  his  in- 
fluence for  worth}'  political  causes.  He  is  generally 
considered  one  of  the  most  substantial  and  enter- 
prising citizens  in  the  place,  and  has  acquired  a 
considerable  amount  of  money.  To  such  men 
Canton  is  indebted  for  the  rapid  growth  and  won- 
derful prosperity  which  distinguislies  it  as  a  desir- 
able place  of  residence. 


GEORGE  PRALL.  This  gentleman  whose 
[I  ,^=1  portrait  is  shown  on  the  opposite  page  is  the 
*^5i  pioneer  business  man  and  settler  in  the  new 
town  of  Rapatee.  which  lies  in  Knox  County,  across 
the  line  from  Fairview  Township.  His  home  is 
the  finest  residence  in  the  village  and  was  the  first 
erected  there.  Mr.  Prall  in  partnership  with  'Will- 
iam Harden,  (see  another  page  in  this  Album)  built 
the  grain  elevator  in^l883.  He  shipped  the  first 
carload  of  grain  out  of  the  village,  as  well  as  the 
first  load  of  hogs  and  cattle.  The  little  town  is 
becoming  noted  as  a  grain  and  stock-shipping  cen- 
ter and  for  this  reputation  it  depends  mainly  upon 
our  wide-awake  subject.  Mv.  Prall  is  largel}'  inter- 
ested in  lands  in  Fairview  Tonnship  where  he  was 
formerly  engaged  in  farming  and  where  he  now 
owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  11, 
together  with'eighty  acres  on  section  14. 

Before  outlining  the  life  history  of  our  subject 
it  may  be  well  to  sa^-  a  few  words  regarding  his 
parents  and  their  family.  1  lis  father,  Asher  Prall, 
was  born  in'Ilunterdon  County,  N.  J.,  and  came  to 
thisIState  in'1845,  settling  on  section  11,  Fairview 
Townsiiip.  Ilelived  to  be  sixty-six  years  old.  He 
had  married  Catherine  McGr.ath,  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  who  survived  her  husband. and  reached  the 
age  of  three-score  and  ten.  The  good 'couple  had 
four  children  of  ^  whom  our  subject  was  the  first- 
born. John,  who  now  lives  on  a  farm  in  Iowa, 
married  Eliza  J.  Brunton  and  has  eight  children; 
Jane  is  the  wife  of",  William  Swigert,  a  retired 
farmer  now  living  in    Rapatee;  Cornelius  enlisted 


540 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  Compaiij-  D,  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois  In- 
fantry-, was  taken  ill  with  the  measles  and  died  at 
Cairo,  111.,  when  twenty-one  j-ears  old. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  initiates  this  life  his- 
tori'  was  born  October  10,  1831,  in  Hunterdon 
County,  N.  J.  He  attended  the  common  schools 
there,  and  in  this  couutj',  to  which  he  accompanied 
his  (jareuts  when  he  was  fourteen  years  old.  The 
journej'  was  performed  partly  hy  rail  and  paril}' 
by  river  boats  the  landing  being  made  at  Copperas 
Creek.  The  lad  assisted  his  father  in  tiie  develop- 
nent  of  the  homestead  and  continued  to  follow 
agriculture  until  his  intelligent  observation  of 
affairs  led  him  to  embark  in  grain  and  stock-bu}'- 
ing,  which  he  tiiought  promised  to  prove  remuner- 
ative. His  energ}-  and  tact  are  being  rewarded  in 
this  new  enterprise,  as  his  industr}-  and  skill  were  in 
the  old. 

The  first  marriage  of  our  subjecl  took  place  in 
Tazewell  County,  his  bride  being  Miss  Rebecca 
Golden.  The  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  one 
child — Fanny,  now  the  wife  of  AVilliara  Wycoff 
who  lives  in  Fairview.  The  wife  and  mother  passed 
away  in  1860.  and  ilr.  Prall  subsequently  married 
Catherine,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Suj-dam) 
Winters.  This  union  has  been  blest  1)3'  the  birth 
of  four  children — Cora,  Jane,  Kale  and  George,  all 
of  whom  are  still  at  home,  except  Cora  who  mar- 
ried Frank  Grim  and  lives  in  Fairview  Township. 
They  have  two  children.  Earl  and  Verley. 


^ 


'^♦^AXIEL  CATHERMAN.  Worthy  among 
'  the  pioneers  of  this  county  stancls  Daniel 
Catherman,  an  early  settler  of  Cass  Town- 
ship, and  for  many  years  actively  engaged  in  de- 
veloping its  agricultural  interests,  improving,  from 
the  timber  openings  where  he  look  up  a  claim  a 
half-century  ago.  a  good  farm.  He  and  his  esti- 
mable wife  are  now  living  in  retirement  in  their 
cozy  little  home,  enjoying  a  comfortable  income 
from  the  rental  of  the  homestead,  meriting  and  re- 
ceiving tlio  full  respect  and  esteem  of  the  entire 
community. 

Mr.    Catherman    was    born    June    16,    1816,    in 


L'nion,  Pa.  His  parents  were  Jacob  and  Susan 
(Spichelmier)  Catherman,  who  were  likewise  of 
Pennsylvania  birth,  and  were  life-long  residents  of 
their  native  Slate,  he  dying  in  1832  and  slie  in 
1828,  when  scarcely  past  life's  prime.  Two  of 
the  seven  children  born  to  them  are  now  living. 

The  son  of  whom  we  write  was  bv  their  early 
death  left  an  orphan  when  he  most  needed  the  care 
and  wise  counsel  of  a  tender  mother  and  wise 
father.  He  was  bound  out  to  his  uncle  to  remain 
with  him  until  he  was  eighteen  j'ears  old.  but  he 
left  him  at  sixteen  years  of  age  and  lived  out  on  a 
farm  for  a  few  months.  After  that  he  bound  him- 
self in  apprenticeship  to  a  carpenter,  but  his  guar- 
dian objected  to  that  proceeding,  so  he  left  Schuyl- 
kill County  and  was  employed  by  William  Girard 
to  assist  in  digging  co.al.  Later  he  worked  in  a 
brick5-ard  one  season  and  then  returned  home,  as 
he  was  taken  &ick.  After  his  recovery  be  went  to 
Mercer  County,  in  iiis  native  State,  and  for  one  sea- 
son was  employed  on  a  farm.  In  1834  he  made  his 
way  to  Richland  County.  Ohio,  worked  there  in  a 
brickyard  two  summers  and  one  season  on  a  farm. 
He  subsequeutlj'  hired  out  to  James  Kuykendall, 
the  father  of  his  future  wife,  to  come  to  Illinois, 
and  in  1837  came  to  this  State  and  located  in  Put- 
man  Township,  Fulton  Count}'. 

Two  years  later  ilr.  Catherman  was  married,  and 
he  and  his  bride  began  life  together  in  Putman 
Township,  lived  there  a  year  and  then  came  to  Cass 
Township  and  made  a  dwelling  for  themselves  in 
the  timber  openings  on  section  23,  where  Mr. 
Catherman  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  on 
which  a  furrow  has  never  been  turned,  and  a  hard 
task  was  before  him  to  improve  it  into  a  cultivated 
farm.  He  first  built  a  log  cabin,  and  then  went  to 
work  with  a  will  to  clear  aw,a\-  the  trees  and  break 
the  sod.  He  had  to  use  the  most  primitive  meth- 
ods to  .accomplish  his  worii.  He  had  one  horse, 
and  he  made  a  wagon  himself,  making  the  wheels 
of  slabs.  He  subsequently  made  another  w.agon,  of 
which  the  wheels  were  split  out  solid  from  a  wal- 
nut log.  The  country  around  his  home  was  very 
sparsely'  settled,  and  many  wild  animals  were  often 
ann03'ing  in  their  depredations.  He  and  his  wife 
were  desperatelj-  poor,  as  they  had  begun  life 
empty-handed,  and  many    were   the   s.acrifices  they 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


541 


had  to  make  and  the  privations  they  endured.  But 
they  worked  with  cheerful  and  never  failing  cour- 
age until  prosperit}'  smiled  on  their  efforts,  and 
now  those  hardships  are  a  thing  (>f  the  past,  and 
their  life  is  one  of  serenity  and  cfimfort. 

In  1842  Mr.  Catherman  took  a  load  of  wheat  to 
Chicago  with  a  ono-horse  team,  having  in  his 
wagon  thirty-eight  bushels  of  the  grain,  ami  oats 
enough  to  feed  his  horse.  He  was  sixteen  days  on 
the  way,  and  sold  his  wheat  for  foity-eight  cents  a 
bushel.  At  one  time  he  took  some  wheat  to  the  Liver- 
pool market,  and  exchanged  eight  bushels  for  eight 
j'prds  of  calico  to  make  Mrs.  Catherman  a  dress  in 
which  to  appear  at  church  or  on  festive  occasions. 
For  ordinary  wear  Mrs.  Catherman  spun  the  wool 
for  the  clothes  of  the  whole  family,  and  she  also 
manufactured  the  flax  directly  from  the  plant  into 
clotli  of  a  nice  texture,  she  being  an  adept  at  spin- 
ning and  weaving.  The  flax  was  raised  on  a  farm, 
rotted,  broken,  scutched,  and  was  then  ready  to 
spin  and  weave. 

Our  subject's  farm  now  comprises  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land,  nearly  all  improved,  and 
under  admirable  tillage,  and  supplied  with  nec- 
es.sary  buildings,  lie  lived  upon  the  farm  \intil 
1876  and  then  rented  it,  and  moved  to  his  [jresent 
place,  building  his  neat  little  dwelling  the  same  year. 
While  he  was  living  on  the  homestead  the  house 
was  struck  by  lightning,  and  Mrs.  Cathernxan  was 
so  affected  bj*  the  electric  current  that  she  was  un- 
conscious for  a  long  tune.  At  one  time  she  broke 
liir  ankle  by  a  fall,  and  still  suffers  from  the  in- 
jury. Mr.  Catherman  has  also  been  unfortunate  in 
the  matter  of  accidents.  Last  summer  when  he  was 
taking  a  load  of  wheat  to  Cuba,  while  crossing  the 
track  the  wagon  was  struck  bj'  a  passenger  train 
and  demolished,  and  he  lost  his  wheat,  and  his 
right  hip  was  so  seriously  hurt  that  he  was  obliged 
to  lie  in  bed  three  weeks. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Catlierman  were  united  in  marriage 
December  13,  1839.  Her  maiden  name  was  Abi- 
gail Kujkendall,  and  she  is  a  daughter  of  James 
and  Elizabeth  (Aten)  Kuykendall,  who  were  of 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  stock  and  were  farmers.  They 
died  in  Illinois,  she  djing  in  1860,  and  he  from 
the  effects  of  an  injury  received  on  a  railway  in 
1884.  at  the  venerable  age   of  ninetv-six.     Of  the 


nine  children  horn  to  them  six  are  still  living. 
Mrs.  Catherman  was  born  in  Richland  County, 
Ohio,  in  1818.  Her  marriage'  with  our  subject  has 
been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  six  children : 
Elizabeth,  now  dead;  Susan,  who  married  Mr.  Hen- 
derliter,  of  Putman  Township,  and  is  the  mother  of 
thirteen  children;  Lyman,  deceased  ;  Margaret,  who 
married  Jerome  Brown,  lives  on  the  home  place 
and  has  one  child;  Ir.t,  deceased;  Daniel,  a  resi- 
dent of  Kansas,  who  married  Ellen  Ball,  and  is  tiie 
father  of  three  children. 

Mrs.  Catherman,  a  woman  of  many  Christian 
virtues,  has  been  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
Mr.  Catherman  has  long  been  one  of  our  most  use- 
ful citizens,  has  faithfully  served  the  township  for 
3ears  as  School  Director,  and  has  also  been  Path- 
master.  He  has  always  been  a  stanch  Democrat, 
and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Martin  Van 
Buren.  He  and  his  wife  have  been  quite  extensive 
travelers  in  their  da^',  having  made  several  trips  to 
Kansas  and  one  to  Oregon,  where  they  spent  eleven 
months,  and  had  a  very  enjoyable  time. 


~^^^>^ 


S.  GEICxLEY,  M.  D.  Among  the  numerous 
and  varied  professions  in  which  men  may 
arise  to  eminence,  there  is  not  one  kiiown  to 
the  civilized  world  that  claims  a  higher  place 
in  the  esteem  of  all  than  does  the  "art  of  healing." 
Since  the  time  of  Esculapius,  down  to  the  present 
date  there  has  never  been  a  class  of  men  that  de- 
manded or  received  more  faith,  or  respectful  treat- 
ment than  the  physician.  It  is  his  presence  that 
seems  to  brighten  the  sick  one;  he  is  generally  con- 
ceded to  be  the  family  friend,  and  it  is  to  him 
that  troubles  of  every  nature  may  be  safel3'  con- 
fided. No  one  has  more  fully  proven  tlic  truth  of 
this  assertion  than  has  Dr.  J.  S.  Geigley. 

Our  subject's  birth  occurred  near  Arrow  Rock, 
Mo.,  on  March  20,  1858,  and  he  is  the  son  of  Sey- 
mour and  Sarah  (Warren)  Geigley.  His  father  was 
a  native  of  Virginia,  being  born  near  Winchester  in 
that  State  about  the  3'ear  1820.  The  great-grand- 
father, Aaron  Geigley,  was  the  founder  of  this 
family,    coming    originally   from    iVlsaeo-Lorraine, 


542 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


France — now  Prussia.  His  son,  Aaron  Jr.,  tlie 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  planter,  and  a 
graduate  of  the  Anna'|)olis  Naval  Academy.  He  was 
a  Lieutenant  in  tbe  United  States  Navy  service  un- 
til the  time  when  John  C.  Fremont  led  his  famous 
expedition  across  the  country,  and  Lieut.  Geigley 
became  connected  with  the  Survey.  He  went  in 
tiie  field  as  a  supporter  of  Gen.  Fremont  during 
the  campaign,  being  an  intimate  friend  both  of 
General  and  Mrs.  Fremont.  At  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war  he  was  a  planter  and  miller  in  Saline 
County,  Mo.  At  first  he  was  neutral,  but  when 
hostilities  became  fierce  and  some  depredations 
were  committed  by  Union  troops,  his  miiid  was 
immediately  made  up  and  he  accepted  a  cominission 
as  Colonel  in  the  Confederate  service.  This  was 
in  the  year  1S62.  His  wife  died  in  tiie  spring,  and 
while  Col.  Geigley  was  away  to  place  his  children 
with  their  mother's  relatives  in  Indiana,  he  died  on 
the  way  near  Macomb,  111.  The  three  children 
were  taken  charge  of  by  kinspeople.  Our  subject 
is  the  only  one  of  these  children  living  at  the  pres- 
ent date.  He  remained  witli  liis  mother's  brother 
near  La  Fayette,  Ind.,  until  he  had  attained  his 
twenty-first  year,  and  received  an  academical  edu- 
cation, and  commenced  the  study  of  medicine.  Af- 
ter reaching  his  majority  he  attended  medical 
lectures  at  the  Missouri  Me<lical  College  at  St. 
Louis,  graduating  from  there  with  honors  in  the 
spring  of  1882. 

Dr.  Geigley  about  a  week  after  receiving  his  de 
grees  located  in  Lewistown,  the  county  seat  of  Ful- 
ton County,  and  continued  to  practice  there  until 
the  fall  of  188.5,  at  which  time  he  moved  to  Canton. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  popular  practitioners  in  this 
city,  having  an  extensive  and  lucrative  practice. 
He  has  succe«"ded  admirably  at  surgery  and  has 
performed  several  dillicult  and  noted  cures  in  this 
vicinity.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Brainard  District 
Medical  Society,  and  was  Mee  President  of  same 
last  year.  The  Doctor  has  m.ade  special  studies  in 
electricity,  believing  in  the  appliance  of  this  fluid 
in  general  practice.  He  is  corresponding  member 
of  the  Society  of  Electrical  Engineers. 

Our  subject's  relatives,  the  Seymours,  have  been 
prominent  sailors  through  several  generations,  fur- 
nishing   Admirals    for    the    British    Navy   during 


the  Colonial  period  at  and  prior  to  tbe  Revolu- 
tionary War.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Lor- 
enzo and  Lucy  (Nevil)  Warren.  The  Warren 
famil}-  are  of  English  descent,  and  of  old  Virginian 
ancestry,  many  of  lliem  being  heroes  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War. 

Dr.  Geigley  was  married  at  Havana,  Mason 
County,  in  1878,  to  Miss  Laura  Naylor,  a  native  of 
Manchester,  Ohio,  and  daughter  of  William  and 
Nancy  (Coppell)  Naylor.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  two  children — Seymour  Warren  and 
Inez.  Our  subject  is  an  Odd  Fellow.  He  also  be- 
longs to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  his 
wife  WQS  a  member. 


vx  W.  GALLAGHER,  attorney-at-law  in 
J;  Canton,  is  the  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Rafferty)  Gallagher,  natives  of  Ireland, 
whence,  after  the  birth  of  two  children, 
they  came  to  America.  Immediately  after  their 
arrival  in  the  United  States  they  came  west  to  Illi- 
nois and  located  in  Canton.  This  was  in  the  year 
18.55.  They  are  now  living  in  Canton,  which  has 
been  their  home  since  tlijeir  arrival  in  this  country. 

P.  W.  Gallagher  was  born  in  Liverpool,  P^nglan.l 
on  July  1,  1852.  The  other  children  born  to  his 
parents  were,  Maggie,  Delia,  Ella  and  Katie.  Our 
subject  received  a  High  School  education  in  Can- 
ton and  upon  attaining  his  seventeenth  birthda}' 
entered  the  office  of  the  Fulton  Ledger,  where  he 
remained  for  three  years  and  learned  the  trade  of 
a  printer.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  J.  L.  Murph}',  of 
Canton.  Such  was  Mr.  Gallagher's  progress  in  his 
studies  that  he  was  soon  admitted  to  practice  at  the 
bar  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  , He  did  not  at  once 
apply  for  permission  to  practice,  because  of  the 
fact  that  soon  after  reaching  his  majority  he  was 
elected  Police  Magistrate  and  also  Justice  of  the 
Peace. 

In  187')  Mr.  Gallagher  located  in  Cuba,  this 
county,  where  he  continued  to  practice  his  chosen 
profession  satisfactorily  until  1888,  at  which  time 
he  returned  to  Canton  and  entered    into   partner- 


'0-Z.1^1K7       '^'>-^^ 


^  CL.-i<^/^,   J^c^rX^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


54o 


ship  with  Oscar  J.  Boyer,  the  firm  name  being 
Gallagher  &  Boyer.  Tliey  now  have  a  good  prac- 
tice. Mr.  Gallagher  was  marrierl  December  7,  1879, 
in  Cuba,  to  Miss  Judilli  Mowcry,  a  native  tif  this 
count}'  and  tlie  daugliter  of  Jacob  and  Mary 
(HeiuUrson)  Mowery.  JMr.  and  Mrs.  Mowery  are 
numbered  among  the  earl}'  pioneers  of  Fulton 
County,  and  retain  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  land 
when  it  was  scarcely  more  than  the  forest  primeval. 
To  Mr.  Gallagher  and  his  wife  have  been  born  four 
children,  name!}' :  William  M.,  Mar}-  M.,  Zadie 
Kay  and  Donald  J. 

Mr.  Gallagher  is  now  building  a  handsome  resi- 
dence and  is  nicely  situated  in  life.  He  and  his 
family  iiave  a  host  of  warm  personal  friends.  He 
was  elected  State's  Attorney  in  1880  and  per- 
formed the  duties  of  that  office  in  a  most  com- 
mendable manner.  Socially,  he  is  a  Cliapter  Ma- 
son, and  belongs  to  the  Blue  Lodge  at  Cuba. 
He  is  also  identilied  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  Though 
not  an  active  politician,  he  votes  the  Democratic 
ticket  and  is  a  firm  adherent  of  its  princi|)les. 


-^^ 


^t^,  ANIEL  FOSHAY.  There  is  in  this  world 
much  to  vex  the  soul  of  man  and  often- 
times adversity  sours  the  disi)osition  and 
makes  men  exclaim  in  their  despair  "cui 
bono":  but  when  we  look  upon  a  noble-hearted. 
Christian  man  who  has  struj;gled  faitl)fully  in 
hewing  out  a  business  career,  but  has  at  the  same 
time  preserved  that  beautiful  faith  in  mankind  and 
in  the  goodness  of  God,  learned  at  his  mother's 
knee,  we  feel  refreshed,  just  as  a  tired  traveler 
having  journeyed  over  steep  roads  is  pleased  to  be- 
hold in  the  valley  below  a  calm  and  smiling  land- 
scape. 

Our  subject  made  his  appearance  in  the  world  in 
Westchester,  Westchester  Count}',  N.  Y.,  in  the 
city  of  Sing  Sing,  being  the  son  of  Levi  and  Sally 
(Sutton)  Foshay.  His  birth  occurred  April  5,  1837, 
and  he  remained  in  his  native  place  until  he  had 
reached  his  tenth  year.      He  has  no  recollections  of 


his  mother,  and  sustained  the  sad  loss  of  his  father 
when  ten  years  of  age.  His  half-brother  liad  bought 
a  farm  about  that  time  and  took  him  to  live  in 
Seneca  County,  where  he  lived  until  he  was  twenty 
years  of  age.  W^hile  quite  a  bo}'  he  manifested 
great  interest  in  attending  Sunday-school  and 
through  the  entire  course  of  his  life  has  lost  no  op- 
portunity of  advancing  the  cause  of  religion. 

Mr.  Foshay  received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Seneca  County,  and  when  twenty 
years  old  came  West,  settling  in  Illinois  and  com- 
mencing to  work  on  a  farm  near  Rockford.  He 
continued  to  work  there  for  two  years  and  then 
moved  to  Knox  Count}',  settling  near  London  Mills, 
wherein  1861  he  bought  a  farm,  but  in  a  short 
time  sold  out  and  moved  to  Warren  County  where 
he  purchased  an  eighty-acre  farm  in  Swan  Town- 
ship. While  there  he  married  in  1868,  Miss  Kate 
Shallenberger,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Slo- 
necker)  Shallenberger.  Her  parents  came  to  Ful- 
ton County  in  1830  and  were  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers  of  what  is  mow  Young  Hickory  Town- 
ship, where  they  both  dii-d.  She  was  born  and 
reared  in  Fulton  County,  and  after  nct-iving  an 
excellent  education  taught  school  for  a  time  before 
her  marriage  Her  father  was  twice  married ,  lier 
mother  being  his  first  wife. 

Mr.  Foshay  was  marrieil  at  Knoxville.  and  im- 
mediately after  marriage  they  commenced  house- 
keeping on  his  farm  in  Warren  County  and  con- 
tinued to  live  there  for  six  years.  He  next  bought 
the  farm  owned  by  the  Shaffer  heirs.  At  ^  Inter 
date  he  bought  the  Hall  farm  antl  now  owns  two 
hundred  acres  of  good  farming  land.  Ourjuliject 
and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
viz:  Sadie,  Mary,  Annie,  Wilbur,  Claude,  Albert 
and  Johnny.  Sadie  is  engaged  in  teaching  in  Ful- 
ton County,  having  attended  the  High  School  at 
Galesburg. 

Mr.  Foshay  has  served  as  School  Director  for 
several  years,  and  School  Trustee  for  three  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church 
and  is  Class-Leader,  having  served  as  sucii  through 
a  period  of  eight  years.  He  has  been  Superinten- 
dent of  the  Sunday-school  for  a  number  of  years 
and  bears  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  most  chari- 
table and  benevolent  gentleman.     In  ijolitics  he  is  a 


r)46 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Republican  and  a  strong  supporter  of  tliose  meas-  | 
uri'S  that  he  believes  beneficial  to  religious,  edu-  , 
eational  or  commercial  matters. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Foshay  is  shown  in  connection    I 
with  this  brief  biographical  review. 


-^ 


NDREW  J.  McCOMBS.  The  simple  rec- 
ord of  the  life  of  a  man  who  has  quietly 
14)  pursued  his  chosen  calling  is  the  best  testi- 
ly' monial  that  can  be  given  to  his  worth  of 
character.  In  general  the  life  of  a  farmer  is  an 
uneventful  one  marked  by  no  startling  inci(Jents, 
although  its  usefulness  may  be  fell  throughout  an 
extended  circle  of.  aquaintances  and  exert  great  in- 
fluence. The  subject  of  this  notice  lias  pursued 
the  even  tenor  of  his  way  as  a  farmer,  taking  a  part 
in  various  matters  which  concerned  the  welfare  of 
the  section  in  which  he  lives  in  the  same  unpreten- 
tious manner.  He  owns  and  operates  two  hundred 
acres  of  land,  part  of  which  is  in  Fairview  Town- 
ship, and  (lart  in  Knox  County,  due  north  of  the 
home. 

Before  entering  upon  the  history  of  our  subject 
it  will  not  be  amiss  to  devote  a  brief  paragraph  to 
that  of  his  respected  parents.  His  father.  James 
McCombs,  was  born  in  Scotland  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica when  about  twenty-four  years  old,  settling  in 
I'tica,  N.  Y.  There  he  established  himself  at  his 
trade  of  a  carpenter  and  finallj'  sot  up  his  own  home, 
marrying  Mary  O.  Armstrong,  a  native  of  the  Em- 
pire State.  Mr.  McCombs  died  when  our  subject 
was  seven  j'ears  old,  leaving  two  children — he  of 
wlium  we  write  and  JNLary  O.,  now  the  wife  of 
I'hineas  Smith,  a  farmer  near  Shipman.  The  wid- 
owed mother  subsequentl}-  married  James  Reese, 
liy  v/hom  she  had  three  children,  the  only  one  now 
living  being  ilenry,  who  resides  in  New  York. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  November 
4,  1832,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  State. 
He  attended  the  common  schools  and  when  quite 
young  acquired  a  knowledge  of  agriculture,  much 
of  his  time  having  been  spent  on  a  farm;  as  his 
mother  married  a  second  time  he  went  to  live  with 
his  grandparents.     In  1857,  he  came  to  Illinois  and 


some  years  later,  having  taken  a  com))anion,  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land  he 
yet  owns.  Stiil  later  he  purchased  an  additional 
ninety-one  acres,  all  of  which  he  successfully  oper- 
ates. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  McCombs  is  a  woman  of  most 
estimable  character,  many  womanly  attainments 
and  more  than  ordinary  intelligence.  She  was  for- 
merly known  as  Miss  Sarah  Jane  Smith,  her  father, 
Jonathan  Smith,  having  been  one  of  the  wealthy 
residents  in  the  township.  The  family  history  will 
be  found  in  the  sketch  of  Foster  Smith  on  another 
page  in  this  Alisim.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Combs and  Miss  Smith  was  solemnized  in  1866, 
and  has  been  blest  to  them  by  the  birth  of  four 
bright  children — Grace  A.,  Jonathan  S.,  James  C. 
and  Foster  G.  These  children  have  been  instructed 
by  their  parents  in  the  virtues  of  character  and 
courtesj'  of  manner  which  are  desirable  and  have 
been  well  educated  in  the  schools  of  the  vicinity. 

In  politics  Mr.  McCombs  is  a  Democrat.  For 
the  past  twent3'-five  years  he  has  been  Director  of 
liis  school  district  and  has  labored  arduously  to 
build  up  the  district  school,  which  is  now  well 
known  as  the  best  in  the  township.  Mr.  McCombs 
belongs  to  the  M.asonicClodge  at  Farmington  and 
his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Fairview.  He  helped  to  extend  the  Iowa 
Central  Railroad  by  donating  money  toward  the 
right  of  way  in  the  township.  He  is  well  thought 
of  b}'  his  fellow  citizens,  being  a  good,  whole-souled 
man,  intelligent  and  moral. 


^ 


<*  IklLLIAM  HARDEN,  Sr.  Since  his  early 
\fj//  youth  this  gentleman  has  manifested  a  de- 
V^^  gree  of  enterprise  which  has  redounded  to 
his  credit  and  resulted  in  worldly  prosi)erity.  He 
attributes  bis  success  largely  to  the  aid  of  an  ex- 
cellent companion,  who  has  prudently  managed  the 
household  econom}',  and  given  him  wise  counsel 
and  cheering  S3n]pathy.  For  some  years  he  has 
been  living  in  Fairview  Township,  where  he  owns 
two  hundred  teres  of  cleared  land  on  section  9,  and 
seven  and  oneh.ilf  acres  of  timber.     He  is  of  Eng- 


PURTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


5^^ 


lisli  and  Geiman  aneestry,  anrl  no  doubt  inherits 
some  of  tlie  national  characteristics  whicli  combine 
to  form  the  business  ability  which  has  secured  liis 
financial  success. 

The  paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
Thomast'and  Priscilla  Harden,  natives  of  P^ngland, 
who  after  emigrating  to  America,  settled  near 
LTtica,  N.  Y.  Among  the  members  of  their  family 
was  a  son  John,  who  was  born  near  Albanj',  N.  Y., 
grew  to  maturity  there,  and  married  Caroline  Arm- 
strong;, whose  father  was  a  native  of  Germany. 
John  Harden  became  quite  well-to-do,  and  during 
their  early  lives  bestowed  u()on  his  children  very 
good  advantages.  He  died  in  1850,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-two  vears.  The  widowed  motiier  came  West 
to  live  with  our  subject,  her  third  son,  and  died  at 
his  home  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  seventy-tiiree  years. 
The  family  consisted  of  twelve  children,  named  re- 
spectively: Maria,  Thomas,  Julia  A.,  John,  Will- 
iam. Jeanette,  Jerome,  James,  Mary,  Henry,  DoUie, 
and  Caroline,  l!ie  latter  three  dying  in  infancy. 

William  Harden,  tlie  subject  of  tliis  sketch,  was 
born  in  Oswego  County,  N.  Y.,  April  30,  18,32, 
and  passed  his  lioyhood  in  his  native  State.  His 
fatiier  died  when  lie  was  a  youtii  of  seventeen,  and 
two  years  later  lie  came  to  this  county  and  engaged 
in  farming.  He  bought  fifty  acres  on  section  10, 
Fairview  Township,  occupying  that  tract  of  land 
until  1854  wlien  he  sold  it,  and  for  the  next  eight 
vears  farmed  near  Raritan,  Henderson  County. 
Selling  his  property  there,  he  next  bougiit  a  part 
of  his  present  farm,  and  again  took  up  his  abode  in 
this  county.  In  addition  to  the  estate  upon  which 
he  lives,  he  owns  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  in 
Maquon  Township,  Knox  County,  on  which  the 
town  of  Rapatee  is  situated.  In  company  with 
George  Prall,  he  built  the  grain  elevator  in  that 
village,  and  shipped  the  first  car-load  of  grain  from 
Miat  center. 

Tn  1855  Mr.  Harden  led  to  the  hymeneal  altar 
Miss  Sarah  A.  Sherman,  a  native  of  Oswego  County, 
N.  Y.,  daughter  of  Knoch  and  Alvira  (I)ykeman) 
Sherman.  The  first  fifteen  years  of  her  life  were 
spent  in  her  native  county-,  and  she  then  became  a 
resident  in  this  State.  She  h.as  not  only  proved 
herself  an  efficient  helpmate,  but  is  a  wise  and  af- 
fectionate   mother    and    kindly    neighbor.     She  is 


therefore  looked  upon  with  respect,  and  has  many 
warm  friends.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harden  have  seven 
children,  viz:  William  F.,  Jr.,  John,  Alvira,  Enoch, 
Carrie,  James  and  Theodore.  William  married 
Miss  Hattie  Hart,  and  has  one  child,  Floyd,  his 
home  being  on  a  farm  in  Fairview  Township;  Al- 
vira married  Thomas  Seltzer,  lives  on  a  farm  in 
Knox  county,  and  has  one  child,  Verna;  James  is 
telegraph  operator  for  the  Iowa  Central. Railroad  at 
Rapatee,  and  the  other  members  of  the  family  are 
still  with  their  parents. 

The  first  Presidential  ballot  of  Mr.  Harden  was 
cast  for  J.  C.  Fremont,  and  he  has  never  failed 
since  that  time  to  deposit  a  Republican  ticket  on 
election  day.  He  h.as  held  the  oltices  of  School 
Director  and  Trustee,  having  lieen  the  incumbent 
of  the  latter  eight  years.  His  good  judgment  has 
been  exercised  as  a  juryman,  and  in  the  various 
matters  which  come  before  the  residents  in  the 
viciuit}',  he  endeavors  to  take  such  a  part  as  will  be 
for  the  public  good.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  |iersoir.il 
appearance,  intelligence  and  good  character. 


<m\ 


OSEPH  TAYLOR.  The  lad  who  is  early 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources  and  licoins 
the  battle  of  life  unarmed  but  with  Nature's 
panoply,  is  particularly  worthy  of  the  con- 
sideration of  his  fellow-beings.  It  therefore  affords 
us  pleasure  to  note  the  historj-  of  Joseph  Ta\lor 
who  has  vvon  the  guerdon  of  comfortable  circum- 
stances by  indomitable  energy  and  genuine  pluck, 
couiileil  with  faithfulness  to  his  employers  and 
good  judgment  in  conducting  his  own  affairs.  For 
fourteen  years  he  has  been  ()r()|irietor  of  a  meat- 
market  in  Fairview,  and  h.as  had  his  full  share  of  the 
patronage  of  the  citizens  of  the  town  and  vicinity. 
He  has  now  entered  upon  a  mercantile  career  as  a 
dealer  in  boots  and  shoes,  dry-goods  and  notions. 
Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Old  England  and  a 
son  of  James  and  Jemima  (Cowp)  Taylor  who  Icit 
tlieir  native  land  in  1845  to  found  a  home  in 
America.  In  his  own  land  the  father  was  a  weaver 
but  after  his  emigration  he  found  employment  in 
the  lead  mines  of  Galena,  establishing  his  home  at 


548 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHIC'AL  ALBI'M. 


New  Diggings,  Wis.  He  is  still  living  there  and 
is  now  sixty-eight  years  old.  The  mother  died 
November,  1889,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years. 
Tlie  family  of  tlie  worth}'  couple  included  eleven 
children,  of  whom  ihe  following  grew  to  maturity: 
Joseph,  Mary  A..  Elizalieth.  Martha,  Amelia  and 
Ella.  Mary  iS  the  wife  of  Frank  .lolls,  a  farmer 
living  at  Peoria,  Neb. ;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  W. 
U.  Campbell,  a  farmer  near  Rowe,  Ohio;  Amelia  is 
married  and  resides  in  Dakota;  Ella  lives  at  Coun- 
cil Hill  Station,  III. 

Joseph  Taylor  was  born  at  Roachdale,  England, 
November  29,  1844,  and  was  an  infant  nine 
months  old  when  the  family  crossed  the  Atlantic. 
He  was  brought  up  in  the  lead  mines  and  when  of 
sufficient  .age  engaged  to  dig  coal  in  this  counlj'  for 
Messrs.  Charles  and  T.  II.Travers.  For  seven  long 
years  he  worked  faithfully  in  the  coal  mines,  sav- 
ing his  monej'  in  order  to  establish  himself  in  life. 
During  the  year  1871  he  married,  and  a  few  years 
later  went  to  Blue  Sky  and  operated  a  farm  a 
twelvemonth.  In  1876  he  established  a  meat-market 
in  Fairview  and  is  therefore  the  oldest  butcher  in 
town.  In  1889  he  put  in  a  stock  of  boots  and 
shoes,  and  is  now  (1890)  putting  in  dry -goods  and 
notions  in  his  own  store  rooms  adjoining  his  meat- 
market.  The  mental  traits  before  mentioned  as 
potent  factors  in  liiu  success  arc  backed  by  physi- 
cal strength  and  activity  and  a  pleasant  manner, 
thus  making  it  possible  for  him  to  endure  a  busy 
life  and  gaili  the  confidence  and  good-w'ill  of  those 
about  him. 

The  lady  whom  Mr.  Taylor  won  for  his  wife  was 
Miss  Mina  Beahra,  daughter  of  George  and  Mar- 
garet Beahm.  She  is  a  worth}'  woman,  who  pru- 
dently manages  the  household  affairs,  and  has 
earnestly  endeavored  to  do  her  duty  by  her  family 
and  be  to  those  about  her  a  kind  friend  and  neigh- 
bor. She  is  the  mother  of  three  children — Law- 
rence D.,  Pearl  and  Eula.  The  son,  a  youth  of 
seventeen  years,  has  an  excellent  reputation  for  his 
good  principles  and  the  business  ability  he  is  man- 
ifesting as  his  father's  assistant  in  the  store. 

The  olHce  of  Constable  of  Fairview  Township 
lias  been  held  by  Mr.  Taylor  with  credit  to  himself 
.and  his  constituents  twelve  years.  He  lias  also 
served  as  a  member  of  the  City  Board.     In  politics 


he  is  iinle|jeiuleiit,  easting  his  vote  for  the  man 
whom  he  considers  most  wortliy,  rather  than  in 
support  of  any  party  dogma.  He  is  quite  promi- 
nent in  fraternity  circles,  being  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  orders  and  of  Camp  No. 
222,  Modern  Woodmen,  llis  reputation  is  well 
established  throughout  the  large  circle  of  his  ac- 
quaintances. 


^.^.^.^-^. 


RANK  M.  FISHER,  a  butcher  at  Middle 
*  Grove,  and  ex-Postmaster  of  that  village, 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  its  de- 
velopment from  its  foundation.  His  was  the  third 
house  built  in  the  village,  and  is  the  most  attractive 
residence  therein.  Mr.  Fisher  is  a  man  of  sterling 
worth,  honest  and  honorable,  intelligent,  and  of 
good  judgment,  and  is  justly  classed  among  the 
representative  citizens  of  the  county,  and  the  most 
influential  young  men  of  his  township. 

JMr.  Fisher  was  born  at  West  Newton,  Westmore- 
land County,  Pa.,  November  19,  185(',  and  was  but 
a  boy  of  five  years  when  the  family  came  to  the 
Mississippi  Valley.  His  father,  with  his  family, 
his  tool  chest  and  other  worldly  effects,  sailed  down 
the  Ohio  River  to  its  mouth,  then  up  the  Missis- 
sippi and  Illinois  to  Copperas  Creek,  where  he 
landed  May  11,  1855.  A  settlement  was  made  in 
Young  Hickory  Townshii),  where  our  subject  grew 
to  maturity,  acquiring  such  an  education  as  the 
township  schools  made  possible.  His  father  being 
a  hard-working,  industrious  man,  taught  his  sons 
the  value  of  practical  and  applied  industry,  while 
they  were  }'et  in  tender  years. 

Our  subject  learned  the  details  of  farm  work  at 
an  early  age,  and  also  became  acquainted  with  the 
use  of  the  plane,  saw,  hammer,  compass  and  square, 
being  of  a  naturally  ingenious  turn  of  mind,  a  trait 
undoubted'}'  inherited.  He  had  the  carpenter's 
trade  thoroughly  learned  before  his  marriage,  which 
took  place  February  11,  1875.  His  bride  was  Miss 
Lydia  Louisa  Swigart,  a  native  of  Fairview  Town- 
ship. She  had  such  educational  advantages  as  the 
public  schools  of  the  township  afforded,  and  in  ad- 
dition to  her  mental  training,  was  well-schooled  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


o4U 


the  principles  and  pr;ict,iue  of  true  courtesy,  mak- 
ing the  term  '-gentleivoman"  one  specially  applica- 
ble to  her. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Fisher  are  John  and  Mary 
(Tipton)  iSv/igart,  wlio  are  now  living  on  a  farm  in 
Young  Hickor3-  Township,  the  father  being  sixty- 
five,  and  the  mother  sixty-six  years  of  age.  The 
former  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  and  the 
latter  in  Franklin  County,  Oiiio.  i\Irs.  Swigart  is 
a  near  relative  of  Judge  Tipton,  of  Bloomington. 
The  famil}'  of  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Swigart  consists  of 
nine  children,  the  wife  of  our  subject  being  the 
fourth  in  order  of  liirtli.  The  oldest  son,  Jerry,  is 
a  merchant  in  Missouri;  William,  a  farmer  in  Farm- 
ington  Township;  Lydia  Louisa,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject; Samuel  lives  in  Chicago,  being  general  agent 
for  Andrews  &  Co.'s  School  Supply  Company; 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  William  Gardner,  of  Harper, 
Kan.;  Frank  lives  on  a  farm  in  Fairvievv  Town- 
ship; George  is  a  traveling  salesman;  Annie  is  the 
wife  of  Gus  Taylor,  a  faimer  (if  Knox  County; 
Belle  married  Fred  ^^)orllees,  and  lives  on  a  farm 
near  Fairview.  Mr.  Swigart  owns  two  farms,  one 
consisting  of  one  hundreil  and  sixtj'  acres  in  Young 
Hickory  Township,  and  the  other  of  the  same 
amount  in  Fairview  Township.  He  has  made  his 
home  on  each  of  these  tracts. 

In  1883  the  village  of  Middle  Grove  was  in  its 
incipiency,  and  known  as  Claire.  It  had  been  so 
named  in  honor  of  the  daughter  of  Superintendent 
Plielps  of  the  Iowa  Central  Railroad.  The  name 
was  changed  in  1889.  It  was  during  the  year  first 
mentioned  that  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Fisher  took  up  their 
residence  here,  and  two  years  later  our  subject  en- 
gaged in  storekceping.  On  account  of  failing  health, 
he  gave  up  the  business,  and  in  1890  sold  out  his 
interests  to  Hoxworth  &  Son.  His  health  having 
greatly  improved,  he  opened  a  butcher  shop  during 
the  same  year,  and  has  a  good  trade  in  this  line. 

Mr.  Fisher  was  appointeil  I'ostraaster  by  Presi- 
dent Cleveland  in  1884,  and  held  the  ofliee  until 
1890,  when  he  resigned.  He  has  been  School  Trus- 
tee three  years,  and  served  in  the  position  of  Town- 
ship Collector  one  year.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  are 
now  identified  with  the  congregation  at  Middle 
Grove,    in    which    Mr.   Fisher   holds  the  ofiice  of 


Trustee.  He  is  greatly  interested  in  Sunday-school 
work,  and  his  own  consistent  life  adds  weight  to 
his  words  of  counsel.  He  exercises  the  elective 
franchise  in  behalf  of  the  Democratic  candidates, 
and  finds  a  measure  of  social  enjoj'raent  in  the 
lodge  of  the  Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Fisher  is  one  in  a  famil\'  of  eleven  cliildi'en 
boin  to  his  parents,  of  whom  nine  reached  mature 
years.  Tlieir  record  is  as  follows:  Christopher  P., 
a  faimer,  lives  in  Butler  Count3',  Neb.;  Joseph  W. 
resides  in  Middle  Grove,  and  is  the  subject  of  a 
biographical  sketch  included  in  this  Almum;  Daniel 
M.,  a  carpenter  and  machinist,  lives  in  Peoria;  Ed- 
ward J.,  a  prominent  attorney  at  Harper,  Kan.,  has 
for  several  j'cars  been  States  Attorney  for  Harper 
County;  Jane  E.  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Fulmer,  a  far- 
mer in  Fairview  Township;  Homer  C.  is  a  carpen- 
ter and  builder  living  in  Middle  Grove;  Laura  K. 
is  llie  wife  of  Luther  C.  Barlow,  one  of  the  leading 
teachers  of  the  county,  whose  home  is  in  Canton; 
AVilliain,  a  twin  brother  of  our  subject,  died  in  his 
eighteenth  year.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher  have  sis 
children,  as  follovvs:  Colin  R.,  Charles  W.,  Myrtle 
L.,  Neal  R.,  Roscoe  F.,  and  Lela  Maude,  all  at 
home  with  their  parents. 

^ .^-^ ^ 


^  OHN  DOUGLASS  owns  and  occupies  a  most 
excellent  farm  on  sections  IG,  17  and  28, 
Lee  Township.  The  estate  consists  of  two 
hundred  acres  of  good  land,  which  has  been 
well  improved  and  ranks  among  the  best  in  the 
township.  Eighty  acres  have  been  entirely  de- 
veloped by  our  subject,  and  nearly  the  entire 
acreage  is  under  cultivation.  Mr.  Douglass  is  a 
general  farmer,  alwaj's  keeping  good  stock  on  hand 
and  raising  crops  equal  in  quality  to  any  produced 
in  the  county.  The  familj'  dwelling  is  a  commodi- 
ous frame  house,  presenting  to  the  passer-by  an  ap- 
pearance of  great  comfort  and  iiomelikeness.  It  was 
erected  in  1875,  very  soon  after  the  destruction  by 
fire  of  the  old  home.  The  lumber  for  the  new 
house  was  on  the  ground  within  a  few  days  after 
the  conflagration,  and  the  building  was  pushed 
forward  as  rapidly  as  possible.     The   insurance   on 


550 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  first  dwelling  had  run  out  a  short  time  before  it 
binned,  and  the  owner  therefore  sustained  a  ciin- 
siderabie  loss. 

The  paternal  o;rand father  of  our  subject  was  born 
in  Scotland,  and  tlie  father,  Samuel  Douglass,  in 
Oliio.  In  tlie  same  State  Miss  Sally  iilioff,  who  was 
of  Dutch  descent,  opened  her  eyes  to  the  light, 
grew  to  womanhood  and  married  Samuel  Douglass. 
The  death  of  Mrs.  Douglass  occurred  in  1840,  vvlien 
our  subject  was  about  Ave  years  old.  The  fatlier 
came  to  this  county  in  1853,  but  in  a  short  time 
went  into  Peoria  Count}'  where  he  sojourned  aliout 
a  year.  Returning  hither  be  located  on  section  9, 
Lee  Township,  but  four  years  later  removed  to 
Prairie  City,  McDonough  County,  where  he  died 
in   1858. 

Our  subject  is  the  seventh  in  a  famil}'  of  nine 
children,  and  was  born  in  Guernsey  County,  Ohio, 
March  12,  18.'55.  lie  accompanied  his  father  to 
this  State,  although  he  had  been  working  for  him- 
self since  the  age  of  about  thirteen  years.  He  had 
been  employed  by  the  year  and  had  spent  about 
three  months  out  of  each  twelve  in  attending  the 
district  schools.  Ho  worked  one  year  at  tlie  trade 
of  a  carpenter.  The  young  man  continued  his  ef- 
forts to  gain  a  comfortable  maintenance,  and  when 
about  twenty-flve  years  (jid  felt  justified  in  taking 
a  companion.  Immediately  after  that  happ}'  event 
be  took  possession  of  the  farm  uiton  which  he  now 
lives,  renting  about  seven  years,  and  then  becoming 
its  owner. 

The  lad}'  who  has  shared  in  the  fortunes  of  Mr. 
Douglass  since  December  1'7,  1860,  was  previousl}' 
known  as  ]Mrs.  Mirtha  E.  Pcirsal,  and  had  by 
that  marriage  one  son — Willard  G.  Peirsal.  She  is 
a  woman  of  line  character,  worthy  of  tlie  esteem  in 
which  she  is  h.eld.  She  was  horn  at  Gouverneur, 
St.  Lawrence  County,  N.  Y.,  May  9,  1829,  being 
the  first-born  of  the  seven  children  of  Williard  and 
Ruth  H.  (Moore)  Guernsey.  Both  her  pa-cnts 
were  born  in  Windham  County,  Vt.,  and  they  were 
married  in  that  State  April  .'S,  1828.  The  fatlier 
died  Octolu'r  5,  1873,  and  the  motlier  November  4, 
1877. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Douglass  has  been 
hlessed  to  them  b}-  the  birth  of  seven  children,  of 
^^hom    the    following  survive:      Hortense  E.,  now 


the  wife  of  Charbis  F.  Frederick,  living  in  Young 
Hickory  Township;  Judson  A.,  who  is  siill  living 
with  his  parents;  Al3'sia  P.,  wife  of  John  Kutchler, 
living  in  Union  Township;  DeWitt  B.,  who  is  still 
at  home.  The  deceased  are  twins,  one  of  whom 
died  in  early  infancy  and  the  other  when  two  years 
old;  and  a  son,  John  G.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
four  days. 

JNIr.  Douglass  is  a  life-long  Republican.  He  is 
now  School  Director,  while  his  wife  is  filling  her 
second  terra  as  Township  Treasurer,  being  the  only 
woman  holding  such  a  position  in  the  county.  Mr. 
Douglass  is  a  member  of  the  Anti  Horse-Thief  So- 
ciety.    Mrs.  Douglass  is  a  member  of  the   Baptist 


Church. 


— ->'^^i:;i^^^^^'<='- 


AMUEL  WARNER.  The  simple  record 
of  an  honorable  life  is  the  best  monument 
that  can  be  reared  to  any  citizen,  and  we 
shall  therefore  not  attempt  to  enlarge  upon 
the  history  of  the  gentleman  above  named,  who  is 
one  of  Waterford  Township's  most  reputable  resi- 
dents. He  was  born  in  Darby  Tovvnshi[),  Madison 
County,  Ohio,  November  6,  1816,  in  an  old  log 
cabin,  when  there  was  not  a  frame  house  in  the 
township.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  at- 
tended school  in  the  primitive  log  cabin  of  the 
time,  paying  from  §2  to  $3  per  term  for  his  tuition. 
He  sat  upon  a  slab  bench  vvith  pins  inserted  for 
legs,  did  his  writing  exercise  on  a  slab  table  which 
extended  around  the  wall,  and  often  experienced 
the  sensation  of  having  one  side  of  his  body  well 
heated  by  the  roaring  fire  in  the  fireplace,  while  the 
other  side  was  cooled  by  the  breeze  that  penetrated 
the  crevices  in  the  walls.  He  was  taught  reading, 
writing,  and  spelling,  with  the  fundamental  rules 
of  arithmetic.  Those  were  the  days  when  the 
teacher  boarded  round  in  the  homes  of  the  various 
[)atrons,  and   free  schools  were  not  yet. 

Mr.  Warner  worked  on  the  farm  summers,  at- 
tending school  in  the  winter  as  circumstances  would 
permit,  and  after  his  father's  death,  which  occur- 
red when  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  he  helped  su|)- 
port  the  family  for  two  years.  He  then  worked 
out  by  the  month  the  year  round  except  in  sugar- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


551 


makino^  time,  when  he  operated  a  grove  of  fifty 
acres  wliich  lie  owned.  In  September,  1848,  lie 
came  to  this  State,  making  the  trip  on  the  Ohio 
River  from  Cincinnati  to  its  mouth,  then  up  the 
Mississippi  and  Illinois  to  Liverpool,  this  county. 
He  worked  as  a  farm  hand  about  eighteen  months 
after  his  arrival,  then  with  a  brother  bouglit  and 
settled  on  two  hundred  acres  of  land  on  section  1, 
Waterford  Township.  The  land  was  heavily  tim- 
bered, but  they  cleared  nearl}'  all  of  it.  They  also 
liuilt  a  sawm'ill  which  they  operated  until  all  the 
heavy  timber  of  the  vicinitj'  was  worked  up.  Af- 
ter the  land  was  cleared,  it  was  placed  under  culti- 
vation, and  Mr.  Warner  has  contiiuu'il  to  raise 
crops  and  stock  thereon. 

During  the  year  1850,  Mr.  Warner  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Isabel  Hezlet,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, with  whom  he  lived  happily  until  her 
death.  February  22,  1873.  She  was  then  about 
fifty-five  years  old.  She  was  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  an  efficient,  loving  com- 
panion, and  a  wise,  devoted  mother.  Mr.  Warner 
has  never  remarried,  but  having  rented  his  farm, 
makes  his  home  with  the  tenant.  He  has  one 
daughter,  Chloe  Belle,  who  was  born  June  21,  1860, 
was  graduated  from  the  Lewlstown  High  School, 
and  married  James  Hull,  a  prominent  physician  of 
Sciota,  ^NIcDonough  Count)'.  Mr.  Warner  has  been 
connected  with  the  Presb3^teriau  Church  for  a  quar- 
ter of  a  centur}',  and  is  a  reliable,  faithful  member. 
Politically,  he  is  a.  Republican,  and  he  has  Iieen 
called  upon  to  advance  the  interests  of  his  fellow- 
citizens  in  several  of  the  township  offices. 

Grandfather  Warner  was  born  in  Germany,  and 
upon  coining  to  America,  settled  in  Massachusetts. 
There  Charles  Warner,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  and  reared,  removing  to  Ohio  about  the 
year  1800.  He  made  the  trip  with  a  team,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  new  State.  Deer, 
bear,  and  wolves  were  numerous  there  at  the  time, 
and  even  in  the  boyhood  of  our  subject  they  were 
still  to  be  seen.  Mr.  Warner  took  up  a  tract  of 
military  land,  partly  timber  and  partly  prairie, 
erected  a  log  cabin,  cleared  his  land,  farmed  and 
carried  on  the  dairy  business.  He  kept  about  forty- 
cows,  hauled  his  cheese  and  butter  to  Kentucky 
and  sold  it  to  the  planters.     He  had  a  farm  of  two 


liundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  carried  on  agricul- 
tural operations  that  were  very  extensive  for  that 
period.  He  died  of  bilious  fever  at  the  age  of 
forty  years. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Chloe  Johnson,  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  born  between  New  Haven 
and  Hartford.  She  was  a  Presbyterian  in  religious 
belief,  and  a  member  of  that  church  at  the  time  of 
her  death,  which  occurred  in  Ohio  in  her  ninety- 
fourth  year.  To  her  and  her  husband  five  children 
were  horn,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  although 
our  subject  is  the  only  one  now  living.  His  broth- 
ers and  sisters  were  Eliza,  David,  Isaac,  and  Mrs. 
Emeline  Dart. 


!^JEORGE  E.  LINDZEY.  How  frequently  is 
it  the  case  that  natural  ability  and  energj' 
combined  accomplish  truly  wonderful  re- 
sults, raising  a  man  from  the  obscurity  of  poverty 
to  the  importance  and  publicity  that  great  wealth 
brings.  Truly,  what  are  called  self-made  men 
are  usuall}'  those  that  occupy  the  highest  positions 
both  in  national  and  State  affairs,  and  reach  higher 
positions  in  the  commercial  world  than  those  whose 
childhood  was  surrounded  by  every  opportunity. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  commenced  life  with 
virtually  nothing, so  far  as  finances  go;  and  has  liy 
dint  of  good  judgment,  pleasing  address  and  en- 
ergy, amassed  quite  a  comfortable  fortune.  At  this 
writing  he  has  retired  from  active  participation  in 
toilsome  labor,  and  passes  his  days  at  his  handsome 
residence  on  Main  Street,  in  Farmington.  His 
health  is  poor  indeed,  and  it  was  iwrtially  for  this 
reason  that  he  concluded  to  settle  in  this  city,  hoj)- 
ing  the  pure  atmosphere  and  pleasant  society  found 
here  would  benefit  him. 

Mr.  Lindzey  was  born  in  AVorcester  Count}-, 
Mass.,  and  his  natal  day  fell  upon  Februar}-  12, 
1843.  His  earliest  recollections  are  of  Greenville, 
a  little  cotton  manufacturing  village  about  ten 
miles  from  Providence,  R.  I.,  where  he  attended 
school  for  a  time.  Howsver,  the  greater  )jart  of 
his  education  was  received  in  the  common  schools 
of    Fairview    Township,  Fulton    County,  to  which 


552 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


bis'parents  came  years  ago,  and  much  oriiis  youth 
was  spent  on  a  farm.  Having  determinerl  to  fol- 
low agriculture  he  became  in  time  an  extensive  op- 
erator, and  still  owns  a  fine  farm  in  Knox  County, 
tliat  he  improveil,  placing  upon  it  excellent  build- 
ings, including  a  coz}'  dwelling.  He  has  been  much 
interested  in  breeding  stock,  and  his  droves  of  Po- 
land-China hogs  and  herds  of  Short-horn  cattle  are 
unsurpassed.  In  equines,  of  which  he  is  an  ardent 
admirer  and  an  excellent  judge,  his  choice  was 
Xormans  and  Cleveland  Bays,  both  of  which  were 
raised  upon  his  farm. 

Our  subject's  faliier — AVilliani  Lindzey — was  an 
Englishman  lij*  birth  and  education,  and  for  many- 
years  after  reaching  manhood  worked  in  the  cotton 
and  woolen  manufactories  in  his  native  land. 
After  coming  to  the  United  States,  he  continued  his 
work  in  similar  establishments,  moving  from  place 
to  place  in  the  States  of  Connecticut  and  Rhode 
Island.  In  the  fall  of  1850  he  removed  from  the 
latter  State  to  Illinois,  making  the  trip  bj'  boat  and 
rail  to  New  York  Citj-,  thence  on  the  Hudson 
River  and  Erie  Canal,  and  finally  by  way  of  the 
Great  Lakes,  Illinois  Canal  and  Illinois  River  to 
the  mouth  of  Copperas  Creek.  After  landing  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  laud  in 
Fairview  Township.  Fulton  County,  and  by  in- 
dustry became  quite  well-to-do.  He  subsequcntlv 
removed  to  Yates  City,  Knox  County,  where  he 
also  owned  real  estate. 

AVilliam  Lindze}'  was  married  in  England  to  Miss 
Hannah  Dix  and  three  of  their  children  were  born 
in  the  mother  country.  The  household  band  was 
made  up  of  ten  sons  and  daughters — John,  Caro- 
line. Emma,  Matilda,  Harriet.  Hannah,  James, 
George  and  two  who  died  while  j'oung.  The  f.a- 
ther  died  in  1876  after  he  had  passed  his  seventj-- 
sccond  birthday,  and  the  mother  breathed  her  last 
at  the  home  of  our  subject  in  Knox  County,  wlien 
sixty-eight  years  old.  Both  were  professors  of  re- 
ligion, holding  membership  in  the  Free  Will  Bap- 
tist Clftircli.  A  devoted  Christian,  the  father  took 
great  interest  in  the  duties  pertaining  to  Christian 
work,  and  being  of  a  retiring  nature,  [jaid  little  at- 
tention to  political  honors. 

George  Lindzey,  our  subject,  was  married  De- 
cember 2,  1880,  to  Miss  Martha  Williams,  of  Hills- 


borough, Ohio,  daughter  of  Addison  and  Margaret 
(Noble)  Williams.  This  lady  was  born  in  High- 
land County.  Ohio,  and  being  left  motherless  when 
young  was  eared  for  by  her  paternal  grandparents. 
After  their  demise  she  went  to  live  with  an  aunt, 
Mrs.  Carolina  Rogers,  and  grew  to  womanhood  in 
the  State  of  her  nativity.  While  on  a  visit  to 
friends  in  Moultrie,  this  State,  she  met  at  Fairview 
the  gentleman  to  whom  she  gave  her  hand  in  mar- 
riage. She  is  dowered  with  good  looks,  good  na- 
ture and  estimable  mental  and  moral  qualities, 
and  in   addition  possesses  skill  in  housewifely  arts. 

Mrs.  Lindze3''s  grandfather,  Daniel  Williams, 
was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  but  emigrated  to 
Ohio  at  an  early  date ;  he  was  of  Scotch-Irish  de- 
scent. His  son  Addison  was  born  in  Highland 
County,  Oliio,  and  in  that  State  married.  Soon 
after  the  loss  of  his  beloved  companion,  which  oc- 
curred in  1850,  at  the  early  age  of  thirt3'-two  years, 
Addison  Williams  went  to  Iowa  but  soon  removed 
to  Indiana  where  he  made  a  second  marriage.  From 
that  State  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  Army  and  after 
serving  many  long  months  was  wounded  at  Rich- 
mond, taken  prisoner,  and  allowed  to  languish 
away  and  die  in  Andeisonville  in  the  spring  of  the 
year  that  witnessed  the  restoration  of  peace  to  our 
country. 

Mrs.  Lindzey-  is  one  of  a  family  of  five  children 
and  she  and  a  brother — John  N. — are  the  only 
survivors.  Three  of  the  brothers  were  participants 
in  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  John  being  a 
member  of  the  cavaliy  forces  from  Ohio.  He 
served  three  years,  then  veteranized.  He  ii  now 
living  at  Decatur,  this  State,  and  is  engaged  in 
the  electric  light  works  of  that  citj',  being  an  ex- 
pert carpenter  and  mechanic.  His  wife  was  known 
in  her  girlhood  as  Miss  Martha  Lynn,  and  was  a 
resident  of  Sullivan,  Moultrie  County. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  never  been  blessed 
with  child re;i.  They  are  both  exceedingly  popular 
in  the  community  in  which  the}' reside,  and  posses- 
sing all  the  comforts  of  life  watch  the  years  glide 
swiftly  by.  They  settled  in  Farmington  in  1890, 
taking  possession  of  the  residence  the}-  had  built 
during  the  preceding  year.  Mr.  Lindzey  east  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in 
1864,  and  is  still  a  strong  supporter  of  the  Repub- 


cru-A^ 


'^'xfjAJyi^^SL^  '^  O'T/ui^ 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


555 


lican  partj'.  He  is  generally  respected  for  his 
strict  integrity  and  high  sense  of  honor  both  in  the 
greut  and  small  affairs  of  life.  Mrs.  Lindzey  be- 
longs to  the  Christian  Church,  with  which  she 
united  in  Vienna,  Ohio,  in  1868,  wiiile  in  her  girl- 
hood. 

To  sucli  men  as  our  subject  the  United  .States 
owes  her  present  enviable  reputation  in  commercial 
circles — men  who,  not  afraid  of  personal  hardsliip 
and  the  trials  that  in  an  active  career  without  finan- 
cial assistance  only  too  naturally  come  to  each 
life,  are  strong  and  brave  enough  to  carry  out 
Hamlet's  advice,  and  ''by  opposing  troubles,  end 
them." 


ns 


:-. »-^"^»t-«i- 


^  PENCER  CONE.  Perhaps  no  man  now 
living  in  Farminglon  Townsliip  has  been 
more  intimately  '.■omiecled  with  its  progress 
than  the  gentleman  above  named,  and  cer- 
tainly no  famil}'  stands  higher  in  the  annals  of  this 
region  than  tiiat  of  which  he  is  a  worthj'  representa 
live.  Of  an  old  English  family  which  became 
represented  in  America  during  Colonial  d.ays,  and 
for  several  generations  was  idenlilied  with  all  that 
was  most  worth}'  in  New  England,  Mr.  Cone  of  this 
notice  could  scarcely  fail  to  continue  in  the  line  of 
advancement  which  is  his  by  inheritance.  Before 
entering  upon  an  account  of  his  connection  with 
the  development  of  Farmington  it  will  not  be  amiss 
to  devote  some  brief  parngraplis  to  the  life  and  la- 
bors of  his  respccte  i  father. 

When  members  of  the  Cone  family  emigrated 
from  England,  Hadrlam,  Conn.,  was  chosen  as  their 
home,  and  continued  to  be  the  center  of  the  family 
influence  several  humlred  years.  Joseph  Cone,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  boin  there  and  reared 
amid  all  the  influences  which  pertain  to  an  old  New- 
England  settlement.  He  became  a,  blacksmith, 
farmer  and  merchant,  gaining  considerable  wealth 
in  pursuit  of  llie  latter  calling  and  was  led  to  invest 


in  Western  lands, visiting  Illinois  in  1832  for  the  pur- 
pose of  viewing  ))ro[!erty  for  which  he  had  traded. 
Me  made  a  second  visit  prior  to  1834,  at  whicii  time 
he  removed  with  his  family  to  what  was  then  known 
as  Marehants'  Settlement,  in  this  county.  After  hav- 
ing reached  Cleveland,  Ohio,  passing  through  the 
Empire  State  on  the  Erie  Canal,  the  family  jour- 
neyed to  Portsmouth  on  the  Ohio  Canal,  comple-' 
ting  their  travels  by  means  of  the  Ohio,  Mississippi 
and  Illinois  Rivers,  and  reaching  their  destination 
on  the  1st  of  June,  having  been  one  month  on  the 
way. 

In  Connecticut  Mr.  Cone  was  rated  as  a  verv 
wealthy  man,  and  became  the  owner  of  large 
landed  estates.  The  year  of  his  arrival  in  Fulton 
County  he,  in  connection  with  Hiram  Palmer  and 
Squire  George  W.  Little,  laid  out  the  village  of 
Farmington.  Sharp  and  shrewd  in  business,  he  was 
yet  most  generous  and  public-spirited,  and  liberally 
gave  for  the  good  of  the  city  which  owes  to  him 
much  of  the  honor  of  being  the  third  in  Fulton 
County.  Great  credit  is  due  him- also  foi-  the  high 
standard  of  morality  here,  as  he  not  onl}-  contrib- 
uted very  liberally  to  the  building  and  support  of 
tlie  churches  and  all  elevating  enterprises,  but  he 
would  never  sell  lots  to  persons  of  questionable 
or  bad  character.  To  such  a  stand  on  the  part  of 
its  founders  is  due  the  fact  that  Farmington  to-day 
has  the  finest  class  of  citizens  to  be  found  anywhere 
in  the  State.  Mr.  Cone  was  an  ardent  advocate  of 
temperance  and  of  the  abolition  of  slavery. 

A  desire  that  Mr.  Cone  had  mucli  at  heart  was  to 
sec  trains  running  into  Farmington,  and  to  that  end 
he  gave  liberal  donations  and  exerted  all  his  per- 
sonal influence.  Like  Moses  of  old,  who  w?s  de- 
nied admission  to  the  Promised  Land,  whose  glory 
he  couldonU'  see  from  afar  off,  after  liaving  done 
all  that  he  could  to  aiil  in  the  building  of  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  on  which  he 
was  promised  a  life  pass,  he  died  ere  the  road  was 
completed.  Two  of  the  personal  characteristics  of 
Mr.  Cone  were  the  pride  which  he  took  in  driving 
fast  horses  and  in  wearing  fancy  velvet  vests.  He 
was  related  to  Gen.  Cone  of  Revolutionarj'  fame, 
an  intimate  personal  friend  of  Gen.  Washington. 

The  wife  of  Joseph  Cone  was  Elizabeth  Candee, 
whose   parental    family   was  a  leading  one    in  Con- 


556 


PORTRAIT  AXD   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


nectieul.  Mrs.  Cone  wns  one  in  a  famii\'  of  twelve 
chiliiien  whose  average  age  was  eighty-oiu'  years. 
She  lived  to  the  age  of  sixty- five  years  only,  while 
Mr.  Cone  was  gighly-two  when  called  hence.  They 
iiad  six  sons   who  grew   to   maturity,  and  who  are 

■  named  respectively  Henry,  .Toseph,  Spencer.  David 
C,  George  W.,  and  Charles. 

,  Spencer  Cone,  tlie  subject  of  this  notice,  was  born 
September  21,  1815.  in  Harwinton.  Conn.,  passing 
his  childhood  and  youth  in  his  native  place,  where 
his  brothers  were  also  brought  up.  He  first  at- 
tended the  district  schools,  but  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
entered  tlie  Harwinton  Academy,  a  fine  institution 
incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  .State,  of  which 
his  father  was  one  of  the  builders.  Young  Cone 
completed  the  course  of  stud^-,  paying  particular 
attention  to  surve^dng  and  mathematics.  "When 
Farmington  was  platted  he.  being  then  a  youth  of 
eighteen  years,  helped  to  make  the  survey.  When 
the  removal  to  Illinois  was  made  he  realized  the 
great  change  from  one  of  the  educational  centers  of 
Connecticut  to  the  wilds  of  the  Prairie  State,  where 
white  settlers  were  still  few  and  Indians  camps  yet 
to  be  seen.  The  change  was  particularly  irksome 
to  him,  as  he  cared  much  more  for  study  than  for 
hunting,  which  was  tlie  usual  recreation  on  the 
frontier. 

As  early  as  1840  our  subject  conceived  the  idea 
of  studying  law,  and  securing  as  his  director  H.  8. 
Austin,  a  practicing  attorney  of  Chicago,  now 
eighty  years  of  age,  he  carefully  perused  the  works 
of  Blackstone,  Kent,  Stephen  and  other  legal 
writers.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Illinois  at 
Springfield  in  1841,  and  to  the  Federal  Courts  the 
same  j'ear.  In  1843  he  went  to  Wisconsin,  practic- 
ing at  Racine  until  1846,  when  on  account  of  sick- 
ness in  the  family  he  returned  to  this  county.  Mr. 
Cone  w!is  quite  successful  in  the  law,  both  in  repu- 
tation and  finances.  He  had  a  valuable  farm  to 
which  he  came  in  accordance  with  lis  wife's  wishes, 
turning  his  attention  to  the  peaceful  arts  of  agri- 
culture, in  which  likewise  be  has  been  more  than 
ordinarilj-  successful.  He  now  owns  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  in  Farmington  Township  and  the 
adjoining  township  in  Knox  Courty,  holding  also 
some  valuable  city  property-  in  Seattle,  Wash. 
In  1839  Mr.  Cone  led  to  the  hymeneal  altar  Miss 


Julia  .Sloan,  then  of  Farmington,  but  a  native  of 
Sloans ville,  Schoharie  County,  N.  Y.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Xellie  ( Brigham )  Sloan, 
representing  two  prominent  Xew  England  families, 
and  her  father  was  the  founder  of  Sloansville.  She 
came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents,  settling  in  Farm- 
ington in  1838.  She  had  two  brothers  and  one 
sister,  named  respectively.  Walter  B.,  William  P. 
and  Mary  R.  Mrs.  Cone  has  been  an  invalid  during 
nearly  the  entire  period  of  her  married  life,  but 
ill-health  has  not  made  her  morose,  uncharitable,  or 
taken  from  her  her  interest  in  the  affairs  of  human- 
ity.    On  the  contrary  she  is  deeply  interested,  not 

if    - 
only  in  the  welfare  of  her  own  family,  but  in  that 

of  the  citizens  of  the  town  and  county,  and  her  hus- 
band finds  in  her  a  most  sympathizing  friend  in  all 
the  good  works  in  which  he  bears  a  part. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cone  coiniirisos  four 
children — Joseph  C.  Spencer  S..  Lizzie  C.  and 
William  B.  The  oldest  son  was  a  Union  soldier 
during  the  late  war,  serving  three  years  in  Company 
C,  One  hundred  and  Third  Illinois  Infantry:  lie  is 
now  a  photographer  in  Farmington;  he  married 
Maria  I'nion  and  their  family  co;isists  of  three 
children — John,  Cora  B.  and  Frank.  Spencer,  who 
married  Araminta  Kerr,  is  an  attorney  and  real 
estate  operator  in  Oilman;  he  is  now  being  can- 
vassed for  Count3'  Judge  with  a  strong  p'obabilit}- 
of  his  election.  He  has  two  children — Willie  and 
Roy.  The  only  daughter  of  our  subject  married 
William  H.  Widener,  formerly  a  merchant  in 
Farmington.  who  still  makes  his  home  in  that  city. 
The  famil}"  includes  William,  Julia  and  Harrv. 
William  B.,the  j'oungest  son  of  our  subject,  resideg 
in  Seattle,  Wash.,  where  he  is  engaged  in  real  estate 
transactions;  his  wife  was  forincrlj"  Miss  Angie 
Chapman. 

In  various  public  capacities  Mr.  Cone  has  ad- 
vanced the  interests  of  his  fellow-men.  He  was  the 
first  .School  Treasurer  of  Farmington  Township, 
has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  was  Deputy 
County  Surveyor  in  lS.'58-39.  Under  the  old  bank- 
ruptcy^ law  of  1840  he  was  Assignee  of  Bankruptcy, 
all  the  cases  in  the  county  going  through  his  hands. 
He  has  ever  taken  an  active  interest  in  educational 
matters,  serving  on  the  Board  of  Education  at 
Racine,  Wis.,  and  in  every  way  possible  advancing 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  standard  of  proficiency.  He  is  strictly  a  tena- 
perance  man.  although  not  a  member  of  the  Pro- 
hibition ])arty.  He  does  all  that  he  can  to  elevate 
the  moral  standard  of  family,  home,  State  and 
church,  as  well  as  to  make  liis  own  example  cor- 
respond with  the  principles  of  truth  and  justice. 
His  vote  is  cast  with  the  Republican  party  in  these 
latter  days,  although  he  was  originally  a  Whig.  He 
voted  for  William  Henry  Harrison  in  1836  and 
1840  and  gi-apliicall}'  describes  the  hard  cider  cam- 
paign. Hu  enjoyed  tlie  personal  acquaintance  of 
Abraiiam  Lincoln  and  Stephen  .-\.  Douglas,  with 
the  former  of  wiiora  he  agreed  regarding  the  aboli- 
tion of  slavery. 

Mr.  Cone  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  which  he  has  served  as  a  Deacon  foi 
several  years.  He  assisted  in  building  the  First 
Congregational  Church  of  Farmington,  and  like 
otiier  members  of  his  family  is  one  of  the  first  to 
contribute  to  public  enterprises.  H<;  donated  lib- 
erally toward  the  liuilding  of  the  Chic.ngo,  Burling- 
ton &  Qiiincy,  and  the  Iowa  Central  Railroad. 
Farmington  Park  was  a  donation  to  the  city  from 
his  father. 

In  connection  with  this  personal  sketch,  we 
present  elsewhere  in  tliis  volume  a  lithographic  por- 
trait of  Mr.  Cone.  Long  after  be  shall  have  passed 
to  that  ''  bourne  from  which  no  traveler  returns" 
his  manly  character  and  useful  life  will  exert  an 
influence  over  all  who  knew  him  or  learn  the  record 
of  his  life. 


..o*o.-(g;>^„A^..»»o.. 


r/OHN  F.  FILLINGHAM.  Whatever  the 
natural  resources  of  a  count}',  or  its  busi- 
ness facilities,  still  the  history  must  depend 
chiefly  upon  the  men  who  have  resided  there 
and  by  their  energy  and  ability  have  added  greatly 
to  the  natural  attractions  and  wealth.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  figures  prominently  among  such  men, 
the  seat  of  his  labors  being  the  city  of  Canton, 
where  he  carries  on  a  saw-mill  and  from  whence  he 
visits  the  farm  hinds  with  a  threshing  machine. 

Mr.  Fillingham  was  born  in  Norfolk,  England 
December  16,    1842,  being    the  son   of  John  and 


Mary  (Fuller)  FiiliDgham.  The  father  came  to 
Canton,  III.,  on  November  4,  1854,  bringing  all  his 
family  with  the  exception  of  the  eldest  son,  who 
joined  them  three  years  later.  They  engaged  in 
farming  in  Banner  Township,  Fulton  County,  con- 
tinuing to  devote  their  attention  to  this  occupation 
until  the  death  of  the  parents,  who  readied  a  ripe 
old  age,  being  seventy -seven  and  seventy-five  years 
respectively.  They  had  nine  children,  three  of 
w^om  died  in  infancy  and  six  lived  to  maturit}'. 
Of  these  Edmund  was  the  eldest;  he  was  a  marine 
engineer  through  the  entire  course  of  his  life. 
Elizabeth,  the  eldest  daughter,  married  James 
Panery  of  Dillon,  Neb.;  Jane,  \yho  died  in  18o6, 
was  the  wife  of  Thomas  Thompson;  James  is  now 
deceased  and  so  also  is  Mary,  Mrs.  Baker;  John  F. 
is  the  youngest. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  hardly'  twelve  years 
of  age  when  he  came  to  Car.ton  with  his  parents, 
and  he  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  up  to  the 
present  date  (1890),  being  brought  up  on  a  farm 
and  only  obtaining  a  limited  education.  During 
his  youth,  however,  he  learned  to  love  the  country 
of  their  adoption  and  to  feel  an  interest  in  its  in- 
stitutions so  deep  as  to  lead  him  to  join  others  in 
defending  the  flag  when  traitor  hands  would  rend 
it.  On  August  24,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
K,  Seventh  Illinois  Cavahy,  with  which  com  pan}' 
he  marched  to  Springfield,  where  they  were  drilled 
and  armed — the  regiment  furnishing  their  own 
horses.  Going  to  Cairo  they  spent  a  few  days 
there,  then  continued  on  to  Bird's  Point,  Mo., 
where  they  met  with  their  first  misfortune,  liavin" 
four  men  on  patrol  shot  by  guerrillas. 

The  next  move  of  the  company  was  to  Cape 
Girardeau,  where  they  did  scouting  and  guard 
duty  for  a  while,  then  went  to  join  in  the  advance 
of  Pope's  army  to  New  Madrid,  having  an  encoun- 
ter with  Jeff  Thompson  at  Sykestown.  The}-  be- 
seiged  New  Madrid,  forced  the  evacuation  of  the 
city  during  a  dark,  stormy  night  when  the  retreat- 
ing forces  left  all  their  ammunition  and  other  stores. 
They  next  took  part  in  the  capture  of  Island  No. 
10,  where  the  regiment  took  many  prisoners. 
Transferred  to  Pittsburg  Landing  as  a  re- enforce- 
ment, they  bore  a  hand  in  several  battles  around 
Corinth  and  in  the  siege  of  that  city.     At  Farm- 


558 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ington  they  had  tlie  misforluiie  to  lose  Mnjor  A|)- 
pletou.  Aftei'  figliting  at  Tuscumbia  Creek,  and 
BooneviUe,  Nliss.,  the  boys  marched  to  Rieiizu, 
and  went  into  cam  p. 

We  next  find  the  bod_v  to  wliich  Mr.  Fillinghain 
belonged  guarding  the  Memphis  and  Charleston 
Railroad  at  Conrtland,  Ala.,  and  later  at  Russel- 
ville.  There  our  subject  was  taken  sick,  and  it  be- 
came necessary  for  him  to  be  sent  to  the  liospilal 
at  New  Madrid,  wiience  he  was  sent  to  Corinth  aiVd 
a  few  days  later  to  Benton  Barracks,  St.  Lonis, 
Mo.  L'pon  his  recovery  in  April,  1863,  he  rejoined 
the  regiment  at  La  Grange,  Tenn.,  where  it  was 
encamped  previoLis  to  the  Grieison  raid.  Snbse- 
quent  to  that  event  the}-  again  guarded  a  railroad 
and  iiad  a  severe  fight  at  Moscow,  and  on  Christ- 
mas were  surrounded  near  Summervillo,  but  cut 
lliiir  wav  out  with  the  loss  of  a  few  killed  and 
ivventy  captured.  Returning  to  La  (-! range,  thej- 
remained  there  until  February  1,  186i,  when  they 
started  ujion  the  William  L.  Smith  raid  to  meet 
Sherman,  buttlie  expedition  proving  a  failure,  tliey 
stopped  at  Geruianlown,  near  Memphis. 

There  Mr.  Fillingiiam  re  enlisted,  and  after  en- 
joying bis  veteran  furlough,  returned  to  Memphis 
wiience  the  command  went  to  Pulaski,  Shoal  Creek, 
Columbia,  Tenn.,  Franklin  and  Nashville,  having 
skirmishes  with  Hood  at  other  points.  On  the 
night  of  December  14,  1864,  the  company  took  a 
jiosition  on  the  right  wing  at  Nashville,  being  dis- 
mounted and  going  into  the  fight  as  foot-soldiers. 
The  second  day  of  the  engagement  was  Mr.  Fill- 
ingham's  birthday  and  he  celebrated  it  by  holding 
a  musket  so  hot  from  rapid  firing  that  several  times 
he  was  compelled  to  drop  it.  The  company  went 
on  to  Gravelly  Springs,  Ala.,  Eastport,  Miss.,  and 
luka.  after  which  they  h.ad  no  great  figliting  for  a 
time  but  were  detailed  to  keei)  matters  quiet  at 
points  below.  The3-  were  finally  remounted  and 
located  at  Huntsville  from  July  to  November,  1865, 
then,  going  to  Nashville,  they  were  discharged  No- 
vember 4.  Mr.  Fillingham  was  mustered  out  as 
Orderly  Sergeant  of  his  com[):in3',  although  he  had 
enlisted  jis  a  private. 

Like  all    brave    soldiers  Mr.  Fillingham    passed    i 
through  thrilling  experiences,  having   his   clothing 
pierced  by  balls  many  times,  but  he  escaped  wounds,    | 


while  suffering  hardships  and  privation.  Immedi- 
ately after  returning  home  Mr.  Fillingham  pur- 
chased a  valuable  farm  and  has  been  identified 
with  the  agricultural  interests  of  this  State  since. 
He  now  owns  an  estate  in  Sullivan  Township,  Liv- 
ingston County,  besides  his  interests  in  -Canton. 
He  is  a  natural  mechanic  and  has  done  more  with 
machinery'  than  in  farming. 

On  February  1,  1866,  Mr.  Fillingham  married 
Miss  Sil)yl  E.  Packard,  a  native  of  Ohio,  ami 
daughter  of  Lee  and  Emeline  Packard.  The  wed- 
ding rites  were  solemnized  at  the  briile's  home  in 
Banner  Township,  Fulton  County.  The  union  has 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  five  childien.  of  whom 
Grace  and  an  infant  are  dead;  Byron,  .lohii  and 
Mary  are  still  living.  Both  sons  are  foll(»wing  the 
honorable  occupation  of  tilling  the  soil,  Byron 
being  located  on  his  father's  farm. 

Mr.  Fillingham  is  Senior  Vice  Commander  of  Jo 
Hooker  Post  No.  69,  at  Canton,  and  is  also  an  Odd 
Fellow,  belonging  to  Olive  Branch  Lodge  at  the 
same  [tlace.  Mrs.  Fillingham  is  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  Rebecca,  and  of  the  Ladies'  Relief  Corps, 
which  is  anxiliarj'  to  the  Grand  Armj-  of  the  Re- 
public. Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  the  Mutual  Aid,  an  insurance 
company.  Mrs.  Fillingham  is  a  devout  and  faith- 
ful member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
They  moved  to  Canton  on  March  1,  188J.  and 
here  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  tliev  live  most 
hap|)ily  together.  Mr.  Fillingham  is  a  successful 
business  man  and  has  many  warm  friends,  both  in 
commercial  and  social  circles. 


VI  OHN  W.  ASHBY,  a  retired  farmer  living 
at  No.  708  Fourth  Street,  Canton,  has  been 
an  important  factor  in  .advancing  the  asrri- 
cultural  interests  of  this  county.  He  was 
born  in  Burlington  County,  N.  J.,  in  the  city  of 
Burlington,  November  6,  1836.  He  is  the  only  son 
and  fifth  child  of  William  and  Jemima  (Cooper) 
Ashby,  botli  natives  of  Engi.ind.  They  grew  to 
maturity  and  married  in  tiie  land  of  their  birth  and 
soon  after  came  to  the  United  States  and  Lauded  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


569 


New  Yurk.'and  for  a  time  lived  in  Burlington,  N. 
J.  Ill  1842  llie  family  moved  -to  Logan  County, 
111.  JMr.  Asliby  was  an  experienced  and  skillful 
millwiighl  and  he  built  many  mills  in  different 
parts  of  the  State.  In  1847  he  moved  to  Mason 
County  and  built  several  sawmills  in"  that]. county 
that  were  operated  by  steam.  In  1857  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  this  counly;  he  built  the  Smith 
mills  in  Banner  Township,  and  also  rtmodeled  the 
Wagonseller  mill  in  Tazewell  Countyjand  many 
dther  mills  in  different  sections  in  this  State.  lie 
subsequently  removed  with  his  family  to  Peoria 
County,  and  erected  the  Kingston  tiourmills  i)ut- 
ting  in  the  machinery.  His  busy  life  was  brought 
to  a  close  at  a  ripe  age  June  13,  ISCi).  His  wife 
and  five  children  survived  liira.  Lucy  is  the  wife  of 
William  Cavell  a  resident  of  Iowa;  Emily  lives  in 
Fulton  County;  Jamia  lives  with.her  sister  Eliza- 
beth, who  is  the  wife  of  J.  Vi.  Hurst  of  Canton; 
Susan  E.  is  deceased. 

John  W.  Asliby  spent  his  school  days  in  Mason 
County  in  the  district  schools.  He  worked  on  a 
farm,  and  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was 
twenty-two  years  old.  He  was  then  married  to 
Miss  Nancy  A.  Fidler,  their  we<lding  taking  place 
March  24,  1859.  Mrs.  Ashb}'  is  next  to  the  young- 
est in  the  family  of  George  and  Mary  (Storm) 
Fidler,  natives  respectively  of  Virginia  and  Ohio. 
They  were  pioneers  of  this  county  coming  here  in 
1838.  Both  died  on  the  homestead  in  Banner 
Township.  They  were  the  parents'  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, six  boys  and  six  girls,  of  whom  the  only  one 
of  the  daughters  now  living  is  Mrs.  Ashl)y. 

After  rnaniage  Mr.  Ashby  settled  tm  a  farm  in 
Banner  Townsliip,  and  there  he  and  his  wife  spent 
the  first  three  j-ears  of  their  wedded  life.  He  then 
purchased  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  choice 
and  well-improve  1  land  and  was  quite  extensively' 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  raised  a  good 
deal  of  grain,  which  he  fed  to  hogs  and  cattle,  and 
in  that  way  accumulated  a  good  deal  of  monej'and 
was  at  length  enabled  to  retire  from  far.ming.  In 
the  month  of  February.  1889,  he  left  his  farm  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  Canton,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home,  and  is  living  in  the  enjoyment  of 
the  income  he  derives  from  liis  fine  property.  Ilt^  is 
a  man  whose  character  and  personal  attributes    are 


such  as  to  win  him  the  confidence  and  friendship 
of  the  people  by  whom  he  is  surrounded  and  he  is 
greatly  respected  both  in  and  out  of  the  church. 
While  a  resident  of  Banner  Township,  he  was  one 
of  its  prominent  civic  officials.  He  served  as  School 
Director  and  he  was  School  Trustee  six  years. 
He  was  Assessor  of  the  township  two  years,  and  in 
every  office  was  faithful  to  the  trust  imposed  upon 
him.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church,  and  is  one  of  the  leaders  in  all  its  good 
works.  He  has  held  some  of  the  church  offices, 
such  as  that  of  Steward  and  Trustee  and  has  been 
Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  for  some 
time.  He  has  strong  political  opinions  and  gives 
his  sui)port  to  the  Republican  party.  Among  other 
choice  treasures  in  his  pleasant  home,  Mr.  Ashby 
has  a  fine  collection  of  Indian  relics,  many  of  which 
he  has  picked  up  on  his  own  farm.  He  has  the 
largest  Indian  axe  ever  found  in  the  State  which  is 
still  in  good  preservation.  His  other  relics  are  rare 
as  well  as  new. 


4,  ILTON  RAWALT  has  passed  much  of  his 
life  on  the  fine  old  homestead,  comprising 
the  southwestern  quarter  of  section  30, 
Orion  Township,  which  was  his  birthplace 
and  where  he  is  successfully  conducting  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  is  a  fine  representative  of  tlie  native- 
born  citizens  of  Fulton  County,  and  is  identilied 
witli  the  best  element  of  his  township,  morally,  so- 
ciall}'  and  finaueially. 

Jonas  Rawalt.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  one 
of  the  earliest  (lioneers  of  this  part  of  Illinois,  and 
for  many  years  was  one  of  its  foremost  citizens,  and 
was  very  active  in  the  public  life  of  the  county. 
He  came  of  good  old  Revolutionary  stock.  His 
father,  John  Rawalt,  a  native  of  Pennsjivania, 
was  the  son  of  a  general  in  the  Continental  Army 
during  the  Revolutionary  War.  Jonas  was  born 
in  Northumberland  County,  Pa.,  and  when  a  small 
boy  was  taken  vvith  his  father's  family  to  Onon- 
daga County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  reared,  and 
thence  returned  with  his  parents  to  Pennsylvania. 


560 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


He  afterward  went  to  Clarli  County.  Ind.,  where  he 
learned  the  distillery  business.  In  that  county  he 
mot  and  married  Miss  Deida  Robins,  a  native  of 
South  Carolina,  their  marriage  taking  place  March 
23,  1825.  After  the  birth  of  two  children,  John 
and  Enoch,  Mr.  Rawalt  came  with  his  famih'  to 
Illinois  in  1829.  They  accomplished  the  journey 
in  a  wagon  drawn  by  three  horses,  and  came  by 
the  way  of  Bloominfrtou  to  Fulton  County.  For  a 
jear  or  more  they  lived  on  land  owned  bj-  David 
Fouts,  one  mile  south  of  Canton.  In  the  mean- 
time he  entered  one  hundred  and  sixt}-  acres  of 
land,  comprising  the  quarter  section  now  owned 
and  occupied  b}'  our  subject.  On  this  land  he  built 
a  small  frame  building  for  the  shelter  of  his  fam- 
ily, which  he  replaced  a  few  years  later  bv  a  hewed- 
log  house  on  tlie  southeast  corner  of  the  section 
and  afterward  erected  the  commodious  residence 
in  which  our  subject  makes  his  home,  and  here  be 
died  on  December  22,  1882.  A  man  of  marked 
eneroy,  intelligence  and  force  of  character,  he 
soon  bei  ame  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  civic  life 
of  the  county  after  settling  liere,  and  held  manj- 
offices  of  trust  and  honor.  He  was  the  first  county 
School  Commissioner,  and  after  the  organization 
of  the  township  represented  it  on  the  first  Board 
of  Supervisors  of  Fulton  Count}-,  of  which  he  was 
the  first  Chairman,  and  for  ten  ye.ars  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  and  he  was  also  the  first  mem- 
ber of  the  Legislature  from  Fulton  County,  and 
in  his  public  career  proved  to  be  a  wise,  able 
and  trustworth}-  statesman.  He  was  conscientious 
and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings,  and  was  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Swedeuborgian  Church, 
which  he  faithfully  served  as  Trustee  and  Treasurer 
for  man}'  years.  In  politics  he  was  a  AVhig  and 
afterward  a  Republican,  and  during  the  great  Re- 
bellion served  with  distinction  as  an  officer  in  the 
Union  Army.  He  was  the  first  Major  of  the  Sev- 
enth Regiment,  Illinois  Cavalry.  In  this  connec- 
tion we  maj-  observe  that  his  family  was  well  rep- 
resented in  the  army,  as  three  of  his  sons  also  did 
valiant  service.  His  son  John  was  a  member  of 
Company  I.  One  Hundred  and  Fiftj'-fifth  Illinois 
Infantry  and  gave  up  his  life  for  his  country*. 
Enoch  was  a  member  of  the  P^ighth  Illinois  Cavalry 
and  Benjamin  served  as  Adjutant  in  a  regiment  of 


Minnesota  Infantry.  Mr.  Rawalt's  wife,  his  tried 
and  faithful  com])anion,  preceded  him  in  death, 
dying  October  27,  1878,  after  a  pleasant  wedded 
life  of  fifty-three  years,  and  both  are  now  sleeping 
side  by  side  in  the  family  lot  on  the  old  homestead. 
They  had  the  following  children  as  named:  John, 
who  died  at  ^lemphis.  Tenn..  while  a  soldier  in  the 
Union  array;  Enoch  died  in  October,  1886;  Henry 
and  .Seth  who  both  died  ininfanc)';  Jane,  who  mar- 
ried Charles  H.  Ganson.  and  now  lives  at  Urbana, 
Ohio;  Mary,  wife  of  William  M.  Ganson,  of  Ha- 
vana. 111.,  who  is  Count}-  Clerk  of  his  county; 
Benjamin,  now  a  resident  of  Colorado;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Edward  Whiteford.  of  Mason  County;  Mil- 
ton, of  this  sketch,  and  Jonas  R.,  who  is  now  a  cit- 
izen of  Colorado  with  a  residence  at  or  near  Denver, 
near  which  citv  he  had  entered  a  land  claim. 

Milton  Rawalt,  of  this  biographical  notice  was 
born  September  20,  1843,  in  a  log  house,  that  then 
stood  one  hundred  feet  noi-th  of  his  residence,  but 
has  since  been  removed  to  Prairie  City.  In  the 
neighboring  schools  he  received  the  rudiments  of 
a  liberal  education,  which  was  further  a<lvaneed 
by  a  fifteen  montLs"  attendance  at  the  Urbana 
(Ohio)  University,  and  he  subsequently  took  a  full 
course  of  study  at  Bryant  ct  Slratton's  Commercial 
College,  Chicago,  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  March  23,  I860,  the  nnnivei-sary  of  his 
parents'  wedding  day.  He  was  now  admirably  fitted 
to  enter  upon  a  business  life,  and  his  prospects  of  a 
successful  future  were  also  excellent.  Soon  after 
leaving  college,  he  accepted  a  clerical  position  in  a 
National  Bank  at  Canton,  and  subsequently  be- 
came connected  with  the  Mechanics'  National 
Bank  of  Chicago.  He  was  engaged  very  brietl}- 
in  these  positions,  as  owing  to  ill-health  he  was 
forced  to  abandon  them  and  seek  out-door  ex- 
ercise. He  returned  to  the  old  homestead  of  which 
he  at  once  took  charge,  and  worked  the  farm 
on  shares.  In  18P8  he  bought  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  seven  miles  east  of  Gilmpn, 
which  proved  to  be  a  very  fortunate  speculation, 
as  sometime  afterward  he  sold  some  fort}-  acres  of 
his  purchase  for  as  much  money  as  he  had  origin- 
ally paid  for  the  whole  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres.  On  the  remaining  eighty  acres  he  built  a 
comfortable  dwelling  and  otherwise  improved    the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


561 


place.  In  1883  he  sold  that  property  and  pur- 
chased the  old  homestead  where  he  had  been  born 
and  reared,  wliich  consists  of  one  hundred  andsixy 
acres  of  land  which  is  under  Sne  tillage,  and  is 
provided  with  substantial  improvements. 

Mr.  Rawalt  was  married,  September  24,  1868,  to 
Miss  Alice  A.  Bartels,  daughter  of  Henry  A.  and 
Catherine  (Rowe)  Bartels,  natives  of  Germany  and 
Pennsylvania,  respectively.  She  understands  well 
the  art  of  making  home  pleasant  and  attractive 
and  cordially  co-operates  with  him  in  extending  its 
hospitality  to  their  numerous  friends.  They  have 
had  the  following  children:  Chauncy  Otis,  who  is 
now  taking  a  course  of  study  at  Knox  College; 
Anna  M.,  who  died  June  5.  1883,  aged  ten  years; 
Lena  Maud,  LlUie  E.,  Harry  B..  and  Milo  R. 

Mr.  Rawalt  is  well  endowed  mentally  and  brings 
a  well-trained  mind  to  bear  on  his  work.  He  pos- 
sesses sound  common  sense,  a  lirm  character  and 
high  principles,  and  is  an  influence  for  good  in  his 
community.  In  !iis  politics  he  is  a  decided  Re- 
publican. He  has  served  his  township  in  minor 
offices  of  trust,  such  as  School  Trustee,  etc.  He 
and  his  wife  and  eldest  son  are  valued  members  of 
the  Swedenborgian  Church  and  take  an  active  part 
in  its  work. 


7  0HN  LATIIBURY,  a  well-known  resident 
of  Lewistown  and  a  veteran  of  the  late  war, 
in  which  he  did  good  service  for  his  adopted 
country,  was  born  in  Manchester,  England, 
March  8.  1841.  His  father,  Richard  Lathbury,  and 
his  grandfather,  whose  name  was  Thomas,  were  also 
natives  of  England.  The  latter  came  to  this  coun- 
try in  1845,  and  settled  in  Ontario  Count}',  N.  Y. 
He  did  not  engage  in  any  business  as  he  had  an  in- 
come sufficient  for  his  support.  He  resided  there 
until  his  deatli.  Three  of  his  sons  came  to  Amer- 
ica: Jolm,  Thomas  who  came  when  about  sixteen 
years  of  age,  before  his  father,  and  Richard.  The 
two  former  settled  in  Ontario  County,  and  followed 
the  trade  of  a  carijenter.  Thomas  died  there  and 
John  movid  to  Ohio. 

The  father  of  our  subject  served  seven  years  to 


learn  the_]  trade  of  a  carpenter,  and  then  pursued 
that  calling  in  England,  'until  the  fall  of  1845.  At 
that  time,  with  his  [wife  andltwo  children,  and  his 
father  and  mother  he  set  sail]  from  Liverpool  for 
this  country  and  landed  at  New  York."^Until  1856, 
he  was~engaged  in  carpentering  in  Manchester,  N. 
Y..  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  came  to  Fulton 
(\iunty,  of  which  he  thus  became  a  pioneer  and 
has  since  resided  here.  He]|  w,as  married  in  Eng- 
land to  Sarah  Gibson,  a  native  of  that  countr}'. 
The  following  are  the  children  that  were  born  to 
them:  John,  William,  Amanda,  Mary  A.,  Hannah 
JI.,  Harry,  Henry  and]  Thomas,  of  whom  tiie  two 
oldest  were  born  in  England. 

John  Lathbury  was  four  jy ears  old  when  his 
parents  brought  him  to  this  country  and  he  has 
but  little  recollection  of  the  land  of  his  birth. 
When  he  was  ten  years  old,  he  was  employed  on  a 
farm  and  worked  J  for  his  board  and  clothes  the 
ensuing  three  years,  sind  then  by  the  month  until 
1856.  In  tiiat  year  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  was 
engaged  on  a  farm  until  1862.  In  the  meantime 
the  great  Civil  War  had  broken  out.  He  was  much 
interested  in  watching  its  progress  and  at  last  de- 
termined to  enlist  to  figiit  in  defence  of  his  adopted 
country,  under  whose  institutions  he  bad  been 
reared,' and  of  which  he  w.as  as  loyal  a  citizen  as  if 
he  had  been  born  under  the  folds  of  the  Stars  and 
Stripes.  In  tiie  month  of  August,  that  year,  he 
enrolled  his  name  as  a  member  of  Company  H, 
One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois  Infantry.  This 
was  one  of  the  most  active  regiments  in  the  army. 
It  was  mustered  into  service  at  Peoria,  October  2, 
1862,  and  in  November,  went  to  Tennessee  where 
it  was  quartered  for  the  winter.  In  tlie  spring  it 
started  on  the  Vicksburg  campaign,  and  while  the 
siege  was  going  on  was  guarding  the  rear  of  the 
Federal  arm}',  keeping  Johnston's  forces  from  re- 
inforcing Vicksburg,  and  after  the  fall  of  that  city, 
fought  Johnston's  army  at  Jackson,  Miss. 

That  fail  our  subject  and  his  comrades  marched 
to  Chattanooga,  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Mission- 
ary Ridge  and  then  went  to  the  relief  of  Burnsides 
at  Knoxville.  From  there  they  went  by  the  way 
of  Chattanooga,  to  Southboro,  Ala.,  where  they  had 
their  quarters  the  ensuing  winter.  Starting  out 
in  the  spring,  they  joined  Sherman's  command  and 


562 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


on  the  4th  of  May,  entered  on  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign, and  were  engaged  in  the  principal  battles  on 
the  way  to  and  around  Atlanta. 

On  the  22d  of  July,  the  same  day  Mcriierson 
was  killed,  Mr.  Lathbury  was  severely  wounded. 
He  was  soon  taken  to  the  hospital  at  JIarielta  and 
ten  days  later  was  granted  a  furlough  and  returned 
home.  On  the  expiration  of  his  leave  of  absence, 
he  reported  at  the<,!uinc'v  hospital,  and  was  honor- 
ably discharged  from  there  in  June,  I8G5. 

As  soon  as  able  after  his  return  home,  our  sub- 
ject went  to  work  at  bis  trade  of  a  carpenter,  which 
he  continued  until  1 880,  when  he  was  appointed 
janitor  at  the  court-liouse,  and  in  1882,  he  was 
selected  to  occupy  the  same  position  at  the  Pres- 
b3'terian  Church,  and  both  institutions  are  still 
under  iiis  care.  He  performs  his  duties  ver}-  faith- 
fully, and  very  satisfactorily  to  all  concerned,  and 
the  buildings  are  kept  in  perfect  order. 

In  1862,  Mr.  Lathbury  and  Miss  Emma  Hunter 
were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  wedlock,  and  to 
them  have  come  three  children:  William  S.. 
Amanda,  and  Mary  Beele.  Mrs.  Lathbury  was  born 
in  the  mother  country,  and  came  to  America  when 
she  was  four  years  old  with  her  parents,  James  and 
Mary  (Hartley)  Hunter.  She  and  her  daughter  are 
devoted  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  Mr. 
Lathburj-  has  alwa3's  been  a  stanch  supporter  of 
Republican  principles,  whether  in  times  of  war  or 
in  times  of  peace.  He  is  quite  prominent  in  Grand 
Arm}'  circles  and  is  a  charter  member  of  Thomas 
Layton  Post.  He  has  been  industrious,  prudent 
and  thrift}-,  and  lias  acquired  considerable  property, 
and  is  the  proprietor  of  three  dwellings  in  this 
cilv. 


"B" 


'OSIAH  KETCH  AM.  A  foremost  place 
among  the  agriculturists  of  Orion  Townsliip, 
must  be  accorded  to  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  who  owns  and  occupies  a  fine  farm 
on  section  33.  His  landed  estate  amounts  to  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  which  is  now  cultivated 
by  his  son-in  law,  Isaac  Jackson,  and  his  son, 
Richard  A.  Ketcham.  Our  subject  won  a  merito- 
rious record  in  the  ranks  of  his  country's  defenders, 


spending  several  of  the  best  years  of  bis  life  amid 
the  smoke  of  battle  and  the  hardships  of  campaign 
life.  For  his  loyalty,  his  painstaking  efforts  to 
build  up  liis  foitune,  and  the  good  principles  which 
have  governed  his  life,  he  is  justly  respected  by  all 
who  know  him. 

Our  subject  is  of  excellent  lineage,  being  a 
grandson  of  Josiah  Ketcham,  of  New  Jersey,  who 
was  well  known  in  his  day  for  his  scholarship.  His 
parents,  George  P.  and  Jane  (Vanetta)  Ketcham, 
had  ten  children,  live  of  whom  are  still  living. 
Ellen,  the  eldest  sister,  married  .Samuel  .Schenck, 
Lewis  married  Emma  Davis,  and  Elizabeth  married 
William  Turner.  These  reside  in  Banner  Town- 
ship, this  county.  Jennetta  married  Joseph  Brown, 
and  lives  in  Canton. 

The  natal  day  of  our  subject  was  December  21, 
1837,  and  his  birthplace  Warren  Count}",  N.  J. 
He  is  the  eldest  son  of  the  parental  family.  His 
early  years  were  spent  in  no  unusual  way,  the 
ordinary  studies  being  prosecuted  and  such  a 
knowledge  of  agriculture  gained  as  is  generally  the 
lot  of  a  farmer's  son.  In  1853  he  came  to  Fulton 
County,  111.,  and  hired  out  on  a  farm  by  the  month 
some  two  years.  He  then  went  to  work  for  his 
father  in  this  county  and  after  several  years  rented 
a  tract  of  land  which  he  operated  until  the  summer 
Of  1862. 

The  war  still  continuing,  Mr.  Ketcham  was  not 
content  to  pursue  his  peaceful  occupation  and  on 
August  11,  1862,  became  a  member  of  Company 
K,  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois  Infantry,  under 
Col.  Dickerman.  The  regiment  was  attaclied  to 
the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps  commanded  by  Gen. 
John  A.  Logan,  the  lamented  "  Black  Jack"  of  the 
Prairie  State.  The  regiment  took  part  in  all  the 
battles  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  and  notwith- 
standing the  dangerous  positions  in  which  he  was 
to  be  found,  Mr.  Ketcham  escaped  wounds.  He 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  marched  in  the 
Grand  Review  at  Washington,  D.  C,  in  May,  1865, 
and  shortly  afterward  received  an  honorabb  dis- 
charge. 

Returning  to  Fulton  County,  in  July.  1865,  Mr. 
Ketcham  worked  at  mining  until  the  following 
year  when  he  permanently  gave  his  attention  to 
agriculture.     His  industrious  and  intelligent  efforts 


Residence  or  Josiah   Ketcham  ,5ec.55.  Orion  Tp.  Fulton  Co.  111. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


565 


have  enabled  him  to  surround  liis  family  willi  all 
of  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life 
and  to  bestow  upon  his  children  good  advantages. 
In  politics  lie  is  a  stanch  Republican.  He  holds 
membership  in  Joe  Hooker  Post,  No.  69,  G.  A.  R., 
of  Canton. 

Thei:lcasant  and  hospitable  home  of  Mr.  Ketchaui 
is  presided  over  by  a  lady  of  worth  with  whom  he 
was  united  in  marriage  January  24,  1867.  She 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary  E.  Addis,  and  is 
the  (laughter  of  Aaron  D.  and  Jane  (Suydam) 
Addis  who  settled  in  this  county  in  1836.  Her 
father  departed  this  life  in  1874.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ketcham  have  five  children  whose  record  is  as 
follows:  Jennie  B.,  born  October  29,  1867,  became 
the  wife  of  Isaac  Jackson.  November  25,  1887.  and 
lives  near  her  parents;  Richard  A.  was  born  Sep- 
tember 24,  1869,  and  is  operating  a  part  of  his 
father's  land;  Eva  C.  was  born  June  24,  1872,  is 
still  with  her  parents  and  is  being  educated  for  a 
teacher;  William  Sherman  who  was  born  January 
3,  1875,  and  Ilerschel,  January  29,  1882,  are  still 
under  the  parental  roof.  In  connection  with  this 
brief  biograiihical  review  the  reader  will  notice 
on  another  page  a  view  of  the  commodious  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Kcteham  and  its  rural  surroundings. 


\y^  ETKR  CIIRISTL\N,  a  clergyman  of  the  Bap- 
tist Cliurch,  who  is  also  identified  with  the 
.  .  agricultuial  interests  of  Joshua  Township, 
jj^  was  a  jiioneer  of  this  county,  and,  as  a  min- 
ister of  the  Gospel,  has  been  potent  in  elevating  its 
moral  and  religious  status,  besides  being  influential 
in  forwarding  educational  interests;  and  as  a  prac- 
tical intelligent  farmer,  he  has  contributed  his  quota 
in  upliuilding  its  material  prosperity. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Christian  is  a  native  of  Plattsbnrg, 
Clinton  County,  N.  Y.,  and  was  there  born  Decem- 
ber 23.  1817.  His  parents,  Joseiih  and  Frances 
Christian,  were  both  born  in  Canada  near  Montreal. 
Our  subject  lived  with  his  father  and  mother  until 
ho  was  fourteen  ye&.rs  old.  At  that  useful  age  he 
became  self-.«upporting.  and  going  to  Troy,  fol- 
lowed gaideiiin^  in  ihu^  cit^'  in  the  summer,  and  in 


the  winter  worked  in  a  packing  house,  and  attended 
school  a  short  time  each  season.  The  first  two 
summers  he  was  there  he  earned  $5  a  month.  The 
next  summer  he  was  paid  $7  a  month.  He  was  at- 
tracted by  stories  of  life  in  the  West,  and  deeming 
that  he  could  better  his  prospects  by  locating  in  the 
Prairie  State,  he  came  to  Illinois  with  a  friend, 
Horace  Turner,  and  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  three 
miles  east  of  Cuba,  in  this  county. 

Our  subject  continued  bis  residence  on  that  farm 
until  he  married,  which  important  event  in  his  life 
took  place  June  26,  1841,  in  Joshua  Township,  one 
and  one  half  miles  from  his  present  residence.  He 
had  gone  out  in  the  world  with  no  other  capital 
than  a  fine  physique  and  good  brains,  but  by  the 
exercise  of  industrious  and  economical  habits,  he 
had  accmnulated  enough  to  establish  a  home,  and 
in  time  became  the  proprietor  of  considerable  real 
estate.  He  now  owns  one  hundred  acres  of  choice 
farming  land,  pleasantl}'  located  on  section  20, 
Joshua  Township.  This  is  amply  provided  with 
neat  and  substantial  improvements,  and  is  a  valu- 
able piece  of  propertj',  being  worth  $75  an  acre. 
To  him  and  his  wife  four  children  have  been  born 
of  whom  two  are  deceased.  Those  living  are  Me- 
lissa and  Frances  P.  The  former  born  October  11, 
1842,  and  the  latter  May  1,  1853.  They  are  well 
educated,  having  attended  school  at  Cuba  and  other 
schools  of  their  native  county.  Frances  h.as  taught 
successfully  for  several  years  in  Iowa. 

We  must  now  touch  upon  the  career  of  our  sub- 
ject in  the  ministry.  He  early  manifested  true  re- 
ligious zeal,  and  in  1841  became  a  member  of  the 
Free  Will  Baptist  Church.  He  manifested  consid- 
erable power  a.s  a  speaker,  and  in  1850  was  allowed 
a  license  to  preach,  and  1851  was  ordained.  He 
has  continued  in  his  ministerial  labors  until  the 
present  time,  and  has  accomplished  great  good  in 
building  up  churches  and  organizing  societies.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Christian  and  John  B.  Fair  were  instru- 
mentid  in  establishing  the  Prairie  City  Illinois  Acad- 
emy, a  Baptist  institution  of  learning,  that  has 
acquired  a  good  reputation,  and  is  in  a  prosperous 
condition,  now  belonging  to  the  school  district. 
Our  subject's  interest  in  the  affairs  of  life  are  broad 
enough  to  embrace  politics.  In  early  years  he  was 
a  Democrat  of  the  Andrevv  Jackson  ilk.  but  when 


566 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  was  passed,  and  the  decision 
in  tlie  iniicli  noted  Died  Scott  case  was  annoimeed, 
lie  liecatne  strongly  anti-slavery,  and  was  a  (inn  ad- 
vocate of  Abolition.  On  account  of  his  views  on 
that  question  he  ultimately  united  with  tlie  Repub- 
lican parl3'  of  which  he  has  since  been  a  warm 
supporter. 


IRAM  PRESTON.  Tlierc  is  in  the  busi- 
\]  ness  world  only  one  kind  of  man  who  can 
successfully  combat  the  many  disadi'antages 
and  trials  that  come  boldly  to  the  front, 
and  that  is  the  man  of  superior  intelligence  and 
force  of  character,  and  one  who  is  the  happy  pos- 
sessor also  of  that  energy  that  seems  somehow  to 
be  the  magic  wand  that  transforms  a  poor  begin- 
ning into  a  most  flattering  ending.  To  this  class 
belongs  Hiram  Preston — a  man  who  by  strict  in- 
tegrity, shrewdness  of  judgment  and  good  manage- 
ment has  risen  to  the  top  round  on  the  ladder  of 
fortune. 

Mr.  Preston  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  Me., 
January  23,  1817,  being  the  son  of  Peter  and  Mary 
(Winslow)  Preston,  natives  of  Massachusetts.  The 
father  was  reared  on  a  farm  near  Martha's  Vine- 
yard, but  when  a  young  man  went  to  Maine  and 
purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Franklin 
Count3-,  where  he  devoted  his  whole  time  and  atten- 
tion to  farming  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  after  he  had  reached  his  eight\'  seventh 
year.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  in  politics  was  first  a  Whig  and  afterward  a 
Democrat.  The  aaother  died  in  the  same  place  when 
eightj--six  years  old,  and  was  also  a  faitliful  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church.  The  marriage  of 
the  worthy  couple  was  solemnized  in  Maine,  and  to 
them  were  born  eight  children,  all  of  whcm  reached 
maturity.  They  were  named  Sally.  Ezekial.  Mary 
Ann,  Lucinda,  Hiram,  Jane,  Percilla  and  Hannah. 
Only  three  of  this  number  are  living  at  the  present 
time. 

The  Prestons  are  of  English  oiigin,  while  the 
Winslows  are  of  Irish  descent.  Grandfather 
Prostou  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  died  in 


that  State  when  past  four-score  3-ears  of  age.  He 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  forces  five  3'ears. 
Grandfather  Winslow,  whose  given  name  was 
David,  was  likewise  a  native  of  the  Old  Bay  State 
and  lived  to  a  venerable  age.  During  four  j-ears 
of  the  struggle  for  American  Independence  he 
fought  with  his  fellow-Colonists.  Both  grand- 
fathers were  agriculturists. 

Our  subject  attended  school  in  his  native  county 
during  the  winter  months  and  worked  on  the  farm 
in  the  summer.  The  schoolhouses  of  those  times 
were  exceedingly  rustic  in  appearance,  but  turned 
out  man}'  pupils  who  in  after  life  profited  bj'  the 
rudiments  of  knowledge  planted  there,  and  became 
famous.  When  twentj-  ^-ears  of  age  young  Pres- 
ton commenced  a  business  career  for  himself  and 
at  first  worked  out  b}'  the  mouth,  receiving  §10 
each  month  for  his  services,  continuing  this  means 
of  livelihood  until  he  came  to  this  count}-.  He 
owned  one  hundred  acres  of  land  that  was  covered 
with  heavy  timber,  and  in  the  fall  of  1839  he  sold 
this  property,  having  cleared  much  of  it,  and  came 
to  Illinois.  He  came  to  Chicago  by  water,  rail  and 
stage,  and  walked  from  that  point  to  Brimfleld, 
Peoria  County. 

Mr.  Preston  settled  near  Brimfieid.  where  he 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixt}-  acres  of  land.  He 
at  once  built  a  frame  house  and  commenced  to 
clear  up  his  property,  which  w.is  in  a  very  wild 
state.  The  following  year  he  sold  out  and  came 
to  Fulton  County,  and  bought  forty  acres  in  Buck- 
heart  Township,  that  had  a  saw  and  grist  mill  on 
it.  He  lived  there  twelve  years,  and  made  a  great 
success  both  of  the  farm  and  the  mill,  then  sold  the 
place  and  removed  to  Liverpool  Township,  buying 
eighty  aeres  of  land  on  section  11,  where  he  now 
lives.  From  time  to  time  he  has  bou;,dit  additional 
land  until  he  now  owns  four  hundred  acres,  most 
of  which  he  has  cleared  and  improved.  He  built 
liis  present  handsome  frame  house  in  1864,  and  lias 
both  farmed  and  raised  stock  on  an  extensive  scale. 
At  present  much  of  his  land  is  rented,  as  he  not 
long  since  retired  from  the  labors  of  life. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  married  Miss  Trypliena 
Hathaway  in  1841.  blie  was  a  nativeof  ^JL-iineand 
lived  to  be  sixty-flve  years  old.  A  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church  and   a  devout  ^'hris- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tian,  her  dp.itli  was  a  very  peaceful  one,  she  passing 
away  in  her  home  here  and  being-  laid  to  rest  in  a 
private  burial  ground  on  the  farm.  She  had  borne 
six  children — Lydia,  Edwin,  Charles.  Winslow, 
Frank  and  Ostin.  Lydia,  Charles  and  Winslow  are 
lieceased.  Mr.  Preston  was  again  married  in  1881 
to  Hannah  Hathaway,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  who 
was  born  in  Maine  May  9,  1828.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  Her  parents,  Luther  and 
Clarissa  (Hinds)  Hathaway,  were  natives  of  Massa- 
chusetts. They  came  to  Peoria  County,  111.,  in 
1837,  and  died  there  at  the  respective  ages  of 
eighty -seven  and  eighty  years.  They  belonged  to 
the  Baptist  Church  and  were  honored  memiiers  of 
Societj\  Their  family  included  Boadicea,  Kdwin, 
Gilbert  and  Trypheua  (twins),  Columbus,  Hannah, 
Ellen  and  George. 

INIr.  I'reston  is  a  [iromincnt  man  in  this  commu- 
nity, and  has  held  man}'  public  ofHces  of  trust. 
For  the  past  twenty-six  years  he  has  been  School 
Treasurer,  and  for  a  period  of  twenty-two  years 
li.ad  charge  of  the  |)ost-r,irtlce  at  Maple's  Mill,  an 
office  which  he  resigned  in  1880,  and  besides  this 
he  was  Town  Clerk  for  sixteen  years — facts  that 
convey  some  idea  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is 
held  and  tell  something  of  the  popularity  he  lias 
always  enjoyed.   In  jwlitical  belief  he  is  a  Democrat. 


"VJ)  AMES  M.  STEWART,  of  Lewistown, County 
Treasurer  of  Fulton  County,  is  one  of  its 
most  able  and  valued  civic  officials.  He  is 
^WJI  extensively  identified  with  the  leading  in- 
terests of  this  part  of  the  State  as  a  lumber  mer- 
chant and  as  a  stock-raiser,  the  proprietor  of  one 
of  the  best  managed  and  finest  farms  in  Cass 
Township.  He  took  part  in  the  late  Civil  War,  and 
his  fine  military  record  reflects  credit  on  the  sol- 
diery of  Illin(.>is  who  bore  arms  in  that  great  con- 
flict. 

Mr.  Stewart  was  born  in  Alexandria,  Licking 
Co.,  Ohio,  .September  1.5,  1844.  His  father,  Rich- 
ard Stewart,  was  born  in  Fauquier  County,  Va.,  a 
son  of  Charles  Stewart,  who,  so  far  as   known,   was 


a  native  of  the  same  State,  coming  of  a  Scotch  fam- 
ily that  early  settled  in  the  Old  Dominion.  The 
grandf.atlu'r  of  our  subject  removed  to  Ohio  from 
Virginia  about  1834  and  was  a  pioneer  of  Licking 
County,  where  his  remaining  days  were  passed.  His 
son  Richard  was  reared  in  N'irginia,  and  went  to 
Ohio  at  the  same  time  as  his  father.  He  had 
learned  the  trade  of  a  car]jenter  and  joiner  in  his 
native  State,  and  engaged  in  it  in  his  new  home. 
In  1851  he  wont  to  California  by  way  of  the  Isth- 
mus of  Panama,  and  there  he  tried  mining,  but  ill- 
health  prevented  his  following  that  pursuit,  and  he 
returned  to  Ohio  after  a  little  more  than  a  year's 
absence.  He  then  gave  his  attention  to  farming, 
renting  land  at  first,  and  then  buying  a  farm,  and 
actively  engaging  in  the  work  of  carrying  it  on 
until  he  came  to  this  State  in  1865.  He  bought  a 
farm  in  Cass  Township,  this  county,  after  his  ar- 
rival, and  in  the  comfortable  home  that  he  estab- 
lished thereon  his  useful  life  was  brought  to  a  close 
May  18,  1879. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  is  now  a  welcome  in- 
mate of  his  home.  Her  maiden  name  was  Philcna 
Twining,  and  she  was  born  in  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  October  15,  1821.  Her  parents  were  Uiram 
and  Lovey  (Pease)  Twining,  natives  respectively 
of  Massachusetts  a;id  Mauie,  and  pioneers  of  Lick- 
ing County.  Three  of  the  five  children  born  of  her 
marriage  are  now  living:  Austin  W.,  who  re- 
sides at  Jacksonville;  our  subject;  Annie,  who  mar- 
ried William  H.  Failing  and  now  resides  in  Furnas 
County.  Neb. 

James  M.  Stewart  was  fourteen  years  old  when 
his  parents  moved  to  IMorrow  County,  and  there 
he  grew  to  man's  estate,  gleaning  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Ohio.  He  assisted  his  father 
in  his  farm  labors,  and  remained  with  his  parents 
until,  at  the  youthful  age  of  seventeen  years,  he  en- 
listed in  the  defense  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  becom- 
ing a  member  of  Company  !<;,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-first  Ohio  Infantry,  August  26,  18G2,  and 
serving  until  after  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving 
his  discharge  papers  June  18,  1865.  He  was  in 
Steadman's  Brigade  at  the  battle  of  C'hickamauga, 
and  after  that  fought  at  Missionary-  Ridge,  and  did 
brave  service  in  the  principal  engagements  with  the 
enemy  during  Sherman's  Atlanta  campaign,  and  as- 


568 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sisted  in  the  capture  of  that  city,  and  was  active  in 
the  battle  of  Jonesboro.  After  that  contest  he  was 
detailed  as  otflcer's  clerk  in  ihe  inspector's  depart- 
ment at  Division  headquirters,  accompanied  the 
command  to  the  sea,  and  on  through  the  Carolinas  ! 
and  Richmond  to  Washington,  where  he  took  part 
in  the  grand  parade  that  signalized  the  advent  of 
peace,  and  thus  closed  his  experiences  of  the  hard- 
sliips  and  privations  of  a  soldier's  life  in  that  most 
terrible  war. . 

In  January',  1866,  Mr.  Stewart  came  to  Fulton 
Count}-,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  with  his  father 
in  Cass  Township  until  the  hitler's  death,  when  he 
bought  the  farm  from  the  other  heirs,  and  contin- 
ued to  operate  it  with  good  financial  success  until 
1882.  In  that  year  he  entered  upon  his  career  as 
a  public  official,  and  rented  his  farm  and  moved 
into  the  cit}'.  He  still  retains  possession  of  the 
farm,  which  contains  three  hundred  acres  of  well- 
improved  land  supplied  with  substantial  buildings, 
good  farming  machiner\-,  and  everything  necessarj'^ 
for  the  profitable  prosecution  of  agriculture.  He 
superintends  the  management  of  the  place,  which 
is  admirabh-  adapted  to  stock-raising  purposes,  to 
which  he  devotes  it  largely,  being  extensivel}-  en- 
gaged in  that  branch.  He  is  also  prosperouslv  car- 
rying on  the  lumber  business  with  Mr.  McDowell, 
with  whom  he  formed  a  partnership  in  1889,  and 
thej^  have  here  a  large,  well-equipped  j'ard,  and  al- 
read\'  have  built  up  a  good  trade. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart,  who  were  married  in  1877, 
have  established  here  one  of  the  man}-  cozy,  pleas- 
ant homes  for  which  Lewistown  is  noted,  and  their 
abode  is  the  center  of  a  gracious  hospitality,  which 
attracts  to  it  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances, as  the  social  standing  of  our  subject  and  his 
amiable  wife  is  among  the  best  people  of  the  cit}-. 
Mrs.  Stewart  was  horr.  in  Delaware  County,  Ohio, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Rhoda  Stenbeck. 
her  maiden  name  having  been  Francos  Stenbeck. 

Mr.  Stewart  is  a  gentleman  of  much  force  and 
decision  of  character,  prompt  in  action  and  ready 
of  recourse,  and  possessing  fine  business  talents. 
These  marked  traits  have  brought  him  prominentlj- 
before  tlie  public  in  two  of  the  most  important  of- 
ficial capacities  in  the  county.  In  1882  he  was 
elected  Sheriff  of  the  count}-,  and  served  in   that 


capacity  with  distinction  four  years,  his  invincible 
courage,  tact  and  cool  judgment  eniineutl}'  quali- 
fying him  for  the  position.  In  1886  he  was  elected 
County  Treasurer,  and  is  conducting  the  finances  of 
the  county  with  rare  skill  and  to  the  perfect  satis- 
faction of  all  concerned  without  regard  to  part}'. 
In  politics  his  sentiments  are  in  harmony  with  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  party.  Socially,  he  is 
connected  with  Kenneth  Lodge,  Xo.  146.  K.  of  P.; 
and  with  Lewistown  Post,  M.  W.  A. ;  and  he  is  a 
member  of  Thomas  Laytou  Post,  No.  121,  G.A.  R. 


EWIS  RAUCH.  There  is  no  higher  [.raise 
possible  than  to  say  of  a  man,  "he  has  helped 
both  himself  and  others  in  journeying 
through  the  passing  years."  And  this  remark  ap- 
plies undoubtedly  to  him  whose  name  heads  our 
sketch. 

Mr.  Ranch  is  a  prominent  and  successful  agri- 
culturist and  stockraan  of  section  12,  Pleasant 
Township,  and  stands  high  both  in  business  and 
social  circles,  having  the  esteem  and  confidence  of 
the  community.  His  native  home  was  Prussia,  and 
in  that  country  he  first  saw  the  light  of  day  on 
the  9th  of  June,  1833.  His  parents,  John  and 
Catherine  (Rumline)  Rauch  were  Prussians;  the 
mother  died  when  our  subject  was  only  two 
years  of  age,  and  the  father  when  he  was  in  his 
fifteenth  year,  thus  leaving  him  to  the  tender  mer- 
cies of  the  world,  at  tlie  time  when  he  really  needed 
the  love  of  home. 

Our  subject  received  a  fair  education  in  his  native 
tongue  and  picked  up  the  English  language  after 
coming  to  America.  He  reads  and  writes  with  all 
ease  in  both  English  and  German.  In  the  spring 
of  1849,  he  emigrated  to  Americ.i,  taking  passage 
at  Bremen  on  a  sailing  vessel.  After  a  voyage  of 
seven  weeks  and  three  days  he  landed  in  Baltimore, 
being  at  the  time  seventeen  years  old.  Immediately 
after  landing  he  commenced  to  work  out  as  a  farm 
hand  in  Maryland,  and  thus  continued  through 
several  years,  receiving  in  compensation  lor  his  ser- 
vices only  from  $5  to  §10  per  month  and  his 
board.     But  saving  his  money  he   was  finally  able 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


569 


to  rent,  and  afterward  bought  land  in  Adams 
County,  Pa.,  having  sold  the  property  left  liim 
b}'  his  father  in  German}'.  He  continued  to  reside 
on  his  farm  in  Pennsylvania  for  two  years,  being 
about  sixteen  miles  from  Gettysburg,  and  after  tlie 
bloody  battle  at  tliat  point  he  visited  the  field  of 
slaughter  and  beheld  the  corpses  of  the  unknown 
dead  strewed  lii\e  leaves  over  the  ground. 

Our  subject  was  drafted  into  the  Federal  Army, 
and  owing  to  tins  fact  and  other  troubles  became 
financially  embarrassed.  Not  caring  to  serve  ho 
was  forced  to  pay  §1,000  for  a  substitute,  and  his 
wife  and  two  children  died  about  that  time.  In 
the  fall  of  1864,  he  moved  with  his  two  sons  to 
Illinois,  settling  first  in  Sangamon  County,  and 
later  came  to  Fulton  County.  He  worked  for  a  time 
at  the  blacksmith's  trade  in  Astoria,  having  given 
attention  to  this  trade  for  some  time.  He  located 
on  his  present  estate  in  the  year  1868  and  lias  made 
this  his  home  since  that  date.  He  owns  one  hun- 
dred and  sixtj'-three  acres  of  valuable  land,  and 
has  a  blacksmith  shop  on  his  farm.  He  bad  only 
§9  when  he  landed  in  this  State,  but  is  at  the 
present  day  very  well  fixed  in  life,  and  looked 
upon  as  a  good  business  man. 

Mr.  Kauch  appreciates  the  value  of  mone}'  and 
has  practiced  strict  economj'  and  saved  something 
each  month,  and  thus  it  is  that  people  succeed. 
F>nergy  and  economy  hand-in-hand  will  conquer 
an-y  circumstances  however  adverse  they  may  b(!. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  and  he  has  served  as  Elder  for  Several 
years.  His  sympathies  are  with  the  Democratic 
party,  and  he  is  interested  in  everything  pertain- 
ing to  the  welfare  of  this  community. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  is  a  popular  man  as  is 
proven  by  the  fact  of  his  being  chosen  to  hold 
public  offices  and  positions  of  trust.  He  is  at  the 
present  time  School  Trustee  for  Pleasant  Township. 
Mr.  Ranch  was  married  in  Maryland,  in  1855,  to 
Aliss  Lydia  Stonesifer,  and  to  this  union  were  born 
four  children,  of  whom  only  two  are  living,  viz: 
David  T.  and  Samuel,  both  of  whom  reside  in  this 
township.  After  the  death  of  the  mother  of  these 
children,  our  subject  was  again  married,  this  time 
to  Miss  Nancy  Weese.  To  them  was  born  one 
daughter — Mary  E.  wife  of  Eli  Strammel  of  Astoria, 


Illinois.  Once  more  he  was  deprived  by  death  of 
tlie  companion  of  his  home,  and  on  May  23,  1867. 
married  Miss  Talitha  Smith,  daughter  of  Arthur 
and  Mary  (Bohanan)  Smitli.  This  marriage  has 
been  blessed  with  eight  children,  of  jvhora  four 
are  living,  viz:  Lewis  E.,  a  school  teaelicr;  Thomas 
J.:  Nathaniel  11.;  and  Talitha  B. 

Mr?.  Ranch's  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
being  born  in  that  State  in  1793.  He  served  in 
the  War  of  1812.  Her  mother  was  horn  in  the 
State  of  Tennessee.  They  moved  to  Illinois  in 
1 834,  settling  in  Pleasant  Township.  Her  birth 
occurred  in  Fulton  County,  February  14,  1841, 
and  here  she  passed  her  childhood,  and  was  here 
educated.  Her  father  built  the  first  log  cabin 
schoolhouse  in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  was 
l;\rgely  instrumental  in  building  up  this  place. 
And  thus  every  da}'  furnishes  us  examples  of  the 
wonderful  results  that  industry,  strict  integrity  of 
purpose,  and  natural  ability  accomplish. 


m- 


a^ 


]OSHUAG.  WALKER  is  closely  identified 
with  the  agricultural  interests  and  the  pub- 
lic life  of  Union  Township,  and  is  justl.y  re- 
garded as  one  of  its  best  citizens.  He  comes 
of  pioneer  parentage,  and  has  been  a  resident  of 
this  county  nearly  all  his  life,  lie  was  born  in 
Lewis  County,  Ky.,  October  6,  1831.  His  grand- 
father, James  Walker,  was  a  native  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  was  of  Scotch  descent. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Hugh  and 
Nancy  (Given)  Walker,  and  their  names  are  re- 
corded among  those  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Ful- 
ton County,  to  which  the}'  came  in  1835.  They 
located  first  in  Canton,  and  remained  there  one 
year,  and  during  that  time  the  terrible  tornado 
came,  which  demolished  the  town.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  remembers  of  then  being  put  in  a  drj'- 
goods  box  for  safety,  but  though  the  house  in 
which  they  lived  was  destroyed,  none  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  family  were  injured. 

After  that  disastrous  calamity  Mr.  Walker  re- 
moved with  his  wife  and  children 'to  Lewistown, 
where  he  engaged   in  farming.     In  1850   his  bus\' 


570 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


anil  useful  career  was  cut  short  bj'  his  untimelj' 
deatii,  and  the  community  was  deprived  of  a  re- 
spected citizen.  He  and  his  wife  died  within  eight 
da3's  of  each  other,  and  b\'  their  demise  seven 
cliildren  were  sadly  orplianed  and  left  to  the  care 
of  neigiibors  and  relatives. 

Oin-  subject  was  thus  left  the  iiead  of  the  family, 
and  bravely  did  lie  shoulder  the  duties  and  respon- 
sibilities thus  thrust  upon  him  at  tlie  age  of  eight- 
een years.  He,  being  the  eldest,  took  cliarge  of 
the  affairs  of  the  farm,  and  for  two  years  managed 
to  keep  his  brothers  and  sisters  together,  but  the 
struggle  was  very  hard  for  him,  and  the  children 
were  then  separated,  being  sent  to  live  with  strang- 
ers, and  having  to  endure  many  privations  and 
hardships.  Mr.  Walker  when  he  became  freed  fioni 
his  charge  worked  out  by  tlie  month  at  810 
a  month  for  three  years.  March  28.  1854.  he  mar- 
ried Minerva  Brown,  and  was  once  more  enabled  to 
have  a  home  of  his  own,  liaving  carefully  saved  his 
earnings. 

Mrs.  Walker  is  a  daughter  of  James  Brown,  of 
Lewistown  Township,  who  came  to  this  count}- 
from  the  State  of  Maine,  in  1  828.  and  was  oue  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  this  part  of  the  .State.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  record  of  the  nine  children  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walker:  Mary  E.,  born  Januar}-  1, 
1855,  is  married  to  Oeorge  W.  Shinkle,  of  Warren 
County;  William  W.,  born  March  21,  1857,  married 
Etiie  Keutchler,  and  lives  in  Union  Township;  Ona, 
born  March  15.  1860;  John  C,  April  30,  18C2; 
Francis  .M..  October  1,  1864;  Annie,  December  31, 
1867;  George  M.,  March  27,  1870,  and  James  H., 
August  10,  1872,  are  all  at  home  with  their  parents; 
Eildie  B.,  born  May  15,  1S75.  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Walker  resides  on  section  26,  where  he  has  as 
fine  a  farm  as  can  be  found  in  I'nion  Township. 
Us  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  are  very  fertile 
and  well-tilled,  there  is  a  fine  class  of  buildings  on 
the  place  and  everything  about  betokens  thrifty  and 
well-directed  management. 

(Jur  subject  isa  thoroughly  upright,  honest  man, 
alwajs  dealing  fairl}-  and  squarely  bv  all,  and  his 
estimable  ci.aracter,  as  well  as  his  capability.  Iihs 
given  him  an  important' place  among  the  civic  of- 
ficials of  the  fownship.  He  Ikts  represented  it  on 
the  County  Board  of  Supervisors,  proving  himself 


well  qualified  for  that  position  b}'  the  able  way  in 
which  he  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office.  He  is 
interested  in  the  cause  of  education,  and  as  School 
Director  for  six  years  has  promoted  it  in  every  waj' 
[lossible.  The  Republican  party  finds  in  him  a 
faithful  supporter.  He  and  his  good  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Avon, 
and  heartilv  aid  its  everv  good  work. 


•    '    °%- 


^^ 


M 


\l?AMES  W.  ROSIN.  A  traveler  in  Fulton 
Count}-  sees  many  attractive  homes,  not 
only  in  the  thriving  towns  but  in  the  agri- 
cultural districts,  the  evidences  of  prosperity 
and  good  taste  being  plentiful  on  everv  hand.  In 
Buckheart  TO'Vnship,  stands  a  substantial  two- 
story  house  of  pleasing  architectural  design,  around 
which  well-tilled  acres  stretch  and  adequate  farm 
buildings  cluster.  In  the  pasture  lands,  thorough- 
bred .Short-horn  and  Duriiani  cattle  and  Poland- 
China  swine  may  be  seen.  Investigation  proves 
that  this  estate  belongs  to  .lames  W.  Rosin,  a  na- 
tive of  this  county,  who,  although  still  a  compara- 
tively young  man,  is  a  successful  farmer  and 
stock-raiser. 

The  parents  of  our  subjpct  w-ere  Levi  and  Mary 
(Skinner)  Rosin,  natives  of  the  Buckeje  State,  wlio 
removed  to  Fulton  County,  III.,  in  the  'iOs. 
After  a  short  sojourn  in  Liverpool  Township, 
where  our  subject  was  born  February  14,  1857, 
they  came  to  Bucklieart  Townshij).  Here  tlie  father 
died  in  1861.  his  wife  having  a  short  tinie  before 
crossed  the  river  of  death.  Tlie  children  being- 
young  when  the  parents  died  the  farailj-  history 
has  not  been  preserved.  Levi  and  Serepta  Rosin 
liad  three  children  of  whom  our  subject  is  the 
j-oungest.  The  eldest,  Lewis,  born  in  1850,  is  now 
living  in  the  -State  of  Missouri.  The  second  son 
died  when  very  young. 

After  the  death  of  his  father  James  Rosin  made 
his  home  with  friends  until  he  became  of  age. 
November  29,  1879,  he  married  Catherine,  daugh- 
ter of  Allen  Carver,  whose  sketch  will  be  found  on 
another  page  in  this  volume.  His  chosen  companion 
is  competent  to  assist  him,  as  a  thrifty  woman  can. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


571 


in  building  up  his  fortunes,  in  carefully  rearing  the 
children  who  have  been  born  to  them,  and  in  carry- 
ing out  every  neighboiiy  work  in  which  he  sees  fit 
to  engage. 

A  short  lime  .ifter  his  marriage,  in  18S0,  JNlr. 
Rosin  rented  a  farm,  which  he  occupied  until  1884, 
during  wliich  year  he  purchased  a  quarter  section 
of  his  father-in-law,  on  it  taking  up  his  permanent 
abode.  In  1889  he  erected  the  dwelling  wliich 
now  sheliers  his  familj-  and  under  whose  roof  four 
bright  cliildren  display  the  charms  of  childhood. 
They  are  Dollie  E.,  born  October  7,  1880:  Ernie  i 
B..  March  17,  1883;  Elmer  F.,  May  0,  1885;  and 
Maude  Sybil,  August  28,  1887.  A  peaceable  and 
law-abiding  citizen,  an  intelligent  and  industrious 
tiller  of  the  soil,  and  a  man  of  honor  in  his  rela- 
tions with  mankind,  Mr.  Rosin  is  duly  respected  by 
those  by  whom  he  is  known. 


"Tw/  ONAS  MORGAN,  son  of  Daniel  Morgan,  wjis 
borif  September  1 2,  1800,  in  Shenandoah  Val- 
le}^  Ya.  His  father  was  a  native  of  ^'irginia, 
but  of  Welsh  descent.  His  grandfather, 
Jonas  Morgan,  was  drafted  in  the  Revolutionary 
AVar.  and  sent  to  Culpeper  Court  House,  to  be 
sworn  in,  but  his  wife,  who  was  determined  to  save 
him,  dressed  herself  in  man's  clothing,  and  -i^re- 
sentcd  herself  to  be  a  substitute  for  him.  The  dis- 
guise was  very  perfect,  and  she  with  her  husband 
left  the  camp  the  next  day.  He  was  never  after- 
wards called  upon  to  expose  his  life  in  l)ehalf  of 
his  country. 

Mr.  Morgan's  father  was  in  the  Norfolk  War. 
His  mother,  who  pn^vious  to  her  marriage  was  Miss 
Lydia  Devon,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  of 
Scotch  descent.  They  continued  to  reside  in  that 
State  a  number  of  years,  and  then  moved  to  Licking 
County,  Ohio,  where  they  made  their  home  until 
1834,  at  which  date  they  came  to  Putman  Town- 
ship and  remained  here  during  the  rest  of  tlieir 
lives.  To  them  were  born  nine  children  ;  he  died 
in  1879,  and  she  breathed  her  last  in  1886. 

The  su1)ject  of  our  sketch  received  only  a  limited 
education  in    the    common   schools    of  Ohio,    and 


commenced  a  business  career  for  himself  when 
twenty-two  years  of  age.  On  September  9.  1822, 
he  married  Miss  Delilah  Burge,  daughter  of  John 
and  IMargaret  Burge,  of  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Mor- 
gan's parents  moved  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio, 
and  died  in  that  State.  Immediately  after  his 
marriage  Mr.  Morgan  settled  in  IIooi)  Pole  Tdwn- 
ship.  Licking  County,  Ohio,  on  a  faini,  and  con- 
tinued to  make  his  home  there  until  the  year  1833, 
when  he  moved  to  Illinois,  settling  on  his  present 
estate.  * 

Mr.  Morgan  is  one  of  the  early  pioneers  in  this 
township,  and  is  about  the  oldest  settler  living  in 
this  school  district.  At  the  time  of  his  first  appear- 
anc3  the  country  was  in  a  very  wild  and  unculti- 
vated state. and  he  had  all  the  troubles  that  naturall  v 

0 

attend  the  improvement  of  a  farm.  He  came  just 
at  the  close  of  the  Black  Ilawk  War,  and  the  land 
upon  which  he  settled  was  all  timber.  He  built  a 
small  log  house,  and  lived  in  a  very  unostentatious 
and  quiet  manner,  and  by  means  of  never-failing 
industry  has  during  his  sixty  3'ears  of  residence 
here,  cultivated  this  land  after  the  most  improved 
methods.  He  has  done  an  immense  lot  of  hard 
work,  but  though  at  the  present  date  he  is  ninety 
years  of  age,  he  is  bright  and  a  cheerful  companion. 
In  fact  he  has  always  been  a  man  of  unusually 
strong  mental  and  physical  powers. 

Our  suliject  and  his  wife  are  the  jiarents  of 
twelve  children,  of  whom  the  following  nine  are 
living:  Daniel,  James,  Elizabeth,  Elmira,  Eliza,  De- 
lilah, Lydia,  William,  and  Harvey.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Morgan  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  have  been  faithful  in  their  attendance 
for  many  years.  He  was  one  of  the  first  trustees 
of  this  church,  and  the  only  one  of  them  who  are 
living  at  the  present  lime,  and  has  been  Class  Leader 
and  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  during 
five  years.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Christian  Union,  and  was  also  a  member  of  a 
militia  company  in  Ohio.  He  has  been  a  pathmaster 
and  road-overseer. 

Our  subject  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in 
politics,  and  regularly  voted  tlie  Democratic  ticket, 
his  vote  being  cast  for  Andrew  Jackson.  Though 
he  and  Mrs.  Morgan  are  quite  advanced  in  years 
their  longevity  has   not  in  any  measure  destroyed 


572 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALHUM. 


their  natural  amiability  and  desire  to  please.  With 
each  passing  year  they  have  continued  to  add  to 
the  long  list  of  tlieir  friends,  and  are  to-day  very 
much  respected  and  liked  throughout  Ihe  commun- 
ity ill  whicli  they  reside. 


USTUS  EFFLAND.  This  gentleman,  who 
is  of  German  birth,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Fulton  County  since  1859  and  has  done 
good  work  in  aiding  in  the  rapid  develop- 
ment of  Deerfielil  Township  and  Fulton  County, 
and  their  present  high  standing  among  the  agri- 
cultural districts  of  tlie  Union.  Mr.  Effland  has 
been  successful  in  his  efforts  to  acquire  a  good 
home,  and  has  accomplished  his  purpose  by  strict 
attention  to  business  and  thorough  responsibility  in 
all  he  undertakes.  He  owns  and  occupies  an  estate 
on  section  7,  Deerfield  Township,  which  consists  of 
one  hundred  and  forty-two  acres  of  well-stocked 
and  thoroughly-tilled  land.  The  most  of  the  work 
of  improvement  has  been  done  by  the  present 
owner,  including  the  clearing  of  about  twenty 
acres  and  the  digging  of  two  wells.  The  house, 
barn  and  other  improvements  are  substantial,  con- 
veniently located  and  sufficiently  adequate  for  their 
various  purposes. 

Our  subject  came  of  respectable  parentage,  his 
immediate  progenitois  having  been  John  and 
Thirza  (Sliuhart)  Effland.  Both  were  born  in 
Germany  and  the  father  died  there  in  1849.  The 
mother  came  to  America  in  1862  ami  breathed  her 
last  in  Ohio  in  1880.  The  birth  of  our  subject 
took  place  in  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  September 
16,  1837,  and  in  his  native  country  he  remained 
until  1857.  He  then  crossed  tiie  briny  deep,  be- 
lieving that  the  New  World  would  open  up  to  hiai 
a  broader  way  in  which  to  work  toward  tlie  desired 
result,  a  good  home. 

The  young  man  located  in  Ottawa  County,  Oiiio, 
spending  a  year  in  working  for  his  uncle  and 
another  in  farm  labor  for  a  cousin.  In  1859  he 
came  to  this  county,  beginning  work  on  a  farm  in 
Ellisville  Township  for  his  brother,  with  whom  lie 
remained  until  the  war  broke  out.     He  then  hired 


out  as  a  teamster  to  George  Malj'  and  went  south 
to  Pittsburg  Landing,?being  gone  six  months.  Hav- 
ing been  taken  ill  ho  returned  to  Ellisville,  tlien 
made  a  two  months'  trip  to  Ohio,  after  which  he 
returned  to  this  vicinity,  and  rented  a  farm.  A 
year  later,  he  wentCto  Ohio  after  his  bride  and 
buying  flft3-two  acres  in  Ottawa  County,  resided 
thereon  some  eighteen  months.  The  situation  did 
not  ple.sse  him  and  returning  to  this  counly  he 
rented  laml  in  Deerfield  Tuwnship  until  1.870,  then 
bought  eighty-  acres  on  section  7.  There  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  ten  j'cars,  grubbing,  fencing,  and 
otherwise  improving  the  land,  which  he  tinallj-sold 
in  1880.  We  next  find  him  renting  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  2.3,  but  two  3-ears  later 
buying  and  taking  possession  of  his  present  farm. 

The  efficient  and  devoted  woman  whom  Mr.  Eff- 
land won  for  his  wife  is  a  native  of  Hesse-Cassel, 
Germany,  a  daughter  of  .lohn  and  Elizabeth  (Bur- 
hel)  Stick,  and  was  christened  Catherine.  Her 
marriage  to  our  subject  was  celebrated  January  24, 
1864.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Effland  have  had  three  sons 
and  five  daughters,  the  survivors  being  Henry, 
Anna,  Maggie,  ^laiy  a.:d  Nettie.  The  first-born, 
John  H.,  died  April  11,  1883;  the  fifth  child,  Eliza, 
died  October  II,  1875;  and  the  seventh,  Freddie, 
April  11,  1881. 

Mr.  Effland  is  a  stanch  Ilciiublicau  and  lakes 
quite  an  intercslin  political  affairs.  He  has  served 
in  the  capacity  of  School  Director  ami  Palhmaster. 
He  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  Church  to  tlie  support 
of  which  he  contributes  liberally  and  in  which  he 
has  held  the  office  of  Deacon  three  years.  He  is 
well  known  throughout  the  county  and  respected 
as  his  industrious  and  upright  life  deserves. 

"^  ATKICK  MEEHAN.  One  of  the  most 
prosperous  dwellers  in  Orion  Township  is  the 
gentleman  above  named,  a  merchant  and 
coal  operator  at  Breed's  Stati(ni.  His  finan- 
cial ability  is  unmistakable  and  li.as  secured  for  him 
an  excellent  business  during  the  few  years  in  which 
he  has  been  thus  engaged.  He  is  a  son  of  Dennis 
and  Mary  (O'Conner)  Meelian,  natives  of  the  Em- 


1 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


575 


eraW  Isle  who  emigrated  to  America  ovtr  forty 
years  ago  and  settled  near  Cliicigo.  The  subject 
of  this  brief  sketch  was  reared  on  a  farm,  reaching 
jears  of  maturity  amid  pastoral  surroundings. 

Eleven  years  ago  Mr.  Jlcclian  came  to  Fulton 
County,  securing  tlie  position  of  Superintendent  of 
tlie  Seville  Coal  it  Lime  Corapanj',  which  he  re- 
tained five  years,  lie  then  began  mining  for  him- 
self and  opened  a  store  wiiere  lie  is  still  located, 
year  liy  year  increasing  his  commercial  resources. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  while  his  religious 
rearing  and  birthright  make  him  a  Roman  Catholic. 

On  August  8,  187.5,  the  rites  of  we<llock  were 
celebrated  between  the  subject  of  this  notice  and 
Miss  Catherine  Warren.  This  lady  was  born  Jann- 
ar}-  9,  1858,  is  well  informed,  possesses  much 
housewifely  skill  and  a  pleasing  and  estimable 
character.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meehan  two  children 
have  been  born,  named  Mary  and  Charles  I'espect- 
ively,  who  are  receiving  the  best  advantages  which 
their  parents'  love  and  means  can  secure  for  them. 
The  Orion  mine  oijeratod  by  Mr.  Meehan  has  a 
capacity  of  two  hundred  tons  i)er  daj'. 


"^ACOB  COSLEH.  Fulton  County  is  greatly 
indebted  for  its  present  wealth  and  high 
standing  to  the  sturdy,  intelligent  and  en- 
(^^'  terprising  tillers  of  the  soil  who  have  been 
instrumental  in  develo|>ing  its  vast  agricidtural  re- 
sources. As  a  worthy  member  of  its  farming  com- 
munity, who  has  contributed  toward  its  material 
advancement,  and  has  been  very  prominent  in  its 
civic,  social,  religious  and  educational  life,  it  gives 
us  pleasure  to  represent  Mr.  Cosier  in  this  volume. 
He  has  long  been  associated  with  the  agricultural 
interests  of  Joshua  Townslnp  and  has  built  up  a 
comfortable  home  here  on  the  southwestern  quai- 
ter  of  section  5. 

Mr.  Cosier  was  l)orn  near  Dayton,  Montgomery 
County,  Ohio,  June  2.5,  18'23.  He  passed  the  early 
years  of  his  life  in  Greene  County,  a  lialf-mile 
from  the  place  of  his  birth.  He  was  a  mason  by 
trade,  and  followed  that  occupation  while  a  resi- 
dent   of    Ohio,    and    by    industry    accumulated    a 


small  property.  In  1852  he  sold  it,  and  with  the 
[jroceeds  came  to  Illinois,  accompanied  by  his 
family,  making  the  journey  with  a  team,  a  heavy 
wagon  and  one  light  wagon,  and  upon  his  arrival 
locating  in  .Joshua  Township.  He  was  a  man  of 
considerable  education,  had  taugiit  school  in  Ohio 
for  three  terms  and  was  engaged  in  that  profes- 
sion the  first  winter  of  his  settlement  in  this  State. 

Mr.  Cosier  first  settled  on  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  26,  his  place  comprising  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  and  on  the  land  was  a  rude 
log  cabin  and  stable,  in  the  former  of  which  he 
and  his  wife  and  family  of  four  children  first  made 
their  home.  He  made  an  addition  to  the  cabin 
IG.xlC  feet  in  dimensions,  and  lived  there  until 
1863,  when  he  builta  neat  frame  house,  18.x28  feet, 
with  an  "L"  16x24  feet.  In  1860  he  built  a  bank 
barn,  32x44  feet  in  dimensions,  and  erected  a 
wagon  shed  and  corn  cribs,  16x32  feel.  He  lived 
on  that  place  until  1877,  when  he  put  it  in  charge 
of  his  oldest  son,  who  still  operates  it. 

Our  subject  has  anothei  farm  of  eighty  acres 
on  the  western  half  of  the  southwestern  quarter 
of  section  14,  and  this  has  been  occupied  b}'  his 
youngest  son  since  1877.  Mr.  Cosier  came  to  his 
present  residence  in  1877.  It  consists  of  twenty- 
three  acres  of  choice,  highly  cultivated  Land  on  the 
southwestern  quarter  of  section  25.  He  has  met 
with  good  fortune  in  the  prosecution  of  his  call- 
ing and  now  owns  two  hundred  and  tweiity  acres 
of  as  fine  farming  land  as  may  be  found  in  the 
county,  and  is  one  of  the  solid  men  of  his  town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Cosier  has  received  substantial  aid  in  what 
he  has  accomplished  from  his  devoted  wife,  for- 
merly Miss  Margaret  Miller,  to  whom  he  was  united 
in  marriage  in  January,  1845.  Their  wedded  life 
has  been  gladdened  by  the  birth  of  five  children, 
as  follows:  Cj'rus  F.,  who  lives  on  section  20,  has 
been  twice  married;  he  first  married  Miss  Maxie, 
while  the  maiden  name  of  his  present  wife  was 
Frances  A.  Murphy;  Barbara  Ellen  married  Will- 
iam II.  Geltmachcr  and  lives  near  Gfioil  Hope, 
McDonough  County;  Mar}'  Jane  married  Job 
Walker,  former  treasurer  of  Fulton  County,  who 
is  now  deceased;  she  is  living  in  Atlantic,  Crss 
County,  Iowa.     I^avid  F.  (narried  Caroline  Thorne 


576 


P0RTR4IT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  lives  on  section  14,  Joshua  Township;  and 
Lydia  Maria  tnanied  John  D.  Young  and  lives 
near  Gooil   Hope. 

The  power  of  honesty  and  integrity  is  well  il- 
lustrated in  the  quiet  unpretentious  life  of  our 
subject,  as  all  agree  who  know  liira;  and  all  who 
come  in  contact  with  him,  realize  that  he  is  a 
Christian  man  in  every  sense  of  the  word  and 
practices  Christianity  in  his  daily  life.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  consistent  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  with  which  he  has  been  con- 
nected since  1843.  IMr.  Cosler's  fellow-citizens, 
recognizing  his  worth  and  his  good  capacity  fi^r 
affairs,  have  often  called  him  to  take  part  in  the 
public  life  of  the  count}'  and  township,  and  he  h.is 
proved  an  invaluable  civic  officer.  He  has  been 
Justice  of  the  Peace  since  18,")8.  and  has  ever 
been  a  peacemaker  rather  than  an  encourager  of 
litigation.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  ten  different  times,  and  has  served  as 
Assessor  six  terras.  He  is  still  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  is  also  School  Director,  having  always 
manifested  a  deep  interest  in  educational  matters 
in  this  locality.  Politicall\'.  he  is  a  Democrat  and 
lends  ready  aid  to  his  party. 

Elsewhere  in  this  volume  will  be  noticed  a  litho- 
graphic portrait  of  Mr.  Cosier. 


;  LEXANDER  MARANVILLE.  One  of  the 
prosperous  farmers  of  Lewistown  Town- 
ship, is  the  gentleman  above  named,  who 
was  born  on  the  farm  he  now  occupies,  on  the 
6th  of  March.  1841.  He  is  a  lUrect  descendant 
of  Louis  DeMaranville,  a  native  of  France,  and  a 
mrmber  of  the  French  army.  He  emigrated  to 
America,  locating  on  the  coast  of  Maine,  and  fol- 
lowing a  seafaring  life  until  his  last  years.  His  son, 
Lewis  Maranville,  (the  name  having  been  Angli- 
cized), was  born  in  the  Pine  Tree  State,  and  reared 
to  agricultural  [lursuits.  About  1802  he  removed  to 
Ohio,  making  the  entire  trip  with  teams.  Locating 
at  Ashtabula,  he  purchased  a  tract  of  timber  land, 
cleared  a  farm  from  the  wilderness,  and  resided 
there  until  death.     He  was  drowned  while  attempt- 


ing to  cross  a  stream.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
wife  was  Mar}'  Jlaranville,  she  also  being  of  French 
ancestry. 

The  next  in  the  direct  line  of  descent  was  a  sec- 
ond Lewis  Maranville.  a  son  of  the  couple  above 
mentioned,  and  a  native  of  Ashtabula,  Ohio.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  follow- 
ing it  in  his  native  State  until  1830,  when  he  re- 
moved to  this  count}',  making  the  journey  by  team 
and  being  six  weeks  on  the  road.  At  that  time  the 
county  was  very  sparsely  settled,  and  a  portion  of 
the  l.ind  was  still  owned  by  the  Government,  and 
f'.>r  sale  at  ^1.2;)  per  acre.  Deer,  turkeys,  and  other 
kinds  of  wild  game  were  plentiful.  After  follow- 
ing his  trade  a  few  }-ears,  Mr.  Maranville  bought  a 
tract  of  timber  land  in  Lewistown  Townshii),  built 
a  dwelling,  began  to  clear  the  farm,  and  has  since 
devoted  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  With 
his  son  he  still  occupies  the  old  homestead  which 
now  ranks  among  the  good  farms  of  the  section, 
and  he  has  lived  to  see  the  surrounding  country 
develop  from  a  wilderness  to  a  well-settled  and 
wealthy  region. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  known  in  her 
maidenhood  as  ^lelinda  Huff.  Her  father,  John 
Huff,  a  native  of  Virginia,  was  reared  to  agricul- 
tural pui'suits  in  his  native  State,  and  about  1812 
removed  by  team  to  Hancock  County,  Ky.,  of 
which  he  was  a  pioneer.  At  that  time  Indians  were 
numerous  and  hostile,  and  the  few  settlers  were 
obliged  to  live  in  a  fort,  or  stockade.  He  cleared 
a  farm  upon  which  he  resided  until  his  death.  His 
father,  William  Huff,  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  of 
Scotch  ancestry,  removed  to  Virginia,  and  thence 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  spent  his  last  years.  Mrs. 
Maranville  was  born  in  the  Old  Dominion,  and  died 
on  the  homestead  here  in  188fi.  Slip  reared  two 
sons,  he  of  whom  we  write,  and  Charles.  The  lat- 
ter served  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois 
Infantry,  Company  A,  and  was  killed  before  At- 
lanta, August  19    1804. 

Our  subject  resided  with  his  parents  until  seven- 
teen years  old,  when  in  April,  1858,  he  started  with  a 
company  for  Pike's  Peak.  The  entire  journey  was 
made  with  teams,  the  Missouri  River  being  crossed 
from  Council  BlutTs  to  Omaha,  which  was  then  a 
hamlet.     Nebraska  contained    but    few  white  set- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


577 


tiers  except  along  the  streams,  while  the  plains 
abounded  with  deer,  antelope  and  buffalo,  and  In- 
dians were  numerous.  On  the  2.5th  of  June  the 
partj'  arrived  at  Denver,  then  a  village  of  about 
two  hundred  inhabitants  mostly  living  in  log  houses. 
Thence  Mr.  Maranville  went  to  the  mountains 
where  he  was  occupied  in  prospecting  about  four 
months,  after  wiiich  he  again  crossed  the  plains 
and  reaching  Waverly,  Iowa,  remained  there  sevm 
monllis. 

At  the  expiration  of  that  time  the  young  man 
returned  to  his  home,  where  lie  engaged  in  farming 
until  1862.  August  9  of  that  year  he  became  a 
member  of  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Third 
Illinois  Infantry,  was  mustered  in  at  Peoria,  and  in 
November  sent  to  Tennessee.  The  regiment  spent 
the  winter  in  that  State,  going  to  Yicksburg  in  the 
spring,  and  during  the  noted  siege  forming  a  pari 
of  tlie  rear  guard  of  the  Federal  Army,  whose  office 
was  to  prevent  Johnston's  forces  from  reinforcing 
those  in  the  city.  Tlic  regiment  subsequently  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  and  accompanied  Sherman  on  the 
march  through  Georgia,  taking  part  in  all  the  bat- 
tles of  the  campaign,  including  the  siege  and  cap- 
ture of  Atlanta.  From  that  city  they  marched  to 
the  sea,  thence  by  the  Carolinas  and  Richmond  to 
Washington  to  participate  in  the  Grand  Review, 
after  which  tliey  went  to  Louisville,  K}^,  where  the}' 
were  mustered  out  in  July.  1865. 

Mr.  Maranville  was  mustered  into  the  service  as 
Corporal,  and  served  as  such  until  August,  1863, 
when  he  became  a  band  leader,  continuing  to  act 
as  a  musician  until  his  dis<'harge.  While  assisting 
in  carrying  back  the  wounded  from  the  field,  he 
was  himself  wounded  three  times.  The  first  occa- 
sion was  at  Missionary'  Ridge,  vvhere  he  was  struck 
by  a  piece  of  shell,  being  thereby  laid  up  about  a 
month.  His  second  wound  was  from  a  spent  njiuie 
ball  at  Atlanta,  and  the  third  from  a  piece  of  shell 
which  passed  llirough  his  right  hand  when  at  Savan- 
nah, Ga. 

After  his  discharge  from  the  volunteer  service, 
Mr.  Maninville  enlisted  in  the  regular  army,  and 
was  first  assigned  to  duty  in  Savannah.  Thence  he 
was  sent  to  Governor's  Island,  subsequently  trans- 
ferred to  Annapolis,  and  finally  assigned  to   Alex- 


andria, Va.,  vvhere  he  received  his  discharge  in 
August,  186G.  He  then  returned  to  his  home  and 
resumed  farming,  remaining  in  this  county  until 
1873,  when  he  removed  to  Benton  Countj',  Kan. 
After  tilling  the  soil  there  for  a  year,  he  removed 
to  Arkansas,  and  receiving  the  appointment  of 
Deputy  Marshal  for  the  Northern  District,  was 
stationed  at  Ft.  Smith  for  two  years.  He  then 
resigned,  returned  to  this  county,  and  has  since  oc- 
cupied and  operated  the  old  homes'c.id. 

The  marriage  of  Alexander  Maranville  and  Celia 
Piper  was  solemnized  on  August  19,  1862.  The 
bride,  a  native  of  the  Kpystone  .state,  is  a  lady  of 
intelligence  and  estimable  character,  who  worthily 
fills  her  place  at  the  head  of  the  household.  Her 
family  consists  of  three  childi-en — Annie,  Katie, 
and  Blanche.  Mr.  Maranville  is  a  believer  in.  and 
supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party. 
His  army  life  is  commemorated  through  his  identi- 
fication with  Thomas  Lay  ton  Post,  No.  121,  G.  A. 
R.  He  also  belongs  to  Kenneth  Lodge  No.  146, 
K.  P..  and  to  Lewistown  Camp  No.  280,  M.  W.  A. 


|VILLIAM  R.  WEAVP:R.  This  name  will  be 
\\\w/  ^^  °^^^  recognized  by  the  majority  of  our 
\\f^  readers  as  that  of  one  of  the  leading  agri- 
culturists of  Fulton  Count}'.  In  addition  to  gen- 
eral farming  he  makes  a  specialty  of  raising 
Shropshire  sheep,  having  some  of  the  finest  animals 
of  this  breed  to  be  found  in  the  LTniled  States, 
many  of  them  imported.  On  account  of  his  interest 
in  this  work  he  has  bestowed  upon  his  estate  the 
name  of  Shroi)shire  Lawn.  It  consists  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres,  which  are  tilled  in  the  most 
thorough  manner  and  are  adorned  with  a  fine  set 
of  buildings,  second  to  none  in  the  townshii*.  They 
are  complete  in  all  their  appointments,  and  the 
dwelling  is  surrounded  with  all  that  goes  to  make 
a  home  pleasant  and  attractive. 

Our  subject  is  a  representative  of  a  prominent 
and  highly  respected  family,  whose  identification 
with  the  early  development  of  this  county  proved 
a  valuable  factor  in  its  civilization.  Going  back 
in  the  paterual   line  three  generations  we  come  to 


578 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAI'FIICAL  ALBUM. 


the  Hon.  Isaac  ^Weaver,  of  the  Keystone  State,  | 
whose  son  William  came  to  this  county  in  1835 
anil  died  .it  Young  Hickon-  April  11,  1879.  He 
was  accompanied  hither  by  a  son,  Isaac,  who  had 
been  born  in  Green  Count}^  Pa.,  July  13,  1819. 
This  Isaac  AVeaver  was  married  in  Peoria  County, 
December  13,  1838,  to  Miss  Harriet  C.  Reeve, 
whose  natal  day  was  July  10,  1811,  and  birthplace. 
Plattsburg,  Cliuton  County.  N.  Y.  The  young 
couple  settled  in  Deerlield  Tuwiiship,  this  county, 
and  a  few  years  later  built  just  across  the  line  in 
Young  Hickory  Township.  The}'  remained  there 
until  1857,  then  removed  to  Prairie  Cit}-,  McDon- 
ough  County,  where  Mrs.  Weaver  died  January 
27,  1879.  Mr.  AVeaver  survived  until  January  28, 
1890,  breathing  liis  last  in  the  same  city. 

Isaac  Weaver  was  highly  respecteil  b\-  all  who 
knew  him,  being  upright  and  honorable  in  all  his 
dealings,  interested  in  the  true  welfare  of  those 
about  him.  and  ever  read}'  to  give  counsel  and  ad- 
vice to  the  many  who  sought  it  at  his  hands.  He  was 
well  read  ou  all  subjects,  possessed  of  sound  judg- 
ment and  Christian  character.  He  filled  various 
offices  in  Young  Hickorj-  Township,  among  them 
being  that  of  Supervisor,  and  was  Justice  of  the 
Peace  in  Prairie  City  for  many  years.  He  was 
also  Notary  Public  and  a  successful  Pension 
Agent.  He  came  very  near  winning  the  race  for 
the  office  of  County  Judge  in  McDonough  Couutj-. 
He  took  an  active  interest  in  the  Sunday-school 
work.  His  wife  was  also  identified  with  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Weaver  con- 
sisted of  six  children,  the  third  of  whom  is  the 
subject  of  this  biograpliical  notice — Eliza  M.,  the 
first-born,  is  the  wife  of  George  W.  Beer;  Mary  E., 
the  second  child,  died  when  twenty-one  years  old; 
Harriet  C.  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  S.  King;  Henry  C. 
died  when  about  a  year  old;  Isaac  F.  married  Miss 
Lydia  Brinkerhoff,  and  resides  in  Arkansas  County, 
Ark. 

AVilliani  R.  Weaver  was  born  in  Young  Hickorj' 
Township,  this  count}',  January  20,  1845.  He  was 
about  twelve  years  old  when  his  parents  removed 
to  I'rairie  City,  wherein  he  grew  to  manhood  and 
continued  to  live  until  his  marriage.  He  assisted 
his  father,  who  operated  a  grain  elevator,  until  a   ; 


few  months  after  his  majority,  when  he  established 
a  home  of  his  own  in  Young  Hickor}-  Township. 
After  living  there  about  five  j'ears  he.  in  the  fall  of 
1870,  removed  to  Canton  Township,  settling  on 
section  6.  where  he  has  since  remained.  He  pos- 
sesses the  progressive  ido.is  of  the  age,  and  makes 
of  his  agricultural  pursuits  both  an  art  and  a  science. 
He  therefore  proves  successful  in  his  chosen  call- 
ing, gaining  from  the  fertile  soil  abundant  crops 
of  excellent  quality.  His  flock  of  sheep  is  one  of 
the  finest  in  tlie  entire  State  and  the  source  of  a 
good  income.  The  other  stock  is  of  course  excel- 
lent, ami  the  machinery  used  upon  the  place  of  the 
most  approved  models. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  was  solemnized  in 
Cautou  Township  Februar}-  I,  18G6.  his  companion 
in  the  interesting  event  being  Miss  Ellen  Leeper. 
Her  family,  like  that  of  her  husband,  is  one  of  emi- 
nent respectability  and  has  been  identified  wilh 
the  development  of  this  county  lor  more  than  half 
a  century.  Mrs.  Weaver  received  unexcelled  home 
training  and  good  educational  advantages,  and  is 
therefore  well  qualified  to  fill  her  place  at  the  head 
of  the  household.  She  joins  with  her  husband  in  ex- 
ercising the  most  generous  hospitalitv,  and  all  who 
cross  their  threshold  depart  wilh  pleasing  memories 
of  her  grace  as  a  hostess  and  devotion  as  a  parent. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  AVeaver  have  two  sons — Frank  E. 
and  Lorau  E. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Weaver  were  Thomas  and 
Eliza  (Lake)  Leeper.  The  father  was  born  in  Ohio 
in  1801,  and  the  mother  in  New  Jersey,  September 
9,  1809.  Their  marriage  took  place  in  Hamilton 
Count}'.  Ohio,  Janaaryl8,1826,  and  there  they  made 
their  home  ten  years.  They  then  removed  to  this 
county,  arriving  in  September,  1836,  and  locating 
in  Fairview  Township.  There  the  beloved  husband 
and  father  died,  November  9. 1859,  his  dying  hours 
cheered  by  the  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
with  which  his  widow  is  identified.  Besides  Mrs. 
Weaver  the  family  of  Mv.  and  Mrs.  Leeper  included 
— Jane,  who  became  the  wife  of  David  AA'eaverand 
died  in  Canton,  Canton  Township;  Mary  A.,  wife  of 
John  Williamson;  Catherine,  wife  of  J.  P.  Dean; 
Charlotte,  wife  of  Thomas  Pool,  whose  home  is  in 
Union     Township;  AVilliam,    who    married    Kate 


"^.. 


f 


.%.. ' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


08 1 


Rose  and  lives  in  EllisvilleTownsliip;  George,  who 
was  killed  at  Vicksburg,  liaving  been  a  uiember  of 
tbe  Seveulysecond  Illinois  Infantry,  known  as  llu' 
Board  of  Trade  Regiment;  Ann,  wife  of  Barue3' 
G?eenwell,  of  Farmington  Township;  Sarali,  wife- 
of  Andrew  ^McBride,  of  Farmer's  City ;  Adeline, 
who  lives  in  Canton  Township. 

Mr.  Weaver  finds  time  in  Ihe  midst  of  his  exten- 
sive personal  interests  to  bear  an  active  part  in  the 
political  affairs  of  the  neighborhood,  in  educational 
matters  and  in  all  movements  wliieli  tend  to  the 
general  welfare.  He  is  now  .School  Trustee  and 
has  been  Director.  He  votes  the  Republican  ticket, 
and  the  hindrances  must  be  many  and  great  that 
keep  him  away  from  the  polls.  He  belongs  to  the 
American  .Shropshire  Registr3'  Association.  Per- 
sonally, he  is  one  of  tlie  most  genial,  compan- 
ionable men,  strictl\-  honorable  in  his  dealings,  and 
therefore  highly  regarded  by  all  with  whom  he  has 
to  do. 


JO.SEPII  B.  NEGLY.  Among  the  numerous 
avenues  by  which  men  pass  to  success  tliere 
is    none    that    affords   belter    opportunities 

than  that  of  tilling  the  soil.     Without  doubt 

the  farmer's  life  has  less  of  cankering  care  in  it 
than  thai  of  any  other  class  of  workers  in  the  busi- 
ness worhL  He  leatls  a  quiet  life,  free  from  the 
noise  and  care  that  almost  invariably  attend  a 
commercial  career,  and  confident  that  his  lalior  will 
bring  a  good  result.  Mr.  Negly  is  numbered 
among  the  successful  agriculturists  of  Fulton 
County,  111.,  who  having  accumulated  a  fortune, 
can  afford  to  rest  from  active  labor  and  enjoy  the 
comforts  wealth  can  procure.  As  such  we  are 
pleased  to  present  a  Ijrief  account  of  his  life,  and 
also  direct  the  attention  of  the  reader  to  his  litho- 
graphic portrait  on  the  opposite  page. 

The  place  where  Mr.  Negly  spent  the  earlier 
period  of  his  life  was  near  Mercersburg,  in  Mont- 
gomery Township,  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  and  the 
date  of  liis  birth  was  June  15,  1813.  He  comes 
of  CTerman  lineage,  his  great-grandfather  coming 
from  the  Fatherland  at  a  very  earl}'  day  and  lo- 
cating in  Pennsylvania.     In  that  State  Grandfatlier 


Eliab  Negly  was  born,  and  there,  after  a  useful 
career,  he  passed  from  the  busy  scenes  of  earth. 
His  occupation  was  that  of  a  miller,  and  he  figured 
in  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  immediate  pro- 
genitors of  our  subject  were  Jacob  and  Mary 
(Bowermaster)  Negly,  both  of  German  descent. 
The  father  was  a  farmer,  and  in  connection  with  his 
agricultural  lal)ors  worked  as  a  blacksmith,  having 
learned  that  trade. 

The  parental  family  included  eight  children,  of 
whom  tlie  following  are  deceased :  John,  Mary, 
Jacob,  Elizabeth,  j;iiab  and  Daniel.  The  survivors 
are:  Barbara  B.,  widow  of  Jacob  Martin,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  our  subject.  He  of  whom  we  Vv-rite 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and  continued  to 
live  with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty-three 
years  of  age,  when  be  was  prepared  to  establish  a 
liome  of  his  own.    He  was  united  in  marriage,  June 

14,  1836,  with  Miss  Catherine  Wolf,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  the  daughter  of  David  and  Cath- 
erine  (Buttesbaugh)  Wolf. 

The  record  of  the  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Negly  is  as  follows:  David  Wolf  died  in  infancy; 
Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Newton  Ellis,  of  Canton; 
Ann  Maria  married  John  Brown,  of  Marshalltown, 
Iowa;  Joseph  W.  lives  near  Gilman,  Iowa;  Daniel 
P.  is  deceased;  George  owns  and  is  residing  at  the 
old  homestead  where  he  was  born:  Susan  is  the 
wife  of  N.  C.  Wilkinson,  of  Alta,  Iowa;  Jacob  M., 
the  second  child,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh, 
while  with  the  Seventeenth  Illinois  Infantry,  in 
Company  C;  AVilliam  H.,  the  youngest  child,  is 
deceased.  After  tbe  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr. 
Negly  was   married  in  Buckhcart  Township,  June 

15,  1881,  to  Mrs.  Mar}'  Almsley,  widow  of  Aaron 
Almsley  and  a  native  of  Germany.  Her  parents, 
Jacob  and  Catherine  (Slossen)  Tresser  left  the 
Fatherland  when  she  was  only  three  years  old,  emi- 
grating to  the  United  States  and  locating  near 
Chambersburg,  in  Franklin  County,  Pa. 

While  in  the  prime  of  early  manhood  our  sub- 
ject resolved  to  locate  in  the  West,  and  coming  to 
Canton,  111.,  in  October,  1844,  soon  afterward 
purchased  a  farm  in  Fairview  Township.  He  con- 
tinued to  give  his  time  and  attention  to  agricultu- 
ral |)ursuits  until  he  retired  from  his  active  labors 
and  settled  in  Canton  in    1883.     At  one   time  he 


582 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  being  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  (lr3-goocls  store  and  succeeding  admir- 
ably in  that,  as  in  other  avocations.  In  politics  lie 
was  formerly  aWhig,  then  a  Republican,  and  still  fre- 
quently votes  the  latter  ticket,  although  he  is  now 
identified  with  the  Greenback  party.  For  a  period 
of  fifteen  years  he  vvas  President  of  the  Fairview 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company.  He  is  a  Master 
Mason,  having  been  connected  with  the  Fairview 
Lodge  for  twentj'  eight  years,  and  being  Master  of 
Fairview  Lodge  twelve  years;  he  is  also  a  Royal 
Arch  Mason.  For  a  time  he  was  in  Europe  buying 
horses  for  the  Canton  Importing  Company,  of 
which  he  w.as  made  President  on    his  return  home. 


THOMAS  J.  Mcelroy  is  a  native  of  this 
(|™jsv\  county  born  August  23,  1847,  and  is  num- 
bered among  the  prosperous  and  well-to-do 
citizens  of  Harris  Township.  He  comes  of  fine 
old  Revolutionary  stock  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
II.  and  Elizabeth  (Humphrey)  McElroj'.  natives  of 
Ohio.  His  father  was  born  June  21.  1808,  and  his 
mother  February  15,  1811.  They  had  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  our  subject  was  the  sixth. 

Adam  McElroy,  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  was  the 
paternal  great-great-grandfather  of  our  subject.  He 
married  Miss  Raebael  McClure,  and  they  removed 
to  Ireland  and  settled  in  the  village  of  Drummore. 
County  Down.  They  were  the  parents  of  three 
children :  Adam.  Riichael,  and  John.  The  latter 
was  tiie  direct  ancestor  of  our  subject,  and  he  mar- 
ried Nancy  Newall,  a  daughter,  of  George  and 
Frances  Newall,  who  lived  in  Lancaster,  England, 
near  Liverpool,  where  she  was  born  in  1674.  John 
and  Nancy  McElroy  had  twelve  children,  among 
whom  was  John  the  immediate  progenitor  of  tlie 
family  on  this  side  of  the  water. 

John  McElroy,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  Volunteer  in  the  Pennsylvania  line,  enlisting 
January  1,  1776,  and  served  throughout  the  war  in 
different  stations  until  1783,  a  period  of  seven 
years  ten  months  and  three  days.  He  wrote  an  in- 
teresting account  of  his  Revolutionary  experience 
in  an   old  Bible  in  1816.     After  giving   the  dates 


of  tiie  birth  and  death  of  his  brothers  and  sisters, 
he  continues:  "  Twilfth  cliild,  John,  myself,  was 
born  May  22,  1758.  Our  family  emigrated  to 
America  in  1772,  and  my  mother  died  at  sea  on 
the  10th  of  Ma)\  the  same  year.  We  landed  at 
Marcushook  the  22d  of  May,  1772,  my  birtliday. 
And  in  1773  lived  in  Newcastle  County,  Delaware. 
In  1774,  I  lived  with  Robert  Finnej',  of  Delaware, 
"lairning"  painting  and  glazing,  and  part  of  1775, 
no  emi)loyment.  Lived  some  time  with  Alexander 
and  with  Samuel  Mears  in  the  Path  Vallej',  Pa. 
The  first  of  January-,  1776,  I  enlisted  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania Battalion,  commanded  b3'  Col.  William 
Irvin,  of  Carlisle.  The  first  of  April  got  battalion 
raised  and  marched,  two  companies  at  a  time,  first 
to  Lancaster,  and  on  to  Philadelphia,  there  getting 
knapsacks  and  blankets.  Went  by  water  to  Tren- 
ton, then  to  Elizabethtown  Point,  then  by  water  to 
New  York.  Then  by  water  to  Alban}',  where  we 
received  tents  and  camp  equipage,  about  the  1st 
of  Ma3^  Then  to  Lancingburg.  Then  to  Half 
Moon.  Next  to  Saratoga,  crossing  the  Hudson 
River  at  Ft.  Edward,  then  to  William  Henr3'.  Then 
crossed  Lake  George  to  Ticonderoga.  Then  to 
Crown  Point,  then  crossed  Lake  Champlain  to  St. 
John,  then  to  Ft.  Chamblee;  tben  down  the  river 
Sorrell  to  St.  Lawrence.  Then  down  the  St. 
Lawrence.  Crossed  Lake  St.  Peter,  and  on  to 
the  Three  Rivers,  where  we  went  to  attack  the 
British  advance  guard.  But  the  previous  night 
the  whole  arm3-  had  come  up  and  the  river  was 
full  of  ships  and  transports.  However,  we  at- 
tacked them  and  of  course  got  handsomely  beat, 
losing  about  one  hundred  men,  mostly  prisoners. 
When  our  "battons"  (this  word  could  not  be  made 
out)  spied  the  British  "shippin,''  they  made  their 
escape  with  all  our  provisions,  so  we  traveled  eighty 
odd  miles  on  good  brown  pine  swamp  water.  This 
was  the  first  time  1  ever  knew  what  real  hunger 
was. 

When  (we  came  to)  Barkee  our  boats  mot  us 
with  a  three  pound  loaf  of  bread  to  each  man.  We 
tried  to  purchase  some  onions  from  an  old  Scotch 
woman  who  was  churning,  but  (she)  would  not 
take  paper  nione3'.  We  contrived  to  run  away  with 
her  churn,  however,  and  took  it  into  some  bushes 
in  the  meadow.     The  bread  and  half  churned  but- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


583 


termillv  was  the  gi-eatest  feast.  Tlie  old  lady  miss- 
ing lier  cluiin  damned  our  Yankee  souls  to  all 
intents  and  purposes.  We  flien  crossodjthe  .St. 
Lawrence,  nine  mile.s  wiiic'to  the  camp  at  Soirell. 
Next  da_y  we  retreated  up  the  Sorrell  to  Cbamblee. 
We  burned  four  schooners,  a  gunboat,  the  foi't  and 
everything  we  couldruot  get  up  the  falls.  Hoisted 
our  boats  up.  Burned  St.  John's,  and  on  to  Isle  au 
Hour,  where  we  rested  a  week.  Here  the  Indians 
gave  us  the  first  salute,  killing  two  officers  and  two 
privates.  Two  officers,  one  sergeant,  and  myself, 
being  about  one  hundred  yards  awa}'  at  a  spring 
below  the  house,  providentially  escaped,  vve  l)eing 
like  fools  all  unarmed.  The  Indians  were  off  in 
less  than  three  minutes  with  four  scalps."  (Here 
the  article  abruptly  stops,  some  of  the  leaves  being 
evidently  torn  out.) 

This  gallant  Revolutionary  l.'ero  lived  to  fight 
the  British  in  the  War  of  1812  and  died  at  a  ripe 
old  age,  P'obriiary  17,  1841.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, first  to  Miss  Mary  Backman,  aged  nineteen,  at 
Easton,  Pa.,  February  13,  1782.  She  died  July  30, 
1799,  at  the  forks  of  Indian  Short  Creek,  of  child- 
birth. She  w.as  the  mother  of  nine  children.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  married  a  second 
time  March  22,  1800,  taking  as  his  wife  Miss 
Margaret  Hughes,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Margaret  (Stade)  Hughes,  of  Baltimore  County,  Md. 
She  bore  him  ten  children,  among  whom  was 
Thomas  H.,  the  father  of  our  subject.  He  was 
born  June  21,  1808.  The  family  moved  to  Ohio, 
and  there  the  father  of  our  subject  was  married  at 
Warrentown.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  John 
and  \'irgini,i  (Lewis)  Humphrey.  John  Humphrey 
was  a  captain  in  the  Revolution,  serving  as  an  otTi- 
cer  seven  years  under  Washington's  command.  He 
died  in  Ohio  at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety  3'ears. 
His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Melvee,  of  Ireland,  and  she 
died  in  Ireland  while  George,  his  son,  was  a  child. 

Thomas  McElroy,  of  this  sketch,  was  the  sixth 
child  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  and  was   born 
August  23,  1847,  in  the   i)ioneer  home  of  his   par 
euts    in    Marietta,  Fulton  County,  111.,    where    he 
grew  up  and  leceieed  a  common-school   education. 

Mr.  McPjlroy  was  married  in  Macomb,  111.,  to 
Miss  M.  J.  McKeevcr.  She  was  horn  in  Harrison 
County,  Ohio,  September  IG,  1853,  and  is  a  daugh- 


ter of  Archib.Tld  and  Sidney  (Timeiman)  McKeever. 
Her  mother  was  j^born  in  Virginia,  a  daughter  of 
John  and';Margaret  (Schofter)  Timerman,  of  that 
State.  Archibald  McKeever  was  a  native  of  New- 
York,  and  a  son  of  Judgel  McKeever.  He  was 
married  in  Ohio,  and  died  when  Mrs.  McElroy  was 
a  child. 


ARSHALL  W.  SMITH.  Conspicuous 
among  the  young  farmers  of  Banner  Town- 
ship is  the  gentleman  above-named,  who 
owns  and  operates  one  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  of  land  on  section  15.  Fie  was  born  in  this 
county  October  24,  1853,  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
acquired  a  good,  practical  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  remained  an  inmate  of  his  fath- 
er's household  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age, 
when  he  took  a  companion  and  helpmate,  and  es- 
tablished a  home  of  his  own.  He  is  manifesting 
energy  and  intelligence  in  the  prosecution  of  hie 
agricultural  labur,  giving  his  attention  to  mixed 
farming,  and  reaping  a  due  reward  for  his  efforts. 
On  January  10,  1870,  the  marriage  rites  were 
celebrated  between  our  subject  and  Miss  Rctta  Eli- 
uora  Spencer,  whose  excellent  qualities  had  won  his 
esteem.  The  union  has  been  blest  by  the  birth  of 
four  children,  of  whom  one,  Nellie,  died  in  infancy. 
Those  living  are  George  Herman,  born  October  18, 
1881;  llattie  Bell  M..  September  23,  1883 ;  Mary* 
E.,  June  18, 1889.  George  Spencer,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Smith,  still  lives  in  this  county,  where  he 
made  an  early  settlement. 

Mr.  Smith  exercises  the  right  of  suffrage  in  be- 
half of  the  candidates  and  principles  of  Demo- 
cracy. He  has  been  Assessor  of  Banner  Township 
and  Collector  two  terms.  He  is  identified  with  the 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  Canton. 
He  has  added  to  his  early  education  by  a  judicious 
use  of  good  journals,  by  personal  observation,  and 
by  contact  with  mankind.  His  character  is  up- 
right, and  his  future  life  promises  to  be  an  honored 
and  useful  one. 

Aaron  Smith,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  Brandenburg,  Prussia,  and 
emigrated  to  Anaerica  in  1799.  lie  located  in  Jeffer- 


584 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


son  County,  W.Va.,  where  bis  son, Win.  H.,  the  fatlier 
of  our  subject  was  born.  Smithfiekl.  the  place  of  na- 
tivity of  AVilliam  H.  Smith,  was  named  in  honor 
of  the  family.  That  gentleman  eanie  to  this 
county  in  1835,  locating  in  Banner  Township, 
where  he  still  resides.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Elizabeth  Wilcoxeu,  and  is  now  deceased. 


^-- 


^' 


<|  )»ILL:AM  T.  ROBERTSON,  of  Robertson 
\/-J//  Bros.  &  Co.,  the  leadinj;  dry-goods  lirm 
WHi  of  Earmington,  is  a  stirring  young  mer- 
chant, a  man  of  unimpeachable  integrit_v,  and  great 
business  abilit}'.  He  is  a  son  of  the  well-known 
James  Robertson,  who  is  now  living  in  retirement 
in  Earmington,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  handsome 
income. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Ireland, 
and  was  there  married  to  Rachael  Cunningham. 
They  came  to  America  soon  after,  and  spent  a  few 
3'ears  in  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Robertson  worked  at 
his  trade  in  that  city  four  or  five  years,  and  then 
removed  to  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  where  he  remained 
several  years.  In  1854  he  emigrated  to  Illinois 
and  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneers  of  Farming- 
ton.  He  has  prospered  in  business  here,  and  he  and 
his  wife  are  enjoying  tlie  fruits  of  a  well-spent  life 
in  their  commodious  home.  He  is  now  nearly  sev- 
ent3-two  years  of  age,  and  she  is  seventy.  They 
are  fine  people,  and  are  held  in  the  highest  estima- 
tion by  the  entire  comnumity  where  so  many  years 
of  llieir  life  have  passed.  They  have  had  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  Robert  J.,  who  is  cashier  of  the  Wash- 
ington County-  Bank,  of  Akron,  Col. ;  Joseph,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Earming- 
ton ;  James,  who  is  a  member  of  the  same  firm  as 
our  subject;  Rachael,  wife  of  James  Irwin,  of  Ak- 
ron, Col.;  William  Thomas,  and  Mary  who  mar- 
ried Frank  Crane,  a  hardware  merchant  of  Earm- 
ington. 

W.  T.,  of  wliom  this  sketch  is  written,  is  a  fine 
representative  of  the  native-born  citizens  of  Earm- 
ington. His  birth  to.ik  place  here  December  4th, 
1854,  and  liere  he  was  reared  and  educated.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  he   commenced   his  initiation 


into  I  he  mercantile  business  as  a  clerk  in  Mr.  Rich- 
ards' dry-goods  store.  He  remained  in  the  employ 
of  that  gentleman  twelve  \'ears,  and  his  fidelity  to 
tlie  interests  of  his  employer,  his  prom|)tness  and 
bis  excellent  business  capaciiy.  received  their  due 
reward,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  his  old  em- 
ployer took  him  into  partnership.  They  have  a 
convenient,  well-arranged  store,  and  a  capital  stock 
of  ii!l2,000;  the  trade  that  they  command  is  a  large 
one  and  brings  them  in  much  money. 

Mr.  Robertson  and  Miss  Cora  A.  Smith,  were 
married  in  1885.  Mrs.  Robertson  is  a  daughter  of 
George  Smith,  jiroprietor  of  the  Palace  Hotel  of 
Farmington,  ana  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this 
region. 

In  the  pretty,  cozy  home  that  they  have  estab- 
lished here,  one  child  has  been  born  to  them — Al- 
bert S.  Mr.  and  3Irs.  Robertson  possess  manj' 
pleasant  personal  qualities,  are  people  of  tlie  best 
social  standing,  and  have  many  warm  friends.  Mr. 
Robertson  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
Politicall}'  be  gives  his  support  to  the  Democratic 
part\-. 

i^SM- 

ENJAMIN  E.  TURNER  belongs  to  that 
class  of  agriculturists  whose  efforts  make  of 
this  count}'  the  garden  spot  of  Illinois.  He 
is  a  comparatively'  young  man.  having  been 
born  in  1850,  and  has  spent  his  life  in  this  county. 
He  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  1886  when  he 
established  a  home  of  his  own  on  section  6,  Banner 
Township,  where  he  has  one  hundred  acres  of  fine 
land,  well  imjjroved  with  good  buildings  of  vari- 
ous kinds,  fences,  orchards,  etc.  His  land  is  thor- 
oughly tilled,  produces  abundantly  and  the  crops 
are  of  excellent  quality. 

The  attractive  home  of  our  subject  is  presided 
over  bj'  a  capable  housewife,  formerly  known  as 
Miss  Ettie  Tucker.  She  is  a  daughter  of  James 
Tucker  of  this  county,  was  well  reared  and  edu- 
cated, carefully  instructed  in  the  principles  of  life 
and  in  womanly  attainments.  She  became  the  wife 
of  our  subject  March  15,  1877,  and  has  borne  liim 
three  children — Delia.  Nellie  and  Rose. 

Mr.  Turner  is  a  believer    in  and    a    supporter   of 


3.     ^5r 


-,?»^p^ 


i^-tlT*^ 


^ 


C^^^i^^l-^  r=C^^^^^^x^  ^e^L? 


•^-> 


^iri^    ^C^<^%^/L 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


.■)89 


the  principles  of  the  Republican  party.  Well  in- 
formed regarding  topics  of  general  interest,  en- 
terprising in  business  and  honorable  in  his  dealings 
with  his  fellow-men,  he  is  regarded  with  respect  as 
a  worthy  citizen  and  stanch  friend. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  James  and  Sarah  A. 
Turner,  were  earh"  settlers  in  this  county,  having 
located  in  Buckheart  Township  in  the  '30s.  The 
old  church  in  their  neighborhood  is  still  known  as 
Turner's  Church.  The  father  breathed  his  last 
Deceinber  1.3,  1886,  but  the  motlier  is  still  living  at 
a  ripe  old  age.  Their  fainil3-  consists  of  eight 
children  besides  our  subject — Henry  F.,  married 
Charlotte  Weller  and  lives  in  Dakota;  Mary,  mar- 
ried B.  F.  Duryea  and  lives  in  tliis  county;  Wil- 
liam P.,  married  Elizabeth  Ketchum,  his  home 
being  in  Banner  Township;  Louisa  married  Gieorge 
Duryea  and  lives  in  Stark  County;  Eliza  is  the 
wife  of  W.  H.  Williams,  her  home  also  being  in 
Stark  County;  Ella  is  the  wife  of  George  W  An- 
derson, their  home  being  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal.; 
Alice  married  FLarvey  Burhans  and  lives  in  this 
county;  Joseph  V.  married  Lizzie  Early,  his  home 
being  at  Hopkins,  Mo. 


AVID  LUPER.  Among  the  residents  in  Lee 
Township  who  are  spending  their  declining 
years  in  the  enjoyment  of  peace  and  plentj', 
obtained  by  their  industrious  efforts  and  good 
management,  and  secure  in  the  esteem  of  all  who 
know  them,  are  David  Luper  and  his  good  wife, 
whose  portraits  appear  on  the  opposite  page  and 
whose  pleasant  home  is  on  section  16,  Lee  Town- 
shij).  The  happy  couple,  although  living  alone, 
their  children  being  married  and  settled  in  homes 
of  their  own,  find  ranch  to  enjoy  in  life.  One  of 
the  greatest  pleasures  Mr.  Luper  can  have  is  to 
converse  with  an  interested  listener  regarding  the 
early  days  and  the  pioneer  life  in  which  he  bore  a 
part.  lie  speaks  of  the  days  when  grain  was 
threshed  by  driving  the  horses  over  it;  when 
twenty-live  cents  was  paid  for  letter  carrying;  wheat 
sold  for  twenty-live  cents  per  bushel,  and  salt  cost 


$4  per  bushel.  He  hauled  his  own  grain  to  Can- 
ton, between  which  place  and  Macomb  there  was 
not  a  postoftice. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  in  Crawford 
County,  Pa.,  January  7,  1814.  His  parents,  Jacob 
and  Nancy  (McMurtry)  Luper,  were  born  in  the 
Keystone  State  in  1792  and  removed  to  Ohio  in 
1834.  Tlicy  spent  the  remnant  of  their  d.ays  in 
the  Buckeye  State,  the  mother  dying  two  years 
after  their  removal  thither  and  the  father  in  1842. 
Their  family  consisted  of  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  named  respectively:  David,  Martin, 
.John.  Jasper,  Sarah,  Harriet  and  Abigail,  all  of 
whom  survive.  The  eldest  son,  our  subject,  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Ohio  and  remained  with 
them  there  four  years.  He  tlien,  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  t;henezer  Sanford.  started  for  Illinois  with 
a  team,  traveling  nuicli  of  the  time  without  seeing 
a  house.  Tiiey  landed  in  Ellisville,  this  county,  in 
Fel)ruary,  1838,  and  soon  after  his  arrival  Mr. 
Luper  bought  forty  acres  of  land  where  he  now 
resides.  He  cleared  and  improved  a  tract,  to  which 
he  afterward  added  two  hundred  and  forty  acres. 
He  has  given  his  sons  a  farm  and  still  retains  one 
hundred  and  eighty  acres. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Luper  and  Miss  Lois  Curtis 
was  celebrated  March  10,  1842.  Mrs.  Luper  was 
born  in  Ohio  May  23,  1823,  and  in  1837  accom- 
panied her  parents  to  this  county.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Enos  and  Lucy  (Smith)  Curtis,  who  were 
born  in  the  P>mpirc  State,  lived  in  Ohio  a  few  years, 
and  passed  the  remnant  of  their  days  in  this  State. 
Mr.  Curtis  died  in  18.54,  ten  years  after  his  good 
wife  had  crossed  the  river  of  deatii. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Luper  have  had  eight  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  survivors  are 
Luc3'  Ann,  now  the  wife  of  Peter  Wood  and  living 
in  Pukwana,  Brule  County,  S.  Dak. ;  Huldah  A., 
wife  of  Lorenzo  Barnes,  their  home  also  in  Da- 
kota; Henry  L.,  who  married  Nancy  Pearce  and 
lives  in  Lee  Township;  Emily  C,  wife  of  David 
Louk,  whose  home  is  in  Lee  Township;  Martin  J., 
who  married  Maggie  Sheckler  and  lives  in  Ellis- 
ville Township;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  D.  C.  Smith, 
whose  home  is  in  Lee  Township. 

What  is  now  Lee  Township  was  organized  into 
a  precinct  in  1841,  with  thirteen  voters,  of  wliom 


590 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mr.  Luper  and  Mr.  Harrison  Rigdon  are  the  only 
survivors.  iSIr.  Luper  \v:is  one  of  the  first  High- 
way Commissioners  in  the  town  of  Lee,  and  the 
second  School  Treasurer  in  the  townsliip.  He  is  a 
stanch  member  of  the  Republican  party.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Luper  have  been  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church  for  forty  years  and  Jlr.  Luper  has 
been  Deacon  and  Trustee.  They  donated  8100  to 
tlie  Chicago  University  in  1860  and  also  gave  to 
tlie  Baptist  Union  Theological  Seminary  of  Chicago 
in  1873.  They  have  taken  the  Standaixl,  a  reli- 
gious and  family  newspaper,  published  in  Chicago, 
since  1853.  On  his  return  from  a  visit  to  Penn- 
sylvania a  few  years  since,  Mr.  Luper  witnessed 
the  burning  of  a  ship  near  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where 
more  than  three  hundred  lives  were  lost.  It  is 
probable  that  no  couple  now  living  in  the  county 
are  more  highly  respected  than  our  subject  and  his 
wife,  and  certainly  none  are  better  deserving  of 
representation  in  this  volume  than  the  aged  couple 
who  have  witnessed  so  much  of  the  growth  of  the 
county. 


■e^,,EAVTON  P2LLIS,  formerly  a  prominent  far- 
I  j)l  mer  and  stock-raiser,  is  now  residing  in 
i[,i^_  Canton,  devoting  his  attention  to  looking 
after  his  investments  there  and  elsewhere,  besides 
having  a  brick  business  edifice,  good  residence  and 
otiier  property  within  the  city  limits.  He  is  one  of 
the  vast  army  who  spent  weary  months  in  cam- 
paign life  in  order  to  preserve  the  Union  and  as 
such  is  deserving  of  the  respect  of  all  who  love 
their  country. 

Isaac  Ellis,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
South  Carolina  in  1803,  and  died  in  this  count}-  in 
1877.  When  quite  J'oung  he  became  a  resident  of 
Teiuicssee  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married 
Nancy  Jennings.  This  lady  was  born  in  Tennes- 
see February  22,  1807.  She  is  of  English  extrac- 
tion in  t!ie  paternal  line,  while  the  P^llis  family  is  of 
Scotch  descent.  In  1830,  Isaac  Ellis,  and  his  fam- 
ily, which  at  that  time  consisted  of  a  wife  and  two 
children,  removed  to  this  countv,  locating  in  what 
is  now  Canton  Township.  Taking  possession  of  a 
tract  of  new  land,  the  husband  and   father  opened 


up  and  improved  the  same,  carrying  on  general 
farming.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energj' and  force 
of  character,  a  good  financier,  and  accumulated  a 
handsome  properl}-,  leaving  a  valuable  estate  when 
called  hence.  His  loss  was  mourned  by  a  wife  and 
ten  children  and  he  had  Ijeen  preceded  to  the 
tomb  by  one  child.  His  widow  is  still  living,  in 
the  possession  of  all  her  faculties,  occupying  the 
old  homestead  which  has  been  the  scene  of  so  much 
of  her  life  work. 

The  natal  day  of  our  subject  was  in  December, 
1843,  and  on  the  farm  in  the  township  of  which  he 
is  still  an  honored  resident,  he  grew  nearl}'  to  man- 
hood. He  attended  the  common  schools,  where  he 
acquired  a  good  practical  understanding  of  the 
branches  taught,  and  in  the  intervals  of  studj'  bore 
his  share  of  the  work  going  on  upon  the  estate  un- 
til after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  He  was 
about  eighteen  years  old,  when,  in  1862,  he  en- 
listed in  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  Col.  Dickerman  commanding.  When 
thoroughly  organized  the  regiment  was  assigned 
to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  to  the  Fifteenth 
Army  Corps  commanded  bj- Gen.  John  A.  Logan. 
Besides  bearing  his  part  in  what  are  considered  the 
minor  duties  of  campaign  life,  although  frequently 
as  arduous  and  dangerous  as  participation  in  bat- 
tle, Mr.  Ellis  took  part  in  several  of  the  most 
bloody  engagements  of  the  war.  Among  these  we 
mention  Chickamauga.  Missionary  Ridge  and  Ken- 
esaw  Mountain.  At  the  last  he  received  a  serious 
wound,  a  shot  penetrating  the  fleshy  part  of  .the  leg 
just  below  the  knee  and  unfitting  him  for  duty.  He 
was  taken  to  the  Jeft'ersonville  (Ind.)  Hospital  in 
which  he  was  forced  to  remain  some  months. 

Wlien  mustered  out  of  the  service,  in  June,  1865, 
Mr.  Ellis  returned  to  his  home  in  this  county  and 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising,  pursuing  his 
enter|)riscs  successfully  for  some  3-ears.  He  was 
aclivel}'  engaged  thus  until  1882,  when  he  moved 
into  the  city  of  Canton,  establishing  himself  in  a 
pleasant  residence  on  the  south-west  corner  of  Elm 
and  Second  Streets.  Here  with  his  chosen  com- 
panion he  is  enjoying  the  good  things  of  life  in  the 
midst  of  an  intelligent  and  respected  circle  of  ac- 
quaintances. 

In  the  spring  of  1871  Mr.  Ellis  led  to  the  hymen- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


r)9i 


eal  altar  Miss  Kate  Negley,  at  that  time  a  resident 
of  this  coiinty,  but  a  native  of  Frnnkliii  Count}', 
Pa.  Mr.  Ellis  is  identified  with  tlie  Masonic  fra- 
ternit}'.  He  has  filled  some  minor  offices  of  trust, 
among  them  Ijeing  the  Majoralt}-  of  Canton,  to 
which  he  was  elected  in  the  spring  of  1889.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Republican. 


"^  R.  YERION,  propiietor  of  the  Diamond 
Grocery  House,  at  Faniiington,  although  a 
young  man  has  gained  great  pii|inlarity  both 
in  that  place  and  the  surrounding  neighbor- 
hood, and  does  an  extensive  grocery  business. 
There  is  probably  not  within  the  precincts  of  Farm- 
iiigton  a  more  stirring  and  wide-awake  business 
man,  or  one  who  has  succeeded  better  in  his  chosen 
occupation  than  has  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
he  is  generally  regarded  as  one  of  the  representa- 
tive njen  of  his  community.  He  is  a  commercial 
traveler,  and  b}'  his  engaging  manners  and  ex- 
cellent tact  commands  an  immense  amount  of  trade, 
and  is  the  object  of  much  admiration.  He  occupies 
a  prominent  place  in  social  circles,  being  a  young 
man  of  wealth  and  of  culture,  and  is  noted  in  busi- 
ness for  his  promptness  an<l  strict  integrity. 

Mr.  Yerion  has  for  several  years  been  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business,  and  had  previous  to  that 
time  clerked  in  a  store.  He  was  born  at  Cappa, 
111.,  his  father  being  a  Methodist  Episcopal 
minister  at  that  place  for  eleven  years.  The  father 
after  reaching  his  fiftieth  j'ear  died  at  Farmington 
to  which  point  he  had  removed.  The  mother  of 
our  sketch  was  previous  to  her  marriage  Miss 
Catherine  Patton,  and  was  a  native  of  West  Virginia. 
The  oreat-grandfather  Yerion  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionarj'  War,  and  was  of  German  descent,  the 
family  having  settled  in  Penn.Mlvania  at  the  time 
of  William  Penn.  The  Patton  family  were  closely 
identified  with  the  Civil  War. 

Our  subject's  parents  were  married  at  Cappa, 
and  to  them  were  born  six  children,  viz:  Adelia, 
Alva,  George,  Joseph  R..  .John  and  Willie,  who 
died  when  three  years  old.     Our  subject  passed  his 


early  life  on  a  farm  and  was  nineteen  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  Farmington,  and  here  attended 
school.  In  1881  he  commenced  clerking  and  con- 
tinued in  this  position  three  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1884  he  went  to  Jacksonville,  this  State,  where  he 
took  a  course  in  Brown's  Commercial  College,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1885  going  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  he 
was  employed  as  salesman  for  a  St.  Louis  stove 
company.  In  1886  he  engaged  with  Dunn  & 
Forsyth  dry-goods  merchants  of  Farmington,  and 
remained  with  them  seventeen  months.  He  went 
to  Arkansas  City,  Kan.,  in  1887,  where  he  engaged 
in  a  wholesale  grocery  business  with  J.  Kroenert  & 
Co.  traveling  through  Western  Kansas  and  in  the 
Cherokee  Strip.  In  the  year  1888  he  returned  to 
Illinois  engaging  with  Sehip|)er  &  Block,  drj- -goods 
merchants  of  Peoiia.  and  taking  charge  of  the 
woolen  department  there  for  seventeen  months. 

Our  subject  was  married  June  23,  1889,  to  Miss 
Effle  Wilson,  daughter  of  David  and  Martha  (Smith) 
Wilson.  She  was  born  and  educated  at  Farminir- 
ton.  Mr.  Yerion  belongs  to  the  Democratic  party, 
and  is  also  a  meml)er  of  the  1.  O.  ().  F.  f^odgc,  No. 
44.  He  started  in  his  present  business  March  .5, 
1890  and  has  a  fine  line  of  staple  and  fancy  gro- 
ceries and  is  doing  a    very   stiiisfactory   business. 

Mr.  Yerion  has  before  him  the  prospect  of  a 
bright  future,  and  has  man}'  warm  friends  in  tills 
community. 


,  ;i«ii;H^3]:^^^^^ 


HARLES  L.  CLAYTOK  is  a  wide-awake 
_,  young  man  of  this  county,  now  actively 
connected  with  its  business  interests  as  a 
inaniifactnrer  of  cigars  in  Canton,  belonging  to  the 
firm  of  C.  L.  Clayton  &  Co.  He  was  born  in  the 
northern  part  of  this  county  near  Farmington, 
September  21,  1859,  the  second  son  of  Ezekiel  ami 
Phojbe  (Randol|ili)  Clayton,  who  came  from  New- 
ark, N.  J.,  they  being  natives  of  that  State.  The}- 
were  among  the  pioneers  of  this  county,  and  took 
part  in  its  agricultural  development.  When  Chinles 
was  eight  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to 
Canton  from  their  farm,  and  his  father  was  pros- 
perously engaged  in  the  meat  business  here  several 


592 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


years.  He  died  in  1880,  and  his  death  removed 
from  the  community  one  of  its  good  and  valued 
citizens.  His  wife  and  eight  children  survived 
him.  He  had  two  sons  and  six  daughters  of  whom 
the  following  is  recorded:  Lottie,  is  the  wife  of 
George  Mahaffey,  of  Farmington  Township;  Isaac 
R.  is  a  farmer  in  Nebraska;  Hannah  is  the  wife  of  I. 
V.  Dean,  of  Canton;  Alice  was  a  teacher  and  died 
ill  1886;  Alvira  S.,  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Sutton,  of 
Canton;  Orpha  and  Emma  are  at  home  with  their 
mother. 

Charles  L.  Clayton  was  educated  in  the  Canton 
schools,  and  su'.jsequcutly  worked  on  a  farm  for 
several  years.  He  then  came  to  Canton  and. worked 
for  ^Y.  O.  Dean  in  the  cigar  business  and  was  with 
him  eight  years.  He  then  embarked  in  the  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  in  the  spring  of  1889, 
associating  himself  with  J.  R.  May.  Their  estab- 
lishment is  on  South  Main  Street  and  it  is  well 
fitted  up  with  all  the  best  appliances  for  the  manu- 
facture of  cigars,  of  which  thej"  make  a  superior 
article.  They  employ  eight  hands,  and  have  orders 
as  fast  as  the3'  can  fill  them. 

In  1884  Mr.  Clayton  and  Miss  Lillie  Keeling, 
daughter  of  Haden  and  Catherine  Keeling,  were 
united  in  marriage.  One  son  has  come  of  their 
liappy  wedded  life,  whom  they  have  named  Fred- 
erick Keeling.  Mr.  Clayton  interests  himself  in 
the  public  life  of  Canton,  in  which  he  has  borne  an 
honorable  part,  serving  as  Alderman  of  the  Second 
Ward  one  term.  Sociallj'  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  The  home  of  himself  and 
his  wife  at  No.  209  West  Adelpha  Street  is  the 
abode  of  a  pleasant  hospitality  and  their  many 
friends  often  find  a  cordial  welcome  beneath  its 
roof. 

iPBERT  BOGUE,  who  operates  the  Harper 
<fe  Marshall  null,  is  a  son  of  one  of  the  early 
pioneers  of  this  county.  He  is  a  well-known 
and  respected  resident  of  Vermont,  where 
he  has  made  his  home  for  several  years.  He  was 
born  November  3,  1826,  near  Freeport,  Harrison 
County,  Ohio. 

Job   Bogue    was    a    native    of  North    Carolina, 


where  he  was  born"  January  5,  1785.  He  was  a 
son  of  RobertyBogue,  who  was  born  in  1705,  it  is 
thought,  in  Wales.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. He  wasjthree  times  married;  and  the  father 
of  our  subject  was  a  son  by  the  third  marriage, 
and  he  wiis  the  youngest  child  of  the  famih',  his 
father  being  eighty  years  old  when  he  was  born. 
The  latter  died  in  1788.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends. 

The  father  of  our  subject  left  liis  parental  home 
when  he"^  was  very  young  and  went.to"  live  with 
Burden  Stanton,  a  Quaker,  who  resided  in  Jones 
County,  N.  C.  He  remained  with  him  until 
1800,  when  he  was  fifteen  years  old,  and  he  then 
started  out  in  the  world  for  himself,  and  made  his 
way  to  that  part  of  the  Northwestern  Territory 
now  known  as  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  a  shoemaker,!  which  he  followed  for  a 
time,  and  then  engaged  in  farming.  In  the  fall  of 
1829  he  started  with  a  five-horse  team,  taking  with 
him  his  wife  and  eight  children,  and  his  sister  and 
her  three  children,  and  his  household  goods.  He 
left  Ohio,  and  started  further  westward.  When 
he  arrived  at  the  Black  Swamp,  in  Indiana,  he  be- 
came stuck,  and  so  passed  the  winter  there.  He 
was  very  industrious,  and  after  he  was  settled  he 
engaged  in  teaming,  gathering  corn,  etc.,  and  made 
money  by  whatever  means  he  could. 

In  ths  month  of  April,  1830,  he  again  started  on 
his  westward  journey  and  drove  to  Fulton  County, 
arriving  at  Lewistown  May  3.  At  that  time  the 
place  was  but  a  small  hamlet,  and  was  nearly  all  of 
log  houses.  He  i-emained  ivith  friends  a  few  days, 
and  on  Blay  7  settled  on  Ipava  prairie,  of  which 
he  was  the  earliest  pioneer.  He  entered  one  hun- 
dred and  sixt^-  acres  of  prairie  land  from  the  Gov- 
ernment and  went  to  Lewistown  to  get  assistance 
to  raise  the  log  house  which  he  had  erected  there. 
At  that  time  Indians  still  lingered  here,  and  deer, 
wild  turkeys  and  all  kinds  of  game  were  plentiful. 
The  Indians  were  frequent  callers  and  were  always 
hungry.  Tht  first  one  who  called  at  Mr.  Bogue's 
log  dwelling  was  alone,  and  iiad  with  him  two 
deer,  which  he  wanted  to  trade  for  salt,  and  would 
give  him  his  deer  for  a  quart  of  that  article.  Mr. 
Bogue,  with   characteristic    hospitalitj-,   asked  him 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


593 


in  to  suiiper,  of  wliicli  he  ate  heartily,  and  watch- 
ing his  o(>portiinity  would  occasionali^y  slip  a  slice 
of  bread  under  his  blanket.  No  railways  or  canals 
were  built  in  this  part  of  the  country  for  several 
years  after  Mr.  Bogue  settled  here,  and  when  river 
traffic  began  the  towns  on  the  liver  banks  were  the 
markets. 

The  father  of  our  subject  broke  quite  a  tract  of 
land  and  planted  an  orchard,  and  continued  to  live 
on  his  first  purchase  until  1835,  when  he  sold  out 
and  bouglit  a  tract  of  timber  land  in  Vermont 
Township.  It  had  no  improvements,  and  was  a  very 
lonely  and  secluded  spot,  as  there  was  not  a  house 
where  Vermont  now  stands,  lie  built  a  substantial 
two-story  hewed  log  house  and  later  a  frame  addi 
tion.  He  cleared  quite  a  tract  of  land,  and  made  his 
home  thereon  until  the  death  of  his  wife,  when  he 
went  to  reside  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Edith  A.  iMar- 
sliall.  He  died  in  1876  in  his  ninety-second  year. 
He  had  lived  to  see  the  country  develop  from  a 
wilderness  to  a  well-settled  and  wealthy  county, 
rind  did  his  share  in  promoting  its  growth,  and 
his  name  will  ever  be  cherished  among  its  pioneers. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Mary  A.  Easley.  She  vvas  born  in  Virginia, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Easle)'.  Her  death 
occurred  on  the  old  homestead  in  1870.  She  reared 
the  following  eleven  chddren  :  Sarah,  Elizabeth, 
Daniel.  Edith  A.,  Jonathan,  Joel  H.,  Robert, 
Phcebe,  Jesse,  Stephen  and  Rhoda. 

Robert  Bogue,  of  whom  we  write,  was  but  three 
years  old  when  he  ca'.ne  to  this  couiity  with  his 
parents.  He  has  grown  up  with  the  countj^  and 
remembers  well  the  incidents  of  their  crude  life 
among  the  pioneers.  He  attended  the  pioneer 
schools  of  the  countj',  including  the  first  one  ever 
taught  in  Vermont.  The  term  of  that  school  com- 
menced in  December,  1836,  and  was  taught  in  a 
hewed  log  house  of  which  the  furniture  was  home- 
made. The  finest  bench  in  the  establishment  was 
made  of  a  hewe<l  log,  which  was  wider  than  the 
rest.  The  remainder  of  the  benches  were  made  of 
split  poles.  There  were  no  desks  in  front  of  the 
seats,  but  in  the  place  thereof  was  a  plank  on  either 
side  of  the  room,  that  was  placed  on  wooden  pins 
which  were  inserteil  into  holes  in  the  wall,  which 
served  as  writing  desks.     As  soon  as  large  enough, 


Mr.  Bogue  began  to  assist  in  clearing  land  and  in 
tilling  the  soil,  and  rcsidetl  with  his  parents  thus 
occupied  initil  1849.  In  that  year  he  went  to 
Browning's  Landing,  Schuyler  County,  and  en- 
gaged in  a  sawmill,  and  resided  there  until  1865. 
He  then  returned  to  the  home  farm,  and  carried  on 
agriculture  one  year.  We  next  hear  of  him  in 
Bernailotte,  where  he  operated  a  mill  three  m()nths. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came  to  Vermont 
and  with  A.  B.  Kirkbride,  established  a  spoke  fac- 
tory and  was  actively  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  spokes  until  1874.  For  the  last  fifteen  years, 
with  the  exception  of  1883,  which  he  spent  in  Ore- 
gon, he  has  operated  the  Harper  &  Marshall  mills. 
The  first  eight  years  he  managed  it  in  the  interest 
of  his  brother  Jesse,  who  then  owned  it. 

Mr.  Bogue  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
marriage,  in  1858,  was  to  Mary  A.  Marshall.  She 
was  i)orn  in  Pleasant  Township,  this  countv,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Marshall.  Her 
death  occurred  in  October,  1864,  while  yet  in  life's 
prime.  The  second  marriage  of  our  subject,  in  the 
month  of  January,  1866.  was  to  Mrs.  Martha 
(Dunlap)  Ramsey.  I5y  his  first  wife  Mr.  Bogue 
had  one  child — Fred,  who  resides  near  Gardner, 
Johnson  County,  Kan.,  and  by  his  second  marriage, 
two  children — Sarah  and  Mary.  Mrs.  Bogue  is  a 
member  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church. 


/OSEPH  L.  ROSE  is  one  of  the  most  intelli- 
gent, progressive  and  enterprising  of  the 
native-liorn  citizens  of  this  county.  Though 
\J!^i^  so  young,  but  few  men  of  his  calling  have 
been  more  successful  than  he,  as  he  is  already  one 
of  the  leading  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  this  part 
of  Illinois.  He  is  an  extensive  land  owner  and  he 
is  the  proprietor  of  a  valuable  farm  in  Lewistown 
Township  where  he  makes  his  home,  and  carries  on 
his  business. 

Mr.  Rose  vi'as  born  in  Isabel  Township,  this 
county,  April  3,  1862.  His  father,  Barnabas  Rose,  a 
pioneer  of  tlie  county,  was  a  native  of  Derbyshire, 
England,  where  his  parents  spent  their  entire  lives. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  and   married 


.■594 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


in  the  land  of  his  birth    and  resided    there  until 
1844,  when  he  emigrated  to  America  accompanied 
by  his  wife  and  two  children,  he  being   the    only 
member  of    his    father's  family   who  ever  came  to 
tiiis  country.     The  little  party  lauded  at  New    Or- 
leans and  came  direct!}^  b}-  the  way  of  the  Missis- 
sippi  and   Illinois  Rivers  to  Havana  and  thence  to 
Fulton  County.     He  bought  a  tract  of  timber  land 
in  Pleasant  Township,  and  built  upon  it   a    home 
for  the  shelter  of  his    famil3',  and  at    once    com- 
menced the  improvement  of  a  farm.     He    resided 
there  a  few  years  and  then  bought  a    flour-mill  in 
Isabel  Township.     He  removed  thither,  but   con- 
tinued to  manage  his  farm,    while   superintending 
the  operation  of  the  mill.     He  was  very  industri- 
ous, and  was  a  man  of  marked  foresight  and  sound 
judgment,    and    before    his   death    accumulated    a 
valuable  property,  and  added  to  his  real  estate  un- 
til he  had  six  hundred  and  eight}-  .acres  of  land. 
He  rounded  out  a  long  and   bus}-  life    iu   Isabel 
Township,  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four ^ears. 
The  mother  of  our  subject,   who    was  Elizabeth 
Weston  before  her  marriage,  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land. Her  parents  came  to  America,  and  the  grand- 
mother of  our  subject  died  at  New  York,  soon  after 
landing.     His  grandfather  spent  his  last  years  with 
his  children.     He  had  three  sons,  named    Samuel. 
Edward  and  John,  and  all  came  to  America.    The 
mother  of  our  subject  died  on    the  home  farm    in 
Isabel.     She  reared  six  children  of  whom  the  two 
eldest  were  born  iu  England.     The  names    of   the 
children    are,    Elizabeth,    Charles,    Robert,    Jane, 
William  and  Joseph  L. 

The  latter  named  who  is  the  person  of  whom  we 
write,  laid  the  foundation  of  his  education  in  tlie 
public  schools  of  his  native  township,  and  he  after- 
ward advanced  it  by  attendance  at  the  Gem  City 
Business  College  at  Quincy.  He  inherited  from  his 
father  a  decided  taste  for  business,  and  quite  early 
in  life  commenced  buying  and  shipping  cattle.  At 
the  time  of  his  marriage  he  bought  the  James  As- 
bell  farm  in  Pleasant  Townshi)).  and  resided  there 
until  ISLiO.  In  that  year  he  bought  and  removed 
to  his  present  farm  in  Lew  istown  Township.  The 
farm  contains  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of 
finely  tilled  land,  located  one  mile  south  of  th? 
conit  house.     Mr.  Rose  is  the  proprietor   of   six 


hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  farm  land  in  this 
county,  including  the  old  home  f.arm  in  Pleasant 
Township,  and  he  is  one  of  the  wealth}-  young  men 
of  the  county.  To  the  lady  who  presides  so  charm- 
ingly over  their  pleasant  home,  he  was  married  in 
1882.  Slie  was  formerly  Miss  Maggie  Hogon.  Her 
wedded  life  w-ith  our  subject  has  brought  them 
three  children — Charles  Patrick,  Edw.ard  and 
Blanchie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rose  possess  in  an  eminent 
degree  those  genial,  courteous,  social  qualities,  that 
attract  friends  of  whom  they  have  many,  and  their 
charming  home  is  the  centre  of  that  true  hospital- 
ity that  knows  so  well  how  to  welcome  the  com- 
ing and  speed  the  parting  guest. 


^jfe^  AMDEL  CARPER  has  been  prospered 
^^^  since  he  came  to  this  county  forty  years 
|U/_3)  ago,  and  while  assisting  in  the  development 
of  Buckheart  Township,  of  which  lie  was  a 
pioneer  settler,  he  has  acquired  a  comfortable  prop- 
erty. He  is  still  actively  ctigaged  in  farming,  is 
raising  stock  and  supervising  the  cultivation  of  his 
admirably  tilled,  finely  improved  farm. 

Our  subject  is  derived  from  an  old  Pennsylvania 
family  which  was  among  the  Colonial  settlers  of 
that  State  and  his  paternal  grandfather  served  under 
Washington  in  the  Revolution.  Samuel  Carper 
was  born  January  1-2,  1819,  in  Lebanon  County, 
Pa.  His  father,  whose  name  was  the  same  as  his 
own,  was  also  of  Pennsylvania  birth  and  his  home 
was  in  Lebanon  County  for  some  time.  He  after- 
wards moved  to  Bedford  County  in  the  same  State 
and  there  died  in  1862  at  a  venerable  age.  He  had 
married  about  1805,  taking  as  his  wife,  Christina 
Myers.  Eleven  children  were  born  to  them,  of 
whom  the  following  is  recorded:  John  is  deceased; 
Fretlerick  lives  in  Pennsylvania;  Jacob,  in  the 
same  State;  Polly  is  deceased;  Phillip  lives  in  Bu- 
reau County,  111.;  Christopher  is  a  resident  of 
Pennsylvania;  Christina  lives  in  Bureau  County ; 
Catherine  lives  in  Kansas,  and  Margaret  is  dead. 

The  early  years  of  the  life  of  our  subject  were 
passed  in  his  native  Stale.  In  the  prime  of  a  vig- 
orous  manhood  he  left  his  old  home  and  with   his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


595 


family  eicigraterl  to  this  Sl.ate  in  the  spring  of 
1850.  He  cast  in  his  lot  witli  the  pioneers  wliora 
he  found  busy  developinu;  the  resources  of  Bucl<- 
heart  Townsliip.  and  lie  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
|)l:ice  ever  since.  He  rented  a  small  farm  here  for 
a  3'ear  and  then  bnushtonc  hundred  and  thirty-two 
acres  of  land,  and  later  added  to  it  about  fifty  acres. 
His  farm  is  pleasantly  located  on  sections  3,  4,  9 
and  10.  and  is  in  all  respects  one  of  the  most  de- 
sirable in  the  neighborhood.  It  is  supplied  with 
amiMe  buildings  for  every  purpose,  including  'a 
neat  and  comfortable  dwelling,  good  barns,  etc., 
and  tlie  machinery  for  operating  the  farm  is  of  the 
best  modern  style.  ^Ir.  Carper  devotes  the  most 
of  his  time  to  general  farming.  Ho  lias  some  thor- 
oughbred cattle  and  raises  some  Norman  horses, 
and  is  very  successful  as  a  stock-grower. 

Our  subject  and  Elizabeth  Baker  were  married 
in  Bedford  Countj-,  Pa.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Fannie  Baker  of  that  county.  They  have 
had  three  children:  Levi,  Jacob  and  Mary  J.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Carper  are  thoroughly  good  people  and 
are  well  thought  of  in  their  community.  Mr. 
Carper  was  at  one  time  School  Trustee  for  three 
3-ears-  has  ever  been  earnestly  interested  in  his 
adopted  township,  and  has  sought,  as  far  as  in  him 
lay,  to  promote  its  prosperity. 


It^  ORACE  F.  COE.  M.  D.,  a  physician  and 
surgeon  of  the  Eclectic  school,  has  practiced 
,.  medicine  in  Farmington  since  November 
igX  12,  1887.  He  is  a  native  of  New  York,  born 
in  LeRoy,  Genesee  County,  September  8.  1830. 
His  father,  George  C.  Coe,  was  born  in  Dutchess 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  could  trace  his  ancestry  back 
to  Colonial  times  when  four  brothers  of  his  ances- 
tral family  came  from  England,  one  settling  in 
New  York,  one  in  Connecticut,  one  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  one  in  tlie  Carolinas.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  was  also  a  native  of  Dutchess  Countj',  but 
her  marriage  witli  his  fatlier  was  consummated  in 
(Genesee  County.  He  was  a  butcher  and  a  rope 
manufacturer.  He  died  in  1858  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
eight  years,  while  she  lived   until    1874,  and  then 


departed  this  life  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years 
and  four  months.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
their  five  children — Horace  F.,  Malvina  (who  died 
in  infancy),  George  W.,  Francis  J.  and  Emma. 

The  early  life  of  the  subject  of  this  biography 
was  passed  in  Genesee  County.  N.  Y..  whence  his 
parents  removed  to  Licking  County.  Ohio,  when 
he  w.as  nine  years  old.  From  tliere  they  went  to 
Delaware  County  in  the  .same  State  and  thence  to 
Champaign  and  later  removed  to  Miami.  In  1845 
they  crossed  the  State  line  from  Ohio  into  Indiana 
and  settled  in  Logansport,  where  the  father's  (Jeath 
occurred.  At  the  .age  of  sixteen  Dr.  Coe  Ijecame  a 
chore  l)oy  for  Dr.  Uriah  Farquahr,  a  physician  of 
Logansport,  who  took  a  liking  to  him  and  from 
him  he  gained  his  first  knowledge  of  medicine.  He 
subsequently  studied  under  Dr.  Fitch,  of  the  same 
place,  intermittently  for  six  years.  While  he  was 
ambitious  to  become  a  physician  he  did  not  have 
the  means  to  educate  himself  and  had  to  leave  his 
studies  occasionally  in  order  to  work  to  make  some 
money  to  defraj'  his  expenses.  Having  acquired  a 
good  practical  knowledge  of  medicine  he  established 
himself  as  a  practitioner  at  Bioomfield,  Iowa,  in 
the  spring  of  1854.  He  did  not,  however,  discon- 
tinue his  studies  but  was  an  attendant  at  lectures 
at  Keokuk. 

Dr.  Coe  was  married  at  Keosauqua,  Iowa,  in 
1855,  to  Miss  Phojbe  E.  Hinkle.  She  died  in  1869 
at  the  age  of  thirty  years,  leaving  two  children — 
Emma  V.  and  Cora  S.  Emma  married  William 
Timblin.  of  Chicago;  Cora  was  educated  at  the  Deaf 
and  Dumb  Institute  at  Indiana[)olis  and  has  taught 
there  four  years.  The  Doctor's  second  marriage 
to  his  present  estimable  wife  took  place  in  1870, 
and  to  them  have  come  seven  children,  whom  they 
liave  named  Viola,  William  E.,  Frank,  Garfield  A., 
Grace,  Grant  and  one  unnamed.  William  died  at 
the  age  of  two  years.  Mrs.  Coe's  maiden  name  was 
Harriet  S.  Markey,  and  she  is  also  a  native  of  Ohio. 
She  came  to  Scluiyler  County  with  her  parents. 
She  is  a  woman  of  pleasant  attributes  and  is  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Our  subject  practiced  in  several  places  in  Iowa. 
In  1857  he  returnetl  to  Logansport,  Ind.,  but  after 
remaining  there  two  years  went  back  to  Iowa  and 
lived  there  until  18G0  when  he  traveled  about  from 


596 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIIICAI^  ALBUM. 


place  to  place  in  Illinois.  In  1862  he  took  ad- 
vantage of  a  fine  opening  for  a  physician  at  Brook- 
l3'n,  in  Schuyler  County,  and  establishedQIiimself 
there.  lie  was  originally  an  Allopathist  but  lie^be- 
carae  interested  in  the  Eclectic[s_vstem  and  in  1860 
began  to  study  it.^rea(lJconstantl3'  for  two  years, 
because  tboroughly;grounded  in  its'principles  and 
since  then  has"doctored  according  to  its  rules.  In 
1870  he  removed  from  Brookh'n  to  ^lurphysboro, 
in  Jackson  Countj'  and  was^here  until  1878,  when 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Huntsville,  Schuyler 
County,  and  the  ensuing  ten  years  administered  to 
the  ailments  of  the  people  in  that  locality.  In 
1887  he  opened  an  office  in  Farmington  and  has 
since  built  up  quite  a  lucrative  practice. 

The  Doctor  took  an  active  interest  in  the  forma- 
tion ofithe  State  Eclectic^MedicarAssociation  and 
met  with  his  brother  phjsicians  for  the  purpose  of 
organization  at  Springfield  in  1869.  He  is  a  man 
of  genial  nature  and  an  obliging  disposition  and  is 
well  liked  among  his  friends.  In  politics  his  views 
coincide  with  those  of  the  Republicans  and  he 
gives  stalwart  support  to  his  part3'. 


^^ 


--h 


iEV.  TVRA  BOOXE  HARBEX.  a  retired 
minister  of  the  Methodist  faith,  is  an  lion- 
'\  A\  ored  citizen  of  the  city  of  Lewistown, 
'^^  where  he  is  now  engaged  with  marked  suc- 
cess in  the  culture  of  small  fruits.  The  Harben 
family  came  oiiginaily  from  England,  but  it  is  not 
known  at  what  date.  Its  present  representative  of 
whom  we  write,  was  born  in  Habersham  County, 
Ga.,  June  1 1,  182-1.  His  father,  Thomas  Harben, 
was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  died  in  middle 
life,  when  this  son  was  a  mere  j'outh.  Nathaniel 
Harben,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  and  lived  to  be 
ninety  years  old.  His  wife,  Sarah  Harben,  lived 
to  the  extnme  old  age  of  one  hundred  and  three 
years.  The  mother  of  our  subject.  Hester  (Boone) 
Harben,  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina.  She  died 
while  j-et  in  life's  prime,  when  her  son,  Tyra,  was  an 
infant.     She  had  five  children,  two  sous  and  three 


daughters,  namely:  Lucinda,  Maiinda,  Nathaniel, 

Nancy,  and  our  subject. 

Tiie  latter  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Georgia,  and 
adopted  the  calling  of  his  forefathers,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  until  he  was  thirty 
j'cars  of  age.  His  school  advantages  were  very 
limited,  having  been  confined  to  one  term  of  six 
months.  He  however,  improved  his  time,  reading 
such  books  as  fell  in  his  way,  and  became  an  intel- 
ligent, well-informed  man.  He  was  of  a  thought- 
ful, religious  nature,  and  early  found  himself  in 
sj'mpalhy  with  Methodism,  and  at  the  age  of  thirty 
3-ears,  joined  the  Georgia  Conference  of  the  South- 
ern Methodist  Church,  and  entered  the  ministr3'. 
For  twent3'-eight  years  he  was  ver3-  pi-ominent  in 
the  religious  work  of  his  native  State,  and  did  much 
to  elevate  its  moral  status. 

During  the  Rebellion  the  Rev.  Mr.  Harben 
served  four  3ears  in  the  Southern  arm3'  as  a  mis- 
sionary. It  was  his  duty  to  visit  the  sick  and  d3'- 
ing.  and  minister  to  their  spiritual  wants,  and  many 
a  poor  soldier  found  consolation  in  his  presence 
and  soothing  words.  He  was  the  last  Georgia  min- 
ister to  leave  the  field  after  Lee's  surrender.  He 
was  connected  with  the  arm3-  of  Virginia  princi- 
pally, serving  a  part  of  the  time  in  Longstrect's 
corps,  and  he  waS  present  at  Appomattox  at  the 
time  of  Lee's  surrender. 

After  peace  was  declared,  our  subject  continued 
in  the  ministry  in  Georgia  until  he  came  to  Illinois. 
Here  he  was  first  located  at  Nashville,  where  he  was 
pastor  of  a  church  two  years,  and  Presiding  Elder 
four  3"ears.  He  was  transferred  from  there  to  Lew- 
istown in  October,  1875,  and  served  three  3'ears  as 
Presiding  Elder  in  this  city.  In  that  connection 
he  did  valuable  w'ork,  and  was  of  great  assistance 
in  promoting  the  cause  of  Methodism  in  this  State, 
and  his  co-laborers  greatl3'  regretted  his  retirement 
from  the  ministry  in  1878.  He  possesses  in  a  full 
degree  those  earnest  and  lovable  qualities  that  win 
afl'ection  and  confidence,  and  he  still  holds  a  warm 
place  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  unto  whom  he 
ministered.  He  is  an  intelligent  man  of  unswerv- 
ing integrit3^  and  unblemished  character,  and  is  a 
good  citizen.     Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Two  years  after  he  came  here,  Mr.  Harben  our- 
chased  the  land  on  which  Central  Normal  College 


^S!S»='-. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


699 


is  now  located.  He  made  his  home  there  until 
1884,  when  lie  disposed  of  it  and  bought  his  pres- 
ent place.  Since  he  gave  up  his  ministerial  labors, 
he  has  been  engaged  in  growing'  small  fruits  for  the 
market,  and  derives  from  tliat  source  an  excellent 
income. 

Mr.  Harbeu  wns  married  Febiuary  29,  1844,  to 
Miss  Clarissa  Langstou,  who  is  a  native  of  Georgia, 
born  April  24,  1827.  They  have  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  following  seven  are  living:  Jas- 
per'-L.,  who  is  leaching  in  Rio  Janeiro,  South 
America;  William  M.,  in  a  wholesale  store  at  At- 
lanta. Ga.;  [Greeubury"  P.,  a  lawyer  at  Oliver, 
Dak.;  Mareellus  B  ,  who  is  emplcij'ed  on  a  steam- 
boatthat  plies  along  the  Paeitic  Coast;  Tliomas  J., 
a  machinist  Iw  trade,  living  in  Lewistown;  Robert' 
L.,  is  at  home;  Hester  Jane,  now  Mrs.  Sharp,  whose 
husband  travels. 


\^ETER  SCHLEICH.  The  lithographic  por- 
Ij  trait  or.  the  opposite  page  will  be  immedi- 
ately recognized  by  the  reader  as  represent- 
ing the  lineaoients  of  a  |)rogressive  and  influ- 
ential citizen  of  Fulton  County.  His  fine  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  is  pleasantly  located 
on  sections  31  and  32,  Fairvicvv  Township,  and  is 
embellished  b}-  a  commodious^residence  and  sub- 
stantial outbuildings.  He  takes  pleasure  in  review- 
ing the  active  career  which  has  raised  him  from  a 
position  of  want  in  Germany  to  one  of  independ- 
ence in  tlie  United  Stales. 

He  of  whom  we  write  is  a  native  of  Dunningcn 
Oberampt  Rhodtweil,  Wurtcmberg,  Germany,  and 
was  born  April  29,  1841,  to  Jacob  and  Marj' 
(Webber)  Schleich.  The  father  having  heard  of 
the  grand  opportunities  for  the  poor  and  oppressed 
in  the  New  World  concluded  to  tr}^  his  fortune, 
consequently  he  collected  his  worldly  goods  and  in 
1847  embarking  on  a  sailing  vessel,  proceeded  to 
America,  where  after  a  rough  voyage  of  forty-two 
days  he  arrived  safely.  His  wife  and  six  children 
remained  in  the  Fatiierland  until  iNLay,  18.50,  when 
they  set  sail  from  Havre  and  after  a  voyage  of 
twenty-one  days,  landed  in  New  York  Citj',  whence 


they  traveled  to  Connecticut  to  join  the  father.  In 
the  meantime  the  latter,  after  a  short  time  spent  in 
New  York  City,  had  gone  via  steamer  to  Norwich, 
Conn.,  and  engaged  as  a  farm  laborer  for  Isaac 
Avery  near  Poquetanuck. 

The  i'lcidents  of  the  voyage  across  the  ocean  are 
well  remembered  by  our  subject,  who  was  [at  that 
time  a  lad  of  nine  years.  After  reaching  Connect- 
icut he  was  taken  into  tlie  family  of  William  M. 
Williams,  a  descendant  of  Roger  Williams,  and 
from  him  he  received  a  strong  impetus  toward  a 
higher  education  that  has  through  life  proved  of 
inestimable  value  to  him.  From  tliis gentleman  he 
also  learned  habits  of  industrv.  tem|)erance  and 
morality  and  he  regards  his  meeting  with  Mr. 
Williams  and  his  family  as  almost  providential, 
since  they  were  instrumental  in  aiding  liini  to  at- 
tain the  enviable  position  he  occupies  to-day. 

While  still  a  resident  of  Connecticut,  the  father 
of  our  subject  made  the  acqu.aintance  of  the  Hon. 
Henry  Bill,  of  Norwich,  that  State,  and  the  latter 
advised  him  to  go  West,  at  the  same  time  offering 
him  the  use  of  his  farm  in  Fulton  County.  Ac- 
cordinglv  in  1855  Jacob  Schleich  once  more  gath- 
ered together  his  worldly  possessions,  and  with  his 
family  proceeded  to  lUinoss.  When  he  arrived 
here  he  found  tlie  Bill  farm  a  tract  of  broken  tim- 
ber land,  and  instead  of  locating  on  it,  selected  the 
prairies  of  Fairview  Township.  After  renting  for 
several  years,  bjr  the  exercise  of  prudent  economy, 
he  was  enabled  to  i)urchase  a  farm  of  four  hundred 
acres,  where  our  subject  now  lives.  The  parental 
family  included  seventeen  children,  twelve  of 
wliom  grew  to  maturity.  The  father  died  in  1874 
when  sixty  years  old,  and  the  mother  passed  away 
in  1875,  after  attaining  her  lifty-ninth  year. 

When  Peter  Schleich  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Illinois  he  was  about  fourteen  years  old.  His  ed- 
ucation was  limited  to  the  pioneer  schools  of  the 
day,  but  subsequent  reading  has  enlarged  his  spliere 
of  knowledge  and  he  is  well  posted  upon  current 
events,  both  local  and  national.  His  eldest  brother, 
Casper  Schleich,  taught  school  in  this  county  and 
upon  the  outbreak  of  the  late  war  enlisted  in 
Company  A,  Fifty-lifoh  Illinois  Infantry,  of  whicii 
he  was  First  Lieutenant  and  afterwaid  Captain. 
The    Eilisville    G.  A.  R.   Post  was    named    in    his 


600 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


honor.  He  fell  in  the  defense  of  his  country,  lie- 
ing  shot  in  the  breast  at  the  battle  of  Chickasaw 
Baj'ou.  He  was  quite  ijrorainent  in  the  affairs  of 
iho  county  and  was  a  public  speaker  of  consider- 
able note,  having  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
campaign  of  1860. 

Our  subject  also  served  in  the  Civil  War,  enlist- 
ing August  29,  1861,  at  Prairie  City,  in  Company 
A.  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  drilling  at 
Camp  Douglas,  Chicago,  in  what  was  originally 
the  Douglas  Brigade.  In  December  of  that  year 
they  were  sent  to  St.  Louis,  and  thence  to  Padu- 
cah,  participating  in  the  battles  of  Forts  Donel- 
son  and  Henry,  also  Shiloh  and  Corinth,and  in  many 
skirmishes.  At  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  our  subject 
was  taken  ill  and  sent  to  a  hospital  in  Memphis. 
LTpon  recovering  he  did  provost  duty  in  Southern 
Michigan  and  was  located  at  Jackson  and  Detroit. 
He  was  first  elected  Corporal  of  liis  company,  and 
promoted  to  the  position  of  Sergeant  at  Shiloh. 
While  doing  provost  duty  he  escorted  recruits 
from  Jackson  and  Detroit  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and 
Washington.  D.  C,  to  be  mustered  into  service. 
After  serving  three  years  and  two  months,  he  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Detroit,  October  31, 
1864. 

Returning  to  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  life  our 
subject  entered  the  seminary  at  Abingdon,  111., 
where  he  remained  a  part  of  three  terms,  and  for 
several  vears  taught  school  in  Fulton  County.  Lie 
was  united  in  marriage  September  28,  1870.  with 
Miss  Mary  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  R.  and 
Mary  E.  (Myers)  Wilson.  She  is  an  estimable 
woman  and  belongs  to  a  family  highly  esteemed  in 
this  community.  Hei-  life  has  been  devoted  to  her 
family  and  Mr.  Sehleich  says  that  it  is  to  her  good 
management,  frugal  industr}',  wifely  graces  and 
motherly  love  he  is  indebted  for  his  happy  and 
prosperous  family.  Of  her  union  with  our  subject 
six  children  have  been  born,  namely ;  Mary  Bell, 
Charles  Wilson,  John  Haj"es,  Ada  Maria,  Nellie 
Elizabeth,  and  Peter  Harrison.  Both  Mr.  Sehleich 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
of  which  he  is  Deacon. 

In  1876  Mr.  Sehleich  ])urchascd  his  father's  es- 
tate, which  he  has  since  improved  and  cultivated. 
The  farm    is   a  valuable  one    and    is    embellished 


with  all  modern  improvements.  As  an  aoHcultur- 
ist.  he  is  industrious  and  energetic,  and  as  a  man 
universally-  esteemed.  He  is  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Grand  Army  Post  at  Fairview,  of  which  he 
is  the  present  Commander.  He  gives  the  Repub- 
lican party  his  hearty  support  and  takes  a  lively 
interest  in  public  affaiis.  Though  a  native  of  Ger- 
many he  speaks  English  fluentlj-,  and  is  well  edu- 
cated in  both  languatjes. 


C.  BOLTON,  of  the  firm  of  Hornstein, 
Bolton  &  Co..  of  Canton,  and  a  general 
merchant  at  Cuba,  was  born  at  Newcastle- 
p^  on-Tyne,  England,  January  11.  1837,  and  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Biown)  Bolton. 
They  came  to  the  United  States  in  1842,  settling  in 
Pennsylvania;  the  father  was  a  Methodist  Episcopal 
minister.  At  a  later  date  he  located  in  Wooster, 
Ohio,  where  he  had  charge  of  a  Baptist  Church  for 
two  years.  Coming  to  this  place  in  the  fall  of  1S62, 
he  took  charge  of  the  Pleasant  Grove  Church  for 
several  years.  He  finally  started  in  business  in  Cuba, 
and  was,  for  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life,  a  mer- 
chant. He  died  in  March,  1887,  having  attained 
his  eighty-second  year.  His  wife  died  in  1886,  at 
the  age  of  fifty  seven  3'ears. 

The  subjectof  our  sketch  passed  his  childhood  in 
Penns_vlvania  and  West  Virginia.  He  was  in  the 
boot  and  shoe  business  in  the  latter  nained  State, 
previous  to  his  coming  to  Canton  in  1861.  Im- 
mediately upon  his  arrival  he  commenced  the  same 
business  here,  and  in  1889  started  the  general  mer- 
chandise business  in  Cuba,  and  was  at  one  lime  in 
the  grocery  business  at  Canton.  In  1885  the  part- 
nership of  Hornstein.  Bolton  &  Co.,  was  formed. 
Mr.  Bolton  is  a  Knight  Templar,  and  also  a  member 
of  the  United  Workmen  at  Canton.  He  is  an  active, 
energetic  and  popular  business  man. 

In  the  fall  of  1864,  Mr.  Bolton  married  Miss 
Grace  Gej'er.  a  native  of  Cuba,  and  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Balhsheba  (Breed)  Geyer,  among  the 
oldest  settlers  in  this  county.  Mrs.  Bolton  died  in 
February.    1887.    leaving    four    children,   namel}*: 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


601 


John  H.,  a  boot  and  slioe  merchant,  who  started  in 
business  at  that  point  in  1888.  lie  carries  a  full 
line  of  boots  and  slices;  in  fact,  tlie  largest  assort- 
ment in  the  city.  He  is  an  agreeable,  courteous 
gentleman,  who  holds  a  high  |)lace  in  the  estimation 
of  his  acquaintances  and  friends.  The  other  chil- 
dren are,  William  J.,  Dudley  G.,  a  book-keeper  in 
Chicago,  and  Mary  Grace.  Our  subject  is  pos- 
sessed of  unusual  business  inct,  and  honorable 
in  all  his  transactions,  and  always  ready  to  he  of 
aid  So  his  fellow  citizens,  who  appreciate  his  po- 
sition in  llie  community  where  he  resides. 


GRACE  L.  WILSON,  M.  D.  The  publish- 
ers of  this  Album  would  fail  in  their  object 
of  presenting  to  their  readers  an  outline  of 
l([0)  the  lives  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  county 
were  they  to  omit  that  of  the  gentleman  above 
named.  He  is  located  at  London  Mills,  in  and 
about  which  place  he  has  an  excellent  practice,  his 
calls  extending  over  a  radius  of  fifteen  miles.  This 
includes  the  northern  part  of  the  county  and  the 
scuithern  pait  of  Knox  County.  Dr.  Wilson  is  also 
prominent  in  the  social  orders,  active  in  church  and 
temperance  work,  and  popular  in  society.  He  is 
well  educated  and  his  extensive  information  is  not 
confined  to  matters  pertaining  to  his  vocation,  but 
includes  all  topics  of  general  interest  and  literary 
merit. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born 
near  Belfast,  Ireland,  came  to  America  and  served 
in  the  War  of  1812.  For  his  services  he  obtained 
a  land  grant  on  which  he  seen  red  a  tract  in  Ve- 
nango County,  Pa  ,  making  that  his  home  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  There  Samuel  Wilson, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  and  reared.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  assumed  the  duties  of 
a  school  teacher,  following  the  prolession  several 
years.  About  1845  he  oarae  to  Hermon,  Knox 
County,  111.,  where  his  brother-in-law,  Dr.  Hamil- 
ton, had  located.  While  pursuing  his  professional 
labors  he  studied  medicine  under  Dr.  Hamilton  and 
in  the  fall  of  1847,  when  Rush  Medical  College  in 
Chicago  was  opened,  he  attended   the   first  course 


of  lectures  there.  He  then  b'^gan  to  practice  medi- 
cine in  Rock  Island  County  and  remained  there 
until  1850. 

At  that  time  Dr.  Wilson,  in  compan3'  with  his 
brother-in-law  and  a  few  others,  started  overland 
to  California.  The  train  went  through  without 
being  greatly  molested  by  the  Indians,  although 
the  members  of  the  one  which  had  immediately 
preceded  them  had  been  massacred  and  one  of  the 
number  skinned  alive.  The  Wilson  party  came 
across  another  that  was  out  of  provisions  and  hav- 
ing divided  with  it,  ran  short  before  reaching  a  set- 
tlement. While  crossing  the  mountains  and  desert 
the  men  suffered  extremely  from  hunger,  but  after 
enduring  privations  and  famine  they  finally  reached 
the  settlements.  The  two  physicians  practiced  and 
also  engaged  in  mining  for  two  years,  making  only 
a  bare  lii'ing.  Dr.  Hamilton  sickened  and  died  and 
Dr.  Wilson  then  went  in  with  another  party  in  the 
project  of  turning  a  river,  in  whose  bed  they 
thought  gold  would  be  found.  They  were  success- 
ful and  in  a  few  weeks  Dr.  WilsDn's  share  amounted 
to  $2,000. 

With  this  sum  Dr.  Wilson  returned  home  via 
Panama  and  New  York,  and  in  the  fall  of  1853 
began  practicing  medicine  at  Hermon.  In  1864 
he  entered  Rush  Medical  College  a  second  time, 
receiving  his  diploma  the  following  spring.  He 
then  made  Abingdon  his  home  two  years,  after 
which  he  removed  to  Montezuma  in  Poweshiek 
County,  Iowa,  where  he  combined  agriculture  witli 
his  professional  work.  In  1875  he  returned  to 
Hermon,  practiced  there  until  1881,  then  removed 
to  Clark  County,  Iowa,  and  bought  a  farm  near 
Osceola.  There  he  practiced  and  farmed  until  four 
months  before  his  death,  when  he  came  to  London 
Mills  and  breathed  his  last  at  the  home  of  his  son, 
Dr.  William  Wilson,  in  1887.  As  one  of  the  pio- 
neer ph3sicians  of  Knox  and  Fulton  Counties  Dr. 
Wilson  rode  all  over  the  country  in  the  early  days. 
He  was  an  easy  going,  liberal-minded  man,  who 
secured  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  people 
and  was  prominent  and  influential  among  them. 
He  belonged  to  the  Masonic  fraternit3S  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  maternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
William   and  Catherine  (Bowden)  McFarland,  na- 


602 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPtHCAL  ALBUM. 


lives  of  Maryland  who  removed  to  Ohio  in  an  early 
day.  They  (iiially  riaiioved  to  this  State  in  1838, 
settling  in  Chestnut  Township,  Knox  County, 
where  Mr.  McFarland  became  a  very  wealthy 
farmer.  He  was  a  strong  Abolitionist  and  a  de- 
vout membL-r  of  tlie  Methodist  Hlpiscopal  Church. 
He  was  a  grandson  of  Landers  McFarland,  a 
Scotchman,  who  came  to  America  with  Lord  Dun- 
more,  wlio  iiad  a  grant  of  land  in  Mar3iand.  The 
motlier  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Mahala  McF.uland,  who  was^  born  in  Maryland 
and  accompanied  her  pirents  to  the  Prairie  State. 
She  died  in  Iowa,  August  18,  1886,  her  dying 
hours  cheered  by  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  of  which  she  liad  long  been  a 
member.  Her  children  are:  Dr.  William  Wilson, 
represented  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Mrs.  Laura 
Ftirraer.  of  Blontezuma,  Iowa;  John,  Postmaster 
and  merchant  at  Ilernion,  Knox  County,  and  he 
whose  name  introduces  this  sketch. 

Dr.  Horace  L.  Wilson  was  born  in  Herraon, 
Knox  County,  August  9.  1801.  He  spent  a  few 
years  in  his  native  place,  then  sojourned  in  Abing- 
don two  years  and  in  Iowa  during  the  remainder 
of  the  lime  until  he  was  fourteen  years  old.  Dur- 
ing his  boyhood  he  had  the  educational  advantages 
of  the  distiict  scliool.  In  1875  when  the  family 
retnrned  to  Ilermou  he  and  his  brother  John  drove 
in  an  open  wagon  from  Moiitozuraa,  Iowa.  They 
were  ten  days  en  route  and  had  a  very  cold  ride,  as 
the  removal  was  made  in  the  winter.  The  lad  re- 
mained at  home,  siiending  his  summers  on  the  farm 
and  attending  school  in  the  winter  until  he  was 
seventeen  years  old.  He  wished  to  study  medicine 
but  his  father  advised  him  to  teach  school  first, 
saying  that  teaching  would  be  a  good  experience 
and  he  would  have  time  later  on  to  study  medicine. 
Our  subject  therefore  entered  Abingdon  College 
of  which  F.  M.  P.runcr  was  then  President,  and 
under  that  able  instructor  pursued  his  studies  two 
years.  The  school  was  then  discontinued  and 
young  Wilson  entered  Hedding  College.  After 
studying  in  that  institution  for  one  j-ear  he  be- 
gan teaching,  making  his  home  in  London  Mills 
and  studj-ing  medicine  with  his  l)rotlier  Will- 
iam while  discharging  the  duties  of  a  pedagogue. 
In  1883  he  entered  Kush  Medical  College,  Chicago, 


from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1885. 
He  at  once  began  practice  with  his  brother  Will- 
iam, with  whom  he  was  associated  two  years,  after 
which  he  went  to  Hermon  and  labored  in  his  fa- 
ther's former  field.  A  year  later  he  located  in 
Kuoxville,  but  in  August,  1889,  he  returned  to 
London  Mills,  where  he  at  once  had  professional 
calls. 

Dr.  Wilson  l)ought  two  lots,  built  a  residence 
and  outbuildings,  .vhere  he  and  his  family  are  sur- 
rounded by  comforts  and  conveniences.  The  lady 
who  presides  over  the  household  economy  became 
his  wife  October  25.  1887,  the  marriage  ceremony 
being  performed  in  Pontiac,  Vermilion  County. 
She  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Julia  E.  Combs,  was 
born  in  Prairie  Citv,  February  18,  1867,  and  there 
grew  to  the  age  of  sixteen  years.  In  1885  she  went 
to  Texas  whither  her  father  removed  and  attended 
the  Alvarado  Academy  a  twelvemonth,  after  which 
she  returned  to  the  North.  She  is  cultured  and 
refined,  devoted  to  her  home  duties  yet  finding 
time  to  bear  a  \y.nl  in  societ}'  and  benevolent  work. 
Doctor  and  Mrs.  Wjlsou  have  one  child,  a  daughter, 
Lizzie  F. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Wilson  is  Robert  C\)mbs,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  who  came  to  this  county  with  his 
parents  when  a  child.  His  father,  Joseph  Combs, 
was  a  pioneer  farmer  here,  but  removed  to  Texas 
when  Robert  was  nineteen  years  old.  After  his 
death  the  son  returned  to  this  Stale,  soon  after- 
ward embarking  in  the  livery  l)usiness  at  Prairie 
City.  He  was  also  engaged  to  some  extent  in  farm- 
ing. He  married  Hannah  Cook,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  accompanied  her  father.  Mills,  to 
this  county  in  the  early  days. 

Dr.  Wilson  belonged  to  the  Village  Board  two 
years,  resigning  his  position  when  he  moved  away 
from  the  place.  In  August,  1885,  he  received  the 
appointment  of  Postmaster  and  on  his  removal  re- 
signed in  favor  of  the  wife  of  his  brother  William. 
He  belongs  to  London  Lodge,  No.  734,  I.  O.  t).  F., 
holding  the  office  of  Past  Grand  and  is  to  represent 
the  body  in  the  Grand  Lodge  at  Springfield  this 
fall  l^lSgO).  He  also  belongs  to  Lodge  No.  1410, 
M.  W.  A.,  in  whicli  he  is  clerk  and  physician,  and 
.and  is  Chief  Templar  in  Lodge  No.  210,  I.  O.  G.  T. 
He  is  examining  physician  for  the  following  insur- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


603 


ance  eompnnies:  The  Mutual  Benefit,  of  New  Jer- 
sey, Mutual,  of  New  York,  New  York  Life,  Aetna, 
New  England,  of  Hartford;  Hartford  Life  and 
Annuity,  Northwestern,  of  Milwaukee,  and  others. 
Dr.  Wilson  is  a  Democrat  and  has  frequently  been 
a  delegate  to  county  conventions.  He  lielonys  to 
the  Military  Tract  Medical  Society.  He  is  an  El- 
der in  the  Christian  Church  and  rendered  valuable 
ai(i  in  building'  the  house  of  worship. 


\f?AMES  M.COOK.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
visit  our  large  cities  in  order  to  find  exam- 
ples of  zeal  in  prosecution  of  business,  faith- 
ful performance  of  duty,  or  honorable  con- 
duet  as  a  citizen.  In  every  hamlet  througliout  the 
broad  expanse  of  the  United  States  persons  are 
met  with  who  exemplify  these  qualities  and  who, 
furthermore  have  exhibited  them  from  a  very  eirly 
period  in  their  lives.  Deeply'  as  we  may  regret  the 
throwing  of  a  child  upon  his  own  resources  for 
maintenance,  the  heart  is  always  thrilled  with  ad- 
miration when  we  recall  the  incidents  in  a  career 
wliich  has  proved  successful  from  a  beginning  that 
was  unpromising.  Such  is  the  case  with  the  biog- 
rapher in  reviewing  the  life  of  James  M.  Cook, 
proprietor  of  Cook's  meat  market  at  Fairview. 

The  young  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was 
born  in  Fairview,  August  6,  1864,  and  began  to 
ivork  on  a  farm  when  but  seven  years  old,  receiving 
$7  per  month.  He  continued  his  labors  as  a  farm 
hand  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  when  he  began 
to  learn  the  butcher's  trade.  Mis  aptitude  for  the 
business  enabled  him  to  become  an  expert  and  to 
command  the  best  of  w.ages  during  the  time  in 
which  he  was  an  employe.  He  worked  for  a  iMr. 
Davis  of  Fairview  for  seven  years,  and  in  1887 
bought  out  his  employer  and  began  business  for 
himself.  His  trade  has  been  on  the  increase  and  he 
now  has  as  much  custom  as  any  man  in  this  part  of 
the  county.  In  the  fall  of  1889  the  store  he  oc- 
cupied was  burned  but  during  the  winter  it  was 
rebuilt  by  Mr.  Davis  and  is  still  the  seat  of  a 
flourishing  trade.  Tlie  building  is  a  two-story 
frame,    60x24    feet,    fitted    with   all    the    modern 


conveniences  and  appliances  necessary  to  furnish 
the  citizens  of  Fairview  with   choice,  fresh  meat. 

Realizing  that  it  is  not  good  for  man  to  live 
alone  Mr.  Cook  secured  a  companion  in  the  jjerson 
of  Miss  Lena  M.  Swartz,  with  whom  he  was  united 
in  marriage  February  2,  1886,  Mrs.  Cook  is  a 
daughter  of  Wdllam  and  Margaret  (Hendricks) 
Swartz.  natives  of  the  Hoosier  State,  her  mother  a 
niece  of  the  late  Vice  President  Hendricks.  She 
was  born  in  Monmouth,  is  well  educated,  possesses 
womanly  accom|)llshments  and  is  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Reformed  Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cook  have  been  blesse<l  by  the  birth  of  two  chil- 
dren— Howard  and  James  M. 

The  energy  and  desire  for  the  public  advance- 
ment that  are  possessed  by  Mr.  Cook  have  been 
manifested  as  a  Trustee  on  the  City  Board  of 
Councilmen  and  in  his  connection  with  the  fra- 
ternities of  Fairview.  He  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows Lodge  and  Camp  of  Modern  Woodmen,  hold- 
ing the  office  of  Trustee  in  each.  He  is  at  present 
Constable  of  Fairview  Township  and  is  discharging 
his  duties  in  a  satisfactory  manner.  He  is  quite 
prominent  in  the;musicarcirclcs  of  Fairview,  hav- 
ing been  a  member  of  the  brass  band  for  eight 
3'ears.  The  instrument  he  uses  at  present  is  the 
tuba,  but  he  formerly  played  the  B  flat  cornet. 


^||OSIAH  T.  ATHEARN.  The  land  owned 
and  occupied  by  this  gentleman  consists  of 
ninety  three  acres  in  Deerfield  Township, 
fifty-three  being  on  section  34,  and  forty  on 
section  35.  The  farm  is  well  stocked,  is  under  fine 
cultivation,  and  bears  the  various  improvements 
tliat  are  expected  of  a  good  farmer  in  this  age  of 
tlie  world.  A  visitor  to  the  place  during  the  proper 
seasons  will  see  in  use  thereon  the  Osborn  binder, 
Buckeye  mower,  and  many  other  useful  machines 
which  expedite  the  housing  of  grain,  or  the  culti- 
vation of  the  crops.  He  will  also  find  ten  head  of 
horses,  sixteen  oi  cattle,  and  a  drove  of  about 
thirty-seven  hogs. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  William  Athearn, 
a  native  of  Maine,  and  his  mother  was  Sarah  (Allen) 


604 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Atbearn,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Thiseou[)le  <Jame 
to  the  Prairie  >St:ite  aljout  1835,  first  locating  in 
Bernadotte  Township,  this  countj',  and  thence 
removing  to  Deertiold  Townsliip,  where  the}'  died 
in  1868.  Tliey  were  the  jiarents  of  five  sons,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  3'oungest,  lie  having  been 
born  in  Deerfield  Township.  ISIay  3,  1839.  He 
pursued  his  studies  in  the  distiict  scliool  and  as- 
sisted ills  parents  in  various  wa3S  until  he  had 
reached  his  majority,  when  he  began  his  personal 
career  as  a  farmer  on  his  father's  land. 

Young  Athearn  continued  his  agricultural  labors 
until  October,  18G1,  when  he  could  no  longer  resist 
his  country's  call,  and  became  a  member  of  Com- 
pany D,  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  present 
at  the  battle  of  ^'icksburg,  followed  the  fortunes  of 
the  regiment  through  the  campaign  and  was  present 
at  the  surrender.  He  fought  at  Arkansas  Post, 
Jackson,  Shiloh  and  Mission  Ridge,  helped  to  raise 
tlie  siege  at  Chattanooga,  and  in  various  skirmishes 
and  heavy  engagements  bore  his  part  as  a  good 
soldier  should  until  he  reached  Atlanta,  where  he 
was  discharged,  November  9,  1864.  During  the 
battle  of  Shiloh,  a  ball  passed  through  the  knee  of 
his  pantaloons,  that  being  the  closest  he  is  aware 
of  having  come  to  a  serious  injury. 

Upon  leaving  the  service  Mr.  Athearn  returned 
to  this  county  and  resumed  his  former  occupation, 
renting  land  of  his  father  until  1869.  He  then 
went  to  Riley  County,  Kan.,  filed  a  homesteader's 
claim  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  and 
bought  forty  acres.  He  resided  upon  his  homestead 
until  1875,  when  he  sold  his  forty-acre  tract  and 
returned  to  this  county,  renting  eighty  acres  in  Lee 
Township,  which  he  operated  a  year.  He  next  lo- 
cated on  the  Spoon  River  in  Deerfield  Township, 
continuing  to  reside  there  until  1880,  when  he 
bought  the  estate  he  now  occupies. 

At  the  home  of  the  bride,  January  1^7,  1870,  the 
rites  of  wedlock  were  celebrated  between  our  sub- 
ject and  Miss  Susannah  C.  Myers.  This  estimable 
and  efficient  woman  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Susan  (Sence)  Myers,  and  was  born  in  Deerfield 
Township  July  5,  1844.  She  had  borne  her  husband 
two  sons  and  three  daughters — Algernon  S.,  Frank 
E.,  Jenny  M.,  Elsie  S.  and  Eva  Pearl.  The  eldest 
d.aughter  died  when  a  little  more  than  two  3'ears  old, 


but  the  others  still   gladden  their  parents  by  their 
presence  at  the  home  fireside. 

A  peaceable  and  law-abiding  citizen,  a  kind 
neighbor  and  a  good  farmer,  Mr.  Athearn  receives 
his  due  measure  of  respect  from  those  about  him. 
He  is  now  serving  his  third  3ear  as  School  Director, 
a  fact  which  sjieaks  well  for  his  interest  in  the  cause 
of  education.  He  never  fails  to  vote  the  straight 
Republican  ticket,  ))ut  otherwise  takes  little  purt  in 
politics. 


-^ 


-I- 


-^^ 


OHN  CANNON,  a  veteran  of  the  Mexican 
War,  is  a  farmer  of  much  practical  ability 
and  has  acquired  a  comfortable  properly  in 
the  pursuit  of  his  calling  which  places  him 
among  the  moneyed  men  of  Bernadotte  Township. 
He  comes  of  one  of  the  oldest  pioneer  families  of 
this  State,  and  was  himself  born  here,  in  the  early 
da}'  of  the  settlement  of  Illinois.  His  birth  oc- 
curred March  31,  1824,  in  a  little  log  cabin  on  tlie 
Sangamon  River  in  Sangamon  Countj'.  His  parents 
were  natives  respectively  of  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia  and  when  lie  was  about  six  weeks  old,  they 
again  took  up  the  march  and  on  May  5,  1824,  ar- 
rived in  Fulton  County  and  were  among  the  very 
first  to  settle  here,  locating  on  section  4,  Bernadotte 
Township.  They  remained  there  two  yeais,  and 
then  the  father  bought  sixty  acres  of  patent  laud, 
about  one  mile  southeast  of  the  first  location.  He 
lived  on  that,  engaged  in  its  improvement  twelve 
years.  In  1838  he  removed  with  his  family  to  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  3. 
They  resided  on  that  about  fifteen  years,  when  the 
father  died  in  1862.  The  mother  survived  until 
1870.  They  were  highly  esteemed  people  and  as 
pioneers  of  this  county  their  names  will  ever  be 
held  in  reverence. 

John  Cannon  of  this  sketch,  began  life  for  him- 
self at  the  age  of  nineteen  making  his  way  to  Jef- 
ferson County,  Iowa,  where  he  engaged  with  his 
cousin  Thomas  Camron.  He  remained  with  him 
about  a  year,  and  then  came  back  to  Fulton  County, 
and  took  up  his  residence  with  his  father,  living 
with  him  until  1846.  In  that  year  he  enlisted  in 
the  Mexican   War,  as  a  member   of  Companj'    K, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


603 


Fourtli  Illinois  Infantry,  commanded  by  Col.  E.  D. 
Baker.  He  served  for  twelve  months  in  the  army 
during  that  war,  and  in  the  battles  iu  which 
he  took  part  showed  himself  to  possess  much  cool- 
ness, courage  and  other  fine  soldiery  qualities.  He 
fought  in  the  battles  of  Vera  CUuz  and  Cerro  Gordo 
and  several  other  celebrated  engagements.  At  the 
battle  of  Cerro  Gordo,  he  narrowly  escaped  death, 
having  his  hat  shot  from  his  head,  and  a  bullet 
knocked  his  gun  from  his  hand,  si)lintering  it  to 
pieces.  Our  subject  picked  u\)  a  jNIexican  gun  and 
with  characteristic  coolness  and  nerve  commenced 
firing  as  though  nothing  had  happened.  As  the 
Americans  were  driving  the  enemy  over  a  hill. 
Gen.  Twiggs,  seeing  a  man  at  some  distance  on  a 
horse,  ordered  some  one  to  shoot  him.  Our  subject 
seizing  the  opportunity,  fired  and  killed  the  man. 
The  General  seeing  the  man  fall,  made  the  remark 
"that  is  as  far  as  a  cannon  would  kill  a  man."  Some 
of  the  boys  remarked  "it  was  a  Cannon,"  which 
witty  pun  raised  a  general  laugh. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  'Sir.  Cannon  came  back 
to  Fulton  County,  and  lived  with  his  father  until 
his  marriage,  which  occurred  December  15,  1848, 
when  he  led  to  the  altar  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Nanc}'  Sherwood.  To  them  have  come 
five  children,  three  daugbtei's  and  two  sons,  namely  : 
Mary  Jane  who  was  born  April  25,  1849,  married 
James  Robinson,  and  died  in  October,  1871,  leaving 
two  sons  whom  our  subject  and  his  wife  reared; 
the  next  child  in  order  of  birth  is  Telitha  M.,  born 
March  22,  1852,  married  William  Warfleld,  of 
llanis  Township,  and  they  have  nine  children; 
Amanda  M.,  the  third  daughter,  born  Novemher 
27,  1853,  married  John  Howe,  of  Cass  Township; 
Ciiarles  O.,  born  Novemher  25,  1855,  married  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  John  and  Eliza  White,  and  they 
liveiu  Bernadotte  Township  ;  John  W.,  born  March 
14,  1857,  died  September  9,  1867,  and  now  lies  in 
the  Totton   cemetery. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1849,  our  subject  fol- 
lowed the  tide  of  emigration  to  California  in  search 
of  gold.  He  went  with  an  ox-team  and  was  nearly 
a  year  on  the  w-ay.  He  stopped  at  Salt  Lake  City 
about  two  months,  and  from  there  went  to  Los 
Angeles,  Cal  ,  vvhere  he  spent  two  months,  and  then 
made  his  way  to  the  city  of  Stockton.     From  there 


be  went  into  the  mining  regions  in  the  mountains, 
and  the  ensuing  two  j'ears  was  engaged  there  in 
various  kinds  of  business  and  at  one  time  had  a 
large  stock  of  goods  for  sale,  such  as  would  be 
needed  in  the  country  where  he  was  located.  He 
traded  with  the  Indians  principally.  In  1851,  he 
retraced  his  steps  to  Fulton  County,  and  invested 
some  of  his  money  in  one  liundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  vvhere  he  now  lives  on  section  4,  Bernadotte 
Township,  and  has  ever  since  been  actively  engaged 
in  the  development  and  im|)rovomer.t  of  his  estate. 
Mr.  Cannon  is  a  Democrat  hut  has  not  t.aken  an 
active  part  iu  politics  of  late  years.  He  is  an  im- 
portant member  of  the  local  government  having 
been  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  twent}^  j^ears  and 
Constable  for  four  3-ears  and  has  held  many  other 
offices.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  and  takes  an  active  part  in  the  church 
work  and  Sunday-school.  He  is  valued  in  his  com- 
munity for  his  good  citizenship  and  for  those  fine 
traits  of  character  that  mark  him  as  an  upright 
man,  a  considerate  neighbor  and  one  who  is  true 
and  faithful  in  his  domestic  relations»as  a  kind  hus- 
band and  a  wise  father. 


#-^ 


-<r— 


^^^  HARLES  SMITH  occupies  no  unimportant 
''  place  among  the  business   men    of  Canton. 

^  He  was  born  in  Greenfield,  Saratoga  Countj', 
N.  Y.,  September  3,  1826.  His  father,  John  Smith, 
was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  a  modest  farmer.  He 
died  in  1884.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  prior  to 
her  marriage  was  Cynthia  Hewett.and  she  was  born 
in  the  same  county  as  her  husband.  They  were 
early  settlers  of  Saratoga  County,  and  there  they 
reared  a  large  family  of  fourteen  children,  six  girls 
and  eight  boys,  all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity  and 
have  lived  to  good  old  .ages,  the  age  of  the  first  to 
die  being  sixty-five  j-ears  old.  The  Smiths  and  the 
Ilewetts  were  both  of  Scotch  ancestr3-.  Charles 
Smith  of  this  sketch  was  the  sixth  of  the  fourteen 
children  and  there  were  four  boys  who  drifted 
westward.  He  passed  his  school  days  in  Greenfield, 
his  native  town,  and  received  a  fair  education.  On 
Jul3-  13,   1853,   he  came  to  Canton,  being    then    in 


606 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  prime  and  vigor  of  manhood.  He  liecame  a 
clerk  in  the  store  of  Amos  Smith  and  J.  X.  Olds, 
and  has  since  been  in  business  for  himself. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  Mrs.  Maj'  J. 
Woodruff.  ofT'^arraington,  was  solemnized  in  1875. 
The}-  have  a  large  and  comfortable  residence  finely 
located  at  No.  207  South  Prairie  Street.  Mr. 
Smith  may  well  be  classed  among  the  old  settlers 
of  the  county,  and  ht  has  ever  taken  a  warm  in- 
terest in  its  develoijment  and  welfare.  He  is  an 
intelligent,  well  informed  man  possessing  foresight 
and  sagacity  in  business  matters.  He  is  liberal  in 
his  religious  ideas,  and  in  politics  is  a  devoted  Re- 
publican. He  cast  his  first  vote  for  Henry  Cla3% 
and  the  last  time  he  voted  he  supported  Benjamin 
Harrison. 


■JEROME  HARDEN.  The  spirit  of  progress 
so  characteristic  of  the  American  citizens  of 
the  nineteenth  century'  finds  an  exemplifica- 
tion in 'the  gentleman  above  named.  He  is 
a  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  operating  two  hundred 
and  twentj'  acres  of  land  on  section  12,  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  13,  Fairview  Township.  He  paid 
his  ovxn  way  while  pursuing  his  studies,  and  from 
his  youth  has  toiled  industrioiisly  to  gain  a  com- 
petence and  make  for  himself  a  good  home.  In 
this  endeavor  he  has  succeeded,  and  while  making 
no  pretensions  to  elegance,  his  dwelling  is  com- 
fortable, well  fitted  and  abounding  in  good  cheer 
for  body  and  mind,  while  the  various  other  build- 
ings upon  the  estate  are  neat  and  well  built. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  John  Harden,  a 
native  of  New  York,  having  been  born  six  weeks 
after  the  arrival  of  his  parents  in  this  country  from 
England.  They  settled  in  Oueida  Count}',  N.  Y., 
where  the  lad  grew  to  maturity  and  married  Caro- 
line Armstrong.  After  his  marriage  he  removed  to 
Oswego  County,  where  he  became  the  owner  of  a 
farm  and  enjoyed  easy  circumstances.  He  died  iu 
Oneida  County  when  about  fifty-two  years  of  age, 
while  his  wife  reached  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years.  The  family  consisted  of  twelve  children,  of 
whom  the  following  grew  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood:    Maria,  Thomas,   Julia  A.,  John.  William, 


Jeanette,  Jerome,  James  and  Mary.  Those  who 
died  in  infancy  were  named  Henry,  DoUie  and 
Caroline. 

Our  subject  was  born  June  22,  1841,  in  Oswego 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  in  that  State  passed  his  time 
until  he  had  entered  his  teens.  After  the  death  of 
his  father  he  accompanied  his  mother,  brothers  and 
sisters  to  Illinois,  the  mother  settling  in  Fairview 
Township,  this  county,  where  her  death  occurred. 
The  first  recollections  of  our  subject  go  back  to  the 
county  in  which  he  was  born,  but  he  remembers 
move  vividly  the  scenes  at  Clinton,  Oneida  County, 
whither  his  parents  removed  when'  he  was  a  boy. 
Immediately  after  coming  to  the  Prairie  State  he 
began  to  work  out  on  a  farm,  thus  paying  for  his 
schooling.  He  continued  his  farm  work  as  an  em- 
ploye until  1863,  when  he  rented  a  part  of  Stephen 
Dykeman's  farm  and  began  tilling  the  soil  for  him- 
self. Mr.  Harden  makes  a  specialty  of  breeding- 
swine  for  the  general  market,  and  has  now  on  hand 
a  drove  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  bead.  In  partner- 
ship with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Manning,  he  raises 
Galloway  cattle,  their  herd  including  some  very 
fine  specimens  of  that  breed.  He  has  also  a  herd 
of  twenty  horses,  among  which  arc  some  fine  road- 
sters. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  and  Miss  Margaret 
Manning  was  solemnized  September  7,  1865.  The 
bride  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Theodosia  (Morton) 
Manning,  whose  lives  are  outlined  in  the  biograph- 
ical sketch  of  Elijah  Manning,  found  elsewhere  in 
this  Album.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harden  have  four 
handsome  and  Intelligent  children,  named  respect- 
ively, Rachel,  Elsie,  Matilda  and  John.  All  are  at 
home  except  Rachel,  wlio  lives  on  a  farm  in  the 
same  township,  being  the  wife  of  John  Scudder  and 
the  mother  of  one  child — Maggie.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Harden  have  lost  two  children — Carrie  and  Ora. 

Mr.  Harden  has  served  as  School  Director,  faith- 
fully discharging  the  duties  of  the  office,  and  doing 
good  service  during  a  term  of  six  years.  He  is  a 
firm  believer  in  protection  to  American  industries, 
and  therefore  a  stanch  member  of  the  Republican 
party.  Prominent  among  his  personal  character- 
istics are  his  hospitality  and  geniality,  two  qualities 
which  predispose  strangers  in  his  favor  and  which, 
backed  by   his  uprightness  and   progressive  ideas. 


^^  ,^»^  ^.»^M  -  -f~^.,  ^ 


■■^'"f  - 


Store:&.Re5.of  Hoxworth  &Son, Middle  Grove, III 


Residence  of  Jerome  Harden,  Sec. 12. FairviewTp.  Fulton  Co.  I  ll. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


609 


secure  for  him  many  friends.  His  estimalsle  wife 
stands  side  by  side  witli  liira  in  the  esteem  of  their 
fellow-citizens. 

In  connection  with  this  biogr.aphical  sketch  the 
reader  will  notice  a  view  of  the  pleasant  homestead 
of  Mr.  Harden. 


aHARLES  F.  HOXWORTH.  This  yonn,? 
.,  gentleman  is  the  manager  of  a  thriving 
'  trade  in  general  merchandise  at  Middle 
Grove,  the  firm  being  Hoxworth  &  Son.  The  fa- 
ther, William  Hoxworth,  senior  member  of  the 
firm,  occupies  a  farm  in  Fairview  Township,  Icav 
ing  the  business  in  tlie  hands  of  the  son,  who,  al- 
tliongh  but  twenty  3-ears  old,  is  manifesting 
exceptional  financial  al)ility.  Already-  he  lias  taken 
his  place  as  one  of  the  leading  dealers  of  the  vil- 
lage although  it  has  been  less  tiian  a  year  since  he 
look  ciiarge  of  the  store.  Should  his  life  be  spared 
he  has  a  brilliant  future  before  him,  and  all  who 
know  him  look  with  interest  upon  his  career. 

William  Hoxworth  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  is  of  German  descent.  He  married  Sarah  Hill, 
a  native  of  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  and  there  be- 
gan his  wedded  life.  The  couple  came  to  the 
Prairie  State  first  in  1850,  but  returned  to  Ohio, 
coming  again  to  Illinois  in  1870.  They  then  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Knox  County,  liut  later  removed 
to  that  they  now  occupy,  which  consists  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  well  improved  land. 
T'hey  are  still  in  middle  life.  ^Ir.  Hoxworth  being 
fifty-eight  and  his  wife  fifty-six  years  old.  They 
have  seven  children  living,  named  respectively, 
Lizzie,  Laura,  Martha,  Mattie,  Mary,  Edward  and 
Charles  F. 

The  young  gentleman  whose  name  introduces 
these  brief  paragraphs  was  born  September  13, 
1870,  and  reared  on  a  farm.  He  attendeil  the  dis- 
trict schools  until  ho  was  fourteen,  then  entered  the 
High  Schofil  at  Ft.  Madison,  Iowa,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1887.  He  returned 
home  and  took  up  the  stud_v  of  telegraphy  at  Lon- 
don Mills,  ere  long  becoming  proficient  as  an  oper- 


ator. He  worked  as  an  extra  at  various  pLaces 
until  September,  188!),  when  he  took  charge  of  the 
Iowa  Central  office  at  Middle  Grove.  In  Febru- 
ar}',  1890,  he  resigned  this  position  in  order  to  take 
charge  of  the  mercantile  establishment  of  Hox- 
worth &  Son.  He  is  undoubtedly  the  youngest 
business  man  represented  in  this  volume  and  it 
affords  us  great  pleasure  to  include  this  notice  of  a 
life  which,  though  brief,  has  already  been  marked 
by  the  displaj'  of  mental  ability  of  a  high  order, 
persistence,  tact,  and  genuine  worth  of  character. 

On  another  page  of  this  volume  the  reader  will 
notice  a  view  of  the  commodious  store  occupied  by 
Hoxworth  <fe  Son. 


.—I— I 


1^- 


<«\  MLLIAM  A.  FREEMAN  is  a  native  born 
\/\/l/  '^i'''26n  of  this  county  and  occupies  a  high 
^yj  position  among  the  prominent  and  well-to- 
do  farmers  of  Bernadotte  Township.  His  parents, 
Alexander  and  Mar3'  (Benson)  Freeman,  were  na- 
tives of  New  York,  the  father,  born  February  6, 
1808,  and  the  mother  in  1814.  They  came  directly 
to  Fulton  Count}'  in  1828  and  were  among  its  ear- 
liest pioneers. 

Their  son,  of  whom  we  write,  was  born  in  tlieir 
|)ioneer  home  November  21.>,  1840.  He  was  care- 
fully trained  in  all  that  goes  to  make  a  good  man 
and  a  successful  citizen,  and  was  given  an  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools,  which  he  afterwanl  ex- 
tended by  reading  and  by  travel.  He  remained  an 
inmate  of  the  parental  home  until  he  was  twent}-- 
flve  years  old  and  during  that  time  he  made  sev- 
eral trips  to  the  South  and  West,  as  he  was  very 
desirous  of  seeing  something  of  his  native  land,  he 
being  of  an  active,  venturesome  spirit.  In  1859 
Mr.  Freeman  went  to  Texas.  He  remained  there 
about  eight  months  and  returned  home  in  May, 
1860.  We  next  hear  of  him  in  Idaho,  whither  he 
went  in  1864.  In  1865  he  left  that  State  and  came 
back  to  his  old  home  and  a  year  after  his  return  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Bernadotte  Township  of  one  hun- 
dred acres.  A  year  later  he  traded  tliat  [jlace  for 
a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acies  in  Knox 
County,  Mo.,  and    removed    to   that  place  in  1867. 


610 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


In  1 872  he  sold  his  property  there  and  after  com- 
ing hack  to  Fulton  County  actively  engaged  in  the 
sawmill  and  lumber  business  the  ensuing  seven 
years.  In  the  meantime  lie  bought  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  timber  laud  on  section  14,  Bern- 
adotte  Township,  he  desired  to  malve  up  the  timl)er 
into  lumber  in  his  mill.  He  continues  to  own  the 
farm  last  mentioned  and  has  improved  it  great!}' 
by  building  neat  fences,  and  in  other  ways,  and  has 
one  of  the  best  appearing  farms  in  this  locality. 
He  eno-ages  in  general  farming  quite  extensively 
and  at  present  has  sixty  hogs,  a  fine  herd  of  about 
forty  liead  of  cattle,  and  seventeen  horses,  besides 
an  interest  in  a  thoroughbred  Perclieron- Norman 
horse  valued  at  |il,-200. 

Mr.  Freeman  has  one  of  the  coziest  and  most 
attractive  homes  in  the  vicinity  and  to  the  lady  who 
presides  over  it  so  graciously  and  cordially  co-op- 
erates witii  him  in  extending  its  bountiful  hospital- 
ity to  their  many  friends,  he  was  uniteil  in  marriage 
Maj'  11,  1879.  Mrs.  Freeman  was  formerly  Miss 
Julia  E.  Harris,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Mar<jaret  (Littlejohn)  Harris,  whose  sketch  appears 
on  another  page  of  this  volume.  She  is  a  native 
of  this  countj'  and  was  born  December  16,  1860. 

Our  subject  possesses  a  keen,  clear  intellect  and 
is  a  man  of  wide  experience  and  extended  infor- 
mation. He  is  known  and  respected  for  the  bon- 
estv  and  sincerity  of  his  character,  and  has  the 
fricndsliip  of  the  best  men  in  the  community.  He 
affiliates  with  the  Democrats  in  politics  and  always 
votes  the  straight  Democratic  ticket. 


^: 


^ 


i;IMOTHY  W.  TURNER,  a  veteran  of  the 
^^  late  war,  who  is  busily  and  profitably  carry- 
'■l^  ing  on  agriculture  in  Deerfield  Townsliip,  is 
one  of  its  most  worliiy  citizens  and  is  held  in  high 
estimation  by  all  ab(nit  him.  His  father,  Thomas 
Turner,  was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1815.  He 
married  Mary  Johnson,  wlio  was  born  in  Virginia 
in  1816.  They  are  both  now  deceased,  the  father 
dving  in  1883  and  the  motlier  in  1851. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Kentuck\'  and  was  born 
in  Breathitt  County.  June  13,  183G,  the  second  son 


in  a  family  of  nine  children.  He  remained  an  in- 
mate of  the  parental  home  until  he  was  twenty-one 
one  3ears  old,  gleaning  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  count}'.  When  he  attained 
his  majorilj'  he  began  his  career  as  a  farmer,  and 
conducted  his  agricultural  operations  in  his  native 
State  until  18G4.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Fulton 
County,  111.,  and  has  ever  since  been  a  respected 
citizen  of  this  part  of  the  State.  He  rented  a  farm 
in  Beriiadotte  Township  until  1868  and  after  that 
resided  on  a  farm  in  Cass  Township  until  1878, 
when  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  35, 
Deerfield  Township,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  He  has  latel}'  added  forty  acres  to  this 
property  and  is  doing  a  fine  business  as  a  general 
farmer.  He  pays  much  attention  to  stock  raising,  in 
which  branch  he  is  quite  successful  and  he  has  fifty 
hogs,  fourteen  cattle  and  eight  horses.  Sixty  acres 
of  his  land  are  under  cultivation  and  yield  him  fine 
crops.  He  has  here  a  comfortable  residence  and 
all  the  other  necessary  farm  buildings  and  has  his 
farm  well  equipped  in  the  way  of  good  machinery. 
He  recently  bought  a  fortj'-acre  farm  in  Cass 
Townsliip  for  his  son,  giving  him  a  clear  deed  of 
the  same  and  thus  enabling  the  young  man  to  start 
out  well. 

Our  subject  did  good  service  in  the  Union  army 
during  the  late  war.  In  1865  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany H,  One  Hundred  and  Foity-seventh  Illinois 
Infantry  and  fought  in  the  following  battles ;  Full- 
man's  Ferry  and  Spring  Place  and  was  in  several 
other  skirmishes  and  engagements  with  the  eiiemv. 
At  one  time  he  came  very  near  death,  a  ball  from 
a  rebel  rifle  passing  through  his  clothes.  He  was 
discharged  Februaiy  7,  1866.  and  returned  home 
with  a  good  record  as  a  patriotic  soldier. 

Mr.  Turner  has  been  twice  married.  June  22, 
1858,  was  the  date  of  his  wedding  with  Elizabeth 
J.,  daughter  of  J.  J.  and  Rebecca  Dancy.  Three 
children  were  born  to  them — John,  Irene  and 
George  I.  The  mother  of  these  children  departed 
this  life  November  16,  1863,  and  now  lies  in  Bart- 
ley  Cemetery  in  Bornadotte  Township.  Our  sub- 
ject was  a  second  time  married  November  12,  1868. 
Rachael,  daughter  of  Ogden  and  Mary  (Lappeer) 
Gray,  tlien  becoming  his  wife.  She  was  born  in 
Morgan  County,  Ohio,  August  16,  1830.     Her  par- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


611 


ents  were  nr.tivts  of  tlie  State  of  New  York.  The 
one  child  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife,  Wil- 
born,  died  at  the  age  of  two  jears. 

Mr.  Turner  stands  well  willi  his  fellow-citizens, 
as  he  is  a  man  of  a  frank,  generous  nature,  and  is 
obliging  and  just  in  all  his  dealings  with  his  neigli- 
bors.  He  is  a  stalwart  among  the  Ueraocratsi 
though  he  does  not  concern  himself  much  with  po- 
litical affairs.  He  was  Road  Commissioner  for 
three  years  and  Pathmasler  in  Cass  Township  four 
years.  He  and  his  wife  are  true  Christian  j^eople, 
and  are  among  the  in  eminent  members  of  the  Pro- 
testant Methodist  Church,  of  which  he  is  Steward 
and  Trustee.  While  he  was  in  Kentucky-  Mr.  Tur- 
ner served  as  Constable  four  years. 


<JY]  OHN  F.  SIMPSON.  The  life  of  this  gentle- 
man has  been  passed  on  the  homestead  in 
Farming-ton  Township,  and  has  been  quite 
uneventful.  It  has  been  marked,  however, 
by  persevering  industry,  the  best  of  citizenship 
and  the  exhibition  of  much  ability  in  agricultural 
and  horticultural  work.  Mr.  Simpson  has  becnnie 
quite  i)romlnent  in  the  political  and  social  circles 
of  Farmington,  and  his  many  friends  will  be 
pleased  to  itad  this  record  of  an  honorable  life. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  John  and  Margari't 
(Cordner)  Simpson,  were  natives  of  Ireland.  The 
former  emigrated  to  America  when  he  was  quite 
young,  settling  in  Philadelphia  where  he  w.as  em- 
ployed at  his  trade  of  a  weaver.  His  marriage 
took  place  in  that  cit}',  and  there  two  children  were 
born  to  the  good  couple.  From  the  descriptions 
given  in  Flint's  Geography,  Mr.  Simpson  became 
convinced  that  the  soil  in  this  part  of  the  North- 
west posses.sed  unequalled  fertility,  and  that  the 
other  resources  made  this  State  a  desirable  place 
of  residence.  And  on  account  of  his  religious 
scruples  in  regard  to  enslaving  man,  he  desired  to 
settle  in  a  country  where  there  would  be  no  sla- 
very, although  his  brothers,  strange  as  it  may  seem, 
located  in  the  South  and  became  slaveholders. 

Mr,  Simpson  visited  the  Prairie  State  in  1833, 
and  at  once  took  up   his   permanent  abode   in  this 


county.  The  family  traveled  hither  by  way  of  the 
canal  to  Pittsburg,  thence  down  the  Ohio  and  up 
the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers  to  Copperas 
Creek.  Mr.  Simpson  bought  the  claim  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  which  for  many  years  has 
been  known  as  the  Simpson  homestead,  it  being  lo- 
cated in  what  was  then  called  the  Marchant  Settle- 
ment. He  here  labored  assiduously  to  develop  his 
estate,  and  to  aid  in  the  pioneer  work  of  eivilza- 
tion.  So  truly  was  this  region  a  trackless  wilderness, 
that  when  going  on  a  visit  to  friends  living  north- 
west of  Yates  City,  Mr.  Simpson  drove  stakes  for 
a  guide  on  his  return. 

Five  children  were  born  to  his  gooil  wife  after 
their  removal  to  the  West,  the  entire  family  bear- 
ing the  names  resi)ectively,  Annie,  Margaret,  Sarah, 
William,  James,  John  F.,  and  Mary.  James  en- 
listed in  Company  A,  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry, 
and  shed  his  life's  blood  for  his  eountiy,  dying  at 
Pittsburg  Landing;  Annie  married  H.  R.  Rose,  a 
farmer  vvho  makes  his  home  in  Avon,  and  their 
family  includes  four  children;  Margaret  married 
H.  W.  Sebree,  a  wagon-maker  in  Canton,  and  died 
in  1880,  leaving  two  children;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of 
William  Wilkinson,  and  is  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren, their  home  being  in  Woodsim  Counly,  Kan.; 
William  married  Sarah  Matthews,  and  lives  in  Kan- 
sas, linving  a  family  of  eight  children;  Mary  lives 
in  Farmington,  being  the  wife  of  Blake  Barrows, 
who  is  engaged  in  the  marble  business. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  June  9,  1  842. 
on  the  farm  which  he  now  owns,  and  of  which  he 
has  had  the  management  since  he  vv.as  sixteen  years 
old.  He  had  begun  work  when  quite  young,  his 
father  having  died  when  he  was  ten  years  old.  His 
education  was  obtained  in  the  schools  of  Farming- 
ton,  and  to  the  founilatidu  there  received  he  has 
added  much  of  the  knowledge  which  can  only  be 
gained  by  personal  eff(U'ts  and  contact  with  human 
kind.  In  the  quality  of  the  cro[»s  raised  by  him 
and  the  yield  i)er  acre  the  results  of  his  labors  will 
compare  favorably  with  those  of  any  farmer  of  the 
county.  For  some  time  he  has  been  doing  an  ex- 
tensive business  in  the  culture  and  sale  of  black- 
berries, having  devoted  four  acres  to  this  fi-uit. 

The  first  marriage  of  our  subject  was  solemnized 
in  1870,  his  bride  being  Martha,  daughter  of  John 


612 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  Sarah  Dickey.  Several  of  this  lady's  aucestors 
fought  in  the  Revolutiouary  AVar.  having  settled  in 
Pennsylvania  in  Colonial  da3-s.  In  that  State  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dickey'  were  boru,  their  progenitors  be- 
ing Scotch-Irish  and  Huguenot.  Mrs.  Simpson 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  Count3%  Pa.,  and  came  to 
Illinois  with  her  parents  in  1856.  After  a  wedded 
life  of  ten  j'ears,  she  crossed  the  river  of  death  in 
1880.  She  left  six  children,  named  respect! velj-: 
AVilliam,  AYalter,  Warren,  Mary,  Maggie  ami  Ber- 
tie.    The  latter  is  living  with  a  relative  in  Kansas. 

Mr.  Simpson  contracted  a  second  matrimonial 
alliance  in  1885,  having  won  for  his  wife  Miss 
Sarah  Patterson,  a  capable  and  intelligent  woman, 
well  and  favorabl}'  known  in  the  societj'  of  Farm- 
ington.  Her  fatlier,  James  H.  Patterson,  lives  there 
retired  from  active  life.  The  last  union  of  Mr. 
Simpson  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  daugii- 
ter,  Alice.  . 

After  weighing  the  merits  of  political  questions, 
Mr.  Simpson  identified  himself  with  the  Republican 
party,  for  which  he  has  acted  as  a  delegate  at  sev- 
eral county  conventions.  He  has  served  his  fel- 
low-citizens in  the  capacity  of  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, and  has  also  been  a  juryman.  He  belongs 
to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Farmington,  has 
served  as  Trustee,  and  on  the  Building  Committee. 


-^ 


-5- — • 


EVl  H.  DIEHL,  a  retired  farmer,  was  for 
several  years  actively-  engaged  in  agricul- 
ture in  this  count}',  but  abandoned  his  call- 
ing two  j'ears  ago,  having  acquired  considerable 
wealth,  and  bougiit  one  of  the  comfortable  pleas- 
ant homes  of  Astoria,  where  he  is  passing  life's 
decline  amid  the  comforts  that  years  of  well-di- 
rected labor  liave  brought  to  him. 

Our  subject  is  a  Penns3'lvanian  by  birtli,  born  in 
Colerain,  Bedford  County,  November  28,  1821. 
His  father,  .iDhn  Diehl,  was  born  in  the  same  State, 
June  21,  1796,  and  his  father,  bearing  the  same 
name  as  himself,  was  a  native  of  Loudoun  County, 
Va.  He  removed  from  that  part  of  the  country  to 
Penus3'lvania  and  for  a  time  resided  near  Harris- 
burg    before    he    became  a    pioneer    of    Bedford 


County.  After  his  removpl  to  that  county,  he 
bought  a  tract  of  timber,  cleared  a  farm,  and  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  there.  He  married  Ann 
Mary  Harklerode,  a  daughter  of  a  Revolutionar}- 
soldier.     Siie  also  died  on  the  home  farm. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  one  of  thirteen 
children,  of  whom  two  are  now  living.  He  was 
reared  to  man's  estate  in  Colerain  Township,  and 
inherited  from  his  father  tiiirty  acres  of  ]an(]  there. 
He  bought  another  tract  from  his  father-in-law  and 
in  time  improved  an  excellent  farm  in  his  native 
township  where  lie  resided  until  death  closed  his 
career  at  the  age  of  sevent3--four  years.  In  his 
daj's  there  were  no  railroads  there  and  Chambers- 
burg,  sixt}-  miles  distant  was  one  of  the  markets. 
His  farm  was  six  miles  from  the  Chamliersburg  & 
Bedford  pike  which  was  the  main  thoroughfare 
from  East  to  West.  The  south  branch  of  the  Juni- 
ata River,  or  the  stream  called  Ra3-stown  Branch 
was  six  miles  from  his  father.  In  those  times  the 
people  used  to  build  what  the_v  called  arks,  and 
load  them  with  produce  and  float  them  down  the 
river  to  Columbia  and  there  sell  the  boat  and  the 
contents.  Mr.  Diehl  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  and  reared  his  children  in  the  same    faith. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Mary  Magdalina  Koons.  She  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  April  2,  1801,  and  died  in  the  month 
of  March,  1865.  Of  the  thirteen  children  born  of 
her  marriage,  twelve  grew  to  maturity.  Mrs. 
Diehl  was  a  daughter  of  David  Koons,  a  native  of 
Loudoun  County,  Va.,  who  removed  from  there  to 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Colerain  Township.  He  bought  a  large  tract  of 
land  and  built  saw  and  grist  mills,  which  lie  opera- 
ted and  at  the  same  tim.e  superintended  the  im- 
provement of  his  land,  and  there  made  his  home 
until  his  life  was  rounded  out  by  death.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  married  Susan 
Smouse,  a  native  of  Virginia.  She  died  on  the 
home  farm  and  is  now  lying  there  in  the  famiij' 
cemeter}'  beside  her  husband. 

Levi  II.  Diehl  of  this  biographical  review,  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  remained  an  in- 
mate of  the  parental  household  until  he  was  nine- 
teen j'ears  old,  when  he  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self -is  a  clerk  in  a   store  in  Rainsburg.     He    was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


613 


thus  em|)loyed  two  years,  and  then  had  to  seek 
other  work,  as  the  close  confinement  impaired  his 
liealth.  He  was  very  well  educated  and  he  turned 
his  attention  to  teaching.  He  was  thus  engaged 
seven  years,  and  then  bought  a 'farm,  the  price  of 
which  was  §1,600.  All  his  wealth  amounted  to 
f300  but  he  had  a  fine  prospect  for  a  rieii  harvest 
the  first  year.  He  was,  however,  doomed  to  dis 
appointment,  as  in  September  a  freshet  came  and 
destroyed  his  crops  and  fences.  He  repaired  tlie 
fences  and  the  next  ye;irsold  his  place,  with  I  he  in- 
tention of  going  to  Indiana,  but  about  that  time 
he  attended  a  public  land  sale  in  Hopewell,  bought 
four  hundred  and  twenty -nine  acres  for  $1,200,  and 
settled  on  that  land  instead  of  going  to  Indiana.  It 
was  in  a  wild  condition  then  and  during  the  thir- 
teen years  that  he  lived  on  it  he  erected  suitable 
buildings  and  improved  about  ninety  acres. 

In  18G3  Mr.  Diehl  traded  his  place  for  land  in 
Iowa.  He  did  not  move  there  though  but  bought 
another  tract  in  Snake  Spring  Township,  and  lived 
there  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he 
sold  his  property  there,  and  the  following  year, 
]8()0,  came  to  Fulton  County.  He  bought  a  farm 
of  one  liundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Pleasant  Town- 
shi|)  and  in  tiie  course  of  time  purchased  other  land 
until  he  had  a  valuable  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  He  placed  it  under  excellent  culti- 
vation, provided  it  with  substantial  buildings,  and 
was  very  prosperously  engaged  in  its  man.agement 
until  he  retired  from  farming  in  1888  to  his  present 
home  in  Astoria.  He  showed  intelligence,  pru- 
duce  and  forethought  in  the  management  of  his 
affairs  and  was  a  sterling  member  of  the  farming 
community  where  he  resided.  He  was  prominently 
identified  with  Woodland  Grange,  No.  866,  and  has 
taken  the  degree  of  Flora. 

Mr.  Diehl  and  Harriet  Whetstone,  were  married 
June  12,  1845,  and  seven  of  the  children  boru  of 
their  union  are  living,  namely:  Elias  H.,  Mar3'  A., 
Sarah  E.,  Reuben  E.,  Mathew  I.,  Benjamin  S.  and 
Jacob  L.  Mrs.  Diehl  was  born  in  Indiana  Countj', 
Pa.,  June  4,  1823.  Her  father,  Jacob  Whetstone, 
was  born  in  Colerain  Township,  Pa.,  while  his  fa- 
ther, Henry  Whetstone,  was  a  native  of  tlic  eastern 
part  of  that  State.  He  was  an  early  pioneer  of 
Bedford  County,  where  he  cleared  a    farm,  and    a 


part  ()f  the  time  worked  at  the  trade  of  a  black- 
smith, spending  his  last  years  there.  Mrs.  Diehl's 
father  was  reared  and  married  in  his  native  county 
and  afterward  removed  to  Indiana  County.  He 
lived  there  a  few  years,  and  tlien  returned  to  Bed- 
ford County,  engaged  in  fai  aiiug,  and  resided  there 
the  rest  of  his  life.  He  married  Nancy  Hendricks, 
rdso  a  native  of  Bedford  County,  ami  a  daughter  of 
Amariah  Hendricks,  a  miller  by  trade.  lie  spent 
his  last  years  on  a  farm  in  Indiana  County.  Mrs. 
Diehl's  mother  lived  to  be  very  old,  dying  in  the 
month  of  February,  1890.  in  her  ninetieth  year. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Diehl  are  sincere  and  earnest  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  wherever  they 
are  known,  they  are  greatly  respected  for  their  kind 
liearts,  "pleasant  manners,  and  solid  worth.  Mr. 
Diehl  belongs  to  Astoria  Lodge,  No.  ICO,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  is  a  member  of  Vermont  Chapter,  R.  A. 
M.,  and  of  Eastern  Star  Lodge,  Astoria. 


/p^REENBURY  H.  EVELAND. . 
i||  J— _  ing  AVaterford  Township  oi 
^JJ^    Board    of   Supervisors,    was 


^^REENBURY  H.  EVELAND.  now  represent- 
on  the  County 
born  in  this 
township  October  13,  1855.  He  was  reared  and 
educated  here  and  at  the  early  age  of  nine  years  be- 
gan to  assist  his  father  on  the  farm  occupied  by  the 
famil}'.  He  resided  with  his  parents  until  his  mar- 
riage, one  year  before  which  he  began  to  operate 
rented  land  which  he  has  since  continued  to  do. 
He  occupies  property  belonging  to  L.  W.  Ross  and 
in  its  management  brings  to  bear  the  habits  of  in- 
dustry which  have  characterized  him  from  bo}'- 
hood,  a  good  understanding  of  agricultural  methods 
and  a  determination  to  succeed. 

The  lad3f  to  whom  Mr.  Eveland  owed  the  com- 
forts of  his  home  life  became  his  wife  March  17, 
1881,  prior  to  which  time  she  was  known  as  Miss 
Irena  Harm.  She  was  born  in  Lewistown  Township 
to  Jonathan  and  Polly  (Livingston)  Harn,  under 
whose  care  she  developed  the  graces  and  virtues  of 
worthy  womanhood.  She  was  removed  by  death 
June  13,  1888,  leaving  three  children— Charles, 
Luella  and  George.  Mr.  Eveland  is  regarded  with 
respect  by  his  fellow-men,  being  known  as  an  hon- 


614 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


est,  intelligent  and  reliiibh;  citizen,  who  quietlj' 
piirsnes  his  course  in  life,  eiKleavc^iiiig  to  discharge 
all  the  duties  which  lie  in  his  way. 

Going  hack  in  the  paternal  lino  three  generations, 
we  come  to  Frederick  Kveland  wtio.  so  far  as  known, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  He  emigrated  from 
that  Statf!  to  Ohio,  taking  his  place  among  the  fron- 
tiersmen vf  Jlorgan  County.  He  bought  a  tract 
of  limber  lantl  on  tiie  banks  of  the  Muskingum 
River,  fi-om  which  he  gave  each  of  liis  cliildren  a 
farm.  After  having  lived  there  many  years,  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  sjient  his  last  years  with  a 
daughter  near  Blooraington.  He  was  a  great  hun- 
ter, successful  in  trapping  and  killing  various  kinds 
of  game  that  were  abundant  and  linding  a  ready 
sale  for  the  furs  which  he  secui'ed. 

The  next  in  the  ancestral  line  was  John  Eveland, 
who  was  born  in  the  Ke3-stone  State  and  reared  in 
Morgan  County,  Ohio.  He  began  his  life  work  as 
a  boatman  on  the  Muskingum  River  when  quite 
young,  and  followed  his  occupation  on  that  stream 
and  the  Ohio  until  his  deatli,  which  occurred  when 
he  was  Init  thirty  years  old.  He  had  married  Har- 
riet IS'ewton,  a  native  of  New  York  or  Massachu- 
setts, who  was  living  in  the  Buckeye  State  at  the 
time  of  their  union.  She  came  to  this  county  in 
1815  and  spent  her  last  years  with  her  children 
here.  Among  tlie  members  of  her  famil3-  was  a 
son,  Abner.  who  had  been  born  in  Morgan  County, 
Ohio,  reared  in  his  native  State  and  taught  the  trade 
of  a  tailor.  lie  pursui^d  his  calling  in  Ohio  until 
he  was  twenty-two  years  old,  then  came  to  this 
State  and  worked  two  years  in  Havana.  At  the 
expiration  of  thai  time  he  turned  his  attention  to 
farming,  first  in  Mason  Count}',  and  then  in  this 
county  where  lie  bought  forty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 1,  AVaterford  Township.  In  September,  1871, 
he  sold,  removed  to  Kansas  and  bougiit  a  farm  in 
wliat  was  then  known  as  Howard  County.  After 
residing  there  two  years  and  eight  months,  he  sold 
and  returned  hither  to  spend  the  remnant  of  his 
days.  He  breathed  his  last  in  Waterford  Town- 
ship in   1880. 

.January  24.  1850,  Abner  Kveland  married  Eliz- 
abeth Ackerson,  who  was  born  in  Lewistowr  Town- 
ship, this  county.  May  27,  1835.  .She  is  a  daughter 
of  Edward  Ackerson,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 


this  county,  whose  first  home  was  in  Lewistown. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  he  was  elected  .Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  lived  in  tlie  village  about  fifteen  years, 
then  bought  a  farm  in  Mason  County,  but  after  oc- 
cupying it  a  few  years  returned  to  this  county  and 
located  in  Waterford.  He  bought  the  ferry  .across 
Spoon  River,  ran  it  about  ten  years,  then  sold, 
bougl;t  property  in  Cul>a  and  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business.  He  lived  there  until  his  death, 
in  his  eighth-fourth  year.  His  wife,  formerly  Jane 
Jarvis,  a  native  of  Ohio,  died  in  Waterford  several 
years  before  his  decease.  The  father  of  Edward 
Ackerson  bore  the  given  name  of  Garret,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  a  pioneer  of  Ohio. 
He  settled  near  Cincinnati,  buying  timber  land 
whicli  he  cleared  and  lived  upon  till  about  1833, 
when  lie  came  to  this  State.  The  removal  was 
made  with  ox-teams  and  he  w.as  accompanied  by 
his  son  Edward  and  family.  The  elder  bought 
timber  land  on  section  1,  Lewistown  Townshiji, 
and  lived  thereon  until  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
one  hundred  and  ten  years,  when  he  chised  his  e3'es 
in  death. 

Abner  and  Elizabetii  (Ackerson)  Eveland  became 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  now 
living,  the  oldest  one  living  being  the  subject  of 
this  biographical  notice.  The  others  are  Chester, 
George.  Addie,  Chandler  and  Libbie.  The  good 
mother  still  lives  in  W.aterford  Township  and  is 
now  quite  aged.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Holiness 
Church. 


1?0SEPH  MITCHELL.  This  gentleman  is 
the  son  of  a  pioneer  settler  of  Deerfield 
Township,  and  has  spent  the  greater  part  of 
his  life  within  its  bounds.  It  can  be  justly 
said  of  him  that  he  has  grown  up  with  the  countrv, 
and  his  life  in  a  great  measure  corresponds  with  the 
development  that  has  gone  on  about  him.  Ho  is 
now  pleasantly  located  on  section  24,  with  such 
surroundings  that  he  can  enjoy  all  the  comforts  of 
life  in  his  declining  years  and  mete  out  to  those 
around  him  a  good  share  of  his  blessings.  He  is 
justly  proud  of  the  conilition  of  the  country,  and 
of  his  own  connection  therewith,  and  all   who  are 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


615 


acquainted  with  this  section,  are  ready  to  bestow 
on  him  a  shnre  of  the  gratitude  wiiich  belongs  to 
tliose  who  liave  worthed  long  and  faitlifuUy  liere. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Indiana, 
July  "23,  1825.  and  lost  his  mother  in_  iiis  early  child- 
iiood.  He  has  therefore  lost  llie  record  of  her 
bii-tli.  His  father,  Mattliew  Mitcliell.  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  made  a  selLleinent  in  this  counly 
in  1837.  He  cliose  a  tract  of  land  on  section  25, 
Deerfiold  Townsliii).  wliich  was  the  liome  of  our 
subject  until  after  he  liad  reached  manhood,  and 
where  tlie  father  died.  He  of  whom  we  write  ac- 
quired what  education  he  could  in  the  district 
schools,  and  assisted  his  father  in  his  hibors,  re- 
ratiining  witii  iiim  until  1850.  wlieu  he  S(it  np  a 
home  of  his  own. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage  Mr.  INIiteliell  set- 
tled on  a  farm  of  eiglity  acres  on  section  25,  resid- 
ing  tiiereon  until  1688,  when  he  removed  one  mile 
north  lo  tlie  location  he  now  oecnpies.  where  he 
owns  one  liundred  and  twenty  acres.  He  has  ac- 
cumulated his  estate  by  dint  of  hard  work  and  un- 
flagging zeal,  and  while  so  doing  has  reared  a  large 
family,  who  are  devoting  themselves  to  liim  in  a 
measure  seldom  witnessed,  and  cheer  liis  declining 
years  with  their  love.  The  lad^'  who  has  shared  in 
the  tii.ils  and  successes  of  our  subject  since  1850, 
was  known  in  her  maidenhood  as  Miss  Jenette 
Pigsley.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Welcome  and 
Thirza  (Clark)  Pigsley.  In  her  own  department 
she  has  manifested  industry  and  efficiency,  and  her 
children  owe  much  to  her  counsel  and  devoted  care. 
Together  she  and  her  liusband  have  labored  for 
their  good  and  the  result  proves  the  wisdom  of 
their  management. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Sirs.  Jlilchell  consists  of 
eleven  sons  and  daughters,  of  whom  we  note  the 
following:  Albert  C,  who  married  Luella  Brooks, 
now  lives  in  Fremont,  Iowa;  Nancy  is  the  wife  of 
William  Ma}\  and  their  home  is  in  Joshua  Town- 
ship; Jenny  is  married  and  lives  in  Fremont,  Iowa; 
Thirza  M.  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Haskins.  living  in 
Thomas  County,  Kan. ;  Cliarles  F.  married  Fanny 
Hall,  and  their  home  is  in  Fri'mont,  Iowa;  AVash- 
ington  married  Nettie  Bryte,  and  their  liome  is  in 
Nebraska;  Mathew  resides  on  the  old  home  place 
on  section  25.  where  his  sisters,  Bessie  M.  and  Lulu 


make  a  home  for  him;  Addle  II.  lives  with  her  sis- 
ter, Nancy,  in  Joshua  Townshii);  Lois  Adelle  is 
still  with  her  parents. 

JMr.  Mitchell  is  a  Republican,  always  voting  the 
straiglit  ticket.  He  has  been  Palhmaster  several 
terms,  Constable  five  or  six  years,  School  Director 
twenty  years,  has  also  served  as  Road  Commis- 
sioner. Me  and  his  good  wjfe  are  not  only  secure 
in  the  love  of  their  children,  but  are  reganled  with 
a  high  degree  of  respect  by  their  neighbors  and  ac- 
(piaiutances. 


'^^^^^^^^^e^^ 


/NDRKW  J.  SHEPLEY.  This  name  will  be 
at  once  recognized  as    that  of  a  gentleman 
li    engaged  in  the  insurance  and  loan  business 
*^'''  in  Canton,  who.  in    connection   with  that 

work  carries  on  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
thirty  acres,  located  a  short  distance  west  of  tlie 
cit3'.  Mr.  Shepley  is  a  thorough  farmer,  having 
been  reared  to  that  occupation  and  carried  it  on 
successfully  for  a  number  of  years.  His  estate  is 
well  improved,  vvcli  stocked,  and  in  all  respects  an 
attractive  and  vahuible  piece  of  property.  In  the 
business  in  which  Mr.  .Sliepley  is  engaged  in  the 
city  he  is  associated  with  Daniel  Abbott,  the  firm 
having  been  formed  in  1884,  at  which  time  our 
subject  became  a  denizen  of  Canton. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  Oliver  Shepley  who  was 
a  native  of  Massachusetts,  for  many  years  a  lead- 
ing physician  in  his  community  there,  and  was  one 
of  the  pioneer  doctors  of  this  county.  In  1839  he 
brought  his  family  to  the  Prairie  State,  making  liis 
home  in  Bloomington  for  a  vear.  and  then  locat- 
ing on  a  farm  west  of  this  city.  In  1841  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature  and  served 
faithfully  and  etliciently  for  two  terms.  He  was  a 
believer  in  the  old  J.acksonian  doctrines.  He  spent 
his  last  days  on  the  farm  dying  in  1863.  His  widow 
survived  until  1874,  continuing  to  reside  on  the 
farm  where  they  first  settled  on  coming  to  this 
county.  Dr.  Shepley  was  the  son  of  Wilder  Shep- 
le}'  and  was  of  Scotch  descent. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Lydia,  daughter 
of  William   Lawrence,  Esq.,  was  of  English  ances- 


616 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


try  and  born  at  Hollis,  N.  H.  She  liveii  in  her  na- 
tive State  until  she  was  eighteen  ye;irs  old,  when 
she  was  married  to  Dr.  Sheple\'  and  moved  to 
Massaclnisetts.  She  bore  her  husband  four  chil- 
dren, three  of  wliom  survived  him  and  two  are  still 
living.  The  familj'  comprised  Washington.  Andrew 
J.,  Lydia  and  Thomas  J.  Lydia  is  the  wife  of  E. 
Paul!. 

In  Middlesex  County,  M.ass..  July  19,  1833,  the 
eyes  of  our  subject  first  opened  to  the  light  of  day. 
He  was  a  mere  lad  when  the  famil}-  removed  to  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  and  he  grew  to  manhood  amid 
the  comparitively  primitive  surroundings  of  this 
region.  He  attended  school  in  the  winter  and 
worked  on  the  farm  in  the  summer  during  his  ho}'- 
hood  and  j-outh.  He  continued  to  reside  under  the 
parental  roof  until  he  attained  his  majority  when 
lie  married  and  cstal'lished  a  home  of  his  own.  He 
became  manager  of  the  farm,  conducting  its  affairs 
successfully  until  his  removal  to  Canton  and  still 
overseeing  the  work  which  is  done  there. 

The  capable  wife  of  our  subject  was  known  in 
her  maidenhood  as  Miss  Jennie  Van  Arsdale.  She 
is  the  second  daughter  born  to  Peter  B.  and  Chris- 
tina Van  Arsilale  and  is  a  native  of  Xew  Jersey 
whence  her  parents  removed  hither  in  1837.  Her 
mother  is  now  residing  at  Fairview.  The  family  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheple}-  includes  three  children — 
Alice,  Adele  and  Andrew  C.  The  f>lder  daughter 
is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Abbott,  a  prominent  attorney 
of  this  place.  In  politics  Mr.  Shepley  casts  his  vote 
and  exerts  his  influence  for  the  Democratic  party. 


NOCH  SHERMAN  owns  and  operates  a 
productive,  improved  farm  consisting  of  one 
hundred  and  six  acres  on  section  1.5,  and 
also  iiolds  the  title  to  one  hundred  and  sixt3^  acres 
on  section  22,  Fairview  Township.  His  home  is 
one  of  comfort,  set  in  the  midst  of  the  ordinary 
surroundings  of  a  prosperous  farmer.  It  is  the 
homestead  on  wliich  the  parents  of  our  subject  )o- 
criied  in  1847  upon  first  coming  to  this  State,  and 
where  both  died  full  of  years  and  iionor. 

In   Oneida   County,  N.   Y..  Enoch  11.    Sherman 


and  Elvira  Dykeman  were'  born  early  in  this  cen- 
tury. L'pon  growing  to  maturity  they  were  mariied 
in  Oswego  County,  making  their  home  there  for 
several  years.  The  husband  was  engaged  in  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter.  The  reijorts  of  the  resources 
of  the  Prairie  State  led  Mr.  and  ]SIrs.  Sherman  to 
determine  to  change  their  place  of  abode.  They 
embarked  on  the  Erie  Canal  and  upon  reaching 
Buffalo,  took  a  lake  boat  to  Chii  ago,  wlience  they 
continued  their  journey-  to  Farraington  b}'  wagon. 
Tliey  became  well  know  in  this  count}-  where  they 
lived  foi  man}'  years.  Mr.  Sherman  passed  awav 
in  1879  at  the  age  of  seventy-four,  but  his  wife  sur- 
vived until  1886,  attaining  nearly  to  the  age  of 
four-score  years.  Tbe  Sherman  family  came  orig- 
inally from  England  and  settled    in    Rhode  Island. 

The  parental  family,  which  included  ten  chil- 
dren, has  four  living  members.  These  are  Sarah, 
wife  of  William  Harden,  a  farmer  in  Fairview 
Township;  Abbie,  widow  of  L.  B.  Marsh  whose 
home  is  in  Champaign  Count}-;  the  subject  of  this 
notice;  and  William,  a  farmer  whose  home  is  in 
London  Mills. 

Enoch  Sherman  was  born  April  21.  1841,  at 
Hastings,  Oswego  County.  X.  Y..  and  had  one  term 
of  school  there.  He  well  remembers  the  journe3to 
this  count}-,  an  incident  of  which  was  his  aiding  in 
extricating  a  wagon  and  team  which  was  stuck  in 
the  mud  at  Chicago.  He  obtained  a  common-school 
education,  then  took  charge  of  the  farm,  working  it 
until  nineteen  3-ears  old  for  his  father,  to  whom  he 
was  a  faithful  son.  He  then  rented  the  estate  until 
he  was  twenty-two  years  old,  when  he  married  and 
established  his  own  home. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  was  known  in  her  maid- 
enhood .as  Miss  Sarah  E.  Palmerton.  Her  parents. 
Ichabod  and  Jane  (Childers)  Palmerton.  were  born 
in  the  Buckeye  State.  They  gave  their  daughter 
the  best  opportunities  possible  and  instructed  her 
in  the  piinciples  of  conduct  and  domestic  knowl- 
edge. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sherman  have  had  six  children 
—an  infant  who  died  uiinameii;  Nora  A.,  George 
E.,  Fidelia  M..  Emory  Ichabod  and  William  Haz- 
ard. 

An  honest,  industrious  man,  a  reliable  citizen 
and  a  whole-souled  companion,  Mr.  Sberni.an  is  re- 
spected as  he  deserves  by  his   fellow  citizens.     He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


619 


has  done  efficient  service  to  the  traveling  public  as 
llioliwny  Commissioner  and  has  also  faitlifully 
served  as  a  School  Director.  lie  belongs  to  Fair- 
view  Lodge,  No.  350.  A.  V.  &  A.  M..  and  votes 
the  Democratic  ticket. 


iJTi.i- 


-^ 


HAHLE.S  B.  CHURCHILL.  This  gentle- 
man, whose  portrait  appears  on  the  opposite 
page,  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  in  Canton 
Township,  where  he  owns  a  fine  property.  His 
farm  consists  of  five  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  upon 
which  stands  a  complete  line  of  substantial  com- 
modious and  well-arranged  farm  buildings.  It  is 
favorably  located  on  section  32,  and  under  efficient 
management  produces  abundantly  of  the  various 
crops  for  which  this  county  is  noted. 

The  owner  of  this  fine  estate  was  born  in  Boone- 
ville,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  April  25,  1813,  and 
spent  his  early  years  in  his  native  village.  After 
he  had  entered  his  teens,  he  spent  about  three  years 
in  Niagara  County  in  the  employ  of  his  uncle, 
although  he  received  no  mone}-  for  his  labors.  He 
then  returned  to  his  former  Lome  and  two  years 
biter,  in  com[)an}-  with  a  younger  lirother,  William, 
went  to  Hartford,  Conn.,  to  seek  his  fortune.  For 
nearly  two  years  he  was  employed  on  a  farm  in  that 
vicinity.  His  next  enterprise  was  to  become  a 
book  agent  in  the  .State  of  Georgia,  which  he  began 
working  in  the  fall  of  1835,  during  the  next  two 
years  traveling  over  the  entire  State.  While  there 
lie  sent  his  father  tlie  requisite  means  to  remove 
the  family,  which  included  several  children,  to 
Portage  County,  Ohio,  where,  on  the  conclusion  of 
liis  work  in  the  South,  our  subject  met  them. 

Purchasing  a  pair  of  three-year-old  colts  j\lr. 
Churchill  loaded  the  earthly  possessions  of  the 
familv  into  a  wagon  and  the  party  of  eight  started 
for  Fulton  County,  111.  The  trip  consumed  several 
weeks,  and  although  unmarked  by  any  eventful  in- 
cident, is  fruitful  in  recollections  of  pioneer  scenes 
and  experiences.  The  family  located  on  rented 
land  not  far  from  Canton,  tilling  the  tract  several 
years  before  our  subject  was  able  to  purchase.  The 
first  real  estate  he  owned    was  one  hundred    and 


sixty  acres  for  which  he  obtained  the  deed  in 
1842.  He  continued  to  take  care  of  his  parents  as 
long  as  they  lived  and  also  ilid  much  toward  the 
care  and  training  of  the  younger  members  of  the 
family. 

Mr.  Churchill  erected  a  good  house  upon  iiis 
farm,  to  the  extent  of  which  he  added  as  circum- 
stances would  permit.  Since  1850  he  has  practi- 
cally resided  upon  it,  but  prior  to  that  time  it  whs 
left  in  the  care  of  his  parents  for  several  years, 
during  wdiieh  time  he  traveled  in  the  South.  He 
was  employed  by  Mr.  Ford  as  a  traveling  salesman 
and  with  a  team  carried  dry-goods  throughout  the 
country.  In  disposing  of  his  stock  he  was  as  suc- 
cessful as  he  had  been  in  whatever  else  he  has  un- 
dertaken, and  after  about  five  years  spent  on  the 
road  he  felt  at  liberty  to  establish  a  home  and  set- 
tle down.  On  his  return  from  the  South  he 
hither  by  the  way  of  his  former  homes  in  Connec- 
ticut and  New  York. 

On  November  26,  1850,  in  Lewistown,  the  rites 
of  wedlock  were  celebrated  between  our  subject 
and  Miss  Louisa  E.  Hurlburt.  The  lady  was  born 
in  Booneville,  N.  Y..  Christmas  day,  1820.  Mr. 
Churchill  had  known  her  almost  from  the  d.ay  <•( 
her  birth  and  thoroughly  ap|)reciated  her  estimable 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart.  The  happy  couple  arc 
the  parents  of  three  daughters  and  one  son.  Sarah 
J.  is  now  the  wife  of  P'red  Palmer,  Abigail, of  F'rank 
Marr  an<l  Klizabetli.of  Norton  Chni-cliill,  Fi'anklin 
S.  married  Miss  Olive  Campbell. 

Since  1850  Mr.  Churchill  has  been  actively  en- 
gaged in  farming,  his  labors  in  that  line  being  con- 
ducted with  great  energy  and  intelligence  and 
crowned  with  success.  In  1875  he  built  the  Chur- 
chill House  in  Canton.  In  politics  he  gives  his  suf- 
frage to  the  candidates  of  the  Democratic  party  in 
the  principles  of  which  he  firmly  believes.  He  is 
liberal  in  his  religious  views.  Personally  he  is  one 
of  the  most  genial  of  men,  fond  of  neighborly  in- 
tercourse, well  informed  regarding  that  which  is 
going  on  in  the  world,  and  manifesting  a  determi- 
nation to  enjoy  life  and  aid  others  to  do  so. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Charles  B.  Chur- 
chill, Sr.,  who  was  born  in  New  England  Parish. 
Hartford  County,  Conn.,  in  178-t.  He  died  in 
Canton   Township   in    1877  at  the  extreme  age  of 


620 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlUCRAPUiCAL  ALHUM. 


ninety-tliree  years.  The  mother  of  our  subject  «!i^ 
a  native  of  the  same  parish  as  iier  husbaiiil  and  was 
known  in  her  mnidenhood  as  Elizabeth  Hubbard. 
She  also  died  in  this  township,  the  date  of  her  de- 
mise being  in  1867.  She  was  then  eighty  years  old. 
having  been  born  in  1787.  The  worthy  couple 
hnd  nine  children  of  whom  our  subject  was  the 
ihinl  in  order  of  birth. 


THOMAS  NELSON.  To  his  skill  in  handicraft, 
his  thorough  knowledge  of  the  materials  and 
'^^if'  modes  of  usage  best  adapted  to  various 
kinds  of  buildings,  Mr.  Nelson  adds  the  personal 
qualities  which  win  the  respect  and  friendship  of 
those  with  whom  he  associates.  He  has  also  an 
honorable  record  as  one  of  the  vast  number  who 
devoted  several  of  the  best  years  of  their  lives  to 
the  preservation  of  the  Union  and  the  upholding  of 
tluise  institutions  dear  to  all  true  patriots  In 
commemoration  of  the  years  which  he  sjient  on  the 
tented  field,  he  is  identified  with  George  Yokum 
I'ost.  No.  32.'i,  G.  A.  R..  while  his  social  and 
benevolent  traits  find  a  partial  outlet  in  the  meet- 
ings and  workings  of  Vermont  Lodge,  No.  112. 
A.  F.  &  A.  JL,  and  Vermont  Lodge,  No.  79.  I.  O. 
O.  E. 

Mr.  Nelson  is  of  Irish  ancestry  in  the  paternal 
line,  his  father,  Henry  Nelson,  having  been  born  in 
the  Emerald  Isle,  whence  he  came  to  America  with 
his  parents  when  but  three  years  old.  The  first 
home  of  the  family-  was  in  Pennsylvania,  whence 
they  removed  to  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  in  which 
the  father  of  our  subject  continued  to  reside  initil 
18.37.  He  had  learned  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker^ 
which  he  followed  for  a  time  after  his  removal  to 
Illinois.  His  journey  hither  was  made  by  boats  on 
the  Ohio.  Mississippi,  Illinois  and  Spoon  Rivers  to 
a  landing  in  this  county,  whence  he  went  with 
teams  to  Ipava  Prairie.  After  spending  a  few  weeks 
there  he  removed  to  A'ermont,  which  w.as  a  hamlet 
of  a  few  houses  in  the  midst  of  a  sparsel3-  settled 
region. 

Henry  Nelson  established  a  shoe  shop,  the  first  in 


the  place,  but  after  following  his  trade  a  3'ear,  sold 
out  and  did  journe}'  work  for  an  employer.  After 
a  time  he  engaged  in  the  sale  of  grocerii-s  anii  grain, 
expending  his  energies  in  this  waj'  some  years,  then 
establishing  a- cooper  shop,  which  he  operated  for  a 
time.  About  18.j0  he  bought  a  tract  of  timber  land 
in  Astoria  Township,  and  building  a  dwelling  there 
devoted  his  time  to  clearing  land  and  tilling-  the 
soil.  His  death  occurred  on  the  farm  in  1872.  His 
wife,  formerly  Deborah  Ann  Hudson,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  suivived  until  1877,  being  at  the  time  of  her 
death  a  resident  in  the  village  of  Astoria.  She  had 
borne  her  husband  five  children,  namely :  Susannah, 
Thomas,  Henry.  Amaziah  H.  and  John,  all  yet  liv- 
ing but  Amaziah. 

The  subject  of  our  notice  was  born  in  Belmont 
Coun'.y,  Ohio,  February  6,  1834,  and  was  but  three 
years  old  when  brought  to  the  Prairie  State.  The 
temple  of  learning  in  which  he  pursued  his  studies 
was  a  primitive  structure  of  logs,  furnished  with 
slab  benches,  and  having  a  writing  desk  for  the 
larger  scholars  made  by  boring  holes  in  the  logs  at 
the  side  of  the  room,  inserting  long  pins  and  la3ing 
a  plank  upon  them.  The  instruction  which  was 
afforded  in  the  [lioneer  schools  did  not  embrace  the 
extended  curriculum  of  the  present  day,  but  those 
who  had  a  desire  for  learning  were  well  grounded 
in  the  more  practical  branches  of  knowledge.  The 
early  recollections  of  our  subject  are  of  a  country 
where  but  little  effort  had  yet  been  made  to  cultivate 
or  clear  the  land,  and  where  various  kinds  of  wild 
game  were  plentiful.  No  railroads  afforded  means 
for  transportation  and  all  produce  sent  to  market 
was  hauleil  to  the  river  towns,  whence  it  was  gen- 
erall}-  sent  on  a  flatboat  to  ports  below. 

Young  Nelson  was  sixteen  3'eais  old  when  his 
|iarents  removed  to  their  land,  and  a  year  later  he 
left  the  parentalroof  to  begin  work  by  the  month. 
He  received  §12  per  month  for  a  year's  services, 
after  which  he  took  jobs  of  clearing  land,  splitting 
rails,  etc..  finding  this  a  more  remunerative  em- 
ployment than  that  which  he  had  previously  pur- 
sued. He  was  very  industrious,  economical  and 
prudent,  aud  managed  so  carefully  that  after  a  time 
he  was  able  to  pay  for  his  father's  farm,  which  he 
owned  until  the  death  of  his  parent.  Some  time  in 
the  'jOs  he  began  teaming  between  Vermont  and 


POKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


621 


Dilworth's  Landing:,  taking  produce  to  the  Land- 
ing, and  on  his  return   trip  bringing   merchandise. 

In  this  occupation  Mr.  Nelson  continued  until 
1860,  when  he  married  ami  set  up  his  home  on  a 
tract  of  land  three  miles  south  of  Vermont.  There 
he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1861,  when  he  entered 
the  Inion  Army,  determined  t(  do  what  he  could 
to  uphold  the  national  unity  and  preserve  the 
honor  of  the  old  flag.  He  was  enrolled  in  Company 
G,^  E^leventh  Illinois  Cavalry,  in  November,  mus- 
tered into  the  service  at  Camp  Lyon,  Peoria,  and 
after  remaining  there  a  few  weeks  in  order  to 
acquire  some  knowledge  of  military  tactics  and 
discipline,  was  sent  to  St.  Louis.  The  gallant  con- 
duct of  the  Eleventh,  under  the  leadership  of  Col. 
Robert  G.  IngersoU.  is  a  matter  of  historical  record, 
and  well-known  to  all  who  followed  the  fortunes  of 
the  boj-s  in  blue  during  those  trying  years. 

The  first  heav}-  engagement  in  which  Mr.  Nelson 
took  part  was  the  notable  conflict  of  Shiloh,  and  he 
also  participated  in  the  battle  of  Corinth.  After 
camping  at  that  place  a  few  weeks  the  command 
marched  to  Memphis,  thence  down  the  river  to 
Lake  Providence,  whicli  was  their  camp  ground  for 
a  time  prifjr  to  their  participation  in  the  battles  of 
Champion  Hills,  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Vicksburg.  After  the  battle  of  Corinth 
Com|iany  G  was  assigned  as  bodj'  guard  to  Gen. 
McArthur,  and  after  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  as  that 
of  Gen.  Crocker.  In  January,  1864,  Mr.  Nelson 
veteranized  and  some  weeks  later  was  granted  a 
furlough.  At  its  expiration  he  rejoined  the  com- 
mand at  Big  Shanty,  Ga.,  going  with  them  to 
Atlanta,  taking  part  in  the  principal  battles  of  tbe 
Atlanta  campaign  and  the  siege  and  capture  of  that 
city. 

After  the  fall  of  McPherson  the  company  was 
assigned  as  body  guard  to  Gen.  F.  P.  Blair,  com- 
manding the  Seventeenth  army  corps,  and  accom- 
panied the  command  to  Savannah,  and  thence  via 
water  to  Beaufort,  S.  C.  From  that  place  they 
marched  to  Columbia,  arriving  the  night  before 
the  city  was  burneil,  and  afterward  continued  their 
march  to  Raleigh,  at  which  place  they  were  lying 
when  news  of  the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln 
reached  them.  After  the  surrender  of  Johnston 
they  marched   to  Washington  via  Richmond,  par- 


ticipated in  the  Grand  Review,  after  which  they  re- 
paired to  Louisville,  Ky.,  to  be  mustered  out  of 
service.  Returning  to  Vermont  in  Jul3-  Mr.  Nel- 
son began  work  at  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  whicb 
he  continued  for  a  time,  then  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business,  in  which  he  is  still  engaged. 

The  lady  with  whom  Mr.  Nels«n  was  united  in 
marriage  in  1860  was  Catherine  Hickok,  who  de- 
parted this  life  in  1866.  In  1873  Mr.  Nelson  con- 
tracted a  second  matrimonial  alliance,  having  won 
for  Ids  bride  Miss  Anna  II.  Miller,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
who  presides  with  dignity  and  efficiency  over  the 
home,  sympatliizing  in  all  her  husband's  pursuits 
and  recreations,  and  looking  carefully  after  the 
w^elfare  of  their  two  children — Laura  and  Pearl  D. 
Mrs.  Nelson  is  a  memlier  of  the  Christian  Church. 
Mr.  Nelson  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party. 


ATHAN  BEADLES  is  well-known  and  hon- 
7/  ored  b3'  the  people  of  Fulton  County  not 
111  i^  only  as  one  of  its  pioneers,  but  as  one  of  its 
most  worthy  citizens,  and  is  now  tbe  oldest  inhabi- 
tant. He  came  to  Lewistown  more  than  half  a 
century  ago  when  it  was  only  a  small  village  and 
cast  in  his  lot  with  its  early  settlers,  has  been  prom- 
inent in  its  upbuilding,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the 
substantial,  wealtliy  men  of  the  city. 

Our  subject  was  born  on  Kentucky  soil  August 
26,  1811,  Danville,  Mercer  County,  the  place  of 
his  birth.  His  father.  Rice  Beadles,  came  of  an  old 
Virginia  family',  and  was  born  in  that  State,  in 
L3'nchburg  County,  the  son  of  another  Rice  Beadles, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion.  The 
latter  was  reared  and  married  there,  and  there  spent 
his  entire  life.  He  was  a  planter  and  slaveholder, 
and  a  man  of  considerable  wealth. 

The  father  of  our  subject  grew  to  man's  estate 
in  tlie  home  of  his  birth,  and  in  due  time  was  there 
married  to  Sarah  Adams,  daughter  of  John  Adams, 
both  Virginians  by  birth.  Soon  after  marriage  Mr. 
Beadles  and  his  young  wife  left  their  native  State 
to  build  up  a  home  for  themselves  in  the  wilds  of 
Kentucky,  the  removal  being  made  with  a  wagon. 
The}-    were    among    the    first   settlers   of    Mercer 


622 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


County,  where  he  bought  a  tract  of  heavily  lim- 
bered land,  and  from  that  lime  until  his  death  de- 
voted his  energies  to  supeiintending  the  clearing 
of  his  land  and  to  tilling  the  soil.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  also  spent  her  last  years  on  the  farm  in 
Kentucky,  and  her  remains  were  buried  in  the  Lew- 
istown  Cemetery  in  Fulton  County,  this  State. 

Nathan  Beadles,  of  whom  we  write,  is  the  young- 
est of  eleven  children,  and  the  only  one  now  living, 
and  he  has  attained  a  greater  age  than  any  member 
of  the  family.  His  eari\'  life  was  passed  amid  the 
pleasant  scenes  of  his  Kentucky  home  on  a  farm. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  was  sent  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a  tailor,  in  Danville,  serving  a  three  j-ears' 
apprenticeship.  At  the  expiration  of  tiiat  time,  in 
1833,  the  pioneer  spirit  of  his  ancestry  led  him  to 
cross  the  Ohio  River  from  his  native  State,  and 
make  his  way  to  the  wilds  of  Fulton  Countj'  to 
become  a  pioneer  of  the  little  settlement  of  Lew- 
istown.  He  found  this  a  thriving  little  hamlet, 
witli  a  population  of  about  four  hundred  people, 
the  center  of  a  wild,  sparsely  settled  countr}-,  that 
was  but  little  improved.  Deer,  wolves,  wild  tur- 
keys, and  other  game  were  plenty  and  roamed  at 
will  over  tiie  i)rairics  and  Muffs  or  haunted  the 
groves  of  timber,  and  Indians  still  liaveled  to  and 
fro  across  the  country,  which  had  once  belonged  to 
them. 

After  his  arrival  here  our  subject  immediately 
invested  in  property  including  his  present  location. 
There  were  two  hewed  log  houses  on  the  place  at 
the  ,tirae,  and  he  opened  a  tailor  shop  in  one,  and 
when  he  married  commenced  housekeeping  in  the 
other.  He  has  occupied  the  same  ground  for  a 
period  of  fifty-seven  jears,  though  the  rude  log 
house  in  which  he  first  made  his  home  has  been 
superseded  by  a  fine  brick  residence,  and  here  be 
has  one  of  the  most  attractive  abodes  in  this  part 
of  the  cit}'.  The  lawns  around  it  are  tastily  laid 
out,  and  adorned  with  many  beautiful  rose  bushes 
and  other  shrubbery  and  flowering  plants  in  profu- 
sion. The  adornment  of  the  grounds  is  due  in  a 
great  measure  to  his  lamented  wife,  a  lady  of  true 
refinement,  who  was  a  great  lover  of  flowers,  and 
is  kept  up  as  a  beautiful  memory  of  her  presence. 
Mr.  Beadles  is  a  fine  tj'pe  of  our  self-made  man, 
as  from  poverty  he  has  risen  to  a  position  of  wealth 


and  importance  in  the  community-.  When  he  ar- 
rived here  in  the  flush  and  vigor  of  earlj-  manhood 
his  only  moneyed  capital  was  thirty-seven  cents, 
but  his  health,  strength  and  brain  were  good  sub- 
stitutes, and  by  their  aid  he  has  acquired  riches, 
and  is  the  owner  of  mucli  valuable  property  here 
and  elsewhere.  He  built  and  still  owns  Beadle's 
Block,  the  finest  business  block  in  the  citj',  and  he 
has  other  realt3'  here,  and  has  large  possessions  in 
Chicago.  His  financial  ability  is  of  a  high  order, 
and  in  all  his  transactions  he  has  always  acted  with 
strict  regard  to  ver.'icity  and  honor.  He  is  a  sin- 
cere Christian  gentleman,  ami  in  1868  connected 
himself  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Ciiureh.  He 
has  always  been  a  Democrat,  and  cast  liis  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  Jackson. 

Mr.  Beadles  has  been  twice  married.  September 
7,  1835,  was  the  date  of  his  first  marriage,  and  at 
that  time  he  was  wedded  to  Lamira  Smith,  a  daujh- 
ter  of  John  and  Esther  Smith,  and  a  native  of  Bar- 
ren County,  K)'.  Their  married  life  was  happy 
and  brief  and  was  closed  by  her  death  September 
28,  1842.  The  second  marriage  of  our  subject  was 
with  Luan  Leeper,  and  was  solemnized  May  6, 
1846.  She  was  born  in  Barren  County,  Ky.,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  William  and  ilargaret  Leei)er. 
For  more  than  thirtj'  j-ears  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beadles 
were  permitted  to  walk  life's  road  together,  and 
then  they  were  called  to  part  until  they  shall  meet 
where  "the  broken  circles  of  life  are  rounded  to 
the  perfect  orb;"  the  faithful  wife,  wise  counselor 
and  true  friend  d3Mug  June  6,  1878.  Since  the 
death  of  his  wife  his  niece,  Miss  M.  J.  Bradley,  has 
presided  over  the  household  of  our  subject,  and 
administers  carefully  and  tenderl}'  to  his  comfort. 


# 


DWAliD  WILSON  is  among  the  earliest  na- 
5<j  tive-born  citizens  of  this  county,  who  are 
['— <^  still  living  within  its  limits.  He  grew  with 
its  growth,  and  since  attaining  manhood  has  been 
no  unimportant  factor  in  the  great  work  that  has 
resulted  in  making  this  one  of  the  richest  farming 
countries  on  the  globe.     Bernadotte  Township,  the 


'la>?7yJC/Ji 


CTL^U^ 


ieo^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


625 


place  of  his  birth,  is  still  his  home,  and  his  beau- 
tiful farm  on  section  24,  compares  favorably  in 
point  of  cultivation  and  improvement  witli  the 
best  in  this  localit}-.  The  father  of  our  subject 
was  born  in  Ireland  and  his  mother  in  Philadelphia, 
Pa.  They  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  this 
count}',  and  here  he  was  born  April  5,  1833.  He 
remained  with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty 
years  old,  receiving  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  in  Bernadotte  Township.  At  the  .ige  men- 
tioned he  started  out  in  the  world  and  made  a  I  rip 
across  the  plains  with  an  ox-team,  going  througli 
Salt  Lake  City,  from  ihere  to  Ameiicau  Valley, 
whence  he  made  his  way  to  San  Francisco,  and  so 
en  to  San  Jose  Valley.  He  returned  to  this  part 
of  the  country  by  water,  going  bj'  steamer  to  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  thence  by  another  steamer 
to  New  Orleans,  where  he  spent  a  few  days  and  then 
proceeded  up  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and 
from  thee  to  Liverpool,  this  State,  and  to  Lewis- 
town,  arriving  at  his  old  home  in  the  month  of 
April,  18.'54,  without  an  accident. 

Shortly  after  his  return,  Mr.  Wilson  was  wedded 
to  Margaret,  a  daughter  of  T.  J.  and  Susan  Wal- 
ters, of  Bernadotte  Township,  their  marriage  hav- 
ing been  solemnized  May  18.  1M54.  They  have 
resided  in  Bernadotte  Township  ever  since,  and 
nine  children  have  been  born  to  them,  namely: 
Harriet,  born  March  19,  1855,  married  William 
Slock  and  died  in  the  month  of  August,  1888, 
leaving  one  child,  whom  her  parents  are  bringing 
up;  Annie  E.,  born  April  11,  1856,  married  John 
Becker,  and  thej'  reside  on  a  part  of  our  subject's 
farm  and  have  six  children,  four  girls  and  two 
boys;  John  W.,  born  December  28,  1858,  lives  on 
a  farm  in  Bernadotte  Township,  where  he  and  his 
wife  Savannah,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Elizabeth 
Couse,  are  rearing  a  famil}-  of  tive  children,  four 
daughters  and  one  son;  Samuel  L.,  who  lives  in 
Elgin,  Union  County,  Ore.,  born  December  29, 
1860,  married  Mattie,  daughter  of  M.  C.  Maxwell, 
and  the}'  have  one  bo}' ;  Mary  E.,  born  November 
27,  1861,  died  January  22,  1884 ;  Emma  J.,  born 
October  27, 1863, married  Frank  Howerter.a  farmer, 
and  they  have  three  boys  and  one  girl;  George  E., 
born  August  5,  186G,  died  October  23,  1867;  Ida 
R.,  born    January   27,    1869,   died  April    7,   1887; 


Melvin,  born  Januar}'  10,  1874,  lives  at  home  with 
ids  parents. 

Our  subject  is  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  fine  farming  land  and  carries  on  a 
good  business  as  a  general  farmer.  He  is  a  sturdy 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  has  borne  an  honorable 
part  in  the  civic  life  of  his  county.  He  held  the 
office  of  Trustee  in  the  years  1887-88-89,  and  has 
been  School  Director  for  about  twelve  years.  He 
has  held  the  position  of  Road  Commissioner  and 
has  been  Pathmaster  for  six  yeftrs.  In  him  the 
Christian  Church  finds  one  of  its  most  consistent 
and  generous  memliers,  he  belonging  to  the  church 
of  that  denomination  in  Cuba  and  contributing 
liberally  to  its  support.  He  is  well  known,  and 
the  incorruptible  integrity  of  his  character  and  his 
manj'  fine  qualities  of  head  and  heart  have  placed 
him  high  in  the  regard  of  his  fellow-citizens. 


■^  UNSON  HOLLISTER  is  one  of  tlie  most 
\\\  extensive  and  enterprising  farmers  in  Fnl- 
*  ton  County,  and  one  of  the  largest  land- 
holders in  all  Harris  Township,  where  his 
farming  and  stock-raising  interests  are  centered. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  successful  men  of  his  class, 
and  is  a  fine  representative  of  those  wiio  began  life 
without  a  cent  and  have  worked  their  wa}'  to 
wealth  solely  through  their  own  efforts  and  are 
therefore  rightly  called  self  made. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Ohio,  in  Knox  County, 
Januar}'  13,  1818.  Isaac  and  Hannah  (Kettle) 
Hollister,  his  parents,  were  of  old  Yankee  stock. 
His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  William  and  Lucy 
(Thomas)  Kettle.  Isaac  Hollister  was  a  soldier  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Ohio,  where  he  married  in  1817.  Our  subject  was 
reared  to  farming  pursuits  and  was  given  a  com- 
mon-school education.  In  early  manhood  he  bought 
fifty  acres  of  land  in  his  native  count}',  and  in '1840 
was  married  and  located  on  it.  When  he  secured 
his  land  he  did  not  have  a  cent  to  pay  for  it,  but 
he  went  to  work  and  cut  ofif  timber  enough  to  fur- 
nish the  required  sum,  $600. 

In  order  to  make  more  money  Mr.  Hollister  fol- 


626 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


lowed  tUresbing  for  a  !)usiiiess  (luiiiin'  the  season, 
woi'king  at  that  from  harvest  time  through  the 
winter,  ami  being  considered  one  of  the  greatest 
tlireshing  men  in  tlie  county  at  tliat  time.  Tlien 
sei)arators  were  unlinown,  and  he  had  to  tliresh  the 
grain  and  clean  it  up  afterward.  Being  industrious, 
from  time  to  time  he  was  enabled  to  add  to  his 
original  purchase  until  he  had  one  hundred  and 
fifty-five  acres  of  land,  which  he  sold  when  hceime 
here  in  18C4.  He  brought  with  him  to  this  State 
five  teams  of  horses,  a  lot  of  colts  and  four  hun- 
dred sheep,  but  finding  that  the  sheej)  would  not  do 
well  with  the  other  stock  be  finally  disi)Osed  of 
them. 

After  Mr.  HoUister  came  to  Illinois  he  bougiit 
a  piece  of  land  near  Talile  Grove,  comprising  forty 
acres.  He  staid  there  during  the  winter,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1868  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  ^McDonongh  County,  on  which  liis 
son  now  resides.  This  was  new  land  and  he  broke 
it,  and  had  it  under  good  improvement  when  he 
sold  it  to  his  son  and  son-iu-law.  After  that  he 
jiurcluised  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
wliere  he  now  lives.  This  was  partly  improved,  and 
he  added  to  its  acreage  by  further  purchase  until  at 
one  time  he  owned  twelve  hundred  acres  of  choice 
farming  land.  Tlie  most  of  this  be  put  under  a 
good  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Hollister  has  given  some  of  bis  land  to  his 
chililren,  but  he  still  lias  eight  liundred  acres  in  this 
county, besides  two  iiuudrcd  and  eighty  acres  in  Polk 
County.  He  has  been  very  generous  to  bis  children, 
and  has  given  them  a  good  start  in  life.  He  gave 
each  child  §1,000  toward  buying  a  farm,  and  most 
of  them  are  all  settled  and  well-to-do  in  life,  ex- 
cepting his  son  George,  to  whom  Mr.  Hollister  is 
going  to  give  a  farm  in  the  fall  of  1890.  Mr. 
Hollister  has  made  a  business  of  stock-raising,  and 
has  now  some  fort3'  lie;ul  of  horses  on  bis  place, 
and  keeps  a  good  Percheron  horse  for  his  own  use. 
Our  subject's  career  in  life  has  marked  him  as  a 
man  of  superior  energy,  foresight  and  thrift,  wliose 
keen  judgment  in  regard  to  business  matters  has 
placed  him  among  the  wealthy  men  of  his  county. 
He  is  a  sound  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  Init 
has  never  sought  office.  l\eligiou--ly,  be  was  for- 
merly a  Methodist,  but   for  many   years  has  been 


connected  witli  tiie  United  Bretinen  denomination, 
and  is  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant Church. 

Mr.  Hollister  has  been  married  three  times.  He 
first  led  to  the  altar  Miss  Mary  Headington,  a 
daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Ruth  (Phillips)  Head- 
ington. She  became  the  mother  of  nine  chiMren, 
some  of  whom  survive,  and  she  passed  away  in 
1860.  The  following  is  the  record  of  the  children 
of  that  marriage:  Eliza  .1.  married  Leonard  Carter, 
a  farmer  now  of  Polk  County,  Neb.,  and  they  have 
three  children;  Mary  Ann  married  Ba'.sard  Neber- 
gall,  a  farmer  of  Nebrask.a  and  they  have  nine  chil- 
dren; Sanford  Parker,  residing  on  a  farm  of  bis 
own  in  McUonough  County,  near  Bnshnell,  is  mar- 
ried and  has  six  children;  Lucina  married  Charles 
Johnson,  a  farmer  and  teacher,  owning  a  farm  in 
Shernian  County,  Kan.,  and  they  have  five  girls 
and  one  boy;  Ruth  married  Benton  Howard,  a  son  . 
of  Charles  HowariL  of  Marietta,  and  they  have 
eight  children;  Melvin,  now  with  his  sisters  and 
brother  in  Nebraska,  occupying  a  farm  of  bis  own, 
is  married  and  has  five  children;  Sarah  married 
Edward  Brice,  who  lives  on  bis  father's  jjlace  near 
the  parental  home,  and  they  have  five  children. 

The  second  marriage  of  our  subject  was  with 
Miss  Juliette  Elliott,  who  died  in  1878.  She  left 
two  children,  William  and  George;  the  former  who 
is  settled  near  his  father,  is  married  and  has  two 
children;  George,  who  lives  in  Neljraska.  is  mar- 
ried and  hns  two  children.  The  name  of  our  sub- 
ject's jireseut  wife  at  the  time  of  his  marriage  with 
her  was  Lovisa  ((ioff )  Langley,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Goff  and  widow  of  Andrew  Langley.  One  daugh- 
ter has  been  born  of  this  marriage.  Birdie  May.  a 
little  girl  at  home  with  her  parents. 

A  litliographie  portrait  of  Mr.  Hollister  appears 
on  another  page. 

^   <xr>o    - 


ooo 


sH  l>ILLIAM  S.  LUMAN  owns  three  hundred 
land  on  sections  6  .and  7,  Fairview 
ip,  forming  an  estate  of  which  any 
man  might  well  be  proud  to  be  the  owner.  Its  ap- 
pearance, even  to  the  most  unobserving  e}'e,  is  that 
of   thorough  cultivation,  orderly  methods  and  wise 


sfl        l^ILLIAM 
\       /     acres  of  1 
Ylf,       Townshii 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


627 


improvement.  While  no  pretentions  to  elegance  are 
made  by  the  owner  and  his  wife,  their  liome  bears 
the  stump  of  comfort.  Intelligence  and  refinement. 
Mr.  Luman  is  much  interested  in  raising  Shropshire- 
down  sheep,  has  a  great  liking  for  all  kinds  of  stock, 
and  successfuU}'  raises  various  animals  in  connec- 
tion with  tilling  the  soil.  Me  was  brought  to  this 
county  by  his  parents  when  but  four  years  old  and 
is  therefore  numbered  among  those  who  have  done 
much  to  bring  it  to  its  present  high  condition  and 
are  thoronghlj-  familiar  with  its  growth  and  devel- 
opment. 

Jesse  and  Mary  (Shreeves)  Luman.  the  parents  of 
our  subject,  were  natives  of  Franklin  County,  Ohio, 
and  Bedford  County,  Pa.,  respectively.  They  were 
married  in  the  Buckeye  Stale  and  lived  in  Franklin 
County  until  the  fall  of  1838,  when  they  emigrated 
hither.  The  father  was  a  farmer  who  made  a  home 
for  his  family  in  Fairview  Township.  Here  he 
breathed  his  last  in  1856,  at  the  age  of  forty  eight 
years,  while  the  guod  mother  survived  until  1873, 
attaining  to  the  age  of  seventy-one  3'ears.  The 
parental  family,  of  which  our  subject  was  the  first- 
born, included  also  Hannah,  Catherine,  Elijah  and 
Rachel  A.  Hannah  married  John  Shockley,  moved 
to  Iowa  in  1865  and  djed  in  1873,  leaving  the  fol- 
lowing children — Thomas  Edwin,  Mary  C,  Albert 
(<)eceased),  Manuel,  Louisa, Milton,  Elmer,  Laura  A. 
and  Rachel  (twins).  Catherine  married  Andrew 
Bowdin,  moved  to  Kansas  in  1886  and  died  in  1889, 
leaving  seven  children — Elsie  J.,  Rachel  A.,  Mary, 
Elmer,  Martha,  Delos  and  Bertha.  Elijah  enlisted 
In  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois 
Infantry,  was  wounded  at  Lookout  Mountain  and 
died  in  the  hospital  of  a  rebel  prison;  he  had  mar- 
ried Mary  Gumble  and  had  one  child  who  died. 
Rachel  A.  is  the  wife  of  B.  S.  .Miller,  proprietor  of 
a  meat  market  in  London  Mills,  and  has  one  child 
— William. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this  biog- 
raphy was  born  in  Franklin  County.  Ohio,  January 
1,  1834,  and  reared  in  the  township  where  he  now 
lives.  He  was  privileged  to  attend  the  schools, 
such  as  they  were,  in  tlie  township,  the  first  In  which 
he  studied  being  supported  by  subscriptions,  but 
later  ones  by  public  moneys.  Being  the  older  son 
of  his  parents,  and  reared  on  a  farm,  he  was  early 


called  upon  to  plow  and  bear  a  part  in  general  farm 
work.  He  grubbed  out^hazel  brush,  broke  the'virgin 
soil  and  did  his  full  share  to  place  the  acres  owned 
by  his  father  in  a  condition  which  would  be  pro- 
ductive of  a  good  support  and  creditable  among 
agriculturists. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Luman  was  celebrated  April 
1,  1858,  his  bride  being  Miss  Mary  A.,  daughter  of 
Miles  and  Mary  (Fisher)  Cook.  This  lad}'  was  born 
in  Todd  Township,  Huntingdon  Count}-,  Pa.,  and 
traces  her  descent  from  several  families  of  honored 
names.  She  was  a  young  lad}'  of  seventeen  when 
she  came  to  this  State.  It  would  be  hard  to  find 
throughout  all  its  broad  expanse  one  possessed  of 
more  genuine  worth,  more  highly  spoken  of  by 
those  who  enjoy  her  hospitality,  or  better  fitted  for 
the  duties  of  womanhood.  She  is  the  mother  of 
seven  children — Jesse  F.,  Alice,  Amos  W.,  John, 
Elijah  O.,  Ernest  and  Charles  A.  All  are  at  home 
except  the  first-born,  who  married  Catherine  Olson 
and  makes  his  home  in  Galesburg.  He  has  two 
children — Vera  and  Jessie.  Jesse  F.  is  a  school 
teacher. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Luman  was  born  in  Hunting- 
don County,  Pa.,  and  married  in  his  native  State, 
whence  he  removed  to  Illinois  in  1855.  He  settled 
in  Fairview  Township,  this  county,  where  at  the 
time  of  his  death  he  owned  three  farms.  His  demise 
took  place  in  1863  at  the  age  of  fifty  eight  years. 
His  widow  married  a  second  time,  becoming  the 
wife  of  R.  W.  Combs,  of  Young  Hickory  Township, 
and  dying  there  in  1873  at  the  age  of  sixty-three 
years.  She  had  six  children  by  her  first  union,  Mrs. 
Luman  being  the  third.  The  other  members  of  the 
farail}'  circle  were  John,  who  served  his  countr}-  four 
years,  married  Martha  A.  Foster  and  died  in  1873, 
leaving  one  child ;  Hannah,  widow  of  Robert  Combs, 
who  makes  her  home  in  Fairview;  Amos,  vvho 
served  in  the  Civil  War,  rnarried  Louisa  Anderson, 
has  three  children  and  lives  in  Kansas;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  L.  D.  Rose,  a  farmer  in  Fairview  Township, 
and  the  mother  of  five  children;  Jesse,  a  brickmaker 
at  London  Mills,  whose  wife  was  formerly  Miss 
Alice  Morris. 

'I'lie  Cook  family,  celebrated  in  the  annals  of 
early  American' colonization,  was  of  English  origin 
and  crossed  the  Atlantic  with  William  Penn,  settling 


628 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


at  Pliiladelpliia.  From  this  famil}-  have  sprung 
many  famous  scholars,  soldiers  and  statesmen,  tlie 
ancestral  record  being  traced  through  more  llian 
two  hundred  years.  The  paternal  grandmother  of 
Mrs.  Ijuman  was  an  pjvans.  The  Fishers  were  of' 
German  descent. 

The  life  of  our  subject  lias  been  characterized  by 
great  energy  and  industry,  and  intelligent,  well- 
directed  efforts  in  the  lino  of  his  chosen  lifework, 
and  in  every  position  to  which  lie  has  been  called 
by  his  fellow-men.  lie  has  served  as  Highway  Com- 
missioner several  years,  has  been  Collector,  and 
performed  the  duties  of  School  Director  twelve  or 
fifteen  years.  In  politics  he  favors  the  Democratic 
principles,  but  endeavors  to  vote  for  the  men  best 
fitted  to  fill  places  of  public  trust.  He  is  a  member 
of  Fairview  Lodge,  No.  350,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and 
has  set  on  both  petit  and  grand  juries. 


^1= 


:^ 


HARLES  H.  FUHRMAN,  of  liie  firm  of 
Fuhrman  &  Wheelbergor,  proprietors  of  the 

^Jf'  Merchant  Exchange  Mills,  Canton,  is  one 
of  the  most  prominent  mill  men  in  the  county.  He 
was  born  in  Saxony,  Germain',  December  14,  1838, 
and  was  one  of  two  children  of  August  and  Clies- 
tina  (Meihler)  Fuhrman.  His  father  was  a  miller 
and  carried  on  his  trade  in  his  native  Germany, 
and  still  lives  there.  The  mother  died  when  our 
subject  was  fourteen  years  old. 

Charles  H.  passed  his  school  days  in  the  excel- 
lent schools  of  his  native  country,  which  he  at- 
tended quite  steadily  from  the  age  of  six  to  four- 
teen years.  He  then  began  an  apprenticeship  of 
three  years  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  miller,  and  at 
the  end  of  that  time  lie  traveled  as  a  journeyman 
miller  three  3'ears,  visiting  many  of  the  large  cities 
and  famous  places  of  Prussia.  In  1867  he  decided 
to  direct  his  footsteps  to  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica, where  he  shrev.dly  thought  he  could  sooner 
acquire  the  competency  for  wiiich  he  aimed.  He 
embarked  on  a  vessel  bound  for  America,  and 
finally  landed  at  New  York  Cit^',  whence  he  m.ade 
his  way  to  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  where  he  stopped  one 


month.  He  proceeded  from  there  to  Massillon, 
Ohio,  and  to  St.  Louis  and  Kansas  City.  He  came 
to  Lewistown  in  the  fall  of  1868,  and  went  to  work 
for  Berger  &  Co.  as  head  miller.  He  held  that 
position  sixteen  years,  and  then  with  the  money 
that  he  had  acquired,  he  bought  the  mill  and  re- 
fitted it  up  and  managed  it  with  excellent  success. 
In  1885  he  introduced  the  roller  system,  and  con- 
tinued to  run  the  mills  in  connection  with  T.  H. 
Burgctt  until  1889.  In  that  year  he  sold  out  his 
interests  in  that  concern  to  Mr.  Burgett,  and  in 
March,  1890,  purchased  his  present  mills  in  Can- 
ton, which  contained  the  complete  roller  system, 
having  all  the  best  modern  machinery  in  use  in 
such  mills.  The  mills  turn  out  flour  of  a  superior 
quality,  and  their  capacity  is  fifty  barrels  per  twen- 
ty four  hours.  Mr.  G.  Wlieelberger,  was  admit- 
ted in  partnershli)  by  our  subject  at  the  time  he 
purchased  the  mills. 

ftlr.  Fuhrman  was  married  in  the  j'car  1869,  to 
Mrs.  Cornelia  B.  Harbison,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Rowley.  She  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  has 
made  our  subject  an  excellent  wife,  and  is  devoted 
to  his  interests.  Mr.  Fuhrman  was  reared  in  the 
Lutheran  faith,  but  is  now  an  attendant  of  the 
Chrislian  Church.  He  began  the  struggle  of  life 
without  means  other  than  a  sound  mind  in  a  sound 
body,  and  with  that  capital  has  acquired  a  goodly 
amount  of  property.  He  has  valuable  possessions 
here,  and  also  in  Lewistown,  where  he  owns  resi- 
dences which  he  rents.  For  a  number  of  3'ears  he 
voted  with  the  Republicans,  but  now  affiliates  with 
the  Democrats.  He  is  a  sincere  Christian  gentle- 
man, and  is  truthful  and  upright  in  all  his  dealings. 


<*  l>/ILLIAM  II.  SHAW,  proprietor  of  the 
\^//  Churchill  House,  the  leading  hotel  of  Can- 
V^y^  ton,  is  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  the 
place.  He  is  pre-eminent  in  its  public  and  polit- 
ical life,  and  is  very  active  in  advancing  all  enter- 
prises for  the  good  of  the  city.  Mr.  Shaw  was  born 
in  Dublin,  Ireland.    His  parents  were  Benjamin  and 


:^-^vrf^ft»S* 


'I 


'^JLyiy^C^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


631 


Anna  (Lester)  Shaw,  anil  when  he  was  an  infant 
they  left  their  native  isle  and  crossed  the  waters  to 
Canada.  Tlie  fatlior  ilied  in  that  country  in  1884, 
the  mother  is  still  living. 

Our  subject  was  prineiivilly  reared  and  educated 
in  London,  Canada.  After  he  liad  completed  his 
studies  in  the  public  schools,  he  took  a  commercial 
course,  in  the  branch  college  that  Bryant  &  Strat- 
ton  established  in  London,  Ontario.  In  1873  Mr. 
Shaw  came  to  Canton  to  take  charge  of  the  busi- 
ness'of  Humphrey  Bell  &  Co.,  who  at  that  time 
were  running  a  pork  packing  establishment  here. 
He  acted  as  their  manager  for  a  period  of  four 
years,  and  then  took  an  interest  with  Samuel  T. 
Burrel,  who  w.as  then  proprietor  of  the  Churchill 
House.  In  1880  Mr.  Shaw  became  sole  pro|)rietor 
of  the  hotel  and  since  that  time  he  has  conducted 
a  large  and  successful  business.  His  genial  and 
social  manners  make  him  very  popular  with  his 
guests  and  with  all  with  whom  he  cf)mes  in  contact, 
and  his  executive  talent  and  tact  admirably  lit  him 
for  the  position  of  manager  of  a  first-class  hotel. 

In  June,  1877,  Mr.  Shaw  married  Miss  Emma  A., 
daughter  of  Samuel  T.  Burrell.  Mrs.  Shaw  is  a  na- 
tive of  New  York,  her  parents  coming  to  this  place 
from  Lennox,  that  State.  Her  marriage  with  our 
subject  has  been  blessed  with  five  children — Mag- 
gie, Tyler,    William  II.,  Charles  L.,  and   Benjamin. 

]\Ir.  Shaw  is  a  man  of  luitiring  energ}-,  possessing 
a  keen,  well-bnlanced  mind,  and  he  is  classed  among 
the  best  of  Canton's  citizens.  His  generous  and 
deep  interest  in  all  that  concerns  its  public  wial,  has 
exerted  a  .Tiarked  influence  in  advancing  the  vari- 
ous enterprises  inaugurated  to  develop  and  ])ro- 
mote  the  prosperity  of  this  municipality.  Respon- 
sible and  important  oflices  have  lieen  intrusted  to 
his  care,  and  he  has  discharged  Iheir  duties  with 
characteristic  fidelity,  and  so  as  to  advance  the  pub- 
lic welfare.  He  has  served  as  Alderman,  repiesent- 
ing  llie  Third  Ward  one  term,  and  he  Ins  also  been 
Assistant  Supervisor.  In  1883,  he  way  elected 
Chief  of  tlio  Fire  Department,  which  position  he  has 
held,  except  one  term,  to  the  present  time.  In  1881 
he  established  a  telephone  exchange  of  which  he 
was  the  manager  eight  years.  In  February,  1890, 
he  was  ;i|)pointed  Postmaster  at  Canton.  Mr.  Shaw 
is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P.  No.  51,  and  is  also  a 


member  of  Morning  Star  Lodge,  No.  74,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.  He  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  an  active  [loli- 
tician,  and  is  often  selected  as  delegate  to  county, 
Senatorial  and  District  Conventions. 


^^OAH  DAVIS.  This  venerable  gentleman, 
whose  portrait  is  shown  on  the  opposite 
page,  was  an  early-  pioneer  of  this  county, 
coming  here  more  than  fifty  years  ago,  and  the 
tract  of  wild  land  on  which  he  then  located  on 
section  7,  Union  Township,  he  has  ever  since  maile 
his  home,  and  is  now  enjoying  its  peaceful  comfort 
in  retirement  from  the  hard  labors  of  his  early 
years,  by  which  he  developed  here  one  of  the  fine 
farms  for  which  this  localit}'  is  noted. 

Norfolk  County,  Va.,  is  the  native  place  of  our 
subject,  and  June  29,  1805,  the  date  of  his  birtli. 
His  parents  were  Benjamin  and  Sarah  (Mathews) 
Davis.  In  1809  his  father  removed  with  his  fan\ily 
into  the  unbroken  wilderness  of  Woodford  Count3', 
Ky.,  and  gave  aid  to  its  other  pioneers  in  their 
work  of  developing  it.  About  1821  he  again  be- 
came a  pioneer,  taking  up  his  abode  in  the  tlu  n 
new  country  comprised  in  Jefferson  County,  Iiid., 
and  there  his  weary  pilgrimage  was  brought  to  a 
elcse. 

Mr.  Davis,  to  whom  these  lines  chieflj'  refer,  was 
bred  to  the  life  of  a  farmer  amid  pioneer  scenes, 
and  received  but  a  limited  education.  He  was 
about  four  years  old  when  his  [larents  left  the  old 
home  in  \'irginia  and  passed  through  the  wild, 
primeval  forests  to  seek  a  new  dwelling  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  he  was  sixteen  years  old  win  n  tliev  be- 
came early  settlers  f)f  Indiana.  In  1836,  he  tbo 
became  a  pioneer,  having  been  well  prepared  for 
his  future  task  by  his  struggle  with  the  rude  forces 
of  nature  in  Indiana  wilds.  On  Oetolier  15,  of 
that  year  he  took  possession  of  the  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 7,  Union  T(jwnsliip,  that  he  had  purchased 
from  the  Governn^ent,  receiving  his  warrant  at  the 
land  office  at  Quincy. 

Mr.  Davis  found  this  section  of  the  country 
sparsely  settled,  and  many  were  the  privalions  and 
hardships  lie  and    his  family  had   to  uuluie   befiire 


632 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


he  had  subdued  the  soU.  bringing  it  to  its  present 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  jnaking  the  various 
improvements  tiiat  have  so  greatly'  increased  its 
value.  He  built  a  log  house  to  shelter  his  wife  and 
ciiildren,  and  entered  upon  the  hard  task  before 
liim  bravely  and  with  a  sturd}-  determination  to 
conquer  all  obstacles,  and  in  the  3-ears  that  followed 
put  his  place  in  good  order,  and  has  a  substantial, 
well-developed  farm.  Five  years  ago  he  rented  his 
farm  to  his  son,  and  letired  to  spend  the  declining 
years  of  a  long  and  useful  life  in  the  enjoyment 
nf  ihe  competency  that  he  had  secured  by  his 
industry. 

As  we  have  seen,  JSIr.  Davis  has  contributed  his 
quota  iu  bringing  about  the  present  high  standing 
of  Union  Township  as  an  agricultural  region  of 
great  productiveness,  with  many  valuable,  highly 
improved  farms  within  its  borders,  and  as  an  old 
settler  his  name  will  ever  be  honorabl}-  mentioned 
in  its  history.  His  whole  course  has  shown  him  to 
be  shrewd,  practical  and  capable  as  a  farmer;  kind- 
hearted  and  well-principled  as  a  man,  and  loyal  as 
a  citizen.  In  politics  he  adheres  to  the  Republican 
[larty,  and  it  is  a  fact  of  which  he  may  well  be 
proud  that  he  was  a  member  of  the  Union  League 
during  the  war. 

Mr."  Davis  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife,  to  whom  he  was  united  December  31,  1829, 
was  Nanc3'  Mings,  a  daughter  of  Aaron  Mings,  a 
farmer  of  Jefferson  County,  Ind.  They  had  eight 
children,  of  whom  the  following  seven  are  living: 
Aaron  AV.,  born  in  Indiana,  and  now  a  resident  of 
Fulton  County;  Martha  A.,  of  Woodson  County, 
Kan.,  widow  of  Andrew  Ransom;  Harriet  A.,  who 
married  James  T.  Babbitt,  of  Union  Township; 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  Gilbert  M.  Tompkins,  of  Avon; 
Malinda  J.,  wife  of  AVilliam  Brainard,  of  Neosho 
(Jounty.  Kan.;  Sarah  L.,  wife  of  Thatcher  Nicker- 
son,  who  lives  near  Boston,  Mass.;  William  D., 
who  married  Savina  Simmons,  and  lives  in  AVarren 
County.  For  forty  five  years  the  wife  of  his  early 
manhood  and  the  mother  of  these  children  walked 
by  liis  side,  but  October  10,  1874,  death  crossed 
the  threshold  of  their  home  and  she  was  removed 
from  her  family. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  with  his  present  es- 
timable   wife,    formerly    Mrs.    Elizabeth    Hestou, 


widow  of  Oliver  Heston,  was  consummated  Febru- 
ary 8,  1876.'  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  nine 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  living  and  are  named 
John  AV.,  Samuel  B.,  Charles  A.,  Eliza  J.,  George 
W.,  Harriet  M.,  Alvina  and  Oliver  AVeslej-,  all  of 
whom  are  married,  except  Oliver,  who  lives  at 
homo. 


1-*^ ^ 


m 


f/OHN  SPRY.  The  natives  of  the  Buckeye 
State  have  been  influential  in  developing 
the  vast  interests  of  Fulton  County,  and  of 
these  the  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  de- 
serves considerable  attention.  He  is  the  son  of 
Benjamiu  and  Elizabeth  (Eaton)  Spry,  and  was 
born  in  Knox  County,  Ohio,  September  17.  1823. 
He  received  only  a  common-school  education,  but 
from  earl3'  boyhood  possessed  much  natural  ability 
on  important  questions,  and  has  thus  been  able  to 
win  for  himself  the  esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  a 
comfortable  fortune.  He  commenced  a  business 
career  soon  after  reaching  his  tweuty-flrst  3ear 
and  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He  worked 
for  his  father  and  also  for  others  as  a  farm  hand, 
and  alwa3-s  won  approbation  for  the  energy  and 
steadfastness  of  application  that  he  evinced.  His 
success  was  not  of  rapid  growth  b3-  anx'  means,  he 
being  compelled  to  labor  coustantlv  and  well  but, 
like  all  moral  and  persevering  men.  he  linaJl3- 
gained  a  good  business  standing  and  is  at  the  pres- 
ent writing  highh-  respected  in  the  community  in 
which  he  resides. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  continued  to  make  that  their 
home  until  1822,  at  which  date  the3'  removed  to 
Knox  County,  Ohio,  and  later  to  Illinois,  settling 
in  Putman  Township  in  1851  and  living  here  up  to 
the  time  of  their  death.  The  father  died  in  1853 
and  the  mother  iu  1858.  They  were  the  parents 
of  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living.  Our 
subject  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  and  con- 
tinued to  live  with  them  until  1852,  at  which  time 
he  married  Miss  Susan  Farr,  daughter  of  Cooper 
and  Ada  (Lynne)  Farr,  and  who  was  born  in  Ohio 
in  1832.  Her  parents  were  from  Ohio  and  num- 
bered  among   the  pioneers  of  this  eount3-,  settling 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


633 


in  Astoria  Township.  The  father  died  in  1886  and 
the  mother  resides  with  her  son  in  Astoria. 

Mr.  S|)ry  enlisted  in  the  late  war  in  LS62as  n  pri- 
vate in  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Tliird  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  a  regiment  rthieh  was  organized  in 
Peoria  and  mustered  into  service  at  the  same  jjlace. 
They  marched  to  I5olivar.  Cairo  and  later  to  La- 
Grange.  Mr.  Spry  took  part  in  the  battles  of 
Vicksl)nrg,  Mission  Ridge,  Dalton,  Resaca  and  was 
with  Sherman  through  his  campaign  at  Atlanta. 
While  he  received  no  serious  wounds  and  was  not 
captured  during  the  entire  time,  still  he  endured 
many  hardships  and  privations.  He  vvas  taken  sick 
near  Kenesaw  Mountain,  removed  to  a  hospital  near 
Marietta,  Ga..  where  he  remained  two  months  and 
was  afterward  forced  to  return  home.  He  was  un- 
der Gen.  Logan,  being  discharged  in  July,  1865, 
after  serving  faithfuih'  and  fighting  brave!}-  for  a 
period  of  three  years.  He  has  an  excellent  army 
record  and  even  at  this  time  suffers  from  the  effects 
of  hard  service. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage  Mr, Spry  settled  on 
Totten  Prairie,  Cass  Township,  continuing  to  make 
his  liome  there  two  years,  removing  thence  to  Asto- 
ria Township  and  later  to  McDonough  County,  and 
after  two  years'  residence  there  came  to  Putman 
Township,  settling  on  the  estate  wliere  lie  now  lives. 
To  liim  and  his  estimable  wife  have  I)een  born  ten 
children,  sis  of  whom  are  living:  Jasper  X.,  who 
married  Annie  Miller,  lias  three  children  and  lives 
in  Joshua  Township;  Singleton  B..  who  married 
Miss  Samantha  Mantonya,  lives  in  Lee  Township 
and  has  one  cliild;  Luther,  who  married  Miss  IMary 
Finny,  resides  in  Putman  Tow-nshiii;  Rebecca,  wife 
of  Joseph  L'lird,  has  one  child  and  makes  her 
home  in  Joshua  Townshsip;  Jesse  O.  and  Ira.  The 
cliildren  received  good  eilucations  in  the  common 
schools  and  are  in  comfortable  cii-cumstances.  The 
death  of  Mrs.  Spry  occurred  July  3,  KSSy.  She  vvas 
a  most  estimable  woman  and  was  highly  esteemed 
by  all  vvho  knew  lu-r. 

Our  subjrct  is  a  member  of  the  United  Bri  tluen 
Chureli  and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  this  and 
all  religious  matters  for  tl;e  \>usi  thirty  3ears.  He 
is  a  Scliool  Director  and  as  such  endeavors  to  ad- 
vance the  inl.re'its  of  the  community  in  which  he 
resides.      He   is  a  pidjlic  .spirited  man,  a  member  of 


the  Republican  party  and  keeps  himself  well  posted 
on  all  political  matters.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  val- 
uable esl,ate  comprising  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  good  farming  land  which  is  well  cultivated, 
and  he  merits  praise,  having  planted  every  tree, 
bush  and  shrub  and  gaining  his  possessions  by  his 
own  industiy  and  hard  work. 


-5-f-i«^^=fHH- 


^■AUNTLKROY  JONES.  Fulton  County 
•^(g^  has  among  its  citizens  many  men  of  more 
\,  than  average  ability  and    intelligence,  who 

are  doing  a  great  work  for  its  advancement.  Prom- 
inent among  these  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  ap- 
l)ears  at  the  head  of  this  biograpliy.  He  is  one  of 
the  most  sagacious  and  enterprising  farmers  and 
stock-raisers  in  this  part  of  Illinois,  and  is  also  a 
marked  figure  in  its  political  and  social  life.  He  is 
at  present  serving  as  a  member  of  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors,  representing  Harris  Town- 
ship, his  home  and  the  center  of  his  agricultural  in- 
terests. 

:Mr.  Jones  was  Ijorn  October  1.  1822,  in  Cul- 
[leper  Count}',  Va.,  and  was  reared  amid  the  beauti- 
ful scenes  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  He  is  a  son 
of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Crow)  Jones,  natives, 
respectively  of  Ireland  and  Germany.  His  grand- 
father was  Thomas  Jones,  who  was  of  Welsh  birth 
and  antecedents,  and  who  came  to  this  country  :ind 
took  part  in  the  Revolution,  as  did  other  members 
of  his  familv.  Our  subj<'et  can  remember  when 
they  were  visited  by  a  maternal  great-uncle  who 
had  been  shot  in  the  leg  during  the  struggle  of  the 
C\iloiiists  for  inde|)endeiice.  The  maternal  grand- 
father, William  Crow,  was  a  native  of  Madison 
County,  Va. 

When  our  subject  was  eighteen  years  of  age  he 
left  his  native  home,  l)ecoining  interested  In  the 
cattle  business,  and  engaging  as  a  drover  betwei  n 
Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  before  the  days  of  rad- 
roails.  For  several  years  he  continued  that  busi- 
ness. He  was  well  educated,  and  alter  leaving  the 
common  school  kept  up  his  studies,  becomingquite 
proficient  in  mathematics,  and  engaged  in  teachin" 
fur  several  vears  in  his  native  State. 


634 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUiM. 


On  the  28tli  of  November,  1850,  Mr.'  Jones 
was  married  to  Miss  Dianna  Ilaffner,  a  native  of 
Virginia.  Her  parents  were  Jacob  and  Snsan  Haff- 
nor,  vvlio  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  wlience 
the}'  emigrated  to  Virginia,  and  from  there  to  Illi- 
nois. The>-  located  in  Fulton  Count)-,  and  there 
tlie  father  died  at  a  ripe  old  age.  The  mother  is 
still  living  at  the  venerable  age  of  ciglity-nine 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  have  bad  fifteen  chil- 
dren, eleven  sons  and  four  daughters,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy,  and  twelve  are  now  living.  Their 
record  is  as  follows: 

Elizabeth  .S.  died  in  infancy;  John  L.  died 
when  twenty-six  years  of  age;  "William  .T.,  owning 
and  oc(^upying  a  farm  in  Perkins  County,  Neb.,  is 
married  and  has  one  child;  Emily  M.  married  Rob- 
ert Hiett,  who  owns  and  occuines  a  farm  near  Hol- 
yoke.  Col.,  and  they  have  six  children;  Thomas, 
now  a  resident  of  Lincoln  Connty,  Neb.,  is  mar- 
ried, and  the  father  of  six  children;  James  L.  owns 
and  operates  a  farm  in  Lincoln  Connty.  Neb.; 
Alexander,  who  is  crippled  from  rheumatism,  is  in 
the  coal  business  at  Rushville;  Rachel  died  at  the 
age  of  six  months;  Edward  L.,  one  of  the  teachers 
of  this  county,  is  now  a  student  at  Lebanon,  Ohio, 
and  ranks  very  high  in  matliematics.  He  is  ambi- 
tions for  a  first-class  education,  and  hopes  to 
graduate  from  some  classical  institution;  Andrew 
J.,  a  resident  of  Peoria  and  a  former  school  teach- 
er, abandoned  the  latter  profession  to  take  up  the 
trade  of  a  machinist,  for  which  he  has  a  decided 
talent,  has  become  an  expert  in  his  calling;  George 
W.  is  a  farmer  in  Farmers  Township  and  is  also  fond 
of  m<achiner\';  Marj-  F.  is  at  home;  Wesley  D.,  a 
3'oung  man  at  home,  has  a  t,aste  for  farming,  as 
have  all  the  younger  children,  excepting  Perry 
Franklin,  the  next  in  order  of  birth,  who  takes  to 
his  books  and  will  become  a  scholar;  Charles  Am- 
brose, at  home,  is  the  youngest  of  the  familj*. 

In  1855,  .iccompanied  by  his  family,  which  then 
consisted  of  a  wife  and  two  boys,  Mr.  Jones  trav- 
eled overland  from  liis  native  Virginia  to  Fulton 
County,  III.,  coming  thiongh  Ohio,  Indiana  and 
inlii  Illinois.  The  trip  tlu-ough  the  Bueke3-e  State 
was  |)leasant,  but  when  the  little  party  entered  In- 
diana, rain  set  in  and  the  roads  became  almost  im- 
passable.     After  reaching  the  eastern  part    of    the 


State  it  became  so  dry  that  they  had  hard  work  to 
get  water  for  themselves  and  stock.  When  the}- 
came  here  they  had  little  fnrniture.  as  was  the  con- 
dition of  the  majority  of  the  pioneers;  they  pur- 
chased two  bedsteads  and  a  set  of  chairs,  and  the 
other  necessary  furniture  Mr.  Jones  made.  Fhe 
cupboard  was  constructed  from  a  [lacking  box.  and 
an  oak  plank,  in  which  he  inserted  straight  legs, 
did  duty  for  a  talile.  They  cheerfully  submitted 
to  the  hardships  and  trials  of  their  existence  here, 
and  b}'  wise  frngality  made  their  waj-  to  a  position 
of  comparative  wealth  and  comfort. 

A  short  time  after  his  ariival  here  Mr.  .Tones 
bought  the  place  where  he  now  lives.  He  could 
have  purchased  other  and  cheaper  land  with  patent 
title,  but  his  object  was  to  get  a  Congress  title,  and 
he  obtained  a  good  deed  of  his  land  from  the  Gov- 
ernment. His  purchase  comprised  one  iiun<lreil 
and  thirteen  acres,  mostly  covered  with  brush. 
lie  now  has  it  well  cleared  and  under  a  flue  stale  of 
cultivation,  except  three  acres,  which  he  uses  for 
pasturage.  He  has  added  over  two  hundred  acres 
to  his  original  purchase,  some  of  the  land  lying  in 
McDonough  Count}',  near  his  homestead,  which  is 
on  the  count}'  line.  In  187'2  he  built  a  fine 
frame  residence,  .32x2'2  feet  in  dimensions,  and 
two  stories  in  height.  In  1884  he  erected  a  sub- 
stantial barn,  and  has  also  placed  other  valuable 
improvements  on  the  estate,  making  it  one  of  the 
choi''est  in  the  township.  When  he  first  purchased 
the  estate  there  was  a  little  cabin  on  it  and  a  well 
had  been  dug.  F]  very  thing  since  accomplished 
has  been  the  result  of  his  own  arduous  toil. 

At  one  time  our  subject  was  extensively  eng.aged 
in  the  cultivation  of  fruit.  He  had  a  fine  or- 
chard of  nearl}'  eight  aci'es,  and  for  }ears  made  quite 
a  business  of  raising  and  shipping  apples,  but,  as  so 
often  happens  in  the  climate,  the  trees  have  now 
almost  entirely  died  out.  He  has  given  consider- 
able attention  to  raising  high  grade  stock.  He 
claims  his  land  is  in  better  condition  than  when  he 
first  broke  the  sod,  as  he  has  kept  up  a  rotation  of 
crops,  and  thus  greatly  fertilized  the  soil.  He  says 
there  is  no  need  of  patent  fertilizers  to  keep  up  the 
productiveness  of  the  land  if  the  peoi'le  would  use 
good  sense  in  the  rotation  of  grass  and  cereals.  He 
once  plowed    in    his  crop   of    timolliy   and   clover 


^i\ 


JONATHAN    BORDNER. 


PORTRAir  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


637 


when  it  was  in  bloom,  as  late  as  June  18,  and  then 
plantefl  corn  ami  raiserl  a  gooil  crop  of  No.  1  hard 
corn,  and  at  the  same  time  improved  the  land,  j 
According  to  his  method  he  would  plnnt  the  same 
field  in  c<.)rn  the  next  two  \'par.«  and  then  sow  it  to 
fall  wheat  one  year,  and  [nit  it  in  i;rass  the  same 
time,  ami  the  next  season  would  turn  it  over  again 
in  the  spring. 

Mr.  Jones  is  one  of  tin;  leading  Democrats  in 
this  section  of  country,  and  takes  great  interest  in 
political  matters.  Me  has  been  a  delegate  to  many 
county  conventions,  and  served  satisfacttnily  as 
Road  Commissioner  several  terms,  also  as  .Scliool 
Trustee  and  Director.  He  was  elected  .Supervisor 
of  Harris  Township  on  the  County  Board  in  1S8S, 
and  is  now  serving  his  second  term  in  that  office. 
lie  is  oneof  the  most  pulilic-spirited  and  in-ogress- 
ivenien  who  has  ever  tilled  this  position  from  Harris 
Township,  and  during  his  incumbency  has  worked 
.■igainst  the  law  to  have  each  townsiiip  take  care  of 
its  own  poor,  as  it  would  make  the  burden  enor- 
mous for  each  township  to  bear  alone.  He  is  a 
man  of  broad  religious  views  and  is  a  .sympathizer 
with  the  objects  and  interests  of  all  churches.  His 
estimable  wife  is  a  woman  of  true  religious  princi- 
ples, and  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church. 


RS.  LUCINDA  (BKARCE)  B0RDNP:R. 
Could  the  biographies  of  the  [lioneers  of 
Fulton  County  be  written  in  detail,  a  large 
and  most  interesting  volume  might  be 
compiled.  It  is  our  pleasure  to  select  the  principal 
facts  in  their  lives  and  record  tliem  for  the  perusal 
of  coming  generations.  The  lady,  with  whose 
name  we  introduce  this  sketch,  has  been  a  resident 
of  Fulton  County  sixty-five  3ears,  coming  here 
with  her  parents,  Eli  and  Sarah  Bearce,  in  1825, 
and  consequently  has  witnessed  the  entire  growth 
and  development  of  this  (jart  of  Illinois.  She  is  a 
native  of  this  .Slate,  and  was  born  in  .Sangamon 
County,  February  I(j.  1824;  for  iier  parental  history 
we  refer  the  reader  to  the  sketch  of  Orsen  Bearce. 
Being  but  two  j^ears  of  age  when  she  came  to  this 
county,  she   has   no  knowledge  of  other   than   lier 


adopted    home.     Her   girlhood  was  passed  in  at- 
tendiaice  at  the  pioneer  schools  and  in  assisting  her 
mother  in   household   duties,    and    on    January    2 
1842,  when  eighteen  years  of  age,  she  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Jonathan  Bordner. 

Ml'.  Bordner  whose  portrait  appears  in  connec- 
tion with  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Northumberland 
County,  Pa.,  February  11,  181(1.  For  tiie  liistory  of 
his  parents,  Peter  and  Christin;i  Bordner,  see  sketch 
of  Moses  Bordner.  He  was  about  nine  years  of  age 
wlfu  his  parents  took  him  to  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  and  there  he  remained  till  18:)'J.  In  that  year 
he  ventured  further  westward,  starting  out  on  foot 
Willi  all  his  effects  in  his  knapsack  and  walked  to 
this  county.  He  soon  found  em|)loynient  here  on 
the  farm  of  Jacob  Shawver.  He  was  industrious, 
wisely  saved  his  earnings  and  was  soon  enabled  to 
buy  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  tim- 
ber land,  comprising  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 25,  Lewistown  Township,  paying  $2.50  an 
acre  for  it.  He  built  a  log  cabin  on  the  place  and 
in  that  humble  al)0(le,  he  and  his  bride  commenced 
housekeeping.  They  were  obliged  to  live  in  the 
most  prinntive  manner,  Mrs.  Bordner  doing  her 
cooking  by  the  fireplace  as  they  had  no  stove. 
Deer  were  quite  plentiful  and  could  oftentinns 
be  seen  peeping  through  the  fence  that  sur- 
rounded the  cabin. 

After  he  was  fairly  established  here  Mr.  Bordner 
actively  entered  upon  the  pioneer  task  of  felling 
liie  forest  trees  and  ])reparing  his  land  for  cultiva- 
tion, and  in  due  time  he  had  a  tine  farm.  He 
erected  a  commodious  brick  house,  a  substantial 
frame  barn,  sheds  and  other  necessary  buildings. 
He  planted  fruit  trees,  shrubbery  and  in  other  ways 
adorned  the  (ilace,  where  he  spent  his  last  years, 
surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  that  are  to  be  found 
in  an  Eastern  home.  His  life  was  rounded  out 
.Septcmlier  19,  1873,  wdien  an  honored  and  usefid 
citizen  was  removed  from  the  colnmunit3^  He 
aided  in  building  up  the  township  ami  his  memory 
is  cherished  as  that  of  one  of  our  most  worthy 
pioneers. 

Mr.  Bordner  was  exceedingly  fortunate  in  secur- 
ing a  wife  who  devoted  herself  to  his  interests  and 
was  an  important  factor  in  making  his  life  a  success, 
and  they  were  very  happ}'  and  contented  in   their 


638 


PORTKAIT  AIS'D  lUOGRAFHlCAL  ALBUM. 


marriasfc  relations.  Mrs.  Bordner.  with  three  of 
Ler  children,  still  occupies  the  homestead.  She  is 
a  sincere  and  active  Christian,  a  valued  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  is  held  in 
iiigh  regard  by  lier  neighbors  and  friends.  Slie  lias 
reared  eleven  children  to  good  and  useful  lives,  as 
follows:  Harvey-  P..  Alfred,  Christiana,  the  wife  of 
Martin  Weirauch;  Ssrah,  v*-ho  married  John  Fitz- 
henry ;  Frank,  who  manages  the  home  farm  ;  Homer; 
Amanda,\vifeof  D.  A.Burleigh;  Emma.wifcof  John 
Weirauch;  Mar3-,wiio  married  Robert  Miller;  Hattie 
and  Eva,  at  home  with  their  mother.  Harvey- 
was  a  gallant  soldier  in  the  late  war  and  bravely 
gave  up  his  life  in  the  defense  of  the  Union.  He 
enlisted  in  August,  1862,  in  Company  H..  One  Hun- 
dred and  Third  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  mustered 
into  service  at  Peoria  October  2.  He  was  soon 
sent  South  with  his  regiment  and  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Missionaiy  Ridge.  While  courageousl}' 
fighting  the  enemy  lie  was  mortally  wounded  and 
died  eleven  days  later.  The  remains  of  the  noble 
young  soldier  were  brought  home  to  the  bereaved 
family,  and  tenderly  interred  in  Mount  Pleasant 
Cemetery. 


Vf  OSEPHUS  BOTTEXBERG  is  a  son  of  one 
of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  this  county, 
and  he  is  well  known  in  connection  with  its 
industrial  interests  as  the  prosperous  pro- 
prietor of  the  Fulton  Flouring  Mill  at  Astoria, 
and  as  one  of  the  most  worth}'  citizens  of  the 
place. 

Our  subject  was  born  Jlay  19.  1829,  in  Brooke, 
in  that  part  of  West  Virginia  known  as  the  l^n- 
Ilandle.  His  father,  Jacob  Bottenberg.  is  thought 
to  have  been  born  in  JIaryland,  which"  was  the  na- 
tive State  of  his  father,  who  bore  the  same  name  as 
himself  and  was  of  German  parent.age.  The  latter 
w.as  reared  and  marriad  in  Maryland,  taking  Cath- 
erine Bartholomew  as  liis  wife.  He  subsequently 
removed  from  there  to  Virginia,  and  was  an  early 
settler  of  the  Pan-Handle  district.  He  resided 
ihere  many  years,  but  finall}-  made  another  and 
still  greater  change  whereb}'  he  became  a  pioneer 
of  Illinois  in  1836.     He  located   in   Vermont,  and 


was  a  resident  of  this  township  until  death  closed 
his  life  at  a  ripe  old  age.  His  wife  also  died  on 
the  home  farm  in  \'ermont. 

Jacob  Bottenberg,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
young  when  his  parents,  located  in  Virginia.  His 
early  life  w.as  passed  there  on  a  farm,  and  he  was 
often  engaged  in  mechanical  pursuits,  as  he  had  a 
natural  talent  for  such  work,  though  he  never 
learned  a  trade.  In  1830.  with  his  wile  and  six 
children,  his  parents  and  other  families,  he  came  to 
Illinois.  He  built  a  Hat  keel-boat,  in  which  the 
little  party  embarked  for  the  long  iournc}-  down 
the  Ohio  and  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers 
to  their  destination.  Whenever  there  was  any 
wind  a  sail  was  raised  that  helped  propel  the  boat. 
At  other  times  the  men  used  poles  to  push  it  for- 
ward, and  when  it  was  convenient  the  boat  would 
be  rowed  near  the  shore,  and  those  in  it  would  pull 
it  along  by  catching  hold  of  the  bushes  as  it  passed 
along.  After  a  four-weeks  journey  Mr.  Botten- 
berg and  his  friends  ai rived  at  Sharp's  Landing,  in 
Schuyler  Count}-.  He  had  brought  a  wagon  with 
him,  and  when  he  landed  he  liouglit  a  pair  of  oxen, 
and  made  his  way  to  what  is  now  Vermont.  He 
had  been  here  the  year  iirevious.  and  had  bought 
a  tract  of  timber  and  wild  prairie  land  one  and  one- 
half  miles  southwest  of  Table  Cirove,  and  had 
erected  the  body  of  a  log  house.  The  first  night 
after  their  arrival  the  family  slept  in  the  wagon, 
and  the  next  day  the  father  got  out  timber  and 
rived  clapboards  to  cover  the  roof  of  his  projected 
dwelling,  and  his  wife  and  children  were  soon  com- 
fortabl}"  housed.  The  chimney  was  made  of  earth 
and  sticks  and  the  floor  of  puncheon.  At  that  time 
deer,  wild  turkeys  and  other  game  roamed  at  will 
across  the  sparsely-settled  county,  which  was  then 
in  a  wild  condition,  showing  but  little  indication  of 
its  present  advanced  state  of  d(!velopmeiit.  Mr. 
Bottenberg  rounded  out  a  long  life  on  his  home- 
stead in  1883.  having  lived  to  see  a  prosperous  and 
nourishing  community  of  people  where  he  had 
found  a  wilderness.  His  name  occupies  an  honora- 
ble place  among  the  industrious,  i)ractical  pioneers 
of  this  part  of  Illinois  who  did  much  for  its  up- 
building. 

Jlr.  Bottenberg  was  a  pioneer  in  the  mill  busi- 
ness in  this  county.     In  the  fall  of    1839  he  built  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


639 


sawmill  on  Sugar  Creek,  wliich  was  the  first  one 
ever  erected  in  that  section  of  the  country.  He 
soon  built  a  gristmill,  ingeniously  constructed  to 
run  by  wind  i)Ovver.  The  building  was  round  and 
high,  and  tlu^  roof  was  so  made  as  to  levolve,  and 
from  it  a  sneep  extended  to  tlic  groun<l,  and  when 
the  wind  changed  the  positiou  of  the  wheel  was 
changed  accordingly.  This  was  the  (irst  gristmill 
for  some  miles  around,  and  drew  custom  for  quite 
a  distance.  At  last  a  cyclone  blew  the  roof  off  and 
desh-oyed  tlie  [lower,  and  then  Mr.  Bottenberg 
operated  it  by  horse-i)o\ver  until  other  mills  were 
luiill  and  competitio.i  destroyed  liis  profits,  when 
he  closed  it. 

The  motiier  of  our  suliject  was  Elizabetii  Swear- 
iiigen  licfore  her  marriage.  She  w&s  born  in  Bea- 
ver County,  Pa,  and  was  a  dangiiter  of  .Tolui  V. 
Swearingen,  who  was  also  of  Pennsylvania  hirtli, 
and  was  of  English  descent.  He  married  Margaret 
Cliapman.  and  they  spent  their  entire  lives  in  Penn- 
sylvania. Mrs.  Bottenberg  died  on  the  home  farm 
in  Vertnont  Township. 

Oui-  subject  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children, 
and  though  he  was  only  seven  years  old  when  his 
parents  brought  him  to  this  county,  he  remembers 
well  the  incidents  of  the  removal  hither  and  of  the 
liioueer  sceues  amid  which  he  was  reared.  His 
schooling  was  obtained  in  a  rude  log  l-.ouse,  with 
a  puncheon  floor,  benches  made  of  split  poles  with 
one  side  hewn  smooth,  and  wooden  pegs  inserted 
for  legs.  Wooden  pins  were  also  inserted  in  the 
walls  of  the  room  to  support  slabs  on  which  the 
elder  scholars  wrote  in  their  copy  books.  Mr. 
Bottenberg  made  his  home  with  his  parents  until 
lie  was  twenty-two  years  old.  At  that  age  he  took 
an  important  step  in  life,  whereby  he  secured  the 
aid  of  a  good  wife,  as  he  was  then,  in  the  year 
1851.  married  to  Mary  J.  Holmes,  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Holmes.  Five 
children  complete  the  family  born  to  our  subject 
and  his  wife  of  their  happy  wedded  life,  namely: 
William  A.,  Lenora  K.,  John  H.,  Carrie  E.  and 
Thomas  E. 

After  marriage  Mr.  ]?ottenberg  bought  a  tract 
of  land  in  Eldorado  Township,  McDonough 
County,  and  as  a  pioneer  settler  of  that  place  did 
good  work    in    developing  a    line   farm,    placing  it 


under  good  cultivation  and  making  many  valuable 
improvements.  That  was  his  home  until  1881, 
when  he  returned  to  Fulton  County,  and  bought 
the  Fulton  Flouring  Mill.  At  that  time  the  mill 
WHS  furnished  with  the  burr  system.  Since  it  came 
under  his  manajjenient  he  has  greatly  Improved  the 
mill,  and  in  iss.j  introduced  the  mller  [irocess  of 
manufacturing  Hour,  lias  provided  nil  first-class 
modern  machinery,  and  has  one  <•{  tlu^  best  estab- 
lishments for  the  manufacture  of  Hour  in  this  i)art 
of  the  county.  His  flour  is  of  the  best  quality, 
and  is  in  good  demand  in  the  markets. 

Mr.  Bottenberg  is  a  man  of  solid  worth,  possess- 
ing in  an  eminent  degree  those  traits  that  command 
respect  in  the  business  world  and  gain  esteem 
among  his  neighbors  and  associates.  He  and  his 
wife  are  sincere  Clnistian  people,  as  is  attested  by 
their  everyda3'  conduct  in  all  the  relations  of  life 
that  they  sustain  towards  each  other,  towards  their 
children  and  all  about  them.  The  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  has  in  them  two  of  its  best  members. 
Mr.  Bottenberg  is  a  true  Democrat  in  politics. 

« 


'T^'RANKLIN  GRIGGS.  Connected  promi- 
JHii/s)^  nentlj^  with  the  pioneer  history  of  Illinois 
,'i',  is  the  name  of  George  Griggs,  father  of  our 

subject,  and  also  that  of  James  Harker,  bis  mater- 
nal grandfatiier.  Coming  hither  from  the  Em[)ire 
Stale  in  an  early  day,  they  took  active  part  in  the 
labors  by  which  Central  ■Illinois  was  made  to  blos- 
som like  the  rose,  and  was  developed  from  its  prime- 
val condition  into  a  great  and  wealthy  region.  Onr 
subject  himself  had  a  rich  pioneer  experience,  his 
boyhood  and  youth  being  passed  amid  primitive 
surroundings  such  as  developed  in  him  the  sturdy 
vigor  of  mind  and  body  that  seem  a  common 
growth  on  the  frontier. 

The  father  of  Franklin  Griggs  vvas  born  in  Cay- 
uga County,  N.  Y.,  and  was  at  one  time  engaged  in 
towing  canal-boats  on  North  River  and  in  the  Erie 
Canal.  He  married  Sarah  Harker,  who  was  born 
in  New  Jersey,  but  grew  to  wom.anhood  in  Cayuga 
County,  to  which  her  parents  removed  when  she 
was  small.     They  came  West  in  1830,  the    men    of 


640 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  Griggs  and  Harker  families  traveling  with  wag- 
ons, and  the  women  going  by  rail  and  boat  to  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  where  the  party  was  consolidated. 
Chicago  at  that  time  was  but  an  Indian  camp,  and 
savages  were  employed  to  take  the  travelers  across 
some  of  the  rivers.  Peoria,  then  Ft.  Clark,  was  a 
hamlet  of  five  or  six  houses,  and  those  of  the 
rudest  description. 

The  strangers  established  a  home  in  Peoria 
County,  where  Mapleton  now  stands,  but  after  two 
years  removed  to  Jones'  Prairie.  It  should  have  been 
called  Griggs'  Prairie,  since  that  family'  was  the  first 
to  settle  there;  later  the}'  went  to  Timber  Townshii). 
There  the  father  died  in  1850.  when  in  his  fiftj^-sixth 
year.  He  was  well  adapted  for  the  pioneer  life,  be- 
ing a  tall,  muscular  man  with  a  powerful  frame, 
and  considered  by  manj'  to  be  the  strongest  man  in 
the  county.  To  him  and  his  faithful,  capable  wife 
six  children  were  born — Harvey,  James,  Pruella. 
Jlarj',  Franklin,  and  Jeremiah. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Cayuga 
County,  N.  Y.,  August  5,  1826,  and  although  but 
four  years  old  when  brought  to  this  State,  retains 
a  vivid  remembrance  of  many  incidents  that  tran- 
spired in  the  eventful  journey  He  well  remem- 
bers seeing  Indians,  both  then  and  later,  as  they 
were  numerous  throughout  this  section  until  after 
the  Black  Hawk  War.  The  country  was  very  wild, 
deer  were  found  in  abundance,  wild  turkeys  were 
plentiful,  and  snakes  of  different  kinds  were  a  com- 
mon sight.  The  prairie  grass  was  very  thick,  much 
more  so  than  any  seen  by  Mr.  Griggs  in  other  parts 
of  the  Mississippi  Valley  in  visits  to  Wisconsin, 
Iowa,  Nebraska,  and  Kansas. 

There  were  no  schools  here  when  the  family  came, 
but  George  Griggs  was  one  of  those  who  engaged 
the  services  of  a  teacher  in  his  home,  and  the  son 
received  a  fairly  good  education.  TJie  first  school- 
house  in  Timber  Township  was  built  on  the  claim 
of  Mr.  Griggs,  and  in  it  our  subject  continued  his 
search  for  knowledge.  At  an  early  age  he  began  to 
lake  a  part  in  the  work  of  improvement,  and  broke 
land,  not  only  for  his  father,  but  for  many  other 
settlers.  He  aid  his  brother  ran  a  breaking  plow 
with  thirty -six  inch  share,  drawn  by  five  or  six 
yoke  of  oxen.  When  nineteen  years  old  he  went 
to  Wisconsin,  and  there  engaged  in  work  in  a  luick- 


yard,  and  for  several  years  continued  to   make  his 

home  in  that  State,  though  he  changed  to  different 
points  and  engaged  in  various  occupations,  among 
them  being  f.nrming  and  saw-milling. 

Tired  of  his  wanderings,  Mr.  Griggs  returned 
home,  and  in  the  spring  of  1848,  was  married  to 
Miss  Deborah  Largent,  daughter  of  James  Largent, 
who  was  born  in  Hampshire  County,  Va.  Her 
mother,  who  previous  to  her  marriage  was  a  Miss 
Sarah  Boxwell,  was  also  a  ^'irgipian,  her  father  be- 
ing Robert  Boxwell,  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Largent  came  to  Illinois  about  1837,  and 
settled  in  Peoria  C^iunty,  the  daughter  who  became 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Giiggs,  being  then  in  her  eighth 
year.  The  other  members  of  the  family  are:  De- 
borah, Sarah,  Rachel,  John.  James,  William,  Henrj', 
Lizzie.  Madison,  Galiriel,  Nancy,  and  Mary  Jane. 
All  of  the  sons  except  James  were  in  the  Union 
Army  during  the  Civil  War.  and  William  laid  down 
his  life  for  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griggs  settled 
in  Timber  Township,  Peoria  Count}-,  and  there  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  1883.  at  which  date  they  re- 
moved to  Farraington.  To  them  have  been  born 
seven  children,  of  whom  we  note  the  following: 
Lizzie,  now  the  widow  of  Harvey  Hand  who  died 
from  the  effects  of  army  life,  lives  in  Timber  Town- 
ship, Peoria  County,  and  has  five  children — Ora, 
Alice,  Maude,  Fred  and  Jesse :  Sarah  married  Mar- 
tin Frank,  lives  in  Thomas  Count}%  Kan.,  and  has 
five  children — Stephen,  James,  Charles,  Frank,  and 
Lillie;  Wallace  lives  in  Rosefield  Township,  Peoria 
Count}',  on  a  farm;  his  wife  was  formerly  Lizzie 
Folk,  and  their  children  ai'e  Harry,  Cora,  Deborah, 
Charles.  Nelson,  anil  Ethel.  Amanda,  wife  of 
Charles  Fahnestock,  a  merchant  in  .Scioto,  McDon- 
ongh  Count}',  iias  three  children — Minda,  Gertie, 
and  Bertie;  Rachel  married  John  Maltox.  now 
working  at  the  tr.ade  of  a  blacksmith  in  Milford, 
Neb.,  and  has  one  child,  Charlie:  Susan  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Boulton.  a  farmer  in  Orion  Township, 
Fulton  County,  and  has  two  children.  Pearl  and 
Frankie;  Douglas  died  when  but  four  years  old. 

Mr.  Griggs  suffered  from  ill-health,  and  at  one 
time  made  a  trip  through  Nebraska  and  Califcirnia. 
hoping  to  derive  great  benefit  from  the  change  of 
scene  i\ncl   climate.     His  wife   deserves  unlimited 


ALLEDGE     THOMPSON. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


643 


praise  for  the  active  part  she  has  taken  in  the  man- 
agement of  their  affairs,  and  for  the  constant  de- 
votion with  which  she  has  eared  for  her  family.  In 
politics  Mr.  Griggs  is  now  a  Greenbacker,  but  in 
former  years  he  was  a  Democrat.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  belong  to  the  Christian  Church.  They  are  ex- 
tremely popular  in  their  neighborhood,  and  much 
respected. 

V 

<^fLLEDGI^:  THOMPSON,   whose  sketch  we 
now  have  the  pleasure  of   presenting,    and 
'/   ill    whose  portrait  is  sliowii   on   the   opposite 
^0  page,  is  an  Englishman   by    birth,   having 

first  been  ushered  upon  the  stage  of  life  in  Lincoln- 
shire, England,  Januar}'  2!),  1815.  He  is  a  son  of 
Alledge  and  .Sarah  Thompson,  natives  of  P]ngland, 
and  grew  to  manhood's  estate  in  his  native  country, 
commencing  at  a  remarkably  early  age  to  cultivate 
the  soil,  and  learn  the  principles  of  successful 
farming.  His  education  was  limited,  but  natural 
ability  and  a  fondness  for  knowledge  can  more 
than  atone  for  the  lack  of  what  is  commonly  called 
"sciiooling." 

Mr.  Thompson  was  married  in  England  on  June 
IG,  1841,  to  IMiss  Annie  Dawson,  who  was  also  a 
native  of  Lincolnshire,  and  whose  birth  occurred 
September  6,  1815.  She  was  adaughterof  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Pierce)  Dawson,  who  were  botii 
English.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  together  with 
his  wife  emigrated  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1851, 
taking  passage  in  a  sail-vessel  on  the  16lh  of  April. 
After  an  ocean  voyage  of  one  month,  they  landed 
in  New  York  City,  and  from  that  point  came  direct 
to  Eulton  County,  III. 

After  reaching  Fulton  County,  Mr.  Thompson 
worked  on  a  farm  for  a  time,  and  afterward  rented 
land,  but  was  soon  able  to  purchase  eighty  acres  of 
fine  land  for  which  he  paid  over  $300.  He  has  con- 
tinued to  add  to  his  estate,  owning  now  one  hun- 
dred acres,  all  of  which  is  highly  cultivated.  Like 
most  of  tlie  earl}'  settlers,  he  had  to  put  up  with 
numerous  inconveniences,  but  finally  ihade  good 
headway,  and  has  rapidly  gained  fortune  and  friends. 
He  has  been  an  eye  witness  to^the  wonderful  growth 
of  Fulton  Counlv.  and    noticed    with  pleasure  how 


day  after  day  cai)italists  came  here  attracted  by  the 
natural  resources  of  the  country  and  the  culture  of 
the  citizens. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  favors  improvements  of  every  kind,  con- 
tributing liberally  to  the  advancement  of  the  same, 
especially  in  the  line  of  religion  and  education.  He 
has  worked  faitlifullj'  and  prospered,  and  now  when 
old  age  is  stealing  on,  he  and  his  loved  wife  pass 
their  days  in  peace  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts 
of  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  are  typical  representa- 
tives of  the  sturdy  English  race,  but  recogrizing 
the  United  States  to  be  the  most  i)rogressive  coun- 
try in  the  world,  even  ahead  of  their  own  native 
isle,  the  cradle  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race,  and  the 
mother  of  the  Colonies,  they  have  never  returned 
to  England,  but  have  found  here  both  happiness 
and  prosperity,  and  add  much  to  the  community 
in  which  they  reside.  And  lives  such  as  this,  so 
full  of  success  and  ha|)piness,  should  undoubtedly 
be  taken  as  a  model  by  the  youth  of  the  country, 
and  they  should  learn  from  it  that  a  pair  of  willing 
hands  and  an  honorable  intention  to  win  in  the 
race,   nearly  always  bring  one  to  the  coveted  goal. 


■^— >lr-«s 


^  TEPHEN  BOGl'E,  of  the  firm  of  J.  &  S. 
Bogue,  who  (-arry  on  an  extensive  mer- 
cantile business  in  Vermont,  is  the  young 
est  son  of  Job  and  Mary  (Easley)  Bogue. 
{For  parental  history  see  sketch  of  Robert  Bogue). 
He  is  a  native  of  tliis  county,  and  was  born  on 
Ipava  Prairie,  January  3,  1834.  He  was  one  year 
old  when  he  came  to  this  township  with  his  par- 
ents. He  has  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  wild  con- 
dition of  the  country  during  his  boyhood,  and  he 
can  remember  well  when  deer  and  other  wild  game 
were  plentiful.  As  soon  as  large  enough,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  chase,  became  an  expert  huntsman 
and  has  killed  many  a  deer  in  this  township.  His 
education  was  gleaned  in  the  pioneer  school  taught 
in  the  rude  log  house  on  the  subscription  plan. 

When  a  mere  boy,  our  subject  was  initiated  into 
tlic  hard  lab-rs  of  faiin  Hfe.     He  eonliinucd  to  live 


644 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


on  the  old  homestead  with  liis  parents  until  1857. 
when  he  :ind  liis  biolhcr  .lesse.  built  a  steam  saw- 
mill in  ^'e^nlonl  Township,  and  operated  it  until 
18()4.  Tliey  then  sohl  it  and  built  a  ttouring'-mill 
in  the  t(jwn.  which  they  managed  tojrether  until 
1867.  In  that  year  our  subject  sold  out  his  inter- 
est in  the  concern,  and  soon  after  turned  his 
attention  to  the  lumber  business.  In  )  8S0  he  es- 
tablished himself  as  a  meichant  in  Plymouth,  Han- 
cock County,  111.  A  year  later  he  entered  into 
partnership  with  his  brother  Jesse,  to  engage  in 
the  same  business  here,  and  has  conducted  it  suc- 
cessfully ever  since.  He  possesses  the  necessary 
shrewdness,  forethought,  and  activity  to  be  success- 
ful in  life,  and  is  classed  among  the  good  business 
men  of  the  township.  He  and  his  brother  have 
here  a  neat  and  well  managed  establishment,  con- 
ducting tlieir  business  in  a  substantial  and  com- 
modious two  story  brick  building,  and  they  carry 
a  large  line  of  dry  and  fancy  goods,  carpets,  boots 
and  shoes,  etc.  They  are  always  affable  and  court- 
eous in  liieir  dealings  with  their  customers,  and  do 
a  large  and  paying  business. 

Mr.  Bogue  and  Miss  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Brin- 
ton  and  Plia?be  Ann  Levis,  and  a  native  of  Ches- 
ter County.  Pa.,  entered  into  matrimonial  relations 
in  ]8r)6.  They  have  in  Vermont  one  of  the  pleas- 
antest  of  its  many  attractive  homes.  They  are  the 
parents  of  four  children — Mari:un.  Levis,  Frank, 
and  Lillian.  In  politics  Mr.  Bogue  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 


MLLIAM  W.  ELLIS.     The  manufacturing 
industries  of  the  tliriving-  town  of    Canton 


y 

iV^y/  are  finely  represented  by  this  gentleman, 
wlio.  in  company  with  his  son,  is  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  tile  and  brick.  He  is 
a  native  of  this  county,  born  in  this  township,  De- 
cember 6,  1836,  the  fiftli  of  a  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren of  Isaac  and  Nancy  (.Jennings)  Ellis,  who 
were  among  the  earl}'  pioneer  settlers  of  this  part 
of  Illinois. 

Isaiic  Ellis  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  in  I8O.1. 
When  he  was  three  years  old  his  parents  took  him 
to  Tennessee,  where  be   was  nsared,  and    there    he 


was  married,  his  wife  being  a  native  of  Alabama, 
where  she  was  born  in  ISOfi,  of  English  parents. 
We  ni.ay  remark  in  this  connection,  that  tiie  Ellises 
were  of  Welsh  extr.iction.  In  1832,  Mr.  Ellis  left 
his  old  Tennessee  home  with  his  wife  and  two  chil- 
dren, and  journeyed  through  the  wilderness  to  this 
county.  Afti'rhis  arrival  lierehe  took  up  his  abode 
on  a  new  farm  wliich  he  improved  and  made  his 
home  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  one  of  the 
well  known  and  substantial  pioneers  of  the  county, 
and  was  held  in  honorable  repute  by  the  entire 
community,  and  at  his  death  on  the  old  homestead 
In  1879.  the  township  lost  a  good  citizen,  tie  was 
a  man  of  strict  Christian  priaciples,  and,  a  member 
of  the  Hardshell  Baptist  Church.  His  wife  sur- 
vives him,  and  is  living  with  her  youngest  son  on 
the  old  homestead  and  is  hale  and  active,  tliough 
in  her  eightieth  year.  She  is  the  mother  of  seven 
girls  and  four  l)oys,  of  whom  ten  are  still  living:. 

^Villiam  Ellis  lived  in  the  place  of  his  birth  un-. 
til  he  was  twenty. one  3'ears  old,  receiving  such  ad- 
vantages as  were  afforded  by  the  district  school, 
where  he  laid  the  foundation  of  a  fine  education, 
which  was  afterward  further  advanced  by  attend- 
ance at  the  Cuba  High  School,  by  an  excellent 
course  of  study  at  Evanston  College,  near  Ciiicago, 
and  was  completed  at  the  Fahuestock  Academy  at 
Lewistown. 

In  the  spring  of  1861,  Mr.  Ellis  was  married  to 
Miss  Phffibe  A.  Gardner,  a  native  of  this  county, 
and  the  fifth  daughter  of  Joseph  Gardner.  Her 
mother  was  Margaret  Raywalt.  The  Gardners  were 
from  the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  anl  the  Ray  waits 
from  New  York.  INIr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  have  one  son, 
Stephen  R..  who  is  a  partner  in  the  liusiness  with 
his  father,  under  the  firm  name  of  W.  W.  Ellis  & 
Son.  They  liave  a  very  neat  and  comfortable  resi- 
dence at  No.  306  North  Fifth  Street,  that  is  the 
abode  of  a  genuine  hospitality. 

After  his  marriage  JMr.  ICllis  settled  on  a  farm  in 
J(_)shua  'I'ownship,  and  gave  his  attention  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  the  ensuing  seventeen  years,  when 
he  left  his  farm  and  took  up  his  residence  in  the 
city  of  Canton,  wliere  he  has  siuce  made  his  home. 
He  established  himself  iu  the  manufacture  of  tile 
in  187;").  and  in  1882  he  remf)ved  his  works  to  this 
place,  putting  in  new  and  improved  machinery.   He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


64;') 


has  his  manufactory  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
Canton,  within  the  corporate  limits  where  he  nialies 
all  sizes  of  tile,  for  wliieli  he  finds  a  ready  homt 
market.  In  1  887  he  added  to  iiis  tile  worI«  ma- 
chinery for  liie  mannfacUire  of  brick,  employs  the 
latest  improved  methods,  and  makes  brick  that  is 
of  a  superior  quality,  and  is  in  i^reai.  demand.  He 
is  now  fitting  np  liis  works  for  the  manufacture  of 
paving  brick  for  sidewalks.  He  is  one  of  tlie  sub- 
stantial men  of  Canton,  and  besides  his  manufac- 
turing interests  has  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  choice  and  well-improved  land 
wdiieli  he  rents.  He  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  the  village,  and  has  served  one  term  as 
Alderman.  In  politics  lie  uses  his  influence  for  the 
Republican  party.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Lodge,  having  attained  the  council  de- 
gree. 

EONARD  H.  CHURCHILL  ha;  met  with 
more  than  ordinary  success  in  prosecuting 
his  calling  as  a  farmer,  and  since  casting  in 
his  lot  with  the  pioneers  of  this  county  more  than 
half  a  ccnlurj'  ago  has  accumulated  a  valuable 
property  and  is  classed  among  the  wealthy  agri- 
culturists of  this  section  of  Illinois.  He  owns 
more  than  five  hundred  acres  of  land  in  this  county, 
his  fanning  interests  being  centered  in  Joshua 
Township,  where  he  and  his  good  wife  are  enjoy- 
inf  the  fruits  of  their  united  labors  in  the  comforts 
of  a  substantial  home. 

A  native  of  New  York,  Mr.  Churchill  was  born 
April  28,  1820.  near  Boonesville,  Oneida  County. 
His  parents  were  Charles  Y.  and  Elizabeth  Church- 
ill. The  father  was  born  in  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut October  11,  1794,  and  the  mother  was 
also  born  there  in  1801.  Botli  could  trace  their 
ancestry  on  both  tlie  paternal  and  maternal  sides 
back  to  old  English  families. 

Our  subject  started  out  in  life  by  working  on  a 
farm  at  814  a  month,  and  was  thus  employed  some 
fourteen  months.  He  was  enabled  to  save  the 
greater  part  of  his  money,  as  lie  was  prudent  and 
frugal,  and  he  became  more  independent  by  rent- 
ing land.     After   farming  in  that  way  some  seven 


j'ears  he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixt}'  acres  of 
land  on  section  2,  .loshua  Township.  The  first 
pavment  made  on  his  land  v,as  the  $100  that  was 
the  proceeds  of  his  work  as  a  day  labori  r  at  $14 
per  month.  He  had  come  to  this  State  from  Ohio, 
where  he  had  lived  in  Ashtabula  County,  one  year 
after  leaving  his  native  Stale.  He  located  in 
Hickory  Township  in  March,  1836,  and  it  was 
tiiere  that  he  was  engaged  as  a  renter  up  to  the 
time  of  his  marriage.  He  bought  his  farm  in 
Joshua  Township  in  1846,  but  did  not  then  locate 
on  it.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  enterprise  in 
his  younger  days,  and  he  purchased  and  operated  a 
threshing  machine  for  twenty-five  years,  and  the 
profits  derived  from  that  business  enabled  him  to 
complete  the  [la^-ment  for  his  land  in  a  short  time. 
To  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides  Mr.  Church- 
ill has  added  other  real  estate,  and  is  now  ilie 
proprietor  of  five  hundred  acres  of  choice  farmino- 
land  in  this  county.  He  is  considered  one  of  the 
rich  and  substantial  citizens  of  the  township,  and 
although  on  the  shady  side  of  life  still  possesses 
great  native  force,  and  is  ably  managing  his  ao-ri- 
cultural  interests. 

Mr.  Churchill  and  Miss  Harriet  McBroora  were 
united  in  matrimony  December  4,  1849.  She  was 
born  in  this  county,  in  Canton  Township,  April  19, 
1831.  She  has  faithfully  shared  in  the  labors  of 
her  husband,  has  aided  in  the  upbuilding  of  their 
home,  and  like  him,  preserves  a  healthy  body  and 
cheerful  disposition  though  now  past  the  meridian 
of  life.  They  are  the  parents  of  fourteen  children, 
ten  of  whom  are  living  and  four  deceased,  of  whom 
the  following  is  the  record:  Mary  E.,  born  May 
19,  18.53;  Charles  IL,  August  19,  1855;  Alexander 
H.,  October  20,  1857;  John  B.,  May  8.  1860;  Rob- 
ert J.,  August  18,1862 ;  Leonora  F.,  March  25,  1869; 
Daniel  \Y.,  January  12,  1870;  Jerry  L..  September 
24,  1872;  Dollie  Belle,  April  11,  1875;  Grace 
Blanche,  February  2,  1879. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Churchill  are  deservedly  held  in 
high  estimation  b3'  the  entire  community,  as  they 
are  among  our  best  people.  Their  warm  hearts, 
kind  manners  and  many  thoughtful,  generous  deeds 
liave  gained  them  tlu'  fiinidship  and  affection  of 
their  neighbors,  who  feel  that  they  can  look  to 
them  for  heli)   in    times  of   trouble  and   suffering. 


G4G 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


They  linve  been  devoted  members  of  the  Chn'stisn 
Cliiiich  for  iimuy  yeais,  and  their  ever3-day  con- 
duct is  giiidiid  by  its  precepts.  In  polities.  Mr. 
Churcliill  is  a  Democrat  of  tlie  Andrew  Jackson 
type,  and  stiirdil}'  advocates  tiie  priiieipies  of  his 
party. 


ALVIN  R.  FLUKK  is  one  of  tlie  respected 
farmers    of    Josliua    Tovvnsliip.      He    was    a 

_  brave  soUlier  in  the  late  war  and  did  credit 
to  the  military  of  his  adoijted  .State.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Lickinj;  County.  Oliio,  and  was  born  near 
tlie  town  of  Newarlv,  December  25,  1843.  His 
parents,  Jessa  and  Abigail  Fiui<e,  were  natives  of 
Wasliington  County,  Pa.,  and  Ohio,  where  the 
fatlier  was  born  in  the  month  of  December,  1818, 
and  the  mother  in  the  month  of  Deceml)er  1S22. 

Tlie  father  of  our  subject  moved  with  his  family 
to  Brownsville.  Licking  County,  Ohio,  of  which 
he  was  a  pioneer.  He  there  followed  the  trade  of 
a  wagonmaker,  which  ho  had  learned  in  his  native 
State.  Nineteen  years  of  his  life  were  i)assed  at 
that  place,  and  he  then  came  to  this  Slate  with  his 
family  in  18.J.5.  He  rented  a  farm  at  Cuba  one 
year,  then  south  of  Canton  three  jxars.  then  in 
Harris  Township,  in  Ilaney  neighborhood,  which  he 
managed  ,and  at  the  same  time  was  engaged  in 
making  wagons,  and  then  bought  the  one  of 
ninety-four  acres  on  which  he  now  makes  his  home. 

When  Mr.  Fluke  was  a  boy  of  fourteen  }-ears  be 
ur.iled  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
during  a  long,  eventful  and  useful  life  has  remained 
loyal  to  his  religious  belief,  and  has  been  elFicient 
in  his  church  work  as  a  Class  Leader  and  Exhorter, 
doing  much  good  in  the  community  of  which  he 
has  so  long  been  a  member.  He  is  the  father  of 
nine  children,  some  of  whom  are  living  in  Fulton 
County,  and  others  elsewhere. 

Calvin  Fluke,  who  forms  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  remained  at  home  with  his  parents  until  he 
was  eighteen  years  old.  and  then  began  an  inde- 
pendent life  for  himself.  At  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Civil  War,  his  patriotism  was  aroused  to  a  high 
[litch  and  October  4,  1861,  he  volunteered  to  light 
in  defense  of  his  country's  honor.     He   became  a 


soldier  in  Company  F,  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry 

and  after  liis  regiment  was  organized  accompanied 
it  to  Chicago.  He  and  his  fellow  soldiers  were 
soon  sent  from  that  city  to  St.  Louis  and  a  short 
time  after  started  down  the  Mississippi  River  on 
board  the  steamboat,  "Jo  Davis."  They  were 
stranded  below  St.  Louis  and  came  near  being  cap- 
lured  by  the  enem}'.  As  the  regiment  was  cut  off 
from  all  communication  with  the  rest  of  the  Union 
army,  many  of  its  members  came  near  starving  for 
want  of  food.  Our  subject  was  taken  sick  and  was 
ill  for  many  weeks.  Finally  the  Fifty-fifth  made 
its  w.ay  to  the  South  and  arrived  at  Pittsburg 
Landing  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  battle  at  that 
place.  Right  in  the  hottest  of  the  (i';ht  our  sub. 
ject  received  ;i  dangerous  wound  in  the  right  leg. 
His  conir.Tde  rushed  to  liini  and  attempted  to  bear 
him  off  the  lield,  but  he  was  shot  while  doing  so. 
Mr.  Fluke  was  not  taken  to  the  hospital  and  lay  in 
a  dangerous  condition  for  twenty-eight  hours  with- 
out care  or  attention.  The  bullets  of  the  rebels 
flew  thick  and  fast  around  the  hospital  and  made 
it  anything  but  a  safe  refuge  for  the  wounded  and 
dying  soldiers.  During  the  engagement  our  sub- 
ject and  his  friend,  V.  Brink,  in  shifting  tlieir  |io- 
sition  exposed  themselves  to  the  enemy  and  were 
tired  at  by  about  fifty  men,  init  were  not  touched. 
This  action  brought  on  the  engagement  along  the 
whole  line.  Our  subject  was  finally  taken  on  board 
of  a  commissary-  boat  and  laj'  three  d.ays  before 
his  wound  was  dressed.  He  eventually  was  dis- 
patched to  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  tuet  by  his 
father  and  taken  home.  Mr.  Fluke  received  a  very 
high  compliment  as  to  his  soldierly  qualiues  and 
faithful  services  while  in  the  army,  from  Sergeant 
Brink,  subsequently  an  officer,  who  lost  his  life. 
The  lines  that  that  officer  wrote  to  his  comrade. 
Calvin  Fluke,  knowing  that  he  was  wounded,  are 
incorporated  in  the  story  of  the  Fifty-fifth  regi- 
ment and  are  as  follows:  '•  I  think  3'ou  deserve  to 
get  well  if  a  soldier  ever  did.  You  have  shown 
yourself  to  be  a  true  [latriot  and  worth}-  to  live 
and  enjo}' a  free  Government.  Be  cheerful,  Cal. : 
if  you  never  get  able  to  come  back,  3-011  have  dis- 
charged your  duties  to  j-our  country." 

On  account  of  his  wounds  anil  sickness  our  sub- 
ject  was    finally    discharged    from    the   arm}-,    and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


647 


after  coming  home  resunierl  his  former  occupation 
as  soon  as  he  was  able  and  lias  prosecuteil  fanniny 
witii  good  financial  results.  He  establislicd  a  lioine 
for  himself  ami  his  bride.  Miss  ]\L'ihala  Ann  I'riek- 
ett,  to  wiiom  he  was  married,  November  28,  18G7. 
She  is  a  n.ative  of  this  county,  and  was  Ijorn 
September  25,  1847,  in  a  log  cabin  near  Lewis- 
town.  The  following  is  the  record  of  their 
four  children:  Grace  Gertrude,  born  September 
1,  1868:  Mary  E.,  June  28,  1870;  Klla  Jane, 
June  8,  1875;  Edward  H.,  July  2.  1S88.  The 
older  ones  have  received  tine  educational  advan- 
tages in  the  schools  of  their  native  county. 

Mr.  Fluke  has  always  been  an  unswerving  ad- 
herent of  the  Republican  party.  He  has  interested 
himself  much  in  educational  matters  and  has  been 
a  School  Director  for  several  years.  At  the  present 
time  he  is  serving  as  Constable.  At  all  times  and 
all  places  lie  has  shown  himself  to  be  a  loyal  citizen 
and  is  well  regarded  b3'||his  fellow-townsmen. 


ENRY  S.  MERRILL  is  the  repmsentative  of 
an  old  family  in  this  county,  and  was  him- 
self one  of  its  pioneers.  He  is  numbered 
among  its  most  wealthy  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers  and  is  one  of  the  largest  landowners  residing 
within  its  limits,  he  having  nearly  one  thousand 
acres  of  land  in  various  parts  of  this  Stale,  and  in 
Kansas.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  As- 
toria, where  his  name  is  held  in  honor  and  respect. 
He  comes  of  fine  old  New  England  stock,  and  is  a 
native  of  that  section  of  the  countr}'.  He  was  born 
April  12,  1826,  in  Kennebunk  Port,  York  County, 
Me.,  and  is  a  son  of  Israel  and  Lj'dia  (Merrill) 
Merrill.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  Jacob  Mer- 
rill, who  was  a  son  of  Gideon  Morrill,  who  in  turn 
was  a  son  of  Abel  ^Merrill.  Tlie  latter  sprang  from 
Sir  Peter  Merrill,  who  came  from  Pmgland  about 
1650,  and  settled  in  Massachusetts.  Abel  Merrill 
was  born  in  that  State,  and  at  an  early  date  went  to 
Maine  and  secured  a  farm  in  Kennebunk  Port.  This 
farm  remained  in  the  family  until  disposed  of  in 
1850  by  Jonas  Merrill,  of  the  fourth  generation. 
Gideon  Merrill  was  born  in  iNLiinc    and  lived  there 


until   his   death  at  an  advanced  age.      lie  was  the 
father  of  two  sons,   Jacol)  and  Abel,  of  whom    the 
former    was    the    patei'nal_'[ij^giand father    of     our   , 
subject,  and    the    latter  was   his    maternal  grand- 
father. 

Jacob  INIerrill  was  born  in  [Maine  and  was  by 
occupation  a  sailor.  He  served  in  the  Continental 
navy  as  boatswain  during  the  War  for  Inde- 
pendence. While  he  was  on  one  of  the  West  India 
Islands  he  was  pressed  into  the  British  Nav}'. 
During  that  memoiable  struggle,  one  night  he  man- 
aged to  lower  himself  from  the  ship's  side  and  swam 
to  the  shore  and  escapeil.  He  married  Miss  Sarah 
Huff  and^they  reared  a  large  family  of  sons  and 
daughters.  His  sons  all  became  sailors.  The  chil- 
dren were  named  as  follows:  Israel;  Jacob,  who  was 
captain  of  a  vessel  and  died  at  sea;  William;  Jonas, 
who  is  a  sliii)  carpenter;  Ruth,  Charlotte,  Lucinda, 
Caroline  and  Mary,  all  of  whom  married  except  the 
two  last.  Jacob  died  at  tlie advanced  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years,  and  his  wife  when  about  eighty  j'ears 
old. 

Israel  Merrill,  the  father  of  our  subject,  wag 
a  native  of  York  County,  Me.,  and  was  born  in 
October,  1792.  He  passed  the  early  years  of  his 
life  in  the  place  of  liis  birth,  and  was  bred  to  the 
calling  of  a  farmer.  He  served  as  a  privateer  dur- 
ing the  War  of  1812.  November  !),  1838,  Mr. 
Merrill  left  his  old  New  England  home  to  seek  a 
new  one  in  the  wilds  of  tiie  Prairie  State.  He  made 
his  way  to  Boston,  from  there  went  by  rail  to 
Providence,  thence  by  water  to  New  Y^ork  Chy, 
from  thtre  to  Philadelphia  and  on  to  Columbia,  Pa., 
by  rail,  thence  by  canal  to  Pittsburg,  where  he  era- 
barked  on  a  steamer  on  the  Ohio  River.  He  was 
detained  on  the  boat  six  weeks  below  Pittsburg  on 
account  of  a  freeze.  From  St.  Louis  he  came  to 
Fulton  County  by  wagon  and  look  up  his  abode  on 
tlie  southeastern  quarter  of  section  13,  Astoria 
'J'ownship,  Eeliruary  14,  and  there  passed  the  rest  of 
his  days.  His  land  was  heavily  timbered  and  it  was 
only  by  years  of  hard  toil  that  he  improved  it  into 
a  substantial  farm.  He  died  in  November,  1876,  at 
the  residence  of  our  subject,  with  whom  he  lived 
the  three  last  years  of  his  life,  his  wife  having 
preceded  him  a  few  years.  She  was  an  active 
member  of  the   Congregational   Church   in   Maine, 


648 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  identified  herself  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  as  one  of  its  most  useful  members  after 
coming  to  Illinois.  She  was  the  mother  of  five 
cliildren — Joseph  W.;  Benjamin  R.,  who  died  of 
cholera  in  1851;  Henry  S.;  Dr.  Stephen  A.,  of 
Pomoi~.a.  Cal.,  who  served  as  a  physician  in  the  late 
war;  Charles,  of  San  Francisco,  wlio  served  one  year 
in  the  war  in  an  Illinois  regiment.  Benjamin  and 
Charles  had  no  families. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  daughter  of 
Abel  Merrill,  a  farmer  of  Maine.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolution,  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Saratoga,  and  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Bur- 
govne.  He  married  a  Miss  Burbaniv,  who  bore  him 
the  following  children:  Benjamin,  a  sea  captain ; 
Jacob,  a  sea  captain,  Edward  and  Steph3n,  who  were 
also  sailors  and  died  at  sea,  the  latter  haying  been 
washed  overboard  at  the  time  of  a  wreck;  John,  the 
fifth  son;  Lydia  and  Mary,  the  latter  of  whom  died 
unmarried. 

Henry  Merrill  of  this  biography,  was  bred  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer  and  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Maine.  He  was  a  mere  boj' 
wlien  tiie  famil3-  removed  to  this  State,  and  after  he 
attained  manhood  ho  gave  his  attention  to  agri- 
culture. After  marriage  he  located  on  eighty  acres 
of  land,  lieavily  timbered,  which  is  included  in  his 
present  homestead.  He  and  his  brother  had  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixt}'  acres  together,  and 
had  divided  it.  They  bought  a  tax  title  to  the  land, 
later  the  patent,  and  afterward  had  to  defend  their 
claim  in  the  courts.  When  he  first  entered  upon 
his  career  as  a  farmer  Mr,  Merrill  worked  witli  his 
father  raising  grain,  from  the  sale  of  whicli  he 
finally  earned  mone}'  enough  to  buy  his  first  farm. 
It  was  vcrj'  slow  work,  as  all  produce  was  very 
cheap.  The  first  team  which  the3'  used  was  a  joke 
of  cattle  which  his  father  sold  for  §27.  The  first 
cow  his  father  sold  brougiit  $8,  and  our  subject  sold 
his  first  lot  of  pork  at  one  and  one-fourth  cents  a 
pound,  and  a  j-oke  of  oxen  at  S23.  From  these 
small  beginnings  he  has  accumulated  a  snug  fortune. 
He  is  one  of  the  largest  landowners  in  this  section 
of  the  country.  The  place  on  wliich  he  resides 
comprises  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres;  he  has  two 
farms,  containing  two  hundred  and  sixty-seven 
acres  in  McDonough  County;   he   has  two  hundred 


acres  in  Christian  County;  and  two  hundred  and 
fort)-  acres  of  fine  farming  land  in  Kansas.  His 
farms  are  generally  finely  improved,  supplied  with 
substantial  buildings  and  all  the  necessary  apjili- 
ances.  He  has  on  his  homestead  one  of  the  most 
commodious  and  pleasant  residences  in  Astoria,  and 
his  hospitable  home  is  replete  with  every  comfort 
that  can  be  desired. 

Mr.  Merrill  is  much  indebted  for  the  prosperitj- 
tliat  has  come  to  him,  and  for  his  happy  home,  to 
the  assistance  of  his  amiable  wife,  formerly  Sarah 
McNeill,  to  whom  he  was  wedded  in  the  month  of 
November,  1847.  Mrs.  Merrill  is  a  native  of 
Indiana  and  a  daughter  of  David  and  Mary  (Cole) 
McNeill,  who  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
this  county.  David  McNeill  was  a  soldier  in  the 
War  of  1812.  About  1827  or  1828  he  came  here 
and  settled  on  section  2G,  Astoria  Township.  He 
was  a  i5rowinent  citizen  here  for  many  j-ears,  and  for 
a  long  time  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  was 
twice  married.  His  first  wife  bore  him  the  follo\ying 
children:  Samuel;  John,  vvho  was  killed  in  Missouri; 
Daniel;  William  James,  wlio  served  in  the  late  war; 
Elinor  and  .Sarah.  Mr.  McNeill's  second  marriage 
was  to  Mrs.  Maria  Smith.  Tiieir  children  were  Jo- 
sei)h,  who  served  in  a  cavahy  regiment  dnring  the 
war;  Wesley,  Mar}-,  Rachael,  Caroline,  Effie  and 
Dora.  Both  of  Mr.  McNeill's  wives  were  prominent 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Cluirch.  and  wereamong 
its  founders  in  this  section. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merrill  have  been  blessed  with 
twelve  children  namely:  Luther;  Eler^',  a  resident 
of  the  State  of  Washington;  Lydia,  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  of  Chicago;  Belle,  a  graduate  of  Ann 
Arbor  University-  and  a  missionary  in  a  hospital  in 
India;  Henry;  Hettie,  now  Mrs.  Coburn;  Nellie, 
Benjamin  and  J:tcob.  Three  children  died  in 
childhood.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merrill  have  given  their 
children  liberal  educations  and  otherwise  qnalifu'd 
them  by  careful  training  in  the  home  to  make  good 
and  useful  members  of  an\'  community  wherever 
their  lots  may  be  cast. 

Ml.  Merrill  is  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  abil- 
ity and  force  of  character,  and  as  oue  of  the 
pioneers  of  this  county  has  been  potent  in  its  up- 
building. The  record  of  his  life  in  every  depart- 
ment which  he  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  has  been 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


649 


such  as  to  commanrl  the  highest  respect  and  the  full 
confidence  of  his  fellow-men.  lie  has  been  iiivalii- 
alile  to  the  ciiizenship  of' Astoria.  In  politics  he 
was  formeil}'  a  Whig  and  cast  his  first  vote  for 
General  Taylor.  Since  1856  he  has  been  a  stanch 
and  uncompromising  Republican.  He  has  never 
sought  office,  preferring  the  (piiet  and  happiness  of 
his  peaceful  fireside  to  the  turmoil  of  public  life. 
However,  unsolicited  and  without  his  knowledge,  he 
was  nominated  in  1876  bj-  his  part}-  to  make  the 
race'  for  a  seat  in  the  Legislature. 


ENRY  MOTSINGER.  Among  the  men 
who  are  cultivating  a  portion  of  the  soil  of 
Canton  Township  to  good  advantage  is  the 
((^  gentleman  above  named,  whose  pleasant 
home  is  located  on  section  12,  His  dwelling  is 
above  the  average,  and  tlie  accompan}'ing  out 
buildings  are  also  substantial  and  well  designed 
for  tiieir  respective  purposes.  The  attention  of 
tlie  passer-b}'  will  at  once  be  called  to  the  neatness 
and  order  which  everywhere  prevails,  and  the  opin- 
ion will  readily  be  formed  that  the  proprietor  of 
the  place  understands  his  business. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Michael  Mot- 
singer,  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina  and  mar- 
ried Barbara  Gilstrap,  who  was  a  South  Carolinian. 
Pearly  in  the  '40s  they  came  to  this  county  fi-om 
Washington  County,  Ind.,  making  tlieir  first  set- 
tlement in  Orion  Township.  Seven  years  later 
the)-  removed  to  Canton  Township,  which  was 
their  home  at  the  lime  of  their  death,  although 
they  liad  previously  spent  a  fevv  years  in  Ne- 
braska. The)'  had  twelve  children,  of  vvhom  our 
subject  is  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth. 

Henr)'  Molsinger  was  born  in  Washington 
County,  Ind.,  October  29,  1826,  and  since  he  ac- 
companied his  father  to  this  count)'  has  been  a 
resident  here.  Upon  reaching  years  of  maturity, 
he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raisintr  with  such 
good  results  that  he  has  become  the  owner  of  about 
five  hundred  acres  of  fine  land  and  been  able  to 
put  upon  it  the  improvements  before  menticjued. 

At    the   home    of   the    bride's    p-irenls,    Thoniiis 


and  Joanna  (Coleman)  Wolf,  in  Orion  Township, 
November  14,  1858.  the  marriage  of  our  subject 
and  iMiss  Sarah  Wolf  took  place.  Mrs.  Motsinger 
was  born  in  Orion  Township,  April  20,  1832,  :iud 
under  the  careful  training  of  worthy  Christian 
parents  developed  tlie  graces  of  character  which 
win  lasting  regard.  The  principal  items  in  the 
history  of  her  parents  will  be  found  in  the  sketch 
of  Jeremiah  P.  Wolf,  which  occupies  a  place  in 
tliis  Album.  Mr.  .'tnd  Mrs.  Motsinger  have  had 
two  children — a  son  and  a  daughter.  John  M. 
died  in  this  township  April  4,  1879,  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  years;  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  William 
H.  Gaskill  and  the  mother  of  one  child — Lena  F. 
Her  home  is  in  Canton  Township. 

Jlr.  Motsinger  is  a  believer  in  and  a  supporter  of 
the  principles  of  Democracy.  He  and  his  wife  are 
efficient  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  bearing  a  prominent  part  in  the  work  of 
the  society  and  in  all  matters  which  will  add  to  the 
welfare  of  the  community.  Mr.  Motsinger  has 
been  a  Trustee  of  the  Church  and  has  filled  the 
office  of  Steward  for  twenty  years. 


4*^ 


ANIEL  ABBOTT.  The  publisliers  of  this 
Ai.iiUJi  would  fail  in  their  object  of  pre- 
senting to  their  readers  a  review  of  the 
lives  of  the  citizens  of  the  county,  were 
they  to  omit  that  of  Daniel  Abbott,  a  prominent 
lawyer  of  Canton.  He  was  born  in  this  county 
May  21,  1838,  being  the  oldest  son  of  John  W. 
and  Christiana  (Babbitt)  Abbott.  He  was  reared 
on  a  farm,  received  his  fundamental  education  in 
the  district  schools,  and  later  entered  Lombard 
University  at  Galesburg,  where  he  prosecuted  his 
studies  two  years.  He  then,  in  1859,  began  the 
study  of  law,  pursuing  his  reading  two  and  a  half 
years. 

In  January,  1866,  Mr.  Abbott  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  in  March  of  the  same  year  began  his 
practice  in  Canton.  He  is  well  acquainted  with 
the  technicalities  of  his  profession,  understands  how 
to  present  a  case,  and  his  command  of  language  is 
such  lliat  he  wins  close  attention  fiom  all  who  hear 


650 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Iiiiri.  Mis  commanding  appparance  is  perliaps  an 
aid  in  this,  altliougli  we  know  that  men  of  mental 
ability  (ran  make  their  way  unaided  by  exterior 
qu.iliScatious.  Mr.  Abbot  practices  in  local.  State, 
and  Federal  courts,  and  his  ability  has  been  recog- 
nized in  manj-  a  hard-fought  contest  in  the  legal 
arena.  From  1872  to  1S80  he  served  as  States 
Attorney,  having  been  elected  on  the  Democratic 
ticket.  In  1875-76  he  was  the  incumbent  of  the 
Mayor's  Chair.  He  has  also  represented  the  Fourth 
Ward  in  the  Cit^'  Council,  and  was  for  one  term 
Supervisor  of  Canteen  Township. 

The  solemn  rites  which  united  the  lives  and  for- 
tunes of  Mr.  Abbott  and  Miss  Amelia  W.  Weller, 
of  Ogle  Countj%  took  place  November  12.  1863. 
The  bride  was  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
Weller,  was  possessed  of  a  cultured  mind  and  a 
worth\"  character.  She  passed  awa}'  in  March,  1881, 
leaving  four  children — Charles  D.,  Frances  M., 
John  C.  and  Grace  Y.  Feliruary  15,  1883,  Mr. 
Abbott  contracted  a  second  matrimonial  alliance, 
leading  to  the"  li\meneal  altar.  Miss  Alice  A.  Slieji- 
ley,  of  Deerfield  Township.  This  ladj^  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  J.  Shcpley,  Esq..  now  of  Canton, 
and  a  partner  of  Mr.  Abbott  in  the  insurance 
and  real  estate  business.  Mrs.  Abbott  is  a 
charming,  cultured  woman,  who  gracefully  pre- 
sides over  the  palatial  modern  residence  which  the 
famil3^  occup3-.  She  is  the  mother  of  two  children 
— Lyle  8.  and  Leslej'  Y. 

Of  the  social  orders,  Jlr.  Aiibott  is  identified 
with  that  of  Masonr}',  holding  membership  in 
Morning  Star  Lodge,  No.  734,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Can- 
ton Chaijter  and  Consistory.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  by  no  means  an  unimportant  mem- 
ber of  the  part}-  in  this  section.  He  affords  an  ex- 
cellent example  of  representative  citizenship,  law- 
abiding,  public-spirited,  efficient  in  the  discharge  of 
official  duties  when  called  upon  to  serve  his  fellow- 
men,  and  a  popular  member  of  the  best  society 
which  the  region  affords.  Besides  his  handsome 
city  propert}',  he  owns  a  good  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  eightj'  acres  in  this  county,  well  stocked  with 
hogs,  cattle  and  horses. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Pitts- 
burg. Pa..  December  12,  1812,  and  was  the  son  of 
Richard  Abbott,  likewise  a  native  of  the  Keystone 


State,  and  of  English  ancestrj-.  Grandfather  Abbott 
removed  to  Scott  County,  Ind.,  late  in  life,  and  was 
there  gathered  to  his  fathers.  In  1837,  while 
still  a  single  man.  John  ^Y.  Abbott  came  to  this 
count}',  and  the  same  year  married  and  settled  in 
Canton.  He  soon  after  returned  to  Indiana  and 
in  1847,  he  came  back  to  Fulton  County,  and  lo- 
cated in  Farmington  Township.  He  carried  on 
general  farming.  His  demise  took  place  in  1876, 
and  he  was  survived  by  his  wife  and  eight  chil- 
dren. The  widow  is  still  living.  enj03'ing  reason- 
ably good  health,  and  making  her  home  on  a  farm 
in  Joshua  Township.  Her  fallier,  Daniel  Babbitt, 
is  numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of  this 
county,  to  which  he  came  in  1827. 

,^s^  TEPHEN  A.  DRAKE,  Superintendent  and 
^^^  ^Manager  of  the  People's  Gas  and  Electric 
Iji/JI)   Light  Compan}-,  and  Secretar\-  of  the  Can- 
ton Coal  Compan}',  is  a  fine  representative 
of  the  native-born  citizens  of  Canton,  and  is  classed 
among  its  rising  young  men,   who,  though  in    the 
earl}'  years  of  his  manhood,  has  already    attained 
an  honorable  position  in  business  circles. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Fulton  County,  this 
State,  May  18.  1864,  the  only  sou  of  George  W. 
and  Mary  E.  (Amsley)  Drake.  His  father  was  a 
pioneer  merchant  of  Canton  and  was  active  in 
business  here  for  many  years  and  until  the  time  of 
his  death,  in  1867.  His  widow  is  still  living. 
Stephen  was  three  years  old  when  his  father  died 
and  was  educated  principally  in  this  city,  and  as  he 
was  a  bright,  apt  scholar  he  laid  a  solid  basis  in  the 
public  schools  on  which  to  found  his  after  career  in 
business.  On  leaving  school,  he  entered  tlie  em- 
ploy of  Parlin  &  Orendorff,  plow  manufacturers, 
and  was  with  them  two  years.  In  1884,  though 
only  twenty  years  of  age,  he  was  offered  the  re- 
sponsible position  of  manager  of  the  People's  Gas 
and  Electric  Light  Company,  and  has  since  con- 
ducted its  business  with  marked  ability,  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  He  is  a  man  of  many 
pleasant  personal  qualities,  which  attract  to  him 
many  friends,  and  he  is  prominent  in  social  circles. 


.^4^i4*;--. 


'o^n^-i^ 


Oco^i^^ 


JACOB   D.HAND. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


655 


He  is  a  memlier  of  Morning  Star  Lodge,  No.  734, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  also  of  Canton  Cliapter,  No. 
68,  of  which  he  is  Secretary.  Politically,  he  is  an 
ardent  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  Drake  is  very  happy  in  his  domestic  rela- 
tions, having  secured  by  his  marriage  May  17. 
1888,  to  Miss  Auraline  S.  Snyder,  of  Canton, 
daugiiter  of  D.  W.  and  Sarah  Sn^'der,  a  wife  who  is 
devoted  to  his  interests.  Their  home  at  No.  318 
West  Pine  Street,  is  one  of  the  coziest  in  this  [lail 
ofjlhe  city,  and  the  gracious  hospitality  of  tiie  wife 
and  genial  courtesy  of  the  host  give  it  an  attraction 
to  their  many  friends. 


^  RS.  JANE  CAMPBELL  HAND.  Al- 
though nearly  fourscore  years  of  age  Mrs. 
Hand  is  very  active,  with  mind  and 
memory  remarkably  preserved  for  a  lady 
of  her  years.  Her  remembrance  of  the  scenes  and 
incidents  which  have  marked  her  pathway'  in  life 
makes  her  conversation  interesting  to  those  who 
enjuy  reminiscences  regarding  earlier  times  or 
who  are  capable  of  drawing  lessons  from  the  expe- 
riences of  others.  She  is  one  of  the  most  highly 
respected  residents  in  Farmington,  which  became 
her  home  in  1849,  although  for  a  period  she  lived 
elsewhere.  She  is  attractive  in  personal  appearance 
and  her  manners  are  indicative  of  her  excellent  an- 
cestry. 

Joiin  Oliver,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  was 
with  Gen.  Washington  at  Valley  Forge  during  the 
historical  winter.  He  filled  the  position  of  Regi- 
mental Clerk.  He  owned  large  landed  estates  in 
IMiHlin  County,  Pa.,  and  jield  a  prominent  place  in 
the  community-.  For  several  years  he  served  as 
Associate  Judge  of  the  county  and  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  State  Legislature.  The  Olivers  in 
former  j'cars  were  strict  adherents  of  tlie  Presbyte- 
rian doctrines. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Hand  was 
Robert  Campbell,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  of  the 
Scotch-Irish  stock.  He  married  Jane  Cami)bell 
who,  although  she   bore  the  same  surname,  was  of 


an  entirel_y  different  family.  Tliis  couple  emi- 
grated to  America  in  Colonial  times,  first  settling 
in  Chester  County,  Pa.,  and  subsequently  becom- 
ing residents  of  Mifflin  County.  The  settlers  were 
much  troubled  by  the  Indians  for  sometime  after 
the  Campbells  located  there.  Mi-.  Campbell  had 
strong  religious  feelings,  adhered  to  the  ancestral 
faith  of  Presbyterianism,  and  did  much  to  aid  in 
building  up  that  denomination  in  the  vicinity  of 
his  home.  In  1874  his  descendants  celebrated  the 
one  hundredth  anniversary  of  hfs  settlement  in  Mif- 
flin County.  The  property  bought  by  him,  con- 
sisting of  more  than  seven  hundred  acres,  is  still  in 
the  family. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy-  couple  was  a  son 
Samuel,  who  grew  to  maturity  in  his  native  county 
of  Pennsylvania,  marrying  Nancy  Oliver,  who  was 
born  and  reared  there.  In  1814  they  removed  to 
Huntingdon  County  where  the  husliand  was  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  acted  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
of  Shirley  Township.  In  1831  he  removed  his  fam- 
ilv  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Huron  County,  but  subse- 
quently removed  to  Morrow  County,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  His  widow  died  at 
the  home  of  a  daughter  in  Marshall  County,  Ind., 
when  seventy-seven  years  old.  Samuel  Campbell 
was  one  of  ten  children  and  his  own  family  con- 
sisted of  the  same  number. 

Mrs.  Hand  is  the  tliird  on  the  family  roll.  Of  her 
brothers  and  sisters  we  note  the  following:  John 
Oliver,  a  farmer,  died  at  his  home  in  Santa  Crnz, 
Cal.,  in  1887,  leaving  five  children — Carlista,  Cor- 
nelia E.,  George  O.,  Benjamin  F.,  and  Alonzo. 
Joseph  F.,  a  farmer  in  Bedford  County.  Pa.,  died 
there,  leaving  a  family  of  seven  children;  Margaret 
Ann  is  the  widow  of  James  Hume,  foimerly  a 
farmed'  in  Marshall  County,  Ind.,  and  has  three 
children — Robert  Allen,  Albert  C.  and  Oliver  A. 
Mary  Agnes  lives  in  the  same  county  as  her  sister 
;\[argaret,  being  the  widow  of  John  Ra}',  a  farmer, 
nnd  the  mother  of  a  son,  .lohn  FruiUlin.  Robert 
died  in  Marion  County,  111.,  leaving  two  sons — 
Walter  and  Robert;  his  occupation  was  that  of  a 
tiller  of  the  soil.  Elizabeth  I.,  married  JaniPs  Gil- 
son,  a  mechanic,  and  died  at  her  home  in  Mc- 
Donough  County,  leaving  four  children;  one  of 
them   died  in  the  army,  and  one  is  at  tlie  Soldiers' 


656 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Home  at  Quincy.  The  other  two  are  Byron  and 
Jane.  Samuel  F.  died  in  McDonough  County, 
where  he  had  been  engaged  in  farming;  lie  had  do 
children.  Casandra  Lyon,  wife  of  David  JNIcDon- 
ald.  died  at  her  home  in  Marion  County,  Ind., 
leaving  threelchildreu,  who  have  since  departed 
tliis  life.  James  Alexander,  who  is  unmarried,  lives 
in  Oregon. 

Tlie  natal  day  of  Mrs.  Hand  was  October  27, 
1810.  and  her  birthplace  Mifflin  County,  Pa.  The 
scenes  of  her  earliest  recollections  are  of  Hunting- 
don County,  where  she  attended  school  when  the 
educational  facilities  were  quite  limited.  In  Hu- 
ron Countv.  t)hio,  she  made  the  acquaintance  of 
Jacob  I).  Hand,  to  whom  she  was  united  in  mar- 
riage in  1835.  They  operated  a  farm  in  the  Buck- 
eve  State  five  years,  then  removed  to  this  county 
where  Mr.  Hand  turned  his  attention  to  mercantile 
pursuits,  locating  at  Ellisville.  In  1849  they  re- 
moved to  Farraington  and  from  that  timejuntil  his 
demise  Mr.  Hand  enjoyed  the  leisure  and  comfort 
of  a  retired  man.  For  several  years  he  served  as 
Supervisor  of  Farmington  Township.  In  politics 
he  was  originally  a  Whig  and  later  a  Republican. 
His  death  occurred  at  Galesburg  June  7,  1876,  to 
which  place  he  had  removed  in  1856.  After  his 
death  his  bereaved  companion  returned  to  Farm- 
infton,  where  she  has  since  continued  to  reside.  In 
his  worldly  affairs  Mr.  Hand  was  prospered  ex- 
ceedingly and  wlien  he  died  left  a  large  fortune. 
He  wore  his  icligion  as  an  everyday  garment,  gain- 
ing the  goodwill  even  of  the  opponents  of  Chris- 
tianity and  the  deeper  regard  of  tliose  who  knew 
him  best. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Hand  were  Henry  and  Sarah 
(Davis)  Hand,  natives  of  New  Jerse}',  in  which 
State  he  also  was  born.  His  birth  took  place  at 
Westfield,  P^ssex  County,  October  24,  1805.  He 
was  quite  young  wiien  his  parents  removed  to 
Genesee  Countj',  N.  Y.,  and  he  subsequently  ac- 
companied them  to  Huron  County,  Ohio. 

To  our  subject  and  lier  husband  four  children 
ware  born,  named  respectively,  Emilj'.  Harriet 
Reed,  George  AV.  and  Henrietta  J.  The  son  died 
when  but  three  years  old.  The  eldest  daughter 
married  Sylvester  Reed,  a  merchant  at  Galesburg. 
She  died  leaving   two    children — George    H.    and 


Emily  M.  The  former  married  Minnie  Bartlett 
and  makes  liis  home  in  Frankfort,  Kan.,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  the  hardware  business;  he  has  a 
daughter,  Catherine  Beatrice,  now  a  year  old. 
Emily  M.  married  Alva  F.  Mj'ers,  a  farmer  at  Kan- 
kakee, this  State.  The  second  daughter  of  our  sub- 
ject became  the  wife  of  Capt.  John  S.  Smith,  and 
died  in  Farmington.  The  youngest  child  is  the 
wife  of  Divid  Nappin,  the  Farmington  horticultu- 
rist; their  family  comprises  two  children — Emily 
Maude  and  Frank  H.  Mrs.  Hand  has,  as  will  be 
seen  from  the  above,  four  grandchildren  and  one 
great-grandchild. 

Mrs.  Hand  was  reared  under  the  tenets  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  while  a  3'oung  lady  in 
Pennsylvania  taught  a  class  in  Sunday-school.  She 
afterward  became  identified  with  the  Congrega- 
tional denomination,  to  which  Sir.  Hand  also  be- 
longed. The  two  gave  valuable  aid  in  linilding  up 
the  church  at  Farmington. 

A  lithograi)hic  portrait  of  this  venerable  lady 
and  of  her  deceased  husband  will  be  noticed  on 
another  page. 


AVID  MYERS.  This  veteran  pioneer  of 
Joshua  Township  constitutes  one  of  the  old 
landmarks  in  the  growth  and  develojiment 
of  the  county,  with  which  he  has  been  closel}'  iden- 
tified for  a  period  of  over  thirty-five  years.  He 
owns  and  occupies  one  of  the  finest  improved  and 
best  managed  farms  in  this  section  and  ha^  here  a 
beautiful  and  well-appointed  home. 

Mr.  Mj'ers  was  born  in  Clarke  County,  Ohio, 
April  4,  1819.  His  earlj'  home  training  was  sucii 
as  to  instill  good  principles  and  habits  of  industry 
and  economy,  which  have  been  of  value  to  him  in 
his  after  life.  So  capable  and  prudent  was  he  that 
before  he  attained  his  majorilj-  he  had  saved  up 
about  S500  with  which  to  begin  his  long  and  suc- 
cessful career  as  a  farmer.  Unlike  manj-  young 
men  he  chose  to  remain  with  his  parents  until  he 
arrived  at  full  age,  helping  them  to  the  extent  of 
his  whole  power  in  paying  for  a  tract  of  swampy 
and  marsh}'  land  that  his  father  had  purchased  in 
Ohio.      February    1,    1840,  he  married   in   Clarke 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUJU. 


657 


Countj',  lMar<;aret  Ann  Thomas,  whose  parents 
also  resi<le(i  in  that  connt}-.  From  that  union  two 
children  were  born.  Perry  and  Marj',  both  of  whom 
are  now  married  and  well  established  in  life  in  this 
county.  After  living  together  some  seven  years, 
our  subject  lost  his  wife  by  her  premature  death. 

In  the  fall  of  1855  Mr.  Myers  removed  from 
Ohio  to  this  county  and  bought  a  farm  in  Buckheart 
Township,  one  mile  south  of  Canton.  It  comprises 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  for  which  he 
paid^  down  S"2,000  and  gave  his  note,  secured  by 
mortgage,  for  the  §4,000  of  the  price  which  he  suc- 
ceeded in  paying  by  exchanging  other  land.  He  is 
now  tlie  proprietor  of  some  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  fine  farming  land,  none  of  which  is 
worth  less  than  $75  an  acre.  He  lias  a  fine  set  of 
buildings  on  his  place,  including  a  handsome  resi- 
dence, substantial  barns  and  neat  outhouses.  At 
one  time  he  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Texas, 
comprising  some  nine  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
which  he  disposed  some  years  ago. 

August  8,  1855,  the  second  marriage  of  our 
subject  was  duly  solemnized,  on  which  date  Ann 
Maria  Boswell  became  his  wife.  Three  children 
were  born  of  tliat  union,  of  whom  one  is  deceased, 
Nancy  Jane,  who  at  the  time  of  her  death  was  five 
years,  ten  montlis  and  seven  daj's  old,  and  she  is 
now  sleeping  tlio  sleeji  that  knows  no  waking  in 
Canton  Cemetery.  Our  subject's  daughter,  Bar- 
bara, is  married;  his  son  Townsend  lives  on  one  of 
his  fainis  adjoining  his  homestead.  September  1, 
1889,  a  gloom  was  cast  over  Mr.  Myer's  home 
by  the  death  of  his  beloved  wife  and  the  devoted 
mother  of  ids  children.  !She  was  a  highly  respected 
member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  was  honored 
by  all  who  knew  her.  She  took  a  great  interest  in 
her  home,  was  a  faithful  and  affectionate  wife  and 
a  tender,  wise  mother. 

As  a  gentleman  of  fine  character  and  asolld  sub- 
stantial citizen,  no  man  stands  higher  in  this  county 
lluiii  David  Myers.  He  takes  a  warm  interest  in 
all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of  this  section  of  the 
country,  is  liberal  in  his  support  of  schemes  to  for- 
ward its  improvement  and  is  active  in  political  and 
pulilic  life.  He  lias  been  a  life-long  Democrat,  and 
lias  been  for  over  twelve  years  a  member  of 
the  Democratic    County    Central   Committee.     He 


,V^- 


has  also  been  a  Commissioneer  of  Highways  in 
Fulton  County  for  over  six  years.  He  has  had  a 
large  experience  as  a  juror,  serving  both  in  the 
grand  and  petit  juries  for  many  years. 


ILLIAM  F.  HAFFNER  is  a  practical  and 
wide-awake  member  of   the  farming  cora- 

'/'^  munity  of  Astoria  Township,  where  he  is 
meeting  with  unqualified  success  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  was  born  in  Augusta  County,  Va., 
Januaiy  28,  1851,  to  Daniel  and  Diana  (Lutz) 
Ilaffner,  who  were  also  natives  of  ^'irginia.  In 
the  fall  of  1852  his  parents  emigrated  to  this  State, 
coining  with  their  family  all  the  way  in  a  wagon. 
Six  weeks  from  the  time  they  left  their  old  home 
they  arrived  in  this  county  and  established  them- 
selves on  section  25,  Astoria  Township,  where  our 
suijject  now  lives.  Here  the  father  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  timber,  and  witli  hard 
pioneer  labor  cleared  it  and  developed  it  into  a 
line  farm,  on  which  he  resided  until  death  closed 
his  mortal  career  August  4,  188G.  His  wife  died 
November  12,  1889.  They  reared  seven  of  their 
eight  children,  naaiely:  John  B.,  of  Coffee  Count}', 
Kan.;  Mary  C,  wife  of  Alexander  Powell,  of  Liv- 
ingston County;  Sarah,  now  jNh's.  D.  Robison,  of 
Schuj'ler  County,  111.;  Samuel  11.,  of  Schuyler 
County;  Elizabeth  H.,  wife  of  William  Huff,  of 
Maliaska  County,  Iowa;  William  F. ;  Jacob  A.,  of 
Harvey  County,  Kan.  The  parents  were  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  in  the  every- 
day affairs  of  life  showed  themselves  to  be  true 
Chi  isiians. 

The  paterual  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Andrew  Haffner,  whose  parents  came  to  this  coun- 
try from  German}'.  Andrew  Haffner  married 
Mary  A-  Trobaugh,  and  they  reare<l  five  sons  and 
four  daughters.  Theymother  of  our  subject  was  a 
daughter  of  Baltzer  Lutz,  a  wagon-maker  by  trade, 
of  German  descent,  and  a  farmer.  He  married  a 
Mrs.  Catherine  Wolsol  ( Wonderlic).  His  father 
was  John  Lutz,  who  emigrated  to  this  country 
from  Germany. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  stands  at  the  head  of 


658 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


this  biography  passed  his  early  life  on  a  firm,  ami 
there  acquired  a  sound  practical  knowledge  of 
farming  in  all  its  branches.  He  was  given  a  good 
district-school  education.  He  lived  with  his  par- 
ents until  he  was  twent3-two  years  old,  when  he 
began  to  earn  a  livelihood  in  a  manner  that  best 
suited  him.  Since  his  father's  death  he  has  owned 
the  old  homestead  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 
It  is  a  fine  farm,  is  well  directed,  and  in  its  im- 
provements compares  favorably  with  the  best  in 
the  neighborhood. 

Mr.  Haffner  was  married  October  7,  1873,  to 
Miss  Edna  C.  Huff,  a  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Mary 
(McClelland)  Huff.  She  was  a  consistent  Chris- 
tian and  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  She  departed  this  life 
September  7,  1875.  February  2,  1882.  was  the 
date  on  which  our  subject  was  unitedjin  marriage 
to  his  present  wife,  formerly  Miss  Martha  McLaren, 
a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Hannah  (McClelland) 
McLaren.  This  marriage  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  three  children — Nellie  E.,  Bessie  F.  and 
Clelie  B.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haffner  are  valued  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  are  among 
its  most  earnest  workers. 


R.  WILLIAM  S.  STRODE.  Among  ;the 
'^'  jjrominent  physicians  of  Fulton  County, 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  recog- 
nized as  a  man  of  superior  attainments  and 
one  well  calculated  to  add  fresh  laurels  to  the  pro- 
fession to  which  he  has  devoted  his  time  and  talent. 
His  practice  is  both  extensive  and  lucrative  and  his 
patients  honor  and  respect  him,  as  only  those  are 
regarded  who  are  the  fortunate  possessors  of  some 
means  of  benefiting  and  improving  the  condition 
of  those  who  are  their  patients  and  friends.  He  is 
also  a  naturalist  of  renow)),  having  in  his  library 
the  best  works  on  this  subject  that  are  published. 

Dr.  Strode  was  born  in  Bernadotte  Township, 
this  county,  December  8,  1847.  After  a  happy 
childhood  spent  in  attending  the  schools  of  his  na- 
tive place,  he  enlisted  at  theearl\'  age  of  seventeen 
in   Company  G..    Fiftieth  Illinois     Infantr}-,    and 


served  faithfully' to  the  end  of  the  war.  Immedi- 
ately after  his  return  home  he  turned  his  attention 
to  agriculture  and  took  charge  of  a  brge  farm  of 
which  he  had  complete]  control  and  management 
for  two  years.  Tlirough  the  two  years  following, 
his  time  was  spent  in  attending  the  Business  Col- 
lege at'Quincy,  111.,  where  he  both  received  and 
imparted  instruction.  The  next  eight  years  of  his 
life  were  very  busy  ones,  fully  occupied  by  the 
nursery  and  farming  business  to  which  he  devoted 
much  of  his  time,  and  also  to  the  school  work 
which  occupied  his  attention  during  the  winter 
months.  In  addition  to  the  mental  labor  which 
these  occupations  naturall}'  called  for,||the  suliject 
of  this  sketch  took  charge  of  night  classes  in  pen- 
manship. 

In  1882  our  subject  commenced  to  study  medi- 
cine, and  possessing  mental  power  and  undaunted 
energy,  graduated  from  Rush  Medical  College, 
Chicago,  in  the  class  of  1 883-84,  and  since  that  time 
Dr.  Strode  has  practiced  his  chosen  profession  in 
Bernadotte  Township.  He  has  endeared  himself  to 
the  hearts  of  those  in  the  community,  and  is  uni- 
versally respected  and  esteemed.  On  December  25, 
1872,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Amelia 
Steele,  the  second  daughter  of  Dr.  John  Steele,  de- 
ceased, of  Astoria,  111.,  and  they  lived  most  happily 
together  until  death  claimed  the  wife  December  23, 
1888.  She  left  a  devoted  husband  and  four  loving 
children  to  mourn  her  loss.  These  children  were 
named  respectively:  Winifred,  Muriel,  Walter  L. 
and  John  W.  The 'eldest  daughter  married  Mel- 
bourne II.  ISIorrison,  and  they  reside  in  Bernadotte 
Township.  The  other  three  children  continue  to 
live  with  their  father  on  the  old  homestead. 

Dr.  Strode  is  President  of  the  Scientific  Associa- 
tion of  Fulton  County,  111.,  a  member  of  the  Mili- 
tary Tract  Medical  Association  of  this  State,  of  the 
American  Couchologists  Association  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  corresponding  member  of  several 
Eastern  scientific  societies,  and  is  a  regular  con- 
tributor to  several  literary  .and  scientific  journals. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Central  Committee  of 
Fulton  County,  and  has  been  Treasurer  of  Berna- 
dotte Township  during  the  past  ten  years.  Politic- 
ally, he  is  a  Republican  and  a  stanch  supporter  of 
party  principles.     He  has  recently    advertised    his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


859 


place  as  a  sumraer  resort  and  at  tlie  present  writing 
his  beautiful  residenee  is  filled  with  appreciative 
guests  from  Peoria,  Pekin  and  numerous  otlier 
places. 


<«  fifclLLI  AM  II.  BABCOCK,  a  resident  of  Ban- 
\yJll  "®'  Township,  is  one  of  tlie  large  land- 
V^^  owners  and  progressive  farmers  to  whom 
it  owes  its  rank  among  the  divisions  of  tiic  eount3\ 
He  owns  four  hundred  acres  of  fine  land  that  has 
been  so  managed  as  to  keep  up  its  natural  fertility, 
and  even  increase  its  productiveness  by  wise  rota- 
tion of  tiie  mixed  crops  raised  by  the  owner.  Mr. 
Babcock  was  reared  amid  the  surroundings  of  rural 
life  and  at  an  early  period  of  bis  history  became 
acquainted  with  methods  of  agriculture.  He,  there- 
fore, understands  his  vocation  and  is  enabled  to 
pursue  it  successfullj'. 

The  Empire  State  claims  our  subject  as  one  of 
her  sons,  his  birth  having  taken  place  in  Vates 
Countj-,  January  18,  1835.  His  parents  removed 
to  Ohio  when  he  was  quite  small,  and  he  grew 
to  maturity  tiiere,  enjoying  only  the  educational 
privileges  of  the  district  school.  In  1858,  having 
heard  much  of  the  fertility  of  the  Prairie  State,  he 
came  hitiier,  finding  work  on  a  farm  during  tlie 
summer.  He  felt  the  need  of  a  better  prepara- 
tion for  business  dealings  and  went  to  New  York 
in  order  to  attend  the  commercial  college  in  Buf- 
falo. There  he  met  Miss  Lucy  I.  Swarts,  who 
won  his  best  affections  by  her  pleasing  manners, 
her  useful  ways  and  her  worth  of  character. 

After  a  successful  wooing  Mr.  Babcock  led  Miss 
Swarts  to  the  hymeneal  altar  March  16,  1859,  and 
returning  to  the  West  with  his  bride,  began  farm- 
ing in  McDonough  County.  In  1861  lie  returned 
to  (Jhio,  continuing  his  occupation  there  for  two 
years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  could  no 
longer  resist  the  cries  of  his  country,  and  entered 
the  army.  His  name  was  enrolled  in  Company 
H,  Sixtieth  Ohio  Infantry,  his  commanding  officers 
being  Capt.  Henry  R.  Stevens  and  Col.  Avery. 
The  regiment  was  attached  to  the  Second  Brig- 
ade, Third    Division  and  Ninth   Army  Corps,  the 


division  commander  being  Gen.  Wilcox  and  the 
corps  led  by  Gen.  Burnside.  They  were  assigned 
to  duty  as  a  part  of  the  Armj'  of  the  Potomac, 
and  bore  a  hand  in  some  of  the  most  terrible  con- 
tests of  the  war. 

The  first  heavy  engagement  in  which  Mr.  Bab- 
cock participated  was  the  Battle  (if  the  Wilderness, 
the  regiment  having  crossed  the  Rapidaii  on  pon- 
toon bridges  and  gone  into  the  right  near  the  old 
t'.ivorn,  in  support  of  the  Fourteenth  Regulars. 
After  the  battle  they  marched  to  Spottsylvania 
Court-house,  where  they  were  the  first  to  enter  the 
fight  and  took  four  hundred  Confederate  pris- 
oners. The  next  contest  was  at  Cold  Harbor,  then 
South  Anne  River.foUowing  which  they  were  under 
fire  daily  until  they  reached  the  James  River,  June 
17,  1864.  From  that  time  until  October  our  sub- 
ject took  part  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  but  was  then  taken  seriously  ill  and  sent 
to  the  hospital  at  City  Point.  Thence  he  was 
transferred  to  McDougal  Hospital,  at  Ft.  Schuyler, 
New  York  Harbor,  remaining  there  until  Novem- 
ber, when  he  received  a  sick  furlough  and  visited 
his  family  in  the  Buckeye  State. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  furlough  Mr.  Babcock 
was  transferred  to  Tripler  Hospital,  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  March,  1865,  when 
he  rejoined  his  regiment  at  South  Side  Railroad, 
in  Virginia.  The  command  staid  there  until  the 
surrender  of  Gen.  Lee,  then  took  part  in  the 
Grand  Review  in  Washington,  when  Company  H 
was  put  on  detached  service  and  guarded  the  Old 
Capital  Prison  in  that  city.  Mr.  Babcock  was  on 
duty  the  day  of  the  execution  of  the  Lincoln  con- 
spirators. The  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  at  Cleveland.  Ohio,  in  August,  1865,  and 
our  subject  remained  in  that  city  until  the  next 
year,  when  he  removed  to  Henry  Countj',  Mo.  For 
about  eight  years  the  family  made  their  home 
there,  then  in  1874  came  to  this  county  and  lo- 
cated upon  the  fine  farm  that  is  now  their  place 
of  abode. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Babcock  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  six  children,  of  whom  the 
following  may  be  noted:  Ella  V.,  born  September 
29,  1861,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  E.  Martin,  living 
in  Peoria  County;  Emma  J.,  born  April   12,  1863, 


660 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   AM!! M. 


is  a  typewriter  and  now  in  Taeoma,  ^yasll.;  Will- 
iam A.,  horn  July  7,  1867,  marritMl  Elizabeth  Ben- 
son anil  lives  in  Banner  Township;  Luey  A.,  born 
August  2,  1H7I,  is  still  with  her  jiarents;  so  also 
are  Cliarles  A.,  born  February  24.  1879,  and  Bertha 
A.,  Ajiril  6,  1881.  The  household  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Babcoek  likewise  inclwles  the  mother  of  the 
former  and  the  father  of  the  latter.  iSlrs.  Jane 
Babcoek  was  born  in  Uticn,  N.  Y.,  May  2,  181o. 
and  h.as  therefore  long  since  passed  the  allotted  age 
of  mankind.  Abraham  Swarts  was  born  Novem- 
ber 1 1,  1804,  and  is  an  old  Royal  Arch  Mason,  h^v- 
ing  taken  the  degrees  in  1848. 

In  commemoration  of  the  wearj'  months  spent  in 
his  country's  service,  whose  trials  and  successes  he 
lives  over  with  his  comrades,  Mr.  Babcoek  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Joe  Hooker  Post.  No.  69,  G.  A.R.,  at  Canton. 
He  is  identified  willi  lianner  Grange,  P.  of  II. 
His  political  adherence  is  given  to  the  principles 
of  Republicanism.  He  is  now  serving  acceptably 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  has  been  School  Di- 
rector. Reliable  in  citizenship,  kindly  and  consid- 
erate in  neighborl}'  associations,  and  honorable  in 
his  dealings,  Mr.  Babcoek  is  held  in  respect  by  his 
fellow-men.  while  as  an  agriculturist  he  stands 
above  par. 


"Sl^ 


EORGE  COZINE.  This  gentleman  now  oc- 
cupies his  father's  homestead  in  l^ewislown 
i^J  Township,  a  mile  and  a  quarter  west  of  the 
county  seat.  He  is  well-known  throughout  this 
vicinity  as  a  contractor  and  builder,  having  been 
for  many  3'ears  located  in  Lewistown,  and  still  car- 
rying on  his  work  in  and  about  that  city.  He  is  a 
skillful  worker,  thoroughly  cognizant  of  the  value 
of  different  materials,  and  in  the  carrying  out  of 
the  engagements  made,  is  reliable  and  straightfor- 
ward. In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and  both  his 
wife  and  himself  belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

The  Cozine  family  is  of  German  extraction  but 
was  represented  in  Pennsylvania  several  genera- 
lions  since.  In  that  State,  Garret  Cozine  was  born, 
reared  and  married,  removing  thence  to  Kentucky 


and  becoming  a  pioneer  of  Mercer  County.  There 
he  resided  until  1835,  when  he  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  in  Hendricks  County,  Ind,,  spending  the  ri.'m- 
nantof  his  days  upon  it  and  dying  when  eighty- 
four  years  old.  His  wife  was  also  of  German 
ancestry,  and  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State.  She 
died  at  the  same  age  her  husliand  did,  but  two 
years  before  his  decease.  To  this  couple  was  born 
a  son,  Cornelius,  who  spent  his  entire  life  in  Ken- 
tucky, dj'ing  at  the  age  of  fift)'-two.  His  wife  was 
Jenny  Van  Arsdall,  also  of  Kentucky. 

In  the  family  of  Cornelius  and  Jenny  Cozine  was 
a  son,  Garret,  whose  birth  took  place  in  Harrods- 
burg.  Mercer  County.  Ky.,  March  19,  1810.  After 
reaching  mature  years  he  married  Susan  Beadles,  a 
native  of  the  same  count}-,  and  directly  after  their 
marriage  the  young  couple  emigrated  to  Indiana, 
performing  their  journey  with  teams  in  accordance 
with  the  custom  of  the  times.  They  located  in- 
Hendricks  County  upon  a  tract  of  timber  land, 
building  a  log  cabin,  in  which  three  of  their  chil- 
dren were  born.  After  eight  years  they  changed 
their  resilience  to  Morgan  County,  whence,  in  1849, 
they  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Lewistown.  For 
four  years  Mr.  Cozine  rented  a  farm,  then  bought 
that  now  occupied  b}'  his  son,  our  subject,  which 
he  cleared  and  improved,  residing  there  until  his 
death,  A))ril  15,  1888.  His  good  wife  passed 
away  November  6,  1872. 

The  maternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
John  and  Elizabeth  Beadles,  the  father  a  son  of 
Rice  Beadles,  of  whom  mention  is  made  in  a 
sketch  of  Nathan  Beadles,  which  is  included  in 
this  Album.  The  parents  of  our  subject  reared 
nine  children,  of  whom  George  is  the  eldest. 
William  H.,  the  second  child,  is  also  represented  in 
this  volume;  Simon  is  now  deceased;  Mrs.  Almira 
Trililiet  lives  in  Bernadotte.  James  died  in  Waliash 
County,  111.,  March  12,  1890;  Joseph  R.  resides  in 
AVabash  County,  111.;  Mrs.  Mary  Chambers.  Mrs. 
Susan  A.  Black  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Houston  are  all 
deceased. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  is  a  native  of 
Hendricks  County,  Ind.,  born  January  18,  1838. 
He  was  in  his  twelfth  year  when  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  this  Slate,  where  he  attended  school, 
and   assisted  on  the  farm,  until   eighteen   years  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


661 


age.  He  then  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  car- 
penter, serving  under  Jacob  Brown  two  years. 
After  this  he  began  business  as  a  contr;ictor  and 
builder  and  has  continued  to  make  this  his  occupa- 
tion until  the  present  time.  With  the  exception  of 
two  years  spent  in  McDonough  County,  and  one 
summer  in  Iowa,  Lewistovvn  was  his  place  of  resi- 
dence until  1884,  when  he  purchased  his  father's 
homestead  and  removed  thereto. 

Mr.  Cozine  has  been  twice  married,  fust  in  1858, 
to  Miss  Irene  Beadles,  a  native  of  tliis  county, 
daughter  of  Anderson  and  Nancy(  Wilcox)  Beadles. 
She  survived  until  1880,  when  she  was  borne  to  the 
tomb,  her  death  not  only  leaving  a  great  void  in 
the  family  circle,  hut  being  mourned  by  many 
friends.  She  was  the  mother  of  four  children,  all 
hoys,  bearing  the  names  respectively  of  Oliver, 
William,  Ezra,  and  Ralph.  In  1883  Mr.  Cozine 
was  again  married,  his  bride  being  Miss  Jennie 
Kcnney,  a  native  of  Montgomery  County,  Ind., 
and  tiie  daughter  of  John  and  Lucinda  Kenney. 
Thi.'^  marriage  has  been  blest  by  the  birth  of  two 
daughters,  Zuleime  and  Edith. 


♦j^^^iE 


QUIRE  JAMES  ORWIG  is  a  jovial,  pleas- 
ant gentlrman  whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to 
know  and  who  has  many  warm  personal 
friends  not  onl}'  in  Cass  Townsiiip,  where 
he  resides,  but  throughout  Eulton  County.  He  is 
an  active  politician  and  takes  a  prominent  i)art  in 
all  public  affairs  relating  to  the  welfare  of  the 
community  in  which  he  makes  his  home.  By 
means  of  energy,  tact  and  good  judgment  he  has 
made  a  success  in  every  business  he  has  undertaken 
and  has  secured  a  comfortable  iiome.  His  estate 
is  a  valuable  one,  comprising  eighty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 1,  and  here  he  has  lived  for  thirteen  years. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  John  and  Margaret 
(Baughman)  Orwig,  were  natives  of  Ohio,  where 
they  were  married  and  continued  to  make  their 
home  until  18.37.  During  their  residence  in  Rich- 
land County,  that  State,  our  subject  was  born  Au- 
gust 18,  1835,  and  two  years  later  they  removed 
with  their   family  to  Fulton   County,  111.,    settling 


in  Cass  Township  upon  the  place  where  John  Ellis 
now  resides.  It  was  then  uncultivated  land,  in  a 
a  state  of  primitive  wildness,  and  covered  witli 
a  heavy  growth  of  timber.  AVIien  ihey  came  to 
(his  county  their  worldly  possessions  consisted>>f 
five  ninety  cent  pieces,  two  yoke  of  oxen  and  two 
wagons.  Here  they  broke  the  virgin  soil,  and  con- 
tinued to  otherwise  improve  it  until  1847.  when 
they  removed  south  of  that  location. 

The  father  died  in  1875  at  the  old  homestead, 
and  the  mother  survived  until  Christmas  Day, 
1889.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
all  of  whom  are  now  living,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  being  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  He  was 
less  than  two  years  old  when  his  parents  brought 
him  to  Illinois,  and  here  he  has  since  remained. 
His  education  was  a  good  common-school  one,  and 
he  was  early  trained  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
lived  under  the  parental  roof  until  he  attained  his 
twenty-second  year,  when  he  began  a  business 
career  for  himself. 

The  marriage  of  our  sul)ject  was  celebrated 
June  21,  1857,  when  Miss  Martha  James  Stewart, 
daughter  of  Cornelius  Stewart,  of  Lewistown 
Township,  this  county,  became  his  bride.  After 
their  marriage  they  settled  on  the  old  homestead, 
which  was  their  home  for  three  years,  thence  they 
removed  to  Harris  Township,  wlierethej'  sojourned 
five  years,  and  then  removed  to  their  i)rescnt 
estate.  On  September  10,  1882,  the  wife  died,  leav- 
ing a  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  the  follow- 
ing are  living:  Cornelius  R.,  who  married 
Jeannette  Headley,  lives  in  Colorado  Springs;  E. 
P.,  who  married  Miss  Flora  Ra}',  at  the  present 
time  resides  in  Marietta;  James  W.,  William  O., 
Henry  F.,  and  Albertus,  all  of  whom  are  unmarried 
and  reside  at  home.  They  are  successful  in  busi- 
ness and  popular  in  the  communities  where  they 
live. 

The  'Squire  was  again  married  December  14, 
1884,  when  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Perry  and 
Margaret  (Clayberg)  Wertman,  became  his  bride. 
Mrs.  Orwig  was  born  July  14,  1843,  in  Ashland 
County,  Ohio,  and  at  an  early  age  accompanied  her 
parents  to  Fulton  County,  where  she  gained  a 
thorough  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the 
district.     Only    two   children  were   born   of  their 


662 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIUCRAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


union,  a  boy  and  a  girl,  who  died  in  early  infancy. 
Mrs.  Orwig  is  a  consistent  member  of  tlie  Presby- 
terian Clinrcl).  and  the  'Squire  has  belonged  to  the 
United  Brethren  Church  for  thirty  years.  The}' 
are  botii  greatly  interested  in  religious  affairs,  espe- 
cially .Sunda3--sclio<)l  work,  and  he  has  been  .Super- 
intendent for  some  time. 

The  Democratic  [Jarty  finds  in  'Squire  Orwig  an 
active  supporter.  He  is  influential  in  business  cir- 
cles, and  has  served  as  Road  Commissioner,  School 
Director,  and  -Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  owns  a  val- 
nable  estate  uijon  which  lie  has  built  a  handsome 
house  and  other  needed  structures,  and  in  various 
wnys  he  has  improved  his  farm.  He  is  also  inter- 
ested in  fine  horses,  and  owns  an  English-bred 
horse,  which  was  imported  in  1883,  and  is  valued 
at  $1,500.  He  also  has  in  his  possession  a  very 
fine  Norman  liorse.  To  such  as  lie.  is  Cass  Town- 
ship indebted  for  the  enviable  reputation  it  sus- 
tains throughout  the  county  as  a  fine  business  cen- 
ter and  a  splendid  agricultural  region. 


^^^EORGE  W.  RAY.  In  connection  with  this 
(|(  (^  personal  sketch  the  reader  will  notice  a 
^^1  view  of  the  homestead  of  Mr.  Ray,  with  its 
various  apiuirtenances.  The  owner  and  operator  of 
this  fine  property  comes  of  substantial  ancestry  and 
was  born  in  Ashe  County,  N.  C,  near  Jeflferson, 
July  24,  1843.  His  father,  William  Ra}-,  and 
grandfather,  James  Ra^-.  were  also  natives  of  that 
county  and  Stiitc,  while  the  great-grandf.ather,  Jesse 
Rpy,  was  horn  in  Ireland.  The  latter,  in  company 
with  three  of  his  brothers,  came  to  America  and 
settled  in  North  Carolina,  being  at  one  time  a  very 
extensive  farmer  in  that  region.  He  attained  his 
eightieth  year  and  reared  a  large  family  of  children, 
namely:  William,  John,  James,  Jeremiah,  Hiram, 
Betsy,  (Mrs.  Calloway),  and  Polly,  (Mrs.  Parsons). 
Grandfallicr  James  Ray  married  Jane  Harden,  and 
they  reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  viz:  Jesse, 
William,  Hiram,  Henry,  Emeline,  Cieorge  W.  and 
Hilton. 

William  Ray  was  a  natural  mechanic,  and  oper- 


ated a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  .acres,  build- 
ing the  residence  and  barns  himself.  He  was  a  man 
of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence  and  independent 
in  politics.  His  death  occurred  in  1884,  after  he 
had  attained  his  seventy-third  year;  his  motlier 
previous  to  her  marriage  was  Miss  Anna  Faw  and 
was  also  a  native  of  Ashe  Count}',  N.  C.  She  was 
a  meml)er  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  noted  for  her 
goodness,  dying  when  about  fifty-Qve  years  of  age. 
The  parental  famil\'  included  eight  children,  viz: 
J.  Jordon;  Henry  H.;  Elizabeth,  Mrs.  Scott;George 
W.,  John  A  ,  Lee  R.,  Mary  E.  (Mrs.  Edwards)  and 
Thomas  F. 

Oursubjecl  was  reared  on  a  farm,  attending  the 
schools  in  liis  district  through  the  winter  months 
and  working  on  the  farm  in  the  summer.  When 
eighteen  3'ears  of  age  he  enlisted  in  the  Civil  War. 
in  Company  B.,  Sixth  North  Carolina  Cavalry,  and 
did  duty  mosti}'  in  skirmish  and  picket  line.  He 
was  mustered  out  Februar}'  28,  1865,  after  an 
honorable  career  as  a  soldier.  When  peace  was 
once  more  restored  he  came  to  Fulton  County,  and 
settled  in  Liverpool  Township.  On  August  16, 
1866,  lie  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section 
9,  where  he  now  r<  sides. 

The  land  at  that  time  was  covered  with  an  im- 
mense growth  of  timber  and  was  in  a  primitive 
condition.  He  built  a  house  in  the  woods  and  at 
the  present  time  has  his  estate  highly  improved, 
erecting  his  handsome  residence  in  1873.  His 
barns  are  large  and  substantial.  Besides  farming 
he  is  also  interested  in  stock-raising.  He  has  found 
a  worthy  helpmate  in  all  his  enterprises  in  his  wife, 
to  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  June  24,  1866. 
She  bore  the  name  of  Mrs.  Anna  A.  ( Willcoekson ) 
Vail.  They  have  no  children,  but  adopted,  at  the 
age  of  ten  weeks,  a  daughter,  Mary  A.,  who  was 
born  in  Lewistown,  November  4,  1868.  .She  is 
highl}'  accomplished  and  well  educated,  having 
been  given  every  advantage  that  the  schools  of  the 
vicinity  afforded.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ray  are  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church  and  politically,  he  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat. She  has  one  son  by  her  first  marriage,  viz., 
Joseph  C.  Vail,  who  is  prominent  and  highlj^  re- 
spected. 

Mrs.  Ray  was  born  in  Estill  County,  Ky.,  and  be- 
longs to  an  old  and  highly  honored    family.     Her 


^^^^^^^S$i%^^MBMm^S9iMi^MSii^SS^^3S^sm^^^ 


^asd^&i&i 


'  '.'Sr-Jh;-j^^r*ti^M--'~'r^-n 


.^^aatsfega^gA^^aaai-ix  tv/^siXi 


Residence  of  G.  W.Ray, 3ec  9.  Liver  poolTp  Fulton  Co. III. 


j!^5C??*^aw  ^"^^S^Js^^Ofes 


-  V'-.  :gs;;;i!aiga£i.Ki.;i^?i>^'»aa«:' 


Residence  OF  James  Burnnett,  5ec. 18. FairviewTp. Fulton  Co.Ill. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


665 


great-grandfather,  John  Willcockson  was  born  in 
Wales  anil  upon  coniiui,'  to  America,  settled  in 
Nortli  Carolina,  where  lie  was  occupied  as  a  farmer 
and  mechanic.  He  is  reputed  to  have  been  the 
possessor  of  marked  genius,  and  was  endowed  witii 
strong  faculties  and  a  generous  heart.  He  married 
Rachel  Boone,  a  sister  of  Daniel  Boone,  the  famous 
Kentuck}'  i)ioneer.  .She  was  a  woman  of  remark- 
able mind  and  possessed  a  keen  sense  of  justice  and 
an  api)recialion  of  all  that  was  good,  being,  in  fact, 
a  remarkable  woman.  .Slie  was  the  motlierof  a  large 
famil}'.  and  when  old  age,  creeping  on  apace,  de- 
prived her  of  lier  natural  activity,  she  made  her 
home  witli  her  grandson,  Jesse  Wil'cockson  and 
there  died  at  the  age  of  syventy  years. 

Samuel  Willcockson,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Ray,  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  whence  at  an 
early  date  he  removed  to  Kentucky-,  settling  at 
Boonesborough  and  becoming  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  that  section  of  tlie  .State.  He  was  a  broad- 
minded,  generous-hearted  man  and  died  in  1825, 
after  reaching  his  sixtieth  year.  Ilis  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Anna  Jordon,  came  to  Fulton 
County  in  1830  witli  lier  son.  Elijali  Willcockson, 
and  there  died  wlien  eighty-four  j'ears  of  age.  Of 
their  union  ten  ciiildren  were  born,  namely:  Squire, 
Samuel,  Elijah,  Isaiah,  Alfred,  Jesse,  Sarah, 
Francis,  JSIar}-  and  Debbie. 

Elijah  Willcockson,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Ray,  was 
born  in  Rowan  County,  N.  C.  July  24,  1789,  and 
in  1815  moved  to  Estill  County,  K}-.,  where  the 
land  was  mountainous  and  wilil  game  abundant.  He 
moved  to  Fulton  County  in  October,  1830,  and 
after  reaching  here  the  family  spent  the  winter 
following  their  arrival  in  a  small  log  cabin  on  the 
banks  of  Little  .Sister  Creek,  a  place  tlien  ovi'ned'by 
John  Ferris.  Tlie  following  spring  Mr.  Willcock- 
son purchased  a  quarter-section  of  Government 
land  on  section  5.  Liverpool  Township.  He  was  a 
hard-working  man,  a  good  manager  and  soon  cleared 
his  land.  He  was  prosperous  and  after  giving  each 
of  his  boys  a  quarter  section  of  land,  still  had  sev- 
eral hundred  acres  left. 

Mr.  Willcockson  was  a  volunteer  in  tiie  War  of 
1812,  and  served  two  years  in  the  Black  Hawk 
War,  first  as  Lieutenant  and  then  as  Captain.  He 
was  a  man  of  wonderful  ability  and  strict  integrity 


and  was  held  in  the  higiiest  esteem  bj-  all  through- 
out this  section  of  the  county.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  faithful  members  of  the  Regular  Baptist 
Church  and  cast  iiis  vote  with  the  Democratic 
party,  for  a  number  of  j-ears  serving  as  .Tustice  of 
tlie  Peace  and  having  cliarge  of  many  of  the  chief 
offices  in  this  township.  His  death  occurred  July 
3,  1860,  and  at  his  funeral  liis  descendants  were 
represented  by  twelve  grown  children  and  liis  pos- 
terity numbered  one  hundred  and  fourteen. 

The  mother  of  ]Mrs.  Ra}'  was  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage, Charlotte  Calloway,  and  was  born  in  Ashe 
County,  N.  C,  April  2,  1792.  She  was  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  sixty  years  of 
her  life.  Of  her  union  wei-e  born  fourteen  children, 
twelve  of  whoir.  have  families  of  their  own.  The 
survivors  are:  Mary  E.,  i\Irs.  Cope;  Anna  A.,  Mrs. 
Ray;  Marshall  N.,  James  C,  and  Jeremiah  F.  The 
deceased  are  Zerilda,  Jesse  B.,  Nancy  M.,  Elijah 
C,  Andrew  J.,  Isaiah  M.,  Elizabeth  C,  Charlotte 
and  America.  The  mother  dicl  June  18,  1874,  at 
which  time  she  had  descendants  to  the  fifth  genera- 
tion living  and  her  posteritj'  numbered  two  hun- 
dred and  four.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  JMrs. 
Ray,  Col  Elijah  Calloway,  was  a  distinguished  citi- 
zen and  for  many  years  a  prominent  and  honored 
member  of  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina. 


AMES  BURNETT.  One  of  the  valuable 
farms  of  Fairview  Township  is  located  on 
section  18,  and  comprises  one  hundred  acres 
1(^1/''  owned  and  operated  by  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  and  represented  bj-  a  view  on  another  page 
of  this  volume.  The  residence  is  a  handsome  and 
commodious  one,  and  is  located  on  what  was  the 
old  Burnett  homestead.  Other  buildings  necessary 
for  storage  of  farming  implements  and  grain  are 
to  be  found  conveniently  located  and  the  thrifty 
air  betokens  the  careful  supervision  of  the  husband- 
man. 

In  1836  the  parents  of  our  subject,  William  and 
Sarah  (Poland)  Burnett,  removed  from  their  home 
in  Virginia  to  lllimns,  locating  in  Fulton  County 
and  buying  a  claim    whose  only  im()rovcment  was 


666 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHJCAL  ALBUM. 


a  los  cabin.  The  fatlier  at  once  entered  upon  tlie 
liard  task  of  developing  a  comfortable  home  in  the 
raw  land  and  in  bis  efforts  was  prospered,  becom- 
ing well-to-do  and  gaining  the  esteem  of  his  fellow- 
citizens.  Trior  to  lii.s  parents'  removal  to  Illinois, 
our  subject  was  born  Februar}'  4,  1835,  'n  Virginia 
and  was  accordingly  about  one  year  old  when  his 
parents  brought  him  to  the  Prairie  .State. 

For  further  parental  history  sec  sketch  of  George 
Burnett,  a  brother  of  our  subject  and  represented 
on  another  page.  When  read}'  to  establish  home 
ties  of  ills  own.  James  Burnett  was  united  in  mar- 
riage at  the  age  of  tweiit\--l!iree  3'ears,  with  Miss 
Eliza  McFarland.  Of  their  union  five  children 
were  born,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Mary 
Vanora  married  .Scott  Montwaller  and  died  in  1881 
leaving  one  child  named  Iceal;  William  Alexander 
married  Miss  Mattie  MeCoj-  and  they  have  two 
children,  iSusan  Iceal  and  James  F..  Their  home  is 
on  a  farm  in  Fulton  County,  111.  Mrs.  Burnett  died 
in  1862  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years.  On  the  20th 
of  October,  1864.  our  subject  was  affain  married, 
his  bride  being  Miss  Phcube  Eaton,  whose  parents 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  are  now  residents 
of  Missouri.  Of  this  union  two  children  have  been 
born — Earl  Commodore  an;l  Dell  Roy. 

In  1859  our  subject  went  to  Pike's  Peak  with 
William  Beer  and  Dr.  McFarland.  They  made  the 
trip  in  wagons,  starting  in  March  and  reaching 
their  destination  the  latter  part  of  July.  After 
prospecting  about  for  some  time  without  any  suc- 
cess, they  returned  a.s  far  as  Southern  Kansas  and 
there  Mr.  Burnett  took  up  a  claim,  but  after  break- 
ing the  land,  be  left  and  traveled  through  tlie  In- 
dian Territory  and  Texas.  For  six  months  he  never 
slept  in  a  house,  and  yet,  strange  to  say,  when  he 
returned  to  Illinois  he  was  well  and  strong,  altliough 
.when  starting  on  the  trip  he  was  exceedingly  ill. 

In  1865  Mr.  Burnett  removed  to  Sagetown,  Hen- 
derson County,  this  State  and  engaged  in  the  ho- 
tel business  for  about  ten  years,  at  the  end  of  that 
time  returning  to  the  farm  and  devoting  his  time 
anil  attention  to  the  improvement  of  his  property. 
He  has  labored  with  such  success  that  be  has  ac- 
cumulated a  comfortable  competency  and  is  inde- 
pendent. Politically  he  is  a  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  a  firm   believer   in   the  principles 


of  that  organization.  His  success  has  not  been  at- 
tained w-ithout  ditliculties  but  his  life  verifies  the 
old  belief  that  everything  is  possible  to  the  man 
possessing  energy  and  good  judgment. 


■^^^  ELANEY  E.  HUGHES,  minister  of  the 
Christian  Cluirch  at  Cuba,  was  born  in  Ful- 
ton County,  III.,  September  11,  1852,  and 
is  thus  in  the  prime  of  a  stalwart  manhood.  He 
has  devoted  his  life  to  the  salvation  of  others,  and 
in  his  chosen  field  has  been  greatly  prospered.  In 
all  things  he  proves  that  his  desire  is  not  -to  be 
seen  cf  men"  or  win  their  ap[)robation,  but  to 
earn  the  consciousness  of  discharging  the  ordinary 
duties  of  life  in  an  upright  manner.  Kot  only  is 
he  highly  e!,,teemed  by  those  of  his  own  church, 
but  his  name  is  the  synon\m  for  integrit3-  and 
probity  where  it  is  known. 

Near  Wheeling,  Va.,  Robert  Hughes,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  1783,  and  there  lived 
until  he  had  attained  years  of  maturity.  He  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  a  farmer  and  was  married 
three  times,  his  third  wife  bearing  the  name  of 
Hannah  Reeves  (Sehooley)  Durham.  She  was  born 
in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  August  11,  1817,  and 
bore  her  husband  one  child,  a  son,  Delaney.  In 
1832  Robert  Hughes  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  set- 
tled in  Fulton  County,  where  he  devoted  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits  in  Farmers'  Town- 
ship. He  accumulated  a  vast  proi)ert3',  which,  at 
his  death,  was  divided  among  his  heirs. 

In  his  religious  belief  the  father  of  our  subject 
was  first  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  later  of  the  Christian  Chuich.  He  was 
always  deeply  interested  in  religious  matters,  and 
was  an  exhortcr  and  faithful  worker  in  the  church. 
Every  resident  of  the  township  and  county  held 
him  in  high  regard,  and  because  of  this  affection 
which  he  alwaj's  inspired  in  the  hearts  of  acquaint- 
ances, he  was  called  '•Uncle  Bob"  by  friends  and 
neighbors.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  living — James  who  resides 
in  Lathrop,  Mo.,  and  Cintilda  (]Mrs.  Carithors), 
who  lives    in    F\armers'  Township.     Of  his  second 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


667 


marriage  were  born  two  chililren — Susan.  Mrs. 
Fleming,  of  McLean  County-.  111.,  and  Ann,  Mrs. 
Van   Meter,  of  Bloomington. 

Delaney  Hughes  was  only  ten  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death,  and  received  bis  first  edu- 
cational training  in  Farmers'  Township.  AVhen 
twelve  years  of  age  he  entered  Abingdon  College, 
Knox  County,  III.,  and  there  completed  a  classical 
course.  After  leaving  college  lie  engaged  in  the 
jewelrj'  business,  but  continued  his  studies,  de- 
voting considerable  attention  to  music,  in  which 
he  made  marked  progress.  He  composed  both  secu- 
lar and  sacred  music,  his  selections  being  pub- 
lished in  Chicago  and  Cincinnati.  His  music  is 
generally  admired,  and  he  has  won  fame  as  a  com- 
po.ser.  One  of  his  best  compositions  is  "Out  in  the 
Storm,"  a  duet  published  by  J.  C.  Groene  &  Co., 
Cincinnati.  He  also  composes  band  music  and  ar- 
ranges beautiful  selections. 

In  1885  Mr.  Hughes  entered  the  ministry  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  at  the  time  he  was  called 
to  take  charge  of  the  church  at  Cuba,  was  working 
as  a  jeweler.  However,  he  gave  up  his  secular 
pursuits  and  immediately  entered  upon  the  duties 
of  a  faithful  and  conscientious  minister;  in  less 
than  six  months  he  had  added  seventy-three  new 
members  to  the  church,  and  shortly  afterward  held 
a  revival  at  EUisville,  and  there  converted  eighty- 
three  persons.  During  the  time  he  has  had  charge 
of  this  church  he  has  added  two  hundred  members 
to  the  fold,  and  greatly  increased  the  size  of  the 
Sundaj'-school,  besides  holding  revivals  elsewhere. 
In  his  home  life  as  well  as  in  his  ministerial  la- 
bors Mr.  Hnghes  has  been  greatly  aided  by  his 
estimable  wife,  to  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage 
December  31,  1871.  Prior  to  her  marriage  she 
was  Miss  Arminda  C.  Powell,  and  her  i)arents,  Jo- 
seph C.  and  Caroline  (Banghman)  Powell,  were 
natives  of  Ohio  and  Illinois  respectively.  At  dif- 
ferent periods  of  his  life  Mr.  Powell  was  a  farmer, 
merchant  and  banker,  and  is  now  living  retired  at 
Table  Grove,  this  count}',  at  the  age  of  sixty-four 
years.  His  wife  died  in  1888.  She  was  a  consist- 
ent member  of  the  Christian  Church,  to  which 
Mr.  Powell  also  belongs. 

Immediately  following  their  marriage  our  subject 
and  his  wife    located    in    Table  Grove,  but  eight 


years  afterward  removed  to  Clay  County,  Neb. 
From  there  they  removed  to  Iowa,  whence  after  a 
short  sojourn  they  settled  in  Illinois,  and  have 
continued  to  reside  at  their  pleasant  homo.  To 
them  have  been  born  seven  children,  viz:  Aria 
J.,  born  September  1,  1872;  Iva,  born  March 
21,  1875  (deceased);  .Jessie,  born  .June  6,  1876 
(deceased);  Vere,  born  August  13,  1878;  Dora, 
August  25,  1881;  Royal  D.,  September  13,  I884i 
and  Eva  M.,  October  4,  1887.  The  children  are 
r?ceiving  good  educations  in  the  schools  of  Cuba, 
and  are  being  prepared  for  responsible  positions  in 
the  world.  Aria  J.  Irnving  been  graduated  from  the 
High  School  in  1890  and  now  engaged  in  the  Watch 
Factory  at  Springfield,  III. 

Mr.  Hughes  is  a  popular  man,  an  energetic  citi- 
zen and  a  self-sacrificing  minister.  He  is  a  strong 
believer  in  prohibition,  and  supports  the  Prohibi- 
tion party  by  his  influence  and  vote.  His  well- 
balanced  and  well-stored  mind  and  maul}'  character 
have  won  for  him  popularity  among  his  parish- 
ioners, while  his  natural  abilitj',  acquired  intelli- 
gence and  oratorical  ]iowers  render  his  discourses 
winning  and  effective. 


4"¥ 


i._y>3^,,; 


m 


<j|/OHN  A.  LOGAN,  M.  D.  The  medical  pro- 
fession has  manj'  representatives  in  this 
county,  men  of  intelligence  in  their  chosen 
field  of  labor  and  in  general  topics  of  inter- 
est, good  judgment  in  the  application  of  theoreti- 
cal knowledge,  and  an  established  reputation  as 
practitioners.  One  of  this  class  is  the  subject  of 
this  brief  notice,  who  is  a  landowner  in  Banner 
Township.  The  office  of  Dr.  Logan  is  at  Breed's 
Station,  but  his  home  is  in  Monterey,  two  and  a 
half  miles  distant,  near  which  he  owns  two  hundred 
acres  of  fine  land.  He  has  a  successful  [)ractice,  and 
is  gaining  in  popularit}-.  He  is  County  Physician 
this  year  for  Fulton  County. 

The  birthplace  of  Dr.  Logan  was  Genesee  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  his  natal  day  November  29,  1846.  His 
[larents  were  Thomas  .T.and  Esther  (Allen )  Logan, 


6G8 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAI'IIICAL  ALBUIM. 


now  fleceased.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  nntil  lie 
was  eighteen  j-ears  of  age,  attending  the  district 
schools,  and  (hen  receiving  i)rivate  instruction  from 
II.  J.  Bentoi.,  Esq.,  who  was  afterward  Superinten- 
dent of  Schools  of  this  count}-.  We  next  find  the 
young  man  enlarging  his  fund  of  information  in 
Hillsdale  College,  at  Hillsdale,  Mich.,  during  the 
terms  of  18G7-G8.  School-teaching  was  adopted 
by  him  as  a  temporary'  expedient  for  maintenance, 
and  while  instructing  otheis  three  years,  he  pursued 
the  stud}'  of  medicine  under  John  Bacon,  M.  D., 
of  Ipava,  this  count}-. 

During  the  fall  and  winter  of  1871-72  Dr.  Logan 
attended  medical  lectui-es,  then  began  the  practice 
if  his  profession  .at  Liverpool,  and  after  an  experi- 
ence of  a  few  years,  took  u])  his  study  again,  en- 
joying an  advanced  course  of  lectures  at  Rush 
Medical  College,  Chicago.  He  was  graduated  from 
that  well-known  institution  in  1878,  after  a  short 
attendance,  and  resumed  the  practical  duties  of  a 
physician,  lie  constantly  endeavors  to  improve  in 
his  conce|)tion  of  the  needs  of  the  human  system, 
to  keep  himself  acquainted  with  the  latest  investi- 
gations of  anatomists  and  chemists,  and  to  use  judi- 
ciously the  remedies  that  are  already  known  as 
well  as  the  new  combinations  that  i)rovc  worthy  of 
acceptance. 

The  first  marriage  of  Dr,  Logan  took  place  at 
the  bride's  home  in  Galesburg,  111.,  January  13, 
1875.  his  companion  on  the  interesting  occasion  be- 
ing Miss  Laura  Despain.  William  Despain,  tlie 
father  of  the  bride,  was  an  early  settler  in  the  Prai- 
rie State,  anil  was  frequently  em|)loyed  by  the 
United  States  Government  as  a  private  detective. 
Mrs.  Laura  Logan  breathed  her  Last  November  1  7, 
1880,  leaving  three  children,  namely :  William  J., 
born  May  "i-i,  187G;  J.ay  Augustus,  June  15,  1878; 
and  Ettie,  January  23.  1880.  The  last  named  lives 
with  her  grandmother  Despain  at  Galesburg;  the 
otlicrs  are  with  their  father.  The  present  wife  of 
Dr.  Logan  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary  C. 
Spencer,  and  became  his  bride  October  31,  1881. 
This  lady  is  well  known  throughout  the  county,  in 
which  her  father,  George  Spencer,  was  an  early  set- 
tler. She  was  carefully  reared  by  worthy  parents, 
and  is  a  capable,  efBcient  woman,  intelligent  and 
courteous.    The  last  marriage  of  the  Doctor  has  re- 


sulted in  the  birth  of  one  child.  Lavira   Belle,  born 
October  27,  1883. 

Dr.  Logan  is  quite  interested  in  social  orders,  as  is 
evinced  by  his  membership  in  Morning  Star  Lodge, 
A.  V.  tt  A.  M..  at  Canton,  and  Banner  Grange,  P.  of 
H.  He  is  a  Democrat  from  conviction,  and  an  ac- 
tive worker  for  the  iiai'ty  policy,  not  only  support- 
ing it  by  his  ballot,  but  by  his  influence  and  pre- 
sentation of  its  princi|)!es  to  his  acquaintances. 


WILLIAM  W.  MEEK.  Among  the  thriving 
establishments  of  which  Canton  possesses 
^  „.  her  due  proportion  may  be  numbered  the 
grocery  liouse  of  [thcj  gentleman'whosejname  in- 
troduceslthis  sketch. _|^It  was  [established  ^about  a 
quarter  of  a  century  since  on  the  site  it  still  occu- 
pies. No.  51-",  South  Main  .Street.  During  this 
period  it  has  grown  in  popularity  and  its  proprie- 
tor has  acquired  a  thoroughly-established  re|)uta- 
tion  as  a  man  possessed  of  business  tact  and  honor. 

In  the  paterjial  lint-  JNIr.  Meek  is  of  Scolch-Jrish 
extraction.  His  father.  .Samuel  Meek,  and  his 
mother,  Susan  (Singer)  Meek,  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  the  occupation  of  the  father  was  that  of 
a  tiller  of  the  soil.  He  of  whom  wo  write  was  left 
motherless  when  two  years  old,  but  remained  with 
his  father  until  he  had  attained  almost  to  his  ma- 
jority. 

Mr.  Meek  was  born  in  Brooke  Ccjunty.AV.  A'a.,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Wellsbiirg,  May  1  4,  181G.  He  had  the 
advantage  of  good  instruclion  in  private  schools 
and  when  not  occupied  in  stmly  worked  with  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  about  eighteen  years  old. 
When  twenty  years  of  .age  he  began  the  battle  of 
life  for  himself,  entering  a  paper-mill  as  partner, 
being  associated  with  two  others  in  the  manufacture 
of  all  kinds  of  wrap|)ing  and  printing  paper.  Their 
establishment  was  at  Welisburg  where  our  subject 
remaineil  in  business  three  years.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Portsmouth.  Ohio,  and  obtaining  a  posi- 
tion as  clerk  in  a  wholesale  boot  and  shoe  house, 
was  thus  occupied  three  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1857  Mr.  Meek  turned  his  foot- 
steps  westward,  making  his  first  settlement  at  Liv- 


./-■■■^ 


^/^     C^  .    /tCyDOzi>u 


PORTRAIT  AND  RIOORAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


071 


erpool,  this  county,  in  wliicli  place  he  sojourned 
tliree  years.  At  tbe  expiration  of  tlial  time  lie  re- 
moved to  Canton  and  for  three  years  served  as  a 
.clerk  in  the  general  mercantile  establisiiment  of 
David  Williams.  We  next  find  him  established  in 
the  business  which  he  is  still  successfully  conduct- 
in  if. 

Tlie  wife  of  our  subject  was  known  in  iier  girl- 
hood as  Miss  Anna  Doddridge.  She  was  born  in 
Wellsburg,  Va.,  July  30,  1820,  her  father,  Philip 
Doddridge,  being  of  English  descent  and  her 
mother  of  Pennsylvania  ancestr\'.  She  was  united 
to  our  subject  in  1841  and  has  continuallj'  proved 
her  worth  as  a  capable  housewife,  a  sympathizing 
companion  and  a  devoted  mother.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Meek  have  four  living  children,  the  youngest, 
Laura,  being  still  at  home.  Julia  is  the  wife  of 
Milo  Farwell,  now  residing  in  Kansas;  Anna  mar- 
ried Frank  R.indolph,  of  this  county;  Nellie  is  the 
wife  of  Frank  Farwell,  their  home  being  in  Kansas. 
Mr.  Meek  is  a  believer  in  and  a  su|)portcr  of  the 
principles  advocated  by  the  Republican  party.  A 
law-abiding  citizen,  possessed  of  good  social  quali- 
ties and  excellent  character,  he  is  held  in  good  re- 
pute by  neighbors  and  friends. 


WILLIAM  EDWARD  KESSLER.  Among 
the  biographical  sketches  and  portraits 
„  ^  presented  to  tbe  readers  of  this  volume,  is 
that  of  Mr.  Kessler,  a  retired  farmer  residing  at 
No.  5  16  North  Main  Street,  Canton.  He  is  enter- 
prising and  well-to-do  and  from  his  valuable 
pro|:ierty  derives  a  handsome  income.  He  is  re- 
garded with  great  respect  by  all  who  know  him,  as 
a  man  of  solid  worth  and  unswerving  iutegiity. 
Of  sincere  religious  character,  he  was  formerly 
connected  with  the  Lutheran  Church,  but  is  now 
an  esteemed  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Can- 
ton. Politically  he  was  at  one  time  a  Democrat, 
but  now  he  and  his  family~are  firm  Prohibitionists. 
In  the  vicinity  of  Jefferson,  Washington  County, 
Md.,  Mr.  Kessler  w.is  born  December  2.  1827.  and 
is  of  German  deBceut.  The  father,  Samuel  Kessler, 


who  was  Ijorii  in  the  same  place  and  was  a  son  of 
Andrew  Kessler.'married'Miss  Mary  Ann,  dnus>hter 
of  John  Stonebreaker,  and  of^German  antecoilents. 
She  was  also  a  native  of  Maryland,  where  she  was 
reared  and  married,  and  where  both  she  and^hur 
husband  died.  The  latter  passed  from  the  scenes 
of  an  active  [lifej  when^  his  son,  [our]  subject,  was 
only  fouryears  old,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  his 
life  was  still  farther  saddened  by  the  death  of  his 
mother.  Thej'  were  honorable,  upright  citizens 
and  were  universally  esteemed  for  their  man}- 
sterling  traits  of  character. 

The  parental  family  comprised  five  children,  of 
whom  our  subject  and  a  brother,  Henry  N.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Perr}',  Iowa,  are  the  only  survivors.  John 
and  Samuel  died  after  attaining  their  majority; 
Mary  M.  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years.  At  the 
time  of  the  mother's  death,  William  was  engaged 
in  learning  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  He  had  re- 
ceived a  good  common-school  education  at  Clear 
Springs,  Md.,  but  was  compelled  to  leave  school  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  years  and  start  out  in  life  for 
himself.  Being  a  conscientious  workman,  he  ac- 
quired a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  trade,  and  in 
his  early  manhood  went  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he 
found  employment  as  a  carpenter.  Later  he  re- 
moved to;Polo,  Ogle  County,  Hi. 

For  fifteen  years  after  Mr.  Kessler's  arrival  in 
Fulton  County,  which  important  event  occurred  in 
1857,  he  carried  on  his  business  as  a  carpenter  and 
builder.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  located  on 
a  farm  which  he  h.ad  purchased  in  Canton  Township. 
Here  he  continued  to  reside  for  the  ensuing  eight- 
een 3'ears,  imiiroving  the  place  and  bringing  the 
land  to  a  high  stale  of  cultivation.  He  became 
well-known  throughout  the  township  as  a  man  of 
sterling  enterprise  and  worthy  character,  and  was 
one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  the  community. 
Finall}'.  feeling  that  the  years  of  his  more  active 
labor  were  ended,  he  resolved  to  move  into  the 
city  of  Canton. 

Accordingly,  after  renting  his  farm,  Mr.  Kessler 
moved  into  his  present  substantial,  well-furnislied 
residence  in  Canton.  By  wise  ecoiiomy  and  excel- 
lent management  he  has  acquired  wealth,  and  among 
other  valuable  possessions  owns  several  good  houses 
in   Canton,  whose    rental    biings   him    in   a  goodly 


672 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sum  of  money,  and  he  is  still  the  owner  of  the 
f:\nn.  He  was  greatly  aided  by  his  faithful  wife 
and  devoted  helpmate,  to  wliom  he  was  united  in 
nianiage  in  1851.  Tlie  bride  was  Miss  Ann. 
daughter  of  a  Mr.  McLane,  a  native  of  Maryland, 
in  which  State  she  was  also  horn,  She  possessed  a 
noble  character,  and  was  a  loving  wife  and  wise 
mother. 

Ten  children,  were  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
estimable  wife,  eight  of  whom  are  now  living,  as 
follows:  Mar^'  L.,  wife  of  Thomas  Gentle;  Will- 
iam deceased ;  John  L.,  a  farmer  in  Farmington 
Township;  Anna,  who  became  the  wife  of  Mitch- 
ell Harper  and  lives  on  the  old  homestead  ;  Eva,  at 
home;  Mida,  wife  of  William  Myers,  of  this  town- 
ship; Carrie,  who  is  at  present  a  student  in  the 
University  at  Normal,  111;  and  Blanche  at  home. 
The  two  children  who  died  in  infancy  were  named 
Edward  Nelson  and  Grace.  In  1884  death 
crossed  the  Ihresliold  of  this  happy  home  and  re- 
moved the  wife  and  mother.  She  was  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  was  a  woman 
of  man}'  Christian  virtues. 


GEORGE  WOODRUFF  is  the  gentlemanly 
ill  (=1  and  efficient  Postmaster  of  Farmington,  is 
^^41  pre-eminent  in  the  business,  social,  religious 
and  political  life  of  this  part  of  Illinois,  and  no  one 
has  done  more  towards  building  up  its  varied  in- 
terests than  he.  Besides  attending  to  his  official 
duties  he  conducts  an  extensive  grocery  and  meat 
business,  and  his  name  is  connected  with  various 
enterprises  tliat  have  been  inaugurated  in  this  sec- 
tion. 

Our  subject  is  derived  from  a  sterling  ancestry. 
The  Woodruffs  have  been  men  of  standing  and 
business  ability  for  generations.  They  originally 
came  from  England  and  settled  in  the  Green  Moun- 
tain .State  before  the  Revolution,  when  it  was  a  i)art 
of  Massachusetts.  The  Burbridges,  his  mother's 
famil}',  wore  also  of  English  extraction  and  they 
settled  in  Virginia  in  Colonial  times.  The  paternal 
giandfather  of  our  subject  was  in  the  War  of  1812, 
and  also  served  in  two  or  three  Indian  wars  as  cap- 


tain and  at  one  time  was  captured  by  the  Indians; 
and  grandfather  Burbridge  was  also  in  the  War  of 
1812. 

Ilosea  Woodruff,  the  father  of  our  subject,  w.as 
well-known  to  the  citizens  of  Fulton  County,  and 
especially  in  Farmington,  where  in  earlj'  j^ears  he 
was  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  and  grocery  business. 
He  was  born  in  Vermont  among  the  Green  Moun- 
tains of  that  State,  and  when  he  w!is  six  years  old, 
his  parents,  Anthony  and  Martha  AVoodruff,  re- 
moved to  New  York  where  he  grew  up.  They  later 
became  pioneers  of  Ohio  where  he  learned  the  trade 
of  a  carpenter.  In  1842  he  came  to  Illinois  with 
his  first  wife,  and  the  six  children  born  of  their  un- 
ion. He  settled  at  Farmington  and  was  engaged  as 
a  general  merchant  here  for  a  few  year.s,  and  after 
he  h.ad  become  a  well-to-do  man  he  interested  him- 
self in  the  coal  mining  and  wood  business  in  Peoria 
County.  He  operated  a  colliery,  situated  at  Reed's 
Landing,  which  was  one  of  the  first  coal  mines 
opened  in  this  3tate.  His  attempts  at  mining  ended 
disastrously  on  account  of  the  high  water  in  the 
Illinois  River  in  the  spring  of  1850,  whereby  he 
sustained  a  very  heavy  loss  which  almost  drove 
him  to  insolvency'  and  he  never  fully  recovered  his 
former  financial  standing.  He  died  in  Farmington 
in  1868,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years.  His  wife 
died  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  j^ears  at  Canton,  and 
is  buried  at  Farmington.  By  the  last  union  the 
father  had  two  children — George  and  Luther.  The 
latter  was  killed  when  sixteen  years  old  by  the  ac- 
cidental discharge  of  a  gun.  Of  the  six  children  of 
the  first  union  two  are  now  living — Dr.  J.  Wood- 
ruff of  Roseburg,  Ore.  and  Mrs.  Jennie  Barton  of 
Joseph,  Ore.  The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of 
our  subject  was  Mar}'  J.  Burbridge,  and  she  was  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Catlin)  Bur- 
bridge,  both  born  in  Virginia.  They  lived  in  Ohio 
awhile  before  they  came  to  Illinois. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  always  opposed  to 
slavery  and  was  a  stanch  Union  man.  He  was  very 
temperate  in  his  habits  and  for  many  years  he  was 
one  of  the  leading  officers  in  the  Baptist  Church  in 
Farmington.  He  was  pronounced  in  his  views  and 
it  was  an  easy  matter  to  find  him,  .as  he  always 
stood  bravely  for  whiit  his  reason  and  conscience 
told  him  was  right.      He  held  various  township  of- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


673 


flees  in  Farmington.  He  was  a  man  of  uncomprom- 
ising integrity,  was  even  tempered  and  made  a 
great  many  very  warm  friends;  even  now  twenty- 
two  years  since  liis  deathi,  tlie  older  citizens  of 
Farmington  tliinlv  of  him  with  tenderness  and  re- 
gret. Only  a  few  days  ago  Mr.  Henry  Merrill,  an 
old  friend  of  his.  remarked  with  tears  in  his  eyes, 
"if  there  was  ever  a  man  I  luvcd,  that  man  was 
Hosea  Woodruff." 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was  born 
June  11,  1 85 1 ,  at  Heed's  Landing  in  Peoria  County, 
while  his  father  was  engaged  in   the   coal    business 
there.     Shortly    after  his  father  returned  to  Farm- 
ington    where    our  subject    grew    up.       He     had 
all  the  advant.ages  to  be  obtained  in  the  schools  of 
this  town,  which   he  attended    until   he  was  fifteen 
yea's  old.  At  that  age  he  was  called  on  to  assist  in 
the  support   of  the  family,   and   he  worked  at  car- 
pentering and  at  whatsoever  else  his  hands   could 
find  to  do.     His  father  took  building  contracts  for 
erecting  houses  and  bridges  and  he  also  contracted 
to  furnish  limber  for  railroads.     George  began  to 
work  in  the  woods  when  but  fourteen^and   learned 
to   swing  an  ax  with  the  ease  of  a  veteran  lumber- 
man.    While  gettiiig  out    timber  for   railways  the 
father  found  it  convenient  to  operate  a  steam  saw- 
mill and  the   son  being   then    fourteen  or    fifteen 
years  old,  and  having  considerable  mechanical  gen- 
ius was  employed  to  attend  to  the  machinery.     Af- 
ter a  j'ear  and  a  half  of  experience  around  the  sta- 
tionary sawmill  he  became  very   proficient  in  the 
management  of  the  engine,  and    when   but  sixteen 
years  old  he  obtained  a  position  as  engineer  in  the 
wool  carding  factory  of  Mr.  L.  Parish  of  Farming- 
ton,  receiving  in  payment  $iO  per  month  for  about 
a  year.     At  the  age  of  seventeen   he  went  to  work 
for  P.  P.  Chapman  as  a  laborer  in  his  lumberyards, 
and  was  employed  by  him  by   the  day  the  ensuing 
year.     Gaining  the  confidence  of  his  employer  and 
his   goodwill,  he  was  appointed  foreman  of  the  ex- 
tensive lumber  business  and  in  the  first  year  that  be 
occupied  that  position  he  handled  two  million  feet 
of  lumber. 

Mr.  Woodruff  acted  as  foreman  in  the  lumber 
yard  until  1874,  and  then  became  the  manager  of 
Mr.  Chapman's  coal  business.  For  three  years 
prior  to  his  su[ierintending  the  mines  the}-  had  not 


l)aid  their  owner,  liut  under  ourZsubject's  skillful 
management  ^Ir.  Chapman  derived  a  handsome  in- 
come. Mr.  Woodruff  was  superintendent  of  the 
mines  for  ten  j'ears  and  during  that  time  he  had  a 
wonderful  experience  with  the  miners.  lie  went 
through  the  strikes  of  1877,^and  at  times  his  life  was 
threatened  by  the  KuKlux  or  Mollie  Maguire  miners 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  unff)rtunately  had  been 
brought  from  there  to  work-in  the  mines  of  Farm- 
ington, because  laborers  here  were  very  scarce  and 
the  managers  were  driven  to  make  use  of  any  class 
of  men  the^'  could  obtain.  Our  subject  worked  so 
long  and  faithfully  in  the  interests  of  his  emploj'er 
that  his  health  gave  way  in  the  constant  excite- 
ment and  strain  necessitated  by  the  responsibilities 
of  his  position,  and  he  was  obliged  to  resign.  He 
took  a  trip  for  the  purpose  of  recreation  through 
the  West  and  Northwest,  and  spent  some  two 
months  in  Minnesota  and  Northern  Wisconsin.  In 
1882,  while  yet  acting  as  superintendent  of  mines, 
he  invested  in  the  harness  business,  becoming  a 
partner  with  S.  Barstow  of  Farmington.  The  next 
year  he  sold  his  interest  in  that,  and  the  following 
j-ear  he  and  Dr.  Gove  bought  th(^  drug  business  of 
Reiley  Bristol  of  Farmington,  and  conducted  it 
until  1886  when  they  disposed  of  it,  having  lost 
$4,000  by  that  venture.  It  was  conducted 
strictly  in  accordance  with  our  subject's  high 
principles  of  morality  and  right  on  a  temper- 
ance basis,  no  liquors  being  sold  over  or  behind 
the  counter  for  fever  and  ague,  or  any  other  dis- 
ease, so  that  it  is  not  surprising  tiiat  financial  suc- 
cess did  not  result. 

One  of  the  greatest  enterprises  with  which  our 
subject's  name  is  connected  is  the  Duck  Island 
Hunting  and  Fishing  Club,  incorporated  under  the 
laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois  in  1885.  He  it  was  who 
Srst  conceived  the  idea  of  laying  out  a  hunting 
and  fishing  park,  and  he  devoted  all  his  energies  to 
the  task,  he  having  inherited  a  natural  taste  from 
his  father  and  grandfather  for  the  chase  and  other 
manly  sports.  He  secured  the  organization  of  a 
stock  company,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $15,000  and 
the  holders  of  the  stock  are  principally  the  promi- 
nent business  men  of  the  city  of  Peoria.  H.  II. 
Fahnestock,  of  Peoria,  is  President  of  the  com- 
pany';  George    Woodruff,    Vice    President;  C.    E. 


674 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Snively,  of  Canton  is  Secretary;  F.  Luther  of  Peo- 
ria, Treasurer;  O.  L.  Nichols,  of  Banner,  Superin- 
tendent. The  company  owns  and  controls  four 
thousand  acres  of  land  along  the  western  bank#of 
the  Illinois  River  in  Fulton  County,  adjacent  to 
Copperas  Creek  and  li'iug  in  Banner  and  Liverpool 
Townships.  Mr.  AVoodruff  spent  a  year  and  a  half 
in  fencing,  improving  the  land  and  in  erecting  suit- 
able buildings.  It  is  enclosed  bj'  a  wire  fence;  has 
a  neat  two-story  club  house,  well  fitted  up  with 
beds  and  other  conveniences  for  sporting  men;  and 
there  are  barns  and  stables  and  an  ice  house  that 
holds  two  hundred  tons  of  ice.  A  reliable  man  is 
in  charge  of  the  club  house  and  park,  and  every- 
thing is  well  managed.  'J'he  park  is  conceded  by 
sporting  men  to  be  the  best  ducking  ground  in  the 
State  of  Illinois,  and  is  fast  becoming  a  ver^-  pop- 
ular resort. 

In  February,  1888.  Mr.  Woodruff  eslablislied 
himself  in  the  grocer}-  business  in  Farmington,  in 
the  Mason  Block,  where  he  is  conducting  an  excel- 
lent trade  in  that  line.  Tiie  same  year  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  Charles  Howard,  and  under  the 
name  of  Woodruff  &  Howard,  is  cairying  on  an  ex- 
tensive meat  business.  In  1890,  on  the  2-tth  of 
March,  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Farming- 
ton,  and  into  this  office  he  carries  the  energy,  bus- 
iness abilit}^  and  tact  that  has  characterized  his 
wiiole  career.  At  the  time  of  his  candidacy  for  the 
position  there  were  four  competitors  in  the  field, 
and  the  struggle  bj'  which  our  subject  won  was 
sharp  and  decisive,  but  it  w\as  acknowledged  by  all 
that  Mr\  Woodruff  won  by  fair  means.  He  served 
as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Farming- 
ton  one  term;  was  City  Councilman  a  terra  of  two 
years;  Police  Magistrate  two  terms;  and  Mayor  of 
the  city  one  term,  occupying  that  positioti.in  1884. 
He  is  an  important  member  of  the  Republican 
party  in  this  county,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to 
State.  County  and  Congressional  conventions. 

Mr.  AVoodruff  and  Miss  Ella  AVebster  were  united 
in  marri.age  January' 4,  1871.  Mrs.  AVoodruff  is  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Alpheus  and  Lucj'  (Haskins) 
AA'cbster.  Her  father  was  born  in  New  Hampshire 
and  his  father  was  an  own  cousin  to  Daniel  ^Veb^ter. 
Her  mother  was  born  in  Massachusetts.  She  is 
now  living  in  Media,  Douglas  County,  Kan.,  at  the 


age  of  sixty-two  years.  .She  and  her  liusband  came 
to  Fulton  County  from  their  Eastern  home  in 
1856  and  settled  in  Canton  Township.  Mr.  Web- 
ster served  in  the  late  war,  and  contracted  a  dis- 
ease which  made  him  an  invalid.  He  farmed  in 
Illinois  until  his  removal  to  Douglas  Count}-,  Kan., 
where  he  died  May  6,  1882. 

Mrs.  AVoodruff  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  but 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Canton,  this  county. 
She  came  from  there  to  Farmington  with  her  par- 
ents, and  here  made  Mr.  Woodruff's  acquaintance. 
Her  happy  wedded  life  with  our  subject  has  been 
blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  three  children-May, 
a  student  in  the  Farmington  High  .School ;  Katie, 
who  manages  the  Farmington  news-stand, and  keeps 
books  for  her  father;  and  Luther,  a  school-boy 
at  home  with  his  parents.  Mr.  Woodruff  has  built 
as  many  as  six  residences  in  Farmington,  and  has 
sold  them  at  a  good  profit.  He  at  present  resides 
in  an  attractive  dwelling  on  Park  Street.  He  and 
his  estimable  \/ife  are  among  the  leading  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  is  Treasurer. 


<JY?OSEPH  H.  DARLAND.  Among  the  young 
men  who  are  cultivating  a  portion  of  the 
soil  of  this  county  with  gratifjing  success 
should  be  mentioned  this  gentleman,  who 
is  a  prominent  agriculturist  in  Young  Hickory 
Township.  The  historj*  of  the  family'  from  which 
he  sprang  is  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  in  the 
biographical  notice  of  his  father,  Morrison  Dar- 
land. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  took  place  in  the  town- 
ship where  he  is  now  living,  April  1.  185.3.  The 
first  school  which  he  attended  was  in  an  old  log 
schoolhouse  with  slab  benches  and  other  primitive 
furnishings,  but  as  he  grew  older  the  facilities  for 
instruction  were  greatly  improved.  The  lad  was 
early  taught  to  be  useful  on  the  farm,  ami  can 
remember  plowing  when  but  nine  years  old.  As 
soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  assist  much  in  tilling 
the  soil  his  school  attendance  was  confined  mostly 
to  the  winter  season.  He  remained  with  his  father 
until  his  marriage  in  the  winter  of  1875,  when  he 
located  on  that  part  of  his  father's  estate  which   is 


4^^^^^^  /i^^^^^yU 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


on  section  24,  and  began  farming  for  himself.  Tlie 
estate  is  excellently  impn^ved,  having  all  the  nec- 
essarj'  conveniences  for  the  farm  and  household 
economy-. 

Mr.  Darland  is  a  successful  tiller  of  tiie  soil, 
raising  grains  whose  quantity  compares  favorably- 
with  that  upon  adjoining  estates  and  ranks  high  in 
quality.  He  also  raises  graded  cattle  and  hogs, 
and  generally  has  from  twelve  to  sixteen  head  of 
horses.  In  his  love  for  equines  and  his  judgment 
regarding  their  good  points  he  is  a  ••chip  of  the 
old  block,"  and  one  is  sure  to  see  fine  animals  at 
his  home.  ]\Ir.  Darland  is  enterprising  and  public 
spirited,  well  informed  and  of  a  social  nature.  He 
belongs  to  Fairview  Lodge,  Xo.  3.50,  F.  &  A.  M.. 
and  to  the  organization  of  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  in  the  same  town.  Like  his  father,  he  is 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  principles  of  Democracy. 
He  has  been  called  upon  to  serve  in  some  public 
capacities,  having  been  Collector  one  year  and 
School  Director  for  some  time.  He  also  served  on 
the  petit  jury. 

The  marriage  rites  of  our  subject  and  Miss 
Arminda  White  were  celebrated  at  the  home  of  the 
bride's  parents  in  Fairview  Townshiii,  December 
30,  1875.  The  bride  was  born  in  that  township,  of 
which  her  parents.  Richard  and  Clarissa  (Neff) 
White,  were  early  settlers.  Mr.  White,  who  is  a 
native  of  Franklin  County,  Ohio,  removed  from 
this  county  to  ^IcDonough.  but  after  a  short  time 
returned  hither,  settling  in  Young  Hickory  Town- 
ship, where  be  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land.  Mrs.  White  is  likewise  a  native  of  the 
Buckeye  State.  Mrs.  Darland  is  an  estimable 
woman,  intelligent  and  possessed  of  much  house- 
wifely skill.  Her  happy  union  has  been  blessed  to 
herself  and  her  husband  by  the  birth  of  two  chil- 
dren— Clara  J.  and  Lora  A. 


ACOB    PRICKETT.     Among  the  portraits 
of   prominent    citizens   of   Fulton    County, 
l)resented  in  this  volume,  the  reader  will  no- 
tice   on    the    oi)posite    page   that    of    Mr. 
Prickelt,  a  pioneei  of  this  county.     He  has  accom- 


plished his  full  share  in  developing  its  agricultural 
interests,  with  which  he  is  still  closely  identified, 
although  now  living  retired  from  active  life  in  his 
pleasant  home  in  the  city  of  Lewistown,  of  which 
he  is  a  honored  resident.  November  16,  1813,  our 
subject  was  born  in  Springfield  Township,  Clark 
County,  Ohio.  His  father.  Nicholas  Prickett,  was, 
it  is  thought,  born  in  Virginia.  After  raarri.age 
he  removed  to  Ohio  and  resided  for  a  time  among 
the  pioneers  of  Clermont  Count}-. 

Nicholas  Prickett  subsequently  became  an  early 
settler  of  Clark  County,  buying  there  a  tract  of 
forest  covered  land,  a  part  of  which  is  now  in- 
cluded in  the  city  of  Springfield.  He  built  a  flour- 
mill  on  Buck  Creek,  which  w,as  one  of  the  earliest 
mills  operated  there.  He  was  a  resident  of  that 
part  of  the  country  until  about  the  time  of  bis 
death  in  1830,  he  dying  in  Vermillion  County, 
this  State,  while  there  on  a  visit.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Catherine  Napper,  and  she  is 
supposed  to  have  been  a  native  of  Pennsj'lvania. 
She  survived  her  husband  many  years,  dying 
finally  in  Clark  Countj^,  Ohio.  She  reared  nine 
children  to  busy  and  useful  lives. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was 
young  when  his  father  died,  and  continued  to  live 
on  the  home  farm  with  his  mother  until  he  started 
in  life  for  himself.  For  one  }  ear  he  worked  on  a 
farm  by  the  month  and  then  rented  land  in  Spring- 
field Township.  He  resided  there  until  1836,  when 
he  decided  that  he  could  improve  his  financial  con- 
dition by  moving  further  westward  and  he  started 
on  the  journey  with  a  team,  acco'mpanied  by  his 
wife  and  the  one  child  that  h.ad  been  born  to  them 
in  their  old  home.  They  spent  the  winter  in  In- 
diana, and  in  1837  removed  to  Vermillion  County, 
this  State. 

Mr.  Prickett  farmed  on  rented  land  in  Indiana 
until  1846.  He  then  tried  life  in  Iowa,  spending 
one  summer  in  Mahaska  County.  Tliat  State  was 
then  on  the  Western  frontier  and  as  there  were  no 
railroads  he  had  gone  thither  with  teams.  Evi- 
dently he  was  not  well  pleased  with  the  country,  as 
in  the  fall  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  took  up  his 
residence  permanently  in  this  county.  He  bought 
a  tr,act  of  timber  land  in  Lewistown  Township,  thus 
identifying  himself  with  its  pioneer  farmers.     Into 


678 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAl.  ALBUM. 


the  log  cabin  that  stood  on  tlio  place,  he  removed 
with  his  family  and  continued  the  improvement  of 
his  land  of  which  ten  acres  were  cleared  and 
broken.  He  has  seen  mucii  of  pioneer  life,  endur- 
ing all  the  harilsiiips  and  trials  common  to  the 
settlers  of  a  newly  developed  county  ;  and  has  been 
an  interested  witness  of  mucli  of  the  growth  of  tlie 
connty  having  done  all  that  a  gooil  citizen  can  do 
to  promote  its  welfare. 

In  this  then  sparsely  settled  region,  deer  and 
wild  turke3-s  and  vaiious  other  kinds  of  game  were 
abundant  and  furnished  good  fare  for  the  pioneers. 
Lewistown  was  not  then  the  im[)ortant  place  it  is 
to-day,  anil  the  nearest  markets  were  at  Liverpool 
and  Havana.  The  habits  of  the  people,  who  were 
frugal  and  industrious,  were  simple,  and  they  were 
obliged  to  content  themselves  with  few  luxuries, 
as  there  were  no  railways  or  canals  here  connecting 
them  with  the  outside  world  and  traveling  over  the 
rough  primitive  roads  was  at  times  diflieult. 

Mr.  Prickett  resided  on  his  early  homestead 
three  years  and  then  removed  to  Lewistown  to  en- 
gage in  teaming  between  that  place.  Havana  and 
Liveipool,  though  he  still  continued  to  improve 
his  farm.  He  lived  in  town  some  jears  and  then 
purchased  another  farm  in  the  township,  u|)on 
which  he  dwelt  until  after  the  death  of  his  wife 
when  he  returned  to  his  city  home.  He  still  owns 
the  farm,  which,  with  its  well  tilled  fields,  ample 
buildings  and  conveniences  for  carrying  on  agri- 
culture, is  a  ver^'  desirable  piece  of  property,  and 
from  its  rental  ho  receives  a  goodly  amount  of 
money  yearly. 

Mr.  Prickett  has  been  three  times  married.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  first  wife  was  Mar\'  Elsworth. 
She  was  a  native  of  Clark  Countj-.  Ohio,  and 
a  daughter  of  Aquilla  and  Mehitable  P.lsworth. 
Her  death  occurred  on  the  farm  in  Lewistown 
Township.  Mr.  Prickett's  second  wife  was  Mar}' 
A.  Etnire,  and  she  died  in  Lewistown.  The  maiden 
name  of  the  third  was  Esther  Coen.  His  children 
are  by  his  first  marriage  and  are  named  as  follows: 
Catherine,  Margaret  .L,  Mary  E..  .Sarah  E.,  and 
Mehitable  A.  Of  them  it  is  recorded  that  Cathe- 
rine married  George  Newton,  of  Lewistown;  IVIary 
E.  married  Marshall  Chase,  of  Lewistown;  Sarah  E. 
n.arricd  George  Fluke,  of  Taylor  County,    Iowa; 


Mehitable  married  Calvin  Fluke,  of  Joshua  Town- 
ship. 

Our  subject  is  eminently  a  self-made  man.  Like 
man}-  another  poor  boy  his  education  was  obtained 
in  the  log  schooUiouse  of  pioneer  times  with  its 
iiome-niade  furniture  and  its  greased  paiier  windows. 
When  he  started  out  in  the  world  to  fight  life's  bat- 
tles on  his  own  account  he  went  empty-handed,  but 
he  needed  no  other  capital  than  his  good  health, 
strong  muscles  and  clear  brain,  which  have  placed 
him  in  comfortable  circumstances.  His  life  record 
is  a  good  one  and  such  as  to  commend  him  to  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  the  entire  community.  In 
politics  he  gives  stanch  support  to  the  Republican 
party. 


EV.  .JOHN  TUITE  is  a  skillful  carpenter,  a 
prosperous  farmer  and  a  school  teacher,  but 
perhaps  he  is  better  known  througliout  this 
^\^'county  as  a  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  and  one  of  its  most  powerful  revival- 
ists in  this  part  of  the  country.  He  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  was  born  November  3,  1828,  in 
Luzerne  Township,  Fayette  County.  He  was  reared 
and  educated  in  the  .State  of  his  nativity  and  was 
there  married  October  8.  1848,  to  Catherine,  daugh- 
ter of  William  E.  and  Eva  Martin.  Seven  children 
have  con)e  to  them,  four  daughters  and  three  boys, 
namely:  Mar}'  E.,  who  was  born  November  16, 
1849,  married  C.  C.  Felkel,  and  they  live  on  a  farm 
of  their  own.  com|)rising  eighty  acres  in  Greenwood 
County,  Kan. ;  .Sarah  E..  born  Januaiy  2,  1 8,5 1 .  mar- 
ried James  Dillwith  and  they  live  on  a  farm  in  Har- 
per County,  Kan. ;  James  H.,  born  April  6, 1  Srii.  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Shnert,  and  died  September  1 1, 1882; 
Emma  C.,born  November  4,  1853,  married  James 
Mathews  and  died  in  Barber  County.  Kan..  August 
28,  1889;  William  H.  born  March  29,  1855,  m.arried 
for  his  first  wife  Alice  Barrett,  and  after  her  death 
married  Elizabetli  Nickilson  and  the}-  live  on  their 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Lewis- 
town  Township;  Nancy  L.,  born  March  25,  1857, 
married  James  Shuert  and  they  live  in  Bernadotte 
Townsliip;  .lohn  INF..  born  Noveml)er  17,  1858,  mar- 
ried Eva  Wallace  and  they  live  in  Lewistown  Town- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


679 


ship.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tuite  have  a  grand-daughter 
whom  they  have  reared,  named  Celia  Dillwith,  wlio 
was  born  June  8,  187L 

After  his  marriage  our  subject  continued  to  live 
in  his  native  count}%  and  followed  his  trade  as  a 
carpenter  and  also  engaged  as  a  contractor  and 
builder,  while  in  the  winter  season  he  taught 
school.  In  JMarcli,  1864,  he  came  to  this  county, 
and  located  in  Ijewistown  Township,  where  he  was 
engagerl  in  carpentering  until  his  eyesight  failed 
him.  He  built  the  Methodist  Church  two  and  one- 
half  miles  northwest  of  Lewistown ;  the  Ewans 
schoolhouse,  two  and  one-half  miles  west  of  that 
city,  the  Hulick  schoolhouse,  one  and  one-half 
miles  southwest  of  that  city,  and  several  other 
buildings  in  the  neighborhood.  At  the  same  time 
he  was  engaged  in  the  ministry,  having  charge  of 
the  Lewistown  circuit  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  four  years  during  the  time  he  lived  there, 
he  having  been  ordained  Elder  and  Deacon  several 
years  ago.  It  was  his  custoni  to  work  hard  all  the 
week  and  to  preach  two  or  three  times  every  Sun- 
da}'.  He  held  one  verj'  remarkable  revival  at  the 
East  schoolhouse,  Waterford  Township,  and  the 
result  of  the  meeting  was  the  organization  of  a 
church  of  one  hundred  members,  and  in  one  day 
he  baptized  thirty-six  people. 

After  moving  to  Bernadotte  Mr.  Tuite  still  con- 
tinued zealously  to  preach  the  Gospel  two  or  three 
times  every  Sunday,  and  not  long  since  his  earnest 
labors  were  rewarded  by  one  of  the  greatest  reviv- 
als ever  lield  in  this  countj'.  In  the  month  of  No- 
vember, 1888,  he  commenced  to  hold  meetings  at 
the  Jones  schoolhouse,  on  section  10,  Bernadotte 
Township.  The  building  was  filled  to  overflowing, 
and  the  meetings  were  adjourned  to  the  old  Provi- 
dence Church  and  from  there  to  the  Lees  school- 
house  where  tiie  accommodations  were  still  better. 
The  most  remarkable  feature  of  these  gatherings 
was  that  they  were  mostly  composed  of  old  people 
who  had  never  before  united  with  any  church. 
With  untiring  zeal,  and  steadfast  love  of  the  cause, 
our  subject  preached  every  night  steadily  for  three 
months  and  twice  every  Sunday,  with  very  few  ex- 
ceptions, and  his  labors  were  crowned  by  one  hun- 
dred and  sixteen  converts  uniting  with  the  church. 
Under  his  auspices   these  converts  were  organized 


into  a  church  known  as  the  New  Providence  and  he 
still  has  charge  of  the  New  Providence  circuit  of 
tlu^  INIethodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Tuite  is  a  very  strong  Prohibition- 
ist and  votes  with  that  party  on  all  occasions,  al- 
though he  is  not  otherwise  active  in  politics.  He 
has  been  prominent  in  public  affairs,  has  held 
theoflices  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  of  Supervisor  and 
Commissioner  of  Highways,  and  is  a  liberal  con- 
tributor to  all  good  causes.  He  is  a  man  of  stricti}' 
upright  habits  and"  was  never  und(u'  the  influence 
of  liquor  and  never  used  tobacco  in  any  form. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1883,  Mr.  Tuite  moved 
to  section  4,  Bernadotte  Township,  where  he  had 
bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty -five  acres 
on  which  he  stillj  resides.  This  is  under  excellent 
improvement  and  he  manages  it  with  skill  so  as  to 
reap  a  good  income  from  its  rich  harvests. 


^EORGE  W.  CONWAY,  an  old  settler  of 
Young  Hickory  Townshii),  owns  and  occu- 
pies a  tract  of  land  which  he  improved  from 
the  brush.  It  comprises  eighty  acres  on  section  28, 
and  though  not  so  large  as  many  in  the  county,  is 
quite  sufficient  to  afford  its  owner  occupation  and 
a  comfortable  maintenance. 

Going  back  in  the  paternal  line  three  generations 
we  find  Joseph  Conway  who  emigrated  from  Eng- 
land, his  native  land,  to  Virginia,  and  fought  on 
the  side  of  the  Colonists  during  the  Revolution. 
His  son  Peter,  born  in  Virginia,  owned  a  large 
plantation  there  and  many  slaves.  He  cultivated 
the  soil  and  raised  stock.  He  removed  to  Jefferson 
Count}-,  Tenn.,  carried  on  the  same  business,  owned 
large  landed  estates  there  also  and  was  very  well- 
to-do.  He  was  a  Major  in  the  War  of  1812.  and  a 
man  of  prominence.  He  received  a  legacy  of 
twenty  seven  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Pickaway 
and  Highland  Counties,  Ohio. 

Among  the  four  children  of  the  last  mentioned 
centleman  was  a  son,  Charles  W.,  who  was  born  in 
Virginia  and  reared  in  Tennessee.  He  studied 
medicine  and  was  graduated  at  the  medical  college 
in  Phil.adelphia  when  twenty-one  years  old.  Going 


680 


PORTRAIT  A:SD  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUiM. 


to  Ohio  to  look  at  the  land  which  his  father  had 
inherited,  he  stopped  in  Lexington  and  decided  to 
open  an  office  there.  He  sold  some  of  his  land, 
leased  some  and  improved  several  farms.  He  was 
the  owner  of  some  eight  hundred  acres,  but  after 
his  death  much  of  the  estate  was  lost  by  injudicious 
administration  of  affairs,  and  his  family  secured 
but  a  small  properL}'.  He  died  when  but  thirty- 
three  years  old.  He  had  alreadj'  built  up  a  large 
practice  in  his  chosen  profession.  His  wife  was 
Plia'be  A.  Woodmanse.  She  was  born  near  Tren- 
ton, N.  J.,  but  reared  in  Ohio,  where  she  continued 
to  reside  until  her  death.  That  sad  event  took 
place  in  18S8,  at  an  advanced  age,  she  having  been 
born  in  1802.  Her  children  are  Mrs.  Sarah  P.  Cox, 
of  Highland  County.  Ohio;  Joseph  P.,  who  served 
in  the  late  war,  and  is  now  a  practicing  phjsieian 
in  Jefferson  County,  Tenn. ;  James  W.,  who  served 
as  a  veteran  in  an  Ohio  regiment  during  the  Civil 
War,  and  is  now  farming  in  Highland  Count}', 
Ohio;  and  our  subject. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Samuel  Woodmanse.  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and 
a  farmer  there.  During  the  early  settlement  in 
Ohio  be  removed  thither  and  spent  the  remaiiuler 
of  his  diiys  in  that  State.  He  bought  a  large  tract 
of  land  and  became  wealthy.  The  gentleman  of 
whom  we  write  was  born  in  Lexington,  Higliland 
County,  Ohio,  June  11,  1827.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  but  seventeen  months  old,  but  his 
mother  remained  on  the  farm,  where  he  was  set  to 
work  at  an  early  period  in  his  life.  He  look  part 
in  log-rolling  and  other  measures  by  which  the 
country  was  cleared  and  developed,  learned  to  do 
all  manner  of  farm  work,  and  when  old  enough  to 
transact  the  business  for  his  mother,  took  charge  of 
the  home  place  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  carried  on  his  studies  dur- 
ing the  limited  terms  of  the  subscription  schools, 
which  were  lield  in  the  primitive  log  schoolhouse 
witli  its  puncheon  floor,  slab  benches,  etc.  Besides 
the  farm  upon  which  the  family  lived,  they  owned 
two  others  which  they  rented. 

Young  Conway  remained  at  home  until  he  had 
reached  his  majoritj',  when  he  went  to  Tennessee 
on  horseback,  taking  a  herd  of  eight  horses  to  Jef- 
ferson County  for  sale.    He  lost  money  on  the  ven- 


ture, but  remained  in  thiit  county,  studying  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Hellam  eighteen  months.  He  was 
then  takeirsick,  the  illness  continuing  a  j'ear,  and 
abandoning  the  idea  of  pursuing  a  professional 
career,  he  returned  to  Ohio.  As  soon  as  he  was 
able  to  take  charge  of  it,  he  rented  a  farm,  but  af- 
ter a  year  spent  in  tilling  the  soil,  entered  into 
partnership  with  a  cousin,  and  ran  a  sawmill.  A 
twelvemonth  later  he  sold  his  interest,  .and  in  the 
fall  of  1852  started  West  with  the  intention  of  mak- 
ing a  home  in  Iowa. 

The  journey  of  Mr.  Conwjiy  was  made  with  a 
team  and  wagon,  and  he  was  accompanied  by  his 
wife  and  child.  Wlien  he  reached  Central 'Illinois, 
he  was  induced  to  remain  in  this  count}' during  the 
winter,  and  in  the  spring,  seeing  a  good  chance  to 
rent  a  farm,  he  did  so.  In  1854  he  bought  a  farm 
in  Union  Township,  Knox  County,  located  upon  it, 
but  remained  only  a  short  time  ere  selling  it,  and 
again  becoming  a  renter.  In  1865  he  bought  the 
land  which  he  now  occupies,  it  being  at  that  time 
so  thickly  covered  with  hazel  brush  that  a  man 
could  not  see  above  his  head.  The  original  forest 
had  been  cut  down,  but  the  stumps  remained,  and 
Mr.  Conway  had  considerable  labor  to  perforin  in 
grubbing.  He  built  a  house  in  the  brush,  and  set 
industriously  to  work  clearing  off  the  bashes,  maul- 
ing rails  for  fences,  and  breaking  the  ground  for 
cultivation. 

The  farm  borders  on  the  Spoon  River,  and  con- 
sists .of  valuable  bottom  land.  An  old  Government 
trading  post  once  stood  upon  it,  and  some  of  the  logs 
were  left  until  1866.  In  this  undeveloped  region 
wild  game  was  still  quite  abundant  when  Mr.  Con- 
way located  here.  Peoria  and  Farmington  were 
his  earl}'  markets,  and  to  those  towns  he  hauled 
pork  and  produce.  He  has  put  u])  various  build- 
ings on  the  tarm,  set  out  an  orchard  and  grove,  and 
otherwise  made  the  place  habitable.  His  principal 
occupation  is  raising  grains,  which  yield  abun- 
dantly on  the  rich  soil. 

In  Highland  County,  Ohio,  November  26,  1850, 
the  rites  of  wedlock  were  solemnized  between  our 
subject  and  Miss  Elizabeth  Pratt.  This  lady  was 
born  in  the  Old  Dominion,  and  accompanied  her 
parents  to  Ohio  in  1846.  She  is  a  skillful  house- 
wife, an  excellent  neighbor,  and  has  been   devoted 


PORTRAir  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


681 


to  the  interests  of  her  husband  and  children.  The 
family  consists  of  one  daughter  and  three  sons: 
Laura  B.  married  Charles  Zitlers,  a  p.iintcr  in  Fair- 
view;  William  C.  was  married  in  low.i,  liut  is  now 
farming  in  Colorado;  -Stephen  D.,  and  .Tolm  W.  are 
farmers  in  Young  Hickory  Townsliip,  tliis  county. 
Mr.  Conway  does  not  accept  offices,  preferring  to 
devote  his  time  to  the  duties  of  citizensliip  in  a 
private  capacity,  and  to  assist  as  far  as  he  is  able 
in  those  measures  which  will  add  to  the  material 
and  mental  prosperity  of  the  community.  He  votes 
the  Demoi'ratie  ticket  on  every  election  day.  He 
is  agreeable  and  companionaI)le,  possesses  an  up- 
right character,  and  evinces  as  great  an  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  humanity  as  anyone  that  can  be  met 
with. 


\f?OHN  W.  GIBERSON.  A  good  standing 
among  the  agriculturists  Of  the  county  is 
held  by  the  gentleman  above  named,  whose 
comfortable  estate  consists  of  one  hundred 
and  forty  acres  on  section  8,  Deerfield  Township. 
The  land  bears  a  full  line  of  improvements  includ- 
ing a  pleasing  dwelling,  adequate  barns  and  out- 
buildings and  a  sufficient  number  of  fruit  trees  to 
furnish  the  family  with  an  abundant  supply  in 
their  season.  The  farm  is  well  stocked  and  the 
most  approved  methods  are  used  in  its  cultivation. 
A  few  words  regarding  the  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject will  net  be  amiss  before  beginning  the  hiatory 
of  his  own  life.  They  were  born  in  Ohio,  and  re- 
moved to  Scott  County,  Iowa,  1844,  locating  on  a 
farm  near  Davenport.  Thence  they  came  to  this 
county  in  1855.  taking  up  their  residence  in  Lee 
Townsliip.  The  mother,  formerly  Berthena  Mc- 
Bride,  passed  awa}'  during  that  year,  the  date  of 
her  demise  being  about  January,  18.j5.  The  fa- 
ther, David  Giberson,  survived  until  1872.  The 
parental  family  consisted  of  three  sons  and  four 
daughters. 

Our  subject,  who  was  the  youngest  son,  was  born 
in  Davenport,  Iowa,  Xovember  14,  1845,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  principal!}'  ii;  the  district 
schools  of  Lee  and  Deerfield  Townsliips,  this 
county,  to  which  he  was  brought  in  early  boyhood, 


At  the  early  age  of  seventeen  years  he  took  his 
place  in  the  army  of  his  country  determined  to  do 
what  he  migfit  to  preserve  the  Union.  His  name 
was  attached  to  the  muster  roll  of  Company  I, 
Sixteenth  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  he  took  part  in  the 
battles  at  Nashville  and  Franklin,  Tenn..  .lones- 
ville,  Va.,  and  many  others.  He  served  tluough 
the  Atlanta  campaign,  tluring  which  he  liad  two 
horses  shot  from  under  him.  He  was  so  fortiinate 
as  to  have  quite  good  healtli  during  his  army  life, 
with  the  exception  of  an  attack  of  erysipelas  con- 
tracted at  Springfield  through  impure  vaccine.  Mr. 
Gil^erson  remained  with  his  regiment  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  doing  valiant  service,  ami  was  honor- 
ably discharged  in  August,  1865. 

On  returning  to  his  home  the  young  man  took 
up  the  peaceful  arts  of  agricultural  life,  continuing 
to  occup}'  his  place  at  the  parental  fireside  until  his 
marriage, -Which  was  solemnized  April  29,  1869. 
For  some  time  thereafter  he  worked  at  coal-mining, 
then  moveil  onto  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  which  has 
since  been  his  place  of  residence.  He  subsequently 
added  sixty  acres  to  his  estate,  making  up  its  pres- 
ent extent  from  which  an  excellent  support  is  ob- 
tained. While  industriously  pursuing  his  chosen 
calling,  Mr.  Giberson  has  found  time  to  serve  his 
fellow-citizens  in  the  capiicity  of  Roadmaster  one 
ye.'ir  and  as  School  Director,  the  latter  being  a  work 
which  he  is  still  engaged  in.  He  votes  the  Republi- 
can ticlcet  but  takes  no  other  part  in  political  affairs. 
The  lady  who  presides  over  the  home  and  house- 
hold economy  of  our  subject  is  Nancy  J.,  daughter 
of  Alexander  and  Isabel  (Coe)  Retd.  She  was  born 
in  EUisville  Township,  ihis  county,  February  9, 
1853,  and  is  the  youngest  daughter  in  a  family  of 
five  children.  She  w^as  well  and  carefully  reared 
and  grew  to  womanhood  in  possession  of  an  esti- 
mable character  and  useful  habits.  Her  parents 
<vcre  born  in  the  Buckeye  State.  The  family  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Giberson  consists  of  three  sons  and 
two  daughters,  all  at  home  except  the  first-born, 
who  has  been  called  from  time  to  eternity.  Their 
record  is  as  follows:  John  Williams,  born  Septem- 
ber 14,  1869,  died  November  3,  1878;  James  H., 
born  October  6,  1871;  George  L.,  February  4, 
j  1873;  Mary  Alice,  October  1,  1875:  Albert  Allen, 
I    March  1 6,  1879  ;  Stella  May,  November  20,  1882. 


682 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Giberson  and  the  two  oldest  sons 
belong  to  the  Christian  Ciiurcb.  Mr.  Oiberson  is  a 
Deacon  in  the  congregation  at  Ellisvillo  and  Super- 
intendent of  tiie  .Sunday-sc-liool.  lie  and  his  fam- 
ily take  an  active  part  in  the  work  tliat  is  being 
done  for  Christ  and  earnestly  endeavor  to  make 
their  own  lives  correspond  with  the  religion  they 
profess. 

^OHN  WE.SLEY  TYLER,  an  experienced 
tinner  and  hardware  artisan  in  the  employ 
of  Mummcy  &  Co.,  is  generally  recog- 
nized as  a  wide-awake  and  enterprising 
business  man  in  Farmington.  Up  to  a  few  years 
ago  he  was  proprietor  of  his  own  store,  but  owing 
to  unfortunate  circumstances  became  financially 
embarrassed  and  was  compelled  to  give  up  his  large 
and  lucrative  business,  lie  built  the  large  store  on 
the  corner  of  Fourtliand  East  .Street,  that  contains 
the  City  Hall,  the  Odd  Fellows  Hall,  and  the  Ma- 
sonic Hall,  and  has  contributed  largel\-  to  the  pro- 
gression of  this  community. 

Mr.  Tyler  is  a  native  of  St.  Joe  County,  Midi., 
being  born  at  Centreville,  on  November  20,  1840. 
His  father.  Ei)hraiui  8.  T\'Ier  was  a  Methodist  min- 
ister of  great  renown,  and  a  blacksniiih  by  trade. 
He  moved  with  his  family  to  tlie  State  of  Illinois  in 
1849.  Our  subject's  mother  was  previous  to  her 
marriage  Miss  Julia  Allen,  a  great-great  niece  of 
Ethan  AJlen.  Her  birth  t(iok  place  in  Yoik,  near 
Niagara  Falls,  and  in  that  picturesque  spot  was 
passed  her  childhood.  His  parents  were  married  in 
that  State,  and  afterward  moved  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  at  a  still  later  date  to  Michigan.  Four  of  the 
children  came  to  Illinois,  viz:  Berthena,  John  W., 
Eugenia,  Ursella.  Berthena,  lives  in  Iowa,  and  is 
the  wife  of  Cyrus  Caldwell,  a  blacksmith  liy  trade; 
Eugenia  married  James  Collins,  and  makes  her 
home  at  Farmington  ;Lirsella,  is  married  and  resides 
in  Chicago. 

The  sulijoet  of  our  sketch  received  a  good  edu- 
cation, attending  school  at  Farmington  and  at  Lom- 
bard University,  Galesburg.  When  seventeen 
years  of  age  lie  began  to  learn  the  tinner's  trade, 
and  such  was  his  desire  to    master  it   thoroughly 


that  he  spent  eleven  years  at  the  bench.  His  in- 
dustry and  perseverance  have  raised  him  to  tlie 
top  of  his  vocation,  and  he  is  generally  held  in 
high  esteem  by  his  neighbors.  In  the  year  1864, 
Mr.  Tyler  commenced  a  hardware  business,  and  as 
before  stated  succeeded  admirably  for  a  number  of 
years,  but  encountering  one  of  those  misfortunes 
that  somehow  will  mar  a  pi'osperous  career,  how- 
ever worthy  a  man  may  be,  he  sold  his  stock  in 
1877.  He  worked  for  Moore  &  Suidam  through 
1880-81-82.  and  then  went  to  Grand  Forks,  Dak., 
where  he  managed  a  branch  house  for  Parlin  & 
Orendorff  of  Canton.  He  remained  there  only 
twelve  months,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time 
returned  to  Farmington,  and  once  more  entered  the 
hardware  business  as  a  clerk,  and  since  1884  has 
been  in  the  employ  of  Mummey  &  Co.,  and  enjoys 
a  reputation  for  lieing  the  best  posted  hardware 
man  in  this  county. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  in  the  year  1862,  was 
joined  in  matrimony  to  Miss  Isabella  Pinegar, 
daughter  of  Solomon  Pinegar.  Her  parents  were 
from  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Tyler  has  been  born  only  one  child — Ral|)li, 
who  is  a  promising  business  man  and  employed  by 
one  of  the  leading  business  houses  at  Peoria,  III. 
The  subject  of  (air  sketch  is  a  |)ublic  spirited  man, 
and  one  who  takes  great  pride  "iti  conscientiously 
fulfilling  the  obligations  of  life  both  great  and 
small,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  his  business  as- 
sociates. He  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  though  by  no  means  an  office-seeker,  is  greatly 
interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  party. 

%,  R.  JAMES  E.  BOOE.  practicing  physician 
at  Canton.  Few  small  places  have  the 
lionor  to  harbor  within  their  limits  so 
many  brilliant  professional  men  as  are 
claimed  i)y  Canton.  Here  it  woiddseem  an  atmos- 
phere of  progression  both  in  financial  and  profes- 
sional matters  develops  superior  attainments.  Men 
of  superior  mental  endowment  are  found  here  in 
abundance,  men  who  add  greatly  to  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  a  place,    and   who  l)y   their    worthy 


PORTRAir  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


683 


lives  give  an  excellent  example  to  those  just  be- 
ginning the  battle  of  lile.  And  among  this  nnm- 
ber,  none  deserve  more  praise  than  he  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch. 

Dr.  Booo  is  a  ualive  of  Indiana,  a  State  that  has 
contributed  so  liberally  to  the  national  iirospority 
b3' furnishing  able  men,  and  his  birth  occurred  in 
Fountain  County,  October  22,  1857.  His  parents 
were  Greenup  and  Catherine  (Johnson)  Booe,  and 
the  paternal  relatives  are  of  German  descent.  The 
grandfather  Benjamin  Booe,  was  a  prominent  agri- 
culturist in  Indiana  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 
Greenu|)  Booe  followed  the  same  line  of  work  until 
the  war  broke  out,  and  then  became  a  soldier,  en- 
listing in  the  Sixty-third  Indiana  Infantry,  and 
lighting  bravely  and  well  for  his  country.  During 
service  he  contracted  a  lingering  disease,  that 
finally  result(?d  in  his  death,  in  the  year  1863. 

Our  subject's  mother  was  also  a  native  of  the 
Iloosier  State,  and  her  marriage  took  place  there. 
She  died  while  James  was  in  bis  third  year,  leaving 
only  two  children,  Clara,  who  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Keller,  of  Mellotte,  Ind.,  and  the  subject 
of  our  sketch.  The  latter  was  only  six  years  old 
when  be  sustained  the  loss  of  his  father,  and  was  thus 
in  the  tender  years  of  childhood  deprived  of  his 
natural  protectors.  His  grandparents  Booe  took 
charge  of  him  and  he  continued  to  make  his  home 
with  them  at  Covington,  Ind.,  on  their  farm  until 
he  had  reached  his  sixteenth  year.  He  then  began 
farming  for  himself,  attending  school  in  the  mean- 
tune,  and  when  twenty  years  old,  studied  medicine 
under  Dr.  W.  J.  Hurt  of  Waynetown.  These  in- 
structions were  continued  for  a  year  or  so,  and  our 
subject  then  entered  Rush  Medical  College  at  Chi- 
ca"'0,  where  he  remained  two  years.  During  one 
term  he  attended  Butler  University  of  Medicine  at 
Indianapolis,  and  was  also  a  student  in  the  Ken- 
tuckj' School  of  Medicine  at  Louisville,  graduating 
from  there  in  June,  1887. 

Dr.  Booe  first  practiced  his  profession  in  Oak- 
land, III.,  next  at  Albany  for  a  year,  and  finally  lo- 
cated in  Canton  in  1888.  From  the  beginning  his 
success  was  assured,  and  he  does  a  large  general 
practice,  besides  making  a  specialty  of  the  eye,  the 
ear  and  gynecok)gical  vvork.  He  was  married  in 
Oakland  in  1884,  the  maiden  name  of  his  wife  being 


Cella  Curtis,  daughter  of  Philander  Curtis.  Mrs. 
Dr.  Booe  has  one  child — Anna  Glassburner,  by  a 
previous  marriage.  The  Doctor  is  one  of  the  young- 
est practitioners  in  Canton,  but  is  making  a  decided 
success  and  has  the  confidence  of  the  entire  com- 
munity. Politically,  he  is. a  Republican,  and  so- 
cially, is  an  Odd  F"cllow. 


IIILIP  SCHRODT  is  the  owner  and  occupant 
of  a  farm  consisting  of  eighty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 8,  Deerfield  Township.  This  property 
Jl\  became  the  home  of  our  subjei;t  in  1889  and 
he  at  once  proceeded  to  put  up  fences,  barns, 
granaries  and  all  necessary  improveuT'nts,  includino- 
a  frame  house  of  pleasing  ai-cliiteetural  design,  two 
stories  in  height.  Mr.  Schrodt  has  reapers,  mowers 
and  all  implements  and  machines  necessary  to  carry 
on  a  first  class  farm,  and  has  his  land  well  stocked 
with  animals  of  good  breeds.  Taken  as  a  whole, 
the  estate  is  one  of  the  best  regulated  in  the  town- 
ship. 

Some  facts  regarding  the  parents  of  our  subject 
will  be  found  in  the  biography  of  his  brother,  J.  W. 
Schrodt,  on  another  page  of  this  Album.  Suffice  it 
to  say  that  they  were  respectable,  and  endeavored 
to  inculcate  in  their  children  the  principles  of  good 
conduct  and  the  habits  of  usefulness.  Our  subject 
was  born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  November  26,  1831, 
and  having  accompanied  his  parents  to  this  county 
in  early  life, obtained  his  fundamental  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  Deerfield  Township.  He  was 
twenty-four  ^-ears  old  when  he  married  and  at  once 
rented  a  farm  of  forty  acres  on  section  15.  He  re- 
mained there  about  four  years,  then  became  the  oc- 
cupant of  eighty  acres  on  section  1,  and  three  3'ears 
later  bought  from  Lewis  Ross  eighty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 1.  On  that  land  he  pursued  his  career  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  then  sold  it  and  bought 
his  present  estate. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Maria  C.  Rock,  and  is  a  sister  of  Andrew  Rock, 
whose  sketch  may  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume.    She  was  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany, 


684 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Septemlicr  11.  1833.  her  parents,  Simon  and  Eliza- 
beth (Sehnur)  Rock,  having  been  natives  of  the 
same  province  .is  lierself.  The  marriage  rites  be- 
tween Mr.  Schrodt  and  Miss  Rock  were  celebr.ated 
October  21.  1855,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed 
to  them  liy  the  birth  of  four  sons  and  six 
daugliters. 

The  first-ljorn,  Anna  M.,  whose  natal  clay  was 
July  30.  1856.  married  John  W.  Mahr,  and  lives  in 
Bushnell;  Elizabeth,  born  Januaiy  10,  1858,  mar- 
ried Peter  Mahr.  and  lives  on  a  farrn  in  DeerQeld 
Township;  Joiin,  born  Januar3-  1,  1860,  and  Mary, 
born  February  11,1 862,  are  at  home ;  Anna  C,  born 
May  30,  1865,  married  Charles  B.  Elwood  and  lives 
ill  Lee  Township;  Lewis  "SA'.,  born  ^larch  15,  1867, 
married  Ida  .Shumaker  and  lives  in  Deerfield  Town- 
ship; Simon  A.,  born  May  18,  18&9,  is  at  home;  so 
also  are  Louisa  M.,  born  Februar}'  3.  1873;  Sarah 
E.,  July  13,  1875,  and  Charles  W.,  November  18, 
1878. 

Mr.  Schrodt  is  a  boliever  in  and  supporter  of  the 
principles  of  the  Democratic  part}'.  He  has  been 
School  Director  one  term.  His  name  is  enrolled 
among  the  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in 
which  he  has  held  the  office  of  Deacon,  and  the  en- 
tire family-  belong  to  the  Sunday-school. 


<v        )»,ILLIAM  VANDEVANDER,  head  of    the 
\\\      ///    g,.[j,    jjf    Vandevaiider   &   Son,    merchant 


M 


S^^  tailors  of  Canton,  with  place  of  business 
ai  No.  106  West  Elm  Street,  and  residence  No. 
AQ6  South  Main  Street,  is  prosperously  carrj-ingon 
:i:i  extensive  and  proQtable  business.  He  was  born 
11  Huntingdon  County,  Pa.,  in  the  town  of  McCon- 
nellstown  September  19,  1820.  His  father,  Isaac 
Vandevander  was  a  native  of  the  same  State  where 
he  was  born  in  1780.  He  w.as  a  wagonmaker  bj' 
trade  and  was  quite  prominent  in  his  town,  where 
lie  acted  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  forty  years, 
lie  w.as  a  son  of  Peter  Vandevander,  who  was  de- 
scended from  au  old  Holland  family.  He  was 
Captain  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  Isaac  Vande- 
vander married  Mary  Enyart  wiio  was  born  and 
n-ared  in  the  valley  of  McConnellstown,  Pa.,and  was 


a  daughter  of  William  Enyart.  Both  parents  passed 
their  days  in  Huntingdon  Count}-,  Pa.,  the  father 
dying  in  18-14  and  the  mother  in  1867.  They  had 
ten  children,  seven  daughters  and  three  sons,  all  of 
whom  lived  to  grow  up,  seven  of  whom  survive. 

The  son  of  these  worthy  people,  who  forms  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  eighth  child  of  the 
family.  He  received  a  very  good  education  and 
in  1840  became  a  school  teacher  himself.  Four 
years  later  he  abandoned  that  profession,  and  in 
the  meantime  he  had  been  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace  of  Juniata  Valley  which  position  he  filled 
.icceptably  some  six  years.  In  the  spring  of  1856, 
he  came  to  Canton  from  his  native  Slate,  and  was 
given  a  position  as  book-keeper  in  the  establishment 
of  Bell  &  McC^uaid.  hardware  merchants,  and  re- 
mained with  them  two  ytars  in  that  capacity.  In 
1859  he  was  elected  Police  Magistrate  and  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  that  office  until  his  resigna- 
tion in  1862  in  order  to  take  up  arms  in  defence  of 
his  country. 

Mr.  Vandevander  enlisted  In  August,  1862,  in 
Company  F,  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  commanded  by  Col.  Dick<>rman.  His 
regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Western  arm}',  and  was 
sent  to  Jackson,  Tenn.  Our  subject  was  taken 
violently  sick  while  there,  and  as  the  surgeon  certi- 
fied that  he  would  be  unfitted  for  further  duty  he 
was  honorably  discharged  from  military  strvice. 
He  returned  to  Canton,  and  subsequently  opened  a 
merchant  tailor's  establishment  in  this  city,  and  has 
given  his  whole  attention  since  then  to  this  busi- 
ness. He  removed  to  his  present  stand  on  Elm 
Street  in  1878.  He  carries  a  large  stock  of  the 
finest  cloths  to  be  found  in  the  market,  and,  as  he 
employs  none  but  skilled  workmen,  he  turns  out 
gentlemen's  clothes  of  superior  make  and  gives 
good  satisfaction  to  his  patrons,  of  whom  he  has 
many,  including  some  of  the  best  citizens  of  the 
place. 

Mr.  Vandevander  w.as  married  in  1839  to  Miss 
Isabella  Douglass,  the  marriage  ceremony  that 
made  them  one  being  performed  at  the  bride's 
home  in  Huntingdon  County,  Pa.  She  Is  a  native 
of  that  State  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Isabelle 
Douglass.  Her  married  life  with  our  subject,  which 
lias  been  of  niore   than    fifty  years    duration,  has 


^ 


'^^-2^^^ 


^ 


/^^^#^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


687 


been  a  pleasant  one,  and  has  been  blessed  to  them 
by  the  birth  of  five  children,  only  one  of  whom  is 
livins;,  Frank  G.  who  is  in  business  witii  liis  fa- 
ther. He  is  a  member  of  Morning  Star  Lodge,  No. 
74,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Our  subject  belongs  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  which  he  is  an 
officer,  and  of  which  he  has  been  a  valued  member 
since  1844.  He  is  a  man  of  exceptional  habits  and 
is  a  firm  advocate  of  temperance.  He  has  a  good 
record  as  a  temperance  man,  having  signed  tlie 
Washingtonian  Pledge  in  1840,  and  he  has  never 
broken  it  by  tasting  intoxicating  liquors.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  independent,  always  voting  for  tiie  man 
rather  than  the  part}'. 


^^- 


^OHN  W.  BOWEN,  a  sketch  of  whose  life 
now  claims  attention,  and  whose  portrait 
will  be  noticed  on  the  opposite  page  is  a 
man  well  and  favorably  known  throughout 
Joshua  Township,  and  as  every  life  has  a  history  of 
its  own,  although  in  appearance  it  may  seem  to 
possess  little  to  distinguish  it  from  others,  the 
reader  will  take  interest  in  learning  details  of  the 
business  career,  and  private  incidents  connected 
with  our  subject. 

Mr.  Bowen  was  born  in  Franklin  Coiiiity,  Fa., 
on  the  •20th  of  November,  1840,  but  though  his 
natal  day  fell  to  that  season  of  the  jj^ear  when  na- 
ture casting  off  the  freshness  of  summer,  presents  a 
dreary  appearance,  only  brightness  and  the  sun- 
shine of  success  have  attended  his  patliway  tlirough 
life.  Our  subject's  father,  David  Bowen,  born 
July  3,  1803,  and  his  mother,  Susan  Bowen,  who 
was  born  November  9,  1814,  were  natives  of  the 
State  and  county  in  which  their  son  dates  his  na- 
tivity. The  father's  death  occurred  January  4, 
1848,  and  the  mother's  on  November  5,  1865. 
They  breathed  their  last,  and  found  their  final  rest- 
ing place  in  this  county.  To  them  were  born  five 
children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  onl}'  one  liv- 
ing at  the  present  writing. 

Mr.  Bowen  came  with  his  parents  to  this  place  in 
November,  1861,  having  for  a  siiort  time  previous 
to  their  arrival  lived  in  Fairview,  111.    Before  com- 


ing West  the  father  purchased  land  on  section  4, 
Joshua  Township,  where  our  subject  now  resides, 
and  where  by  means  of  industry  and  natural  ability 
he  is  rapidly  increasing  his  fortune  through  each 
successive  year.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  en- 
listed in  the  late  war  in  the  month  of  August  in 
1SG2,  with  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Third 
Illinois  Regiment.  They  were  in  camp  at  Peoria 
for  a  time  before  marching  to  Bolivar,  Tenn.  His 
war  record  is  a  good  one.  and  he  served  his  coun- 
try faithfully  and  well  for  nearly  three  years,  and 
at  the  expiration  of  that  time  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  July,  1865,  having  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Atlanta,  Kingston,  N.  C,  Mission  Ridge, 
and  others  equally  famous. 

Mr.  Bowen  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Davis  in 
Fairview,  on  October  17,  1867.  She  was  born  July 
3,  1845,  and  is  a  highly  cultivated  and  attractive 
lady,  having  done  much  by  her  devotion  to  her 
husband  to  assist  him  to  his  present  success.  To 
them  have  been  born  eight  children,  of  whom  those 
living,  are  as  fallows:  Bell,  born  August  29,  1868; 
John  Nelson,  January  15,  1873;  Albert,  June  19, 
1876;  Lawrence,  August  6,  1878;  Ida  May,  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1885;  and  Clara  Alice,  September  20, 
1886. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  owns  a  valuable  estate, 
comprising  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  highlj' 
cultivated  land,  and  in  connection  with  his  agricul- 
tural pursuits  devotes  much  time  to  stock-raising. 
A  sketch  of  his  life  is  a  plain  statement  of  the 
height  to  which  integrity  of  purpose,  undaunted  en- 
ergy, and  generosity  of  feeling  can  elevate  a  man. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  useful  citizens  in  this  com- 
munity, and  one  whom  the  people  appreciate  and 
highly  esteem. 


-^^ 


^  l»,ILLIAM  STEPHENS,  a  retired  farmer  re- 
\/\///  s'f''"S  '"  Astoria,  is  one  whose  life  presents 
VW  ^  picture  of  persistent  industry  crowned 
with  financial  success.  He  has  accumulated  a  fine 
property,  surrounded  his  loved  ones  witii  every 
comfort,  and   now  in  tiicir   midst  is   eMJoyiiig  tlie 


688 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


merited  ease  and  leisure  won  by  his  years  of  in- 
dustry. His  landed  estate  consists  of  live  liundred 
acres  of  finely-improved  pasture  and  timber  land 
in  Woodland  Townsliip,  besides  two  liundred  and 
forty  acres  of  swamp  land  on  the  Illinois  River 
bottom,  together  with  the  commodious  grounds 
which  surround  his  pleasant  dwelling. 

Mr.  Stephens  is  of  southern  birth  and  ancestry. 
His  grandparents,  Rev.  John  and  Ellen  (Riordan) 
Stephens,  were  natives  of  Virginia,  whither  the 
former  removed  to  Kentucky  in  earl}'  manhood 
becoming  a  pioneer  settler  of  Campbell  County. 
He  bought  a  tract  of  timber  land  six  miles  from 
Covington,  and  devoted  a  portion  of  his  time  to 
clearing  it  and  the  remainder  to  the  spread  of  the 
Gospel.  He  organized  societies  in  different  parts 
of  tlie  State,  doing  a  noble  work  in  promulgating 
the  doctrines  of  the  P)aptist  Church  on  tlie  frontier. 
He  and  his  wife  died  on  the  farm  which  was  their 
home  for  many  years.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Stephens 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Booneville.  For 
some  time  after  they  settled  there  the  Indians  were 
numerous  and  hostile  and  the  few  settlers  built  a 
stockade  in  whicli  the  families  gathered  for  protec- 
tion. Whin  the  men  went  to  tlie  fields  they  ahvaj's 
carried  their  guns  with  them,  and  at  various  times 
while  the  men  kept  guard  the  women  would  tend 
the  garden*. 

James  Stephens,  one  of  the  members  of  the  fam- 
ilv  of  this  worth V  couple,  was  the  second  son  of 
the  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  born  in  Campbell 
Count}-,  K}'.,  in  the  year  1801,  and  continued  to 
reside  there  until  1836.  He  then,  with  his  wife 
and  four  children,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  the  familj- 
journeying  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  a  yoke  of  oxen 
with  a  horse  in  the  lead.  They  brought  their 
household  goods  with  them,  camping  by  the  way, 
and  in  June  reached  their  destination  in  McDonough 
County.  After  residing  in  Industry  Township 
two  years  they  changed  their  residence  to  this 
count}'.  Mr.  Stephens  purchased  one  hundred  acres 
of  tiniber  land  on  section  22,  Woodland  Township, 
for  which  he  paid  §.3  per  acre.  To  this  landed 
estate  he  added  from  time  to  time  until  he  possessed 
nearly  four  hundred  acres,  the  greater  portion 
being  iraproTed  and  pasture  land.  He  was  very 
industrious  and  possessed  of  good  judgment  and 


prudent  iiabits,  hence  his  prosperitj'.  He  resided 
on  the  liome  farm  until  his  death,  November  27. 
1876. 

The  niMiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Margaret  Peck,  married  in  1826.  Like  her 
iiusband  she  was  a  native  of  Campbell  County,  Ky.. 
and  of  Virginia  parentage.  Her  paternal  grand- 
father was  a  native  of  German}',  who  came  to 
America  in  Colonial  days.  Her  father,  Peter  Peck, 
removed  from  the  Old  Dominion  to  the  county  in 
which  his  daughtei-  was  born,  when  that  region  w.as 
very  sparsely  settled,  and  assisted  in  its  develop- 
ment. He  served  in  the  War  of  1H12  in  Capt. 
Dick  Johnson's  company  under  Gen.  Siielb}-, 
fought  in  the  battle  of  the  Thames  and  saw  Tecum- 
seh  fall.  The  regiment  disbanded  at  Maiden, 
Canada,  and  he  having  lost  his  horse  a  day  or  two 
before,  was  obliged  to  walk  home.  It  was  in 
the  winter  season  and  he  suffered  extremely,  freez- 
ing his  feet  so  that  he  was  a  cripple  ever  afterward. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  finally  removed 
to  .McDonough  County,  111.,  where  he  spent  his 
last  years.  His  wife,  formerly  Mary  Beaver,  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  was  the  daughter  of  a  German 
gentleman  who  married  a  native  of  Virginia  and 
died  either  there  or  in  Kentucky. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  devoted  parent, 
carefully  rearing  her  ten  children,  on  whom  were 
bestowed  the  names  of  William,  Mary.  John  H., 
Peter,  Enoch,  Ellen,  Joseph.  George,  Angeline 
and  Francis  Marion.  She  breathed  her  last  at  the 
home  of  the  daughter  in  McDonough  County  and 
her  mortal  remains  were  interred  beside  those  of 
her  devoted  companion  in  the  cemetery  of  Wood- 
land Township. 

The  natal  day  of  our  subject  was  July  24,  1828. 
and  his  birthplace  Campbell  County.  Ky.  Having 
been  eighty  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his 
parents  to  this  Slate,  he  can  recall  the  incidents  of 
the  overland  journey.  At  that  time  wild  game 
was  plentiful  and  for  some  time  afterward.  As 
soon  as  large  enough  to  shoulder  a  gun  he  joined 
in  the, chase  and  has  killed  many  a  deer  in  the  con- 
fines of  this  county.  He  made  the  best  of  every 
opportunity  afforded  to  secure  an  education,  at- 
tending the  pioneer  schools  assiduously  in  the 
winter  season.     The  schoolhouse   was  of  a  nrimi- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


689 


live  fashion,  l)uilt  of  logs,  with  earth  and  stick 
cliiinnej',  a  huge  fireplace,  a  iionie-made  writing 
(leslc  aroiind  the  wail,  and  sial)  benclies. 

Mr.  Stephens  resided  in  Woodland  Township 
until  1853,  then,  April  3,  with  a  fau)ily  fronilpava, 
started  with  an  ox-tcam  for  Oregon.  They  made 
their  wa}-  across  Missouri,  crossing  the  Missouri 
River  at  St.  Joseph,  traversed  the  plains  and 
climbed  the  mountains,  crossing  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains the  4th  of  July,  and  safely  arriving  in  Lane 
County  after  seven  months'  travel.  The  ter- 
ritory included  in  the  ijopuloiis  States  of  Kansas, 
Nebraska,  Colorado  and  Wyoming  was  at  that 
time  inhabited  by  no  white  settleis,  but  was  the 
home  of  numerous  Indian  tribes  and  abounded  in 
deer,  antelope,  elk  and  buffalo.  The  herds  of  the 
latter  encountered  by  the  traveling  party  were  in- 
numerable. Our  subject  remained  in  Lane  County 
until  February,  1854,  then  went  to  Coos  diggings 
on  the  coast  where  he  prospected  with  but  little 
success  until  spring.  In  April  he  returned  to  Lane 
County,  thence  going  to  Yreca,  Cal.,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  mining  until  September,  1858.  He 
then  returned  to  his  former  home,  via  the  Isthmus 
and  New  York  City. 

Mr.  Stephens  spent  the  winter  in  Woodland 
Township  and  m  the  spring  of  1859  went  to  the 
Territory  of  Kansas,  where  he  bought  five  hundred 
acres  of  land  located  in  Linn  County,  but  sojourned 
there  only  a  short  time.  The  following  year  he 
again  left  his  home  in  this  State,  bought  more  land 
in  Kansas  and  then  made  another  trip  across  the 
plains,  this  time  to  Colorado.  There  he  prosjiected 
and  mined  for  gold  but  without  very  great  success. 
He  became  the  owner  of  one  hundied  and  fifty 
square  yards  (;n  the  present  site  of  Leadville,  where 
the  "black  sand,"  as  the  miners  termed  it,  was 
verj'  hard  to  separate  from  the  gold  and  was  after- 
ward found  to  be  silver  ore.  In  the  fall  of  the 
year  he  sold  his  interest  there  for  a  small  sum  and 
returning  to  the  State  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  "Woodland  Township,  upon 
which  he  resided  until  1S64.  He  then  removed  to 
Kerton  Township,  but  a  year  later  again  took  up 
his  abode  in  Woodland  Township,  where  he  con- 
linued  to  live  until  1873.  He  next  rented  his  faru), 
removed  to  McDonough  County,  bought  one  hun- 


dred and  sixty  acres  in  Mound  Township  and  car- 
ried on  his  agricultural  work  there  until  1890,  when- 
he  determined  to  retire  from  at;tive  labor,  and  pur- 
chased his  present  residence. 

Politically  .Mr.  Slephens  has  always  been  ,'.  Demo- 
crat; he  is  now  a  member  of  the  County  Central 
Committee.  In  McDonough  County  he  represented 
Mound  Townshii)  on  the  County  Board  of  Super- 
visors several  terms,  also  Woodland,  his  future 
home,  and  w.as  recognized  as  a  faithful  and  efficient 
member  of  the  Board.  lie  is  one  of  the  most' 
widel}'  informed  men  of  the  county,  being  a  great 
reader,  a  deei)  triinker,  and  in  the  habit  of  weighing 
well  the  items  of  information  which  he  gathers  in 
their  bearings  u|)on  the  various  departments  of 
labor  and  existence.  An  hour  spent  in  his  society 
is  fruitful  of  entertainment  and  instruction,  and 
many  friends  are  pleased  to  avail  themselves  of 
opportunities  to  couver.se  with  him. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Stejihens  includes  a  wife  and 
six  children,  the  latter  bearing  the  names  of  Mar- 
garet, Ettie,  James  W.,  Helena,  Oluey,  and  Jcseph 
W.  Mrs.  Stephens  was  born  in  Knox  Count}-, 
Ohio,  in  1840,  and  was  known  in  her  maidenhood 
as  Mary  Welker.  Her  father,  David  AVelker,  a  na- 
tive of  the  Keystone  State,  was  quite  }'Oung  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Ohio,  locating  near  Mil- 
wood.  He  remained  in  that  State  until  1853,  then 
came  to  Central  Illinois,  spending  the  remainder 
of  his  life  in  Kerton  Township,  this  county. 

Mr.  Welker  married  I\Iarga.r('t  Darling,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  who,  like  her  husband,  spent  her  declining 
years  in  this  county.  Ilcr  father,  Abraham  Dar- 
ling, w.as  born  in  Virginia,  and  his  father,  William 
Darling,  was  either  of  Scotch  ancestry  or  born  in 
Scotland.  The  latter  located  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  securing  large  tracts  of  land  there.  During 
the  early  settlement  of  Ohio  he  removed  thither, 
purchasing  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Knox  County, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  Abra- 
ham Darling  inherited  considerable  propeity  and 
with  others  established  the  Owl  Creek  Bank,  one 
of  the  earliest  banking  institulions  in  that  section 
of  the  country.  When  it  collapsed  he  was  obl^ed 
to  settle  all  claim--,  being  the  only  stockholder  of 
any    wealth,      lie    reside  1    in    Knox   County   until 


690 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1863,  then  came  to  Illinois  and  during  the  remain- 
der of  his  life  lived  in  tliis  county. 

Miss  Mary  Weliiej',  now  Mrs.  Stephens,  was  thir- 
teen years  old  wlien  slie  came  to  this  county  with 
lier  parents.  Four  years  later  she  was  married  to 
Adam  Marklej'.  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  was  but  a 
child  when,  in  1840-41,  his  parents,  David  and 
Kebecca  (Butler)  Markley,  came  hither.  He  was 
reared  in  Kerton  Tovvnshi|),  wliere  at  the  time  of 
his  marriage  he  owned  a  farm  upon  which  he  lo- 
cated, living  there  until  liis  dcatli  in  186('.  The 
marriage  resulted  in  the  birth  of  two  children,  one 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  other,  Mary  L., 
is  the  wife  of  Charles  Combs  and  resides  in  Elk 
County,  K.ar. ;  she  and  her  mother  still  own  the 
Markley  homestead  of  one  hundred  and  eighty 
acres.  The  marriage  of  our  subject  and  Mrs. 
Mary  Markley  was  celebrated  February  21,  1864, 
and  neither  has  had  cause  to  regret  the  event. 


fJESSE  R.  SHIPTON.  The  year  18.56  wit- 
nessed the  arrival  of  many  citizens  of  Ful- 
ton County,  who  are  now  thoioughly  identi- 
fied with  its  most  important  interests.  Of 
these  Mr.  Shipton  deserves  especial  mention.  In 
tracing  his  ancestry  back  a  few  generations,  we  find 
that  his  grandfather,  Thomas  Shipton,  was  an  Eng- 
lishman by  birth,  and  came  to  the  L'nited  States 
during  the  Revolutionary  War,  locating  in  Union 
County,  Pa.,  where  for  many  years  he  was  a  promi- 
nent citizen  and  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  His  wife, 
who  previous  to  her  marriage  bore  the  name  of 
Hannah  Spikeman,  was  also  of  English  descent,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  John  Shipton,  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  and  highly  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  The  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Swengel,  was  a  daughter  of  Michael 
and  Esther  (Hasinger)  Swengel,  and  was  a  direct 
descendant  of  a  German  Protestant  family,  who 
were  driven  from  the  Fatherland  because  of  their 
relifious  belief  during  what  is  known  in  history  as 
the  "Salzburger  Exodus."  The  branch  of  the  fam- 
ily froQB  which  they  descended,  located  in  Pennsyl- 


vania during  the  early  Colonial  years,  and  there 
many  of  the  descendants  continue  to  reside. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in  what  was  then 
Union  County,  but  is  now  Snyder  County.  Pa., 
November  11,  1828.  In  the  home  of  his  childhood 
he  continued  to  reside  until  eighteen  years  old, 
when  he  removed  to  the  eastern  part  of  Mifflin 
County.  He  had  in  the  meantime  learned  the  trade 
of  a  carpenter.  He  was  married  November  3,  1853, 
near  Lewistown,  Mifflin  County,  Pa.,  and  the  lady 
with  whom  he  united  his  destiny. was  Miss  Elizabeth 
Rothrock.  While  in  Mifflin  County,  Pa.,  he  con- 
tinued to  work  as  a  carpenter  for  a  time,  building 
a  number  of  beautiful  houses,  evincing  a  great  deal 
of  judgment  and  skill  in  architecture.  In  1855  he 
emigrated  to  Monticello,  Ind.,  where  he  farmed  for 
one  year,  and  then  located  in  Illinois,  where  he  has 
since  continued  to  reside. 

In  1856  our  subject  purchased  one  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  acres  of  valuable  land  situated  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  18,  and  here  was  a  log 
cabin.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  the  day  Buch- 
anan was  inaugurated,  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  tills  cabin,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until 
1867,  at  which  date  he  built  the  frame  house  that 
adorns  the  place  at  the  present  time.  He  afterward 
built  a  barn,  and  these  buildings  were  erected  by 
his  own  personal  labor  without  assistance  of  any 
kind.  As  the  years  passed  Mr.  Shipton's  prosper- 
ity continued  to  increase,  and  he  enlarged  his  real 
estate,  until  at  present  the  farm  upon  which  he  re- 
sides embraces  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres 
of  valuable  and  cultivated  land  ;uid  he  has  a  very 
beautiful  residence. 

Our  subject  is,  at  all  times,  and  in  all  ways  inter- 
ested in  worthy  causes,  and  never  fails  to  give  his 
influence  for  the  good  of  the  community  of  which 
he  forms  a  worthy  member.  A  popular  man,  es- 
teemed for  integritj'  and  a  worthy  nobleness  of 
purpose,  he  ranks  high  among  the  citizens  of  the 
county.  Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
great  influence  in  all  public  matters.  He  has  served 
his  township  as  Assessor,  Clerk,  and  also  as  Justice 
of  the  Peace  for  eighteen  years,  and  although  act- 
ing in  that  capacity  for  so  long,  sustains  a  reputa- 
tion as  a  peacemaker,  and  invariably  advises  settle- 
ment of  cases  without   litigation,    by  that   means 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


691 


effectiiiij  a  peaceable  and  quiet  enrling  in  a  niajor- 
ity  of  disagreements  between  parlies,  and  tliat  vvitli- 
out  cost. 

Wliile  Mr.  Siiipcon  is  a  failliful  and  devout  mem- 
ber of  tlie  Lutlieran  Cluireli,  and  would  through 
preference  constantly  attend  their  services,  still 
there  being  no  Lutheran  Church  convenient  to  his 
residence,  he  is  a  faithful  attendant  at  all  orthodox 
churches.  In  fact,  he  manifests  great  interest  in 
religious  matters,  working  early  and  late  for  the 
Sunday-s(thools,  of  which  he  has  been  iSuperinten- 
dent  for  twenty-five  years  or  more.  In  all  (irob- 
ability,  he  has  done  more  for  the  benefit  of  thnt 
cause  than  any  other  individual  in  the  township, 
and  he  also  is  active  in  advancing  the  educational 
interests  of  the  communit\-  being  a  School  Director. 
Mr.  Shipton  was  forced  to  give  up  the  companit)n 
of  his  life,  she  being  claimed  by  death,  on  March  7, 
1885.  Mrs.  Shipton  was  a  religious  woman  in  the 
full  sense  of  the  word,  and  a  true  wife.  Her  death 
was  caused  by  pneumonia,  and  her  remains  rest  in 
the  Randall  grave-yard,  whit^h  is  located  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  18. 

When  about  ten  years  old,  our  subject,  accom- 
panied by  a  younger  brother,  ventured  forth  in  the 
mountainous  country  in  wliich  they  resided.  Jour- 
ueying  ahmg  with  the  happy  hearts  and  cheerful 
laughter  of  childhooil,  and  gathering  huckleberries 
and  the  graceful  golden-rod,  they  were  very  much 
alarmed  1o  see  suddenly  appear  before  them  two 
large  and  ferocious  bears;  upon  perceiving  the  boys, 
the  bears  commenced  roaring  like  lions.  Instantly 
the  lads  hastened  homeward,  and  told  the  circum- 
stances to  their  father,  who  thought  that  doubtless 
the  whelps  were  close  by. 

The  'Squire  has  partially  retired  from  farming, 
and  lets  out  most  of  his  land  on  shares,  though  he 
continues  to  keep  a  number  of  liorses.  He  also  is 
interested  in  bee  culture,  and  keeps  a  number  of 
stands.  These  duties,  together  with  his  official 
business,  occup\'  his  time.  A  mark  of  his  handi- 
work is  shown  upon  the  map  of  Fulton  County 
published  in  1870.  He  there  drafted  the  Spoon 
River  from  the  eastern  part  of  Farmers  Township, 
to  the  middle  line  of  secti(jn  17,  Bernadotte  Town- 
ship, as  is  shown  on  the  ma|)  above  mentioned.  In 
fact,  it  would  be  impossible  in  so  brief  a  space   to 


render  full  justice  to  the  many  jiersonal  qualities 
that  have  endeared  'Squire  Shipton  to  a  host  of 
warm  friends. 


MM^ 


\tS5^  ENXIS  NEVILLE.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  an  agriculturalist  of  in-ominence 
who,  notwithstanding  the  reverses  and  dis- 
couragements that  almost  invariably  attend  the 
career  of  bread-winners  throughout  the  world,  has 
come  boldly  to  the  front,  and  with  the  push  and 
energy  characteristic  of  him,  has  surmounted  all 
difBculties.  He  is  at  the  present  writing  a  pros- 
perous fanner  and  stock-raiser  and  is  held  in  the 
highest  esteem  by  neighbors  and  friends  in  Joshua 
Township. 

On  the  12th  of  November,  1834,  Mr.  Neville 
was  born,  being  the  son  of  Patrick  and  Johanna 
Neville,  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  At  an 
early  day  they  bade  farewell  to  County  Lim- 
erick, wliere  the^^  were  born,  and  journeyed 
forth  to  find  a  home  in  tlie  broad  and  prosperous 
country  of  America.  I'pon  reaching  the  new  land, 
they  settled  at  St.  Johns,  New  Brunswick,  and  there 
continued  to  reside  for  one  year.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time  they  crossed  over  to  the  States, 
and  choosing  ^Maryland  as  a  desirable  place  to  live, 
located  there,  about  ten  miles  from  the  city  of  Bal- 
timore. 

The  parents  of  oiu'  subject  was  blessed  with  tliir- 
teen  children,  four  of  whom  were  born  in  Ireland, 
one  in  St.  Johns,  and  the  others  in  Marylaiul. 
About  June  1,  18.3.i,  the  family  removed  to  Illinois, 
and  purchased  land  on  the  northern  part  of  section 
22,  in  Joshua  Township.  After  about  eight  years 
passed  happily  here,  the  father  departed  this  life, 
having  attained  to  the  age  of  sixty-five  years,  and 
nine  years  later  the  mother  followed  her  husband 
to  a  final  resting  place,  she  being  at  the  time  of 
her  death  sixty  seven  years  of  age.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  remained  with  his  parents  up  to  the 
time  of  their  death,  being  a  most  devoted  son  and 
constant  in  his  attentions. 

Mr.  Neville  was  married  on  February  27,  1865, 
to   Miss    Frances    Murray,    whose    birth    occurred 


6!)  2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Aujiust  23.  1840.  Of  this  union  seven  children 
have  been  born,  namely  :  Mar3',  February  1 9, 1 866  ; 
John,  who  was  born  May  22,  IS*;?,  is  deceased: 
John,  born  May  3,  1868;  Edward,  October  30, 
1869;  Frances,  .January  2,  1872;  Celestine,  Janu- 
ary 3,  1875,  and  (Stephen,  December  27.  1877. 
Tliese  children  are  all  at  home  at  the  present 
date. 

^=^EORGE  F.  RICE  is  one  of  r.he  most  public- 
jll  ,;— ,  spirited  and  enterprising:  citizens  of  Orion 
^^  Townshi|),  and  takes  a  leading  part  in  its 
agricultural  interests,  and  besides  successfully  grow- 
ing grain  and  raising  stock,  sells  agricultural  im- 
pk'ments,  buys  and  ships  a  large  quantity  of 
grain,  and  also  ships  a  great  many  hogs  and  cattle; 
and  is,  indeed,  a  potent  factor  in  sustaining  the 
financial  prosperity-  of  file  count}'. 

Mr.  Rice  was  born  October  25,  1851,  in  Perry 
Count}-,  Pa.  The  earlj'  years  of  his  life  were  passed 
in  liis  native  State,  where  he  gleaned  a  substantial 
education,  and  acquired  an  excellent  knowledge  of 
agriculture.  He  was  attracted  to  the  great  State  of 
Illinois  by  its  exceptional  agricultural  facilities,  as 
he  shrewdly  believed  that  on  its  fertile  acres  suc- 
cess awaited  his  efforts  and  in  1872  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Orion  Township,,  a  very  favorable  lo- 
cality for  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  been  closely  identified  with  those  inter- 
ests, and  no  one  has  worked  hai-der  to  advance 
them.  He  has  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  lO.that  has  many  valuable  improve- 
ments in  the  way  of  neat  and  well  arranged  build- 
ings, the  best  of  farming  machinery,  and  the  soil 
is  under  admirable  tillage.  Mr.  Rice  devotes  much 
of  his  time  to  the  raising  of  stock,  and  is  also  en- 
gaged in  selling  agricultural  implements,  as  before 
mentioned.  He  buys  a  large  amount  of  grain  and 
stock  every  j'ear,  and  ships  them  at  Breed's  Station, 
sending  as  manj-  as  sixty  car-loads  of  hogs  to  tiie 
markets  in  1889,  over  one  hundred  cars  of 
grain,  and  about  a  thousand  bushels  of  clover  seed. 
His  business  is  directed  by  sound  discretion  and 
far-seeing  judgment  that  have  placed  him  among 
the  moneyed  men  of  the  township. 


In  the  establishment  of  his  pleasant  home  Mr. 
Rice  has  received  the  able  assistance  of  a  most  ex- 
cellent wife,  to  whom  he  was  united  in  marriage 
October  12,  1872.  Mrs.  Rice's  maiden  name  was 
Alice  Kelly  and  she  is  a  daughter  of  J.  B.  and 
Rachael  Kelly,  one  of  the  oldest  pioneer  families  of 
Orion  Township,  (for  further  particulars  see  sketch 
of  Stephen  A.  Kelly  which  is  found  elsewhere  in 
this  work).  The  home  circle  of  our  subject  and 
his  wife  is  completed  bj-  their  two  children.  Earl 
Edmond,  a  lad  of  thirteen  years  and  William  Elmer 
who  is  twelve  j-ears  of  age. 

It  is  to  the  men  of  push  and  energy  like  our 
subject,  that  Orion  Township  owes  its  progress 
and  its  present  good  financial  standing  among  its 
sister  townships  in  the  count}-.  Our  subject  is  a 
resolute,  wide-awake  man,  whose  forcible  character 
has  placed  him  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  prosperous 
and  well-to-do  citizens  of  the  township.  He  is  a 
man  of  intelligent,  independent  views,  especially  in 
regard  to  politics,  his  opinions  in  regard  to  the 
proper  conduct  of  public  affairs  coinciding  with 
the  principles  promulgated  by  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  taken  an  important  p:irt  in  the 
management  of  the  Orion  Grange  and  is  treasurer 
of  that  organization.  He  is  also  identified  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  being  a  member  of  Glasford 
Lodge. 


^^EORGE  M 
[If  1^=;  ductor  on 
^^^    tween  Ha- 


lEORGE  MESSLER,  for  several  years  a  con- 
on  tlie  Narrow  Gauge  Railroad  be- 
^^^4  tween  Havana  and  Galesburg,  is  now  num- 
bered among  the  residents  of  Cuba.  He  was  born 
here  November  15,  1856,  and  received  a  com- 
mon-school education,  early  abandoning  the  pur- 
suit of  knowledge  in  school  to  undertake  his 
personal  support  and  advancement.  His  first  oc- 
cupation was  at  farm  work,  but  he  subsequently 
became  a  practical  druggist.  He  finally  embarked 
in  railroad  work,  following  it  for  nine  years,  but 
at  this  writing  he  is  not  actively  engaged  in  any 
business. 

Benjamin  W.  Messier,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Mai'iland  in    1 808,  and  died  in  Cuba 


PORTRAIT  AND  HIOURAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


&93 


January  20.  1871.  His  occupation  w;is  iliuL  ol  ;i 
farmer.  He  married  Marj'  E.  Cline,  a  n.Uivo  of 
Rockingliam  County,  Va.,  wlio  was  liorn  in  1820. 
Tlie  marriage  was  solemnized  in  Montgomery 
County,  Ohio,  in  1837,  and  tlie  couple  made  their 
home  there  until  1842.  Tiiey  then  removed  to  this 
county,  and  Mrs.  Messier  still  makes  her  home  in 
Cuba.  The  parental  family  consists  of  six  chil- 
dren, the  subject  of  this  notice  being  the  youngest. 
Hannah,  the  firsc-born,  lives  south  of  Cuba;  she  is 
the  widow  of  William  H.  Heller  and  has  three  chil- 
dren. Elizabeth,  widow  of  Henry  Heffner.  has  six 
children  and  her  home  is  in  Beardstown.  John 
C.  married  Alinira  Holmes,  who  has  borne  him  four 
children;  theii  home  is  in  Saline  Count}',  Neb. 
William  G.,  who  married  Louisa  Wright,  lives  in 
Chatswurth  and  has  three  children.  Frank  makes 
his  home  in  Farmington;  he  married  Sarah  Mc- 
Lean and  has  two  children. 

On  March  20,  1883,  Mr.  Messier  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Louie  M.  Chapman.  This  lad}' 
was  born  ul  Macomb,  McDonough  Count}-,  March 
8,  18o8,  and  acquired  a  good  education  in  the  pub- 
lie  schools.  She  remained  at  her  birthplace  until 
1880,  when  she  came  to  Cuba,  where  she  continued 
to  reside  until  three  years  after  her  marriage.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Messier  then  removed  to  Havana,  but 
after  sojourning  there  five  years  returned  to  tlieir 
former  home,  with  whose  interests  they  have  been 
identified  up  to  the  present  day.  They  have  had 
two  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
lad  who  now  brightens  their  home  by  the  untiring 
activity  of  childhood  bears  the  name  of  Lloyd, 
and  was  born  March  18,  188fi.  Mrs.  Messier  be- 
longs to  the  Christian  Ciiurch  and  has  been  an  ac- 
tive worker  in  the  Sunday-school,  where  her  en- 
ergy of  character  and  devt)tion  to  the  cause  liave 
made  themselves  felt.  Mr.  ftlessler  is  a  member 
of  the  Order  of  Railroad  Conductors.  Outside  of 
the  enjoyments  of  his  home  life  he  finds  his  great- 
est pleasure  in  hunting  and  fishing,  for  which  sports 
he  has  a  decided  liking,  and  in  h  hieli  he  manifests 
great  skill. 

The  parents  of  Jlrs.  Messier  were  Corydon  C.  and 
Margaret  Marietta  (Clarke)  Chapman.  Mr.  Chap- 
man was  born  in  Ohio  in  1834  and  is  one  of  eight 
children   comprising    the   family  of  Jacob  Kimble 


and  Julia  (Griffith)  Chapman.  He  was  descended 
from  one  Henjamin  Chapman,  who  lived  in  Eno-- 
land,  and  whose  three  sons,  leaving  their  parental 
home,  went  to  different  countries  in  Europe.  One 
located  in  France,  one  in  Ireland  and  one  in  Scot- 
land. At  the  death  of  their  father  a  large  fortune 
was  left  to  the  three  sons,  but  before  the  eldest 
could  return  from  France  the  estate  had  been  con- 
fiscated by  the  English  Government.  The  sons 
finally  came  to  the  United  States,  he  who  is  the 
progenitor  of  our  suiiject  locating  near  Salem, 
Mass.,  where  he  resided  dining  the  period  of  the 
witchcraft  and  persecution. 

Corydon  C.  Chapman  came  to  Macomb,  III.,  in 
1853,  and  there  made  his  home  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  a  carriage  and  w.agon-maker  by 
trade,  an  excellent  workman  in  that  line,  and  a 
natural  genius  in  the  use  of  tools  and  all  manner  of 
handicraft.  For  some  years  ho  lived  in  Chicago, 
where  his  widow  now  makes  her  home.  He  died  at 
Mendon,  Mich.,  November  15,  1888.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Republican.  Mrs.  Chapman  was  born  in 
Macomb,  111.,  October  17,  1839.  In  her  youth  she 
was  one  of  the  chief  ornaments  of  the  society  of 
Macomb,  as  she  was  blessed  with  good  looks,  intel- 
ligence and  winning  w.ays;  and  she  is  still  very  at- 
tractive in  appearance  and  manner.  She  is  a  faith- 
ful member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Mrs.  Messier  is  the  oldest  of  the  children  now 
living.  Annie  makes  her  home  in  Chicago;  John 
married  Annie  Rouse  an<l  lives  in  Macomb;  Lizzie 
is  the  wife  of  Elmer  F.  Rinear,  living  in  Chicago; 
Fred  and  Harry  arc  also  in  Chicago  with  their 
mother. 


^^€z 


z^ 


AVID  S.  LITTLEJOHN.  The  substantial 
and  well-to-do  citizens  of  Bernadotte  Town- 
ship have  no  better  representative  than  our 
subject,  who  stands  high  among  the  keen,  pro- 
gressive business-like  farmers  and  stock  raisers  who 
are  so  ably  conducting  the  extensive  agricultural 
interests  of  this  part  of  the  county.  His  father, 
Abraham  Littlej'ohn,  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1801. 


G94 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


His  mother,  Sarah    Littlejohn,  was   born  in   1799, 

and  all  tiact'S  of  her  nativity  are  lost,  for  lliough 
she  is  still  living  at  an  advanced  age  her  mental 
faculties  are  clouded  by  paralysis,  and  she  is  not 
able  lo  tell  where  she  was  born.  The  i)arents  of 
our  subject  came  to  Fulton  County  in  1839,  and 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Bernadotte  Town- 
ship, he  buying  here  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  on  section  13.  His  useful  and  busy  life 
was  brought  to  a  close  when  scarcely  passed  its 
[)rime  in  the  year  1852.  His  widow  now  lives  with 
Isaac  Harris,  her  son-in-law,  whose  sketch  will  be 
found  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

(Jur  subject  was  born  Januarj-  25,  1836,  in  the 
pioneer  home  of  his  parents  in  Clark  County,  Ohio, 
and  he  was  scarcely  three  )-ears  of  age  when  the}- 
brought  him  to  Fulton  County.  He  remained  with 
them  until  he  w,as  twenty'  years  old,  gleaning  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  this  township- 
At  that  age  he  began  the  battle  of  life  on  his  own 
account,  and  for  a  j'ear  worked  for  his  brother 
by  the  job.  After  that  he  rented  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  acres  on  section  24,  P>ernadotte  Townshiii. 
and  was  actively  engaged  in  carrying  it  on  for  one 
3'ear.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  returned 
lo  the  parental  home  and  for  five  or  six  years  man- 
aged his  father's  farm.  We  next  hear  of  him  in 
McDonough  County,  where  he  farmed  as  a  renter 
for  two  years.  In  the  fall  of  18G4  he  made  a  trip 
to  the  West,  saw  much  of  the  country  and  enjoyed 
his  journey.  He  returned  in  18(i5,  and  bought 
seventy-two  acres  of  Innd  on  section  24.  which  is 
included  in  his  present  substantial  farm.  This 
comprises  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  as 
rich  and  productive  farming  land  as  can  be  found 
in  the  county.  Seventy-two  acres  of  it  are  on  sec- 
ond bottom  land,  where  he  has  his  house  and  im- 
provements. He  has  cleared  and  developed  this 
land  by  hard  labor  and  a  judicious  exi)enditure  of 
monej',  making  it  a  valuable  piece  of  property.  He 
has  a  Bne  two  story  frame  residence,  18x28  feet  in 
dimensions,  two  large  barns  G0x40  and  24x3G  feet 
in  dimensions,  full  of  hay  and  grain,  and  in  his 
feed  lot  he  has  a  large  windmill.  Mr.  Littlejohn 
devotes  some  attention  to  raising  stock,  and  he  has 
a  one-fourth  interest  in  a  fine  thorough-bred  Perch- 
eron-Isorman    horse.     Our  subject  is  a    thorough 


farmer   and    has   mastered    his  calling   in']  all   its 

branches.  He  has  done  this  by  strict  attention  to 
business  and  unceasing  labor.  He  is  known  as  a 
very  early  riser  as  ho  gets  up  and  does  half  a 
day's  work  before  breakfast.  He  is  a  true  Demo- 
crat in  politics  although  of  late  3'ears  he  has  not 
been  active  in  political  life.  He  has  held  the  office 
of  School  Diiector  fifteen  yeMrs,and  has  often  been 
urged  to  accept  other  public  |)Ositions  but  has  re- 
fused, as  the  management  of  his  affairs  requires  all 
his  attention. 

Mr.  Littlejohn  was  married  February  13,  1867, 
to  Mary  E..  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
Goudy.  Tl'.ey  have  three  children,  two  sons  and 
one  daughter,  all  of  whom  reside  at  home,  and  the 
following  is  the  record  of  their  birth:  Ellen,  born 
November  17,  1868;  Willie  E.,  August  13,  1870; 
and  Frank  C,  February  6,  1873. 


S.  ALDEN,  a  farmer,  the  center  of  whose 
.,  agricultural  work  is  on  section  18,  Lee 
"^^f'  Township,  has  lived  in  this  county  since  he 
was  about  two  j'ears  old.  He  was  liorn  in  Cattar- 
augus County,  N.  Y.,  December  4,  1840,  and  is  the 
oldest  son  of  Smith  D.  and  Sarah  E.  (I\un3'an) 
Alden,  "f  whom  further  m.ention  is  made  in  the 
sketch  of  H.  Alden,  on  another  page  of  this  Alblji. 
He  received  his  schooling  in  the  township  of  which 
he  is  now  a  respected  resident  and  assisted  his  fa- 
ther on  the  farm.  Here  he  has  remained,  improv- 
ing the  place  in  many  ways,  keeping  it  under  thor- 
ough cultivation  and  well  stocked  with  all  that  goes 
to  make  up  a  well-regulated  estate.  Mr.  Alden 
has  found  time  to  serve  his  fellow  citizens  in  vari- 
ous positions  of  responsibility.  He  has  been 
Township  Clerk,  School  Director  and  Highway 
Commissioner.  He  votes  the  Rt^publican  ticket, 
but  takes  no  active  part  in  political  affairs,  and 
socially,  has  membership  with  the  Jlodern  Wood- 
men of  America. 

The  ladv  who  shares  the  jovs  and  sorrows  of  our 
suV'ject  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary  L.  Barker. 
She  was  born  in  Grundy  County.  July  30,  1852, 
and  is  the    onlv    surviving   child   of  George    and 


r 

» 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


697 


Johanna  (Amos)  Barker.  Her  father,  who  is  be- 
lieved to  have  been  born  in  Kentucky,  died  Janu- 
ary l.j,  185.3.  Her  mother,  a  native  of  Indiana,  is 
'still  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alden  arc  the  parents  of 
eight  children,  of  whom  the  following  survive: 
George,  born  September  21,  1873;  William,  July 
29,  1875;  Cora,  September  17,  1877;  Milton,  Octo- 
ber 17,  1879;  Daisy,  October  U,  1881,  and  Clinton, 
June  27,  1888. 


^^ 


OSES  BURROWS.  Many  of  the  most  pa- 
triotic citizens  of  our  nation  have  emi- 
grated hither  from  foreign  lauds,  and 
among  them  are  some  of  the  stalwart  sons 
of  the  "Motlier  Countrj'."  With  kee;i  intuition 
they  have  foreseen  future  prosperit}'  in  America 
such  as  never  could  be  attained  ii;  their  own  land, 
and  coming  across  the  ocean  have,  almost  invari- 
ably, been  successful  in  their  undertakings.  Of 
this  thriving  class  Mr.  Burrows  furnishes  a  repre- 
sentative example,  being  prominent  in  tliis  county 
as  a  skillful  farmer  and  extensive  stock-raiser. 

The  birthplace  of  Mr.  Burrows  was  eight  miles 
west  of  Liver|)ool,  England,  and  the  year  thereof 
1829.  He  lived  on  his  native  soil  the  first  twenty 
j'ears  of  his  life,  and  at  an  early  age  began  to  sup- 
port himself.  When  about  nine  years  old  he  en- 
tered a  rope  factory,  where  he  remained  three 
years,  first  turning  the  wheel  for  tlie  spinner,  and 
working  in  all  |)arts,  except  spinning,  in  succession. 
He  received  eight  cents  per  day.  walking  two  and 
one-half  miles  to  the  factory  and  boarding  iiimself. 
At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  commenced  to  work  in 
a  shoe-shop  in  Liverpool,  and  there  lemained  for 
six  3-ears,  leaving  it  on  account  of  some  trouble 
with  the  firm. 

In  1849,  having  resolved  to  seek  a  home  in  the 
Jsew  World.  Mr.  Burrows  emigrated  from  England 
to  America.  After  landing  on  these  shores  he 
made  his  w!iy  across  the  countrj'  to  Illinois,  and 
established  iiimself  in  the  citj'  of  Lewistown.  Hav- 
ing served  an  apprenticeship  of  six  j'ears  as  a  shoe- 
maker in  Liverpool,  lie  was  tlioroughly  familiar 
with  the  trade   and   was  actively  engaged   in  this 


business  in  Lewistown  for  the  following  fifteen 
years. 

Tlie  nest  move  of  our  subject  was  to  rent 
a  farm,  comprising  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  one  and  one-half  miles  east  of  Lewistown. 
The  nest  year  he  rented  another  farm  of  tlie 
same  size,  of  Leonard  F.  Ross,  one  mile  south 
of  Lewistown.  He  conducted  his  farming  opera- 
tions there  three  years,  and  then  rented  eighty 
acres  of  land  of  Mrs.  Peters  for  the  ensuing  two 
j'ears.  Going  one  half  mile  south  of  that  place,  he 
subsequently  rented  an  eighty-acre  tract  of  land 
for  one  year.  We  next  hear  of  him  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  county,  where  he  rented  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  of  Leonard  F.  Ross.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  he  rented  one  hundred  and 
sisty  acres  of  Miss  IMelinda  Babbitt  for  one  year, 
and  then  invested  some  of  the  money  he  had  saved 
in  the  purchase  of  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section 
23,  Bernadotte  Township. 

The  pleasant  farm,  which  he  had  inirchased  with 
tlie  accumulation  of  years  of  labor,  Mr.  Burrows 
improved  and  resided  upon  seven  years,  then  tracled 
it  for  a  beautiful  estate  of  two  hundred  acres  on 
the  bottom  lauds  of  section  15,  where  he  now 
makes  his  home.  Its  level,  well-tilled  fields  pre- 
sent an  attractive  appearance,  which  is  further 
enhanced  by  the  substantial,  room}'  liuildiiigs  on 
the  place,  and  the  air  of  neatness  and  thrift  ever3-- 
where  noticeable.  Near  the  center  of  the  farm 
there  is  a  rise  of  land  or  mound  which,  with  excel- 
lent taste,  Mr.  Burrows  selected  as  a  site  for  his 
residence,  a  large  and  conveniently  arranged  two- 
story  frame  structure  and  one  of  the  most  pleasant 
homes  of  the  neighborhood. 

In  addition  to  his  homestead,  Mr.  Burrows  owns 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section 
11,  where  his  oldest  son  resides.  He  has  also  re- 
cently enlarged  his  landed  possessions  b}-  the  pur- 
chase of  eighty-one  and  one-half  acres  adjoining 
his  home  farm.  He  is  a  very  extensive  stock- 
raiser  and  keeps  so  much  stock  that  he  is  compelled 
to  buy  feed,  not  being  able  to  raise  enough  grain 
on  his  farm. 

The  lady  who  has  for  many  years  been  tiie  de- 
voted wife  of  Mr.  Burrows, liorn  the  maiden  name  of 
Ann  Hunter,  and  was  born  near  Liverpool.  England, 


698 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAl,  AMUM. 


November  18,  1834.  She  met  her  future  husband 
on  the  ship  en  route  to  America,  and  was  united 
in  mai'riage  with  liim  at  Lcwistown,  Ausrust  30, 
1849.  Their  pleasant  wedde()  life  has  been  abun- 
dantly blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  thirteen 
cliiidren.  of  whom  the  following  eleven  are  living: 
Thomas,  Mar\-  A.,  Sarah  A.,  James  A.,  Joseph, 
John, ^Martha,  George,  Moses,  Emma  and  William. 
They  are  all  located  in  Bcrnadotte  Township,  and 
by  their  useful  lives  reflect  credit  upon  their  early 
training.  Mrs.  Burrows  has  been  to  her  husband 
a  true  wife  and  to  their  children  a  wise  mother. 

As  every  loyal  citizen  thould,  our  subject 
takes  considerable  interest  in  politics,  and  is  a 
stanch  advocate  of  the  Republican  parly.  He  is 
public-spirited  r.nd  never  loses  an  opportunity  to 
advance  the  welfare  of  his  adopted  townsliip,  ma- 
teriall}-,  socially  or  religiously.  He  is  serving  as 
School  Director  and  is  zealous  and  efficient  in  edu- 
cational matters.  A  sincere  Ciu'istian,  the  iMetho- 
dist  Churcii  finds  in  him  one  of  its  best  members. 
He  is  a  Steward  of  the  Church  and  one  of  its 
Trustees.  He  is  very  generous  in  his  support  of 
the  same,  contributing  8100  this  year  toward  its 
support. 

A  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Burrows  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


/^APT.  CHARLES  A.  SMTPH.     Farmington 
III  has  its  fnll  quota  of  live   business  men   and 

^^^^  the  jewehy  trade  of  this  place  is  well  rep- 
resented by  Capt.  Smith,  the  enterprising  jeweler 
and  expert  watchmaker.  As  his  title  denotes,  Mr. 
Smith  was  a  military  man  and  w.as  for  a  long  time 
an  officer  in  Company  C,  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  of 
the  Illinois  National  Guards. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  on  Miller  Street,  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  August  12.  1851,  his  early  home 
standing  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  from 
that  of  Charlie  Ross,  the  boy  who  was  so  mysteri- 
ously kidnapped  several  years  ago.  His  father, 
Andrew  E.  Smith,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  He 
is  a  plasterer  by  trade,  and  alliiongh  nearly  sev- 
enty years  of  age  is  a   man  of  exceptional  activity 


and  is  still  following  his  calling  with  the  diligence 
of  a  man  of  thirty.  He  is  a  self-made  man,  a  great 
reader,  and  what  is  more,  remembers  nearly  every- 
thing that  he  reads.  Our  subject's  mother  was 
Mary  Ann  Nancrccde.  Her  father  was  Dr.  Nan- 
creede,  of  Philadelphia.  Pa.,  and  he  was  of  French 
extraction.  The  Smiths  were  of  Swedish  descent. 
The  great-grandfather  of  onr  sul)jeet,  Charles 
Smith,  helped  to  build  the  first  Swedish  Church  in 
America  and  was  one  of  the  Colonists  who  settled 
on  the  Delaware. 

When  a  lad  of  six  3'cars  the  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject brought  him  to  Farmington,  HI.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  of  this  place  and  also  the  High 
School  for  one  year.  He  then  began  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a  jeweler,  being  apprenticed  to  J.  H. 
Snyder,  who  at  that  time  was  a  jeweler  in  Farm- 
ington, and  is  now  of  Canton.  He  worked  for  him 
one  year,  when  his  emplo^'er's  health  failed  and  he 
went  to  California,  and  our  subject  went  to  Elm- 
wood  and  worked  out  a  regular  apprenticeship 
of  two  years  under  D.  S.  Brown.  Mr.  Smitli  then 
returned  to  Farmington  and  worked  under  Mr. 
Conver  for  one  3'ear  an<l  then  went  back  to  Elm- 
wood  to  take  ciiarge  of  Mr.  Brown's  jewelry  store 
while  tiie  latter  took  a  journey  in  the  East,  and  he 
managed  it  for  about  nine  months.  B}-  this  time 
he  had  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  trade 
and  was  anxious  to  set  out  in  the  world  and  make 
his  waj-  for  iiimself.  He  secured  a  position  at  Wy- 
oming, this  State,'  and  remained  there  for  some 
time.  He  next  sought  emplo3'ment  in  Chicago, 
but  failing  in  this,  came  back  to  Farmington  and 
re-engaged  with  Mr.  Conver. 

In  the  fallof  1872  Mr.  Smith  went  to  Wapello. 
Iowa,  and  obtained  a  situation  in  a  jewehy  store 
there.  Two  years  later  he  left  it  to  go  to  Marble 
Rock,  where  he  remained  a  short  time  and  the  next 
fall  made  his  way  to  the  southern  part  of  this  St.ate 
and  in  Kirkwood  was  employed  by  D.  K.  Kncss. 
By  his  faithfulness  aud  efficiency  he  gained  the 
confidence  of  his  employer,  and  was  sent  by  him  to 
take  charge  of  a  branch  store  at  Altoona.  He  man- 
aged it  admir.ably  for  a  period  of  five  years. 

While  at  that  place  Mr.  Smith  enlisted  in  Com- 
panj-  C,  Fourth  Regiment.  Illinois  National  Guards. 
From    the   rank  of  private   he   rose    to  be  Second 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


G99 


Lieutenant,  liolding  his  commission  under  Gov. 
Beveriflge.  and  from  Gov.  Cullora  received  a  eom- 
niis-'ion  as  Captain  of  liis  company.  He  possesses 
fine  ([ualiSeations  for  a  mililar\'  man,  having  a 
good  pli3'sique,  and  has  a  resolute  will,  keen  per- 
ception, a  quick  understanding  and  unflinching 
courage.  ^Vhen  he  was  acting  as  ca|)tain  of  his 
compan}-  tlie  great  railroad  strike  at  St.  Louis  oc- 
curred. Tiie  strikers  had  in  view  the  destruction 
by  fire  of  the  East  St.  Louis  stock  yards,  railway 
depot  and  yards,  roundhouses,  rolling  mills  and 
the  bridge  across  the  Mississippi  River.  Our  sub- 
ject was  placed  to  guard  the  stock  yai'ds  all  day 
Sundaj'.  Tiic  strikers  became  more  enraged  than 
ever  and  threatened  immediate  destruction.  No 
train  had  crossed  the  l)ridge  for  days  and  the 
strikers  swore  tliat  none  should  pass,  and  that  in  case 
a  company  should  make  an  attempt,  the^y  said  tiiey 
would  lilow  u|i  the  bridge  with  dynamite.  In  such 
an  emergency  notliing  but  absolute  courage  could 
save  the  city  from  destruction,  and  unless  the 
reader  be  a  military  man,  and  a  veteran  at  that, 
he  will  be  unable  to  appreciate  the  unflinching 
bravery  of  Capt.  Smith,  as  in  accordance  to  orders 
lie  led  his  company  right  into  the  centre  of  the 
bridge,  passing  through  the  vast  crowd  of  enraged 
men,  whose  oatlis  and  threats  filled  the  air  with 
terror  that  miglit  have  cowed  one  less  resolute. 

The  St.  Louis  papers  spoke  of  tiiis  daring  act  of 
bravery  in  the  highest  terms,  but  unfortunately  it 
a|)poars  that  the  reporters'  nerves  were  so  far  over- 
come as  to  prevent  tliem  from  getting  the  correct 
facts  as  to  the  company  and  its  valiant  leader,  so 
that  their  reports  of  the  charge  of  the  bridge  and 
their  descriptions  of  the  men  and  companies  en- 
gaged were  all  a  sad  conglomeration  of  confu- 
sion, and  our  subject  did  not  get  proper  credit 
for  what  he  had  done.  He  remained  in  St.  Louis 
until  tiie  riot  was  quelled  and  was  next  sent  with 
his  men  to  Galesbnrg  to  subdue  the  rioters  at  that 
place.  Having  settled  the  troubles  there,  his  com- 
pany and  also  tlie  Altoona  an<l  Kewanee  companies 
went  to  Kewanee,  wliere  an  imposing  reception  was 
tendered  the  brave  boys  who  had  saved  two  of  Illi- 
nois' municipalities  from  destruction  and  the  State 
from  anarchy. 

In  the  spring  of   1879   Mr.  Smith   came  back  to 


Farmington,  bringing  with  him  a  stock  of  jewelry, 
and  in  the  month  of  June,  1879,  opened  a  well- 
appointed  jewehy  store  and  has  since  built  up  a 
fine  business  in  iiis  line.  In  Slate  and  National 
politics  our  subject  votes  the  Republican  ticket, 
but  for  local  ollices  he  sn|)ports  tiie  man  whom  he 
judges  to  be  best  qualified  for  the  position.  He  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
and  is  at  jjresent  a  member  of  Farmington  Lodge, 
No.  192,  and  has  held  various  other  imiiortant  of- 
fices in  that  connection. 

Ca|)t.  Smith  was  married  in  1876  to  Miss  Hattie 
Inez,  daughter  of  Gaylord  and  Annette  (Barnes) 
Rider.  They  came  to  Farmington  about  thirty 
years  ago  from  their  native  Ohio.  The  father  was 
a  cabinet- maker  an  1  worked  in  a  slioj)  at  Farming- 
ton  at  one  time.  He  is  now  engaged  in  mining 
on  the  Pacific  Slope.  His  wife  died  in  1888,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-six  years.  They  had  tlie  following 
children:  Hattie,  Sadie,  Clara,  Ida,  Charles  Lester, 
Minnie,  who  died  in  infancy,  Frank,  George,  Nettie, 
and  Blanche  who  died  when  six  years  old.  Clara  is 
the  wife  of  Martin  S.  Mason,  of  Farmington,  and 
Charles  is  a  liorseman  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  The  rest 
are  residing  at  Farmington.  After  two  years  of 
wedded  life  iMrs.  Smitli  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  years.  Mr.  Smith  subsequently  married  her  sis- 
ter  Sadie,  and   they   have  one  child — Albert  Leon. 


HARLES  H.  MARTIN,  a   native-born   citi- 
.,  zen    of  this  county,  son  of  one  vf  its   hon- 

^^^7  ored  residents,  is  now  one  of  its  most 
jirominent  farmers  and  extensive  landowners.  His 
large  farming  and  stock-raising  interests  are  cen- 
tered in  Bucklieart  Township,  and  though  he  still 
superintends  the  management  of  his  farm  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  Canton  at  108  West  Pine  Street 
where  he  and  his  family  have  one  of  tlie  pleasanl- 
est  homes  in  the  city. 

Mr.  Martin  was  liorn  on  his  fatiier's  old  home- 
stead in  Bucklieart  Township,  April  'il.  1  8,')-2.  Ills 
father  was  an  old  pioneer  settler  of  this  part  of  Illi- 
nois. He  acquired  wealth  liy  iiidustiy  ;ind  good 
management  and  retired  to  Cantim,  where  he  made 


700 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


his  home  until  iiis  demise,  when  death  removed 
from  a  eoramunity  that  mourued  his  loss  one  of  its 
most  valued  citizens.  From  the  Canton  Register 
of  Jul}-  30,  1880,  we  glean  the  following  particulars 
concerning  the  accident  that  caused  his  death,  and 
an  appreciative  biographical  record  of  his  life  and 
work: 

•■Tiie  particulars  of  the  sad  event  are  as  follows: 
Mr.  Martin  was  on  his  wa^'  to  Owen  Gagiu's,  in 
Deerfield  Township.  He  was  driving  an  old  familj' 
horse  that  was  jierfectlj'  gentle,  and  had  never  been 
known  to  run  away.  When  he  approached  the 
bridge  across  Big  Creek,  near  the  gas  works  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  city,  his  horse  scared  at  a 
pile  of  stone  lying  at  the  east  end  of  the  bridge 
and  it  was  with  some  difliculty  that  Mr.  Martin 
urged  the  horse  past  the  stone  pile  on  to  the  bridge; 
at  the  west  end  of  the  bridge  there  was  a  similir 
stone  pile  and  when  about  halfway  across  the  horse 
again  shied  and  commonce<l  backing.  Mr.  Martin 
tried  to  urge  the  horse  forward,  but  in  vain.  The 
horse  continued  backing  until  it  backed  off  the 
south  side  of  the  bridge  on  the  east  end,  and  driver, 
carriage  and  horse  went  off  the  bridge  together. 
In  the  fall  Mr.  Martin  fell  out  of  the  carriage  and 
the  horse  fell  upon  him,  crushing  him  fearfully 
about  the  chest  and  stomach.  It  is  supposed  Mr. 
Martin  struck  head  first,  as  his  neck  was  liroken  in 
two  places. 

"Howard  JLartin  w.as  born  in  Orange  County, 
N.  Y.,  October  U,  18U.  and  had  he  lived  until  the 
14th  of  October  he  would  have  been  sevent3-six 
years  of  age.  He  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1836  and 
located  a  few  miles  west  of  Canton,  making  his 
residence  in  this  vicinity  extend  over  a  poi-iod  of 
forty-four  years.  On  .Tune  18,  1845,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Teletha  Putman  who,  with  two  chil- 
dren, a  daughter  and  a  son,  survives  hira.  Of  his 
father's  family  but  one  remains,  a  brother,  living 
west  of  Canton  in  Joshua  Township.  About  thir- 
teen j'ears  since  Mr.  Martin  gave  up  his  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  having  amassed  quite  a  fortune,  and 
removed  to  Canton,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
residence.  Perhaps  no  man  in  the  community  will 
be  missed  to  a  greater  degree  than  Mr.  Martin.  He 
was  a  kind-hearted,  generous  friend,  and  a  good 
neighbor,  ilearly    beloved   by  every  member  of  his 


family  and  by  a  large  circle  of  friends.  It  is  said 
that  no  man  ever  asked  Howard  Martin  for  financial 
aid  or  friendly  advice  in  vain.  A  man  of  large 
means,  he  was  in  a  position  to  extend  help  to  the 
needy  and  deserving,  and  in  cases  where  ho  could 
expect  no  return  fur  his  kindness  he  was  especially 
liberal. 

'•His  death  has  deepened  the  gloom  that  has 
fallen  ovei  tlie  community  occasioned  by  the  death 
of  other  prominent  and  well-known  citizens  in  the 
immediate  past,  and  it  will  take  time  fur  our  peo- 
ple to  fully  realize  all  that  they  have  lost  in  the  sad 
taking  oft'  of  Howard  Martin,  who  may  be  propei'ly 
st3'led  -one  of  the  noblest  works  of  God — an  honest 
man.' 

Leaves  have  their  time  to  fall. 
And  tlowers  to  wither  at  the  north  wind's  breath. 

And  stars  to  set — but  all, 
Thou  hast  all  seasons  for  thine  own,  O  Death.'' 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  at  Lewis- 
town,  the  county-seat,  in  October,  1823.  and  was 
the  first  white  female  child  born  in  the  county.  .She 
is  the  second  daughter  and  fourth  child  of  Elijah 
and  Elizabeth  (Duft')  Putman.  Her  parents  were 
born  in  the  South,  her  father  in  Kentucky  and  her 
mother  in  one  of  the  Carolinas.  They  were  among 
the  first  pioneers  to  locate  in  this  county,  coming 
here  in  1822.  The  Indians  were  very  numerous 
here  then,  and  there  were  but  few  settlements  in 
this  part  of  the  State.  Tn  184G  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Put- 
man removed  to  Iowa  and  settled  in  Davis  County, 
where  they  spent  their  remaining  d.a\s,  he  dying 
in  1863  and  she  in  1887.  Mrs.  Martin  resided  on 
the  home  farm  with  her  husband  until  their  re- 
moval to  Canton  and  now  she  and  her  daughter  are 
occu|)ving  the  family  residence.  She  is  a  woman 
of  great  i)ersunal  worth  and  is  highly  regarded  by 
all  around  her. 

Charles  Martin,  of  whom  we  writt,  was  reared  at 
his  birthplace  in  Buckheart  Township,  and  gleancii 
his  education  at  the  neighboring  school.  He  lived 
with  his  parents  until  he  attained  his  majoritN', 
when  he  married  and  eslablished  a  home  of  his 
own.  He  carried  on  farming  and  stock-raising  quite 
extensively,  raising  and  shipping  cattle,  hogs  and 
horses,  and  continued  to  live  on  his  farm  thus  act- 
ivel}'  engaged    until    1881,  when    he    removed    to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


701 


Canton,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  still  super- 
intends the  cultivation  of  his  farm,  however,  and 
has  nine  hundred  acres  of  chi>ice  laud,  the  most  of 
which  is  under  a  fine  stale  of  cultivation  and  is 
provided  with  buildings  of  a  substantial  order  of 
architecture. 

Mr.  Martin  was  married  to  Miss  Celinda  Ilasson, 
of  this  count}',  in  1874.  She  is  a  daughter  of. James 
Hasson  who  removed  from  New  York  to  this 
county.  They  have  a  family  of  four  children — 
Fred,  W3'le3',  Frank  and  Lee. 


iJHOMAS  S.  GENTLE.       In    all    the   broad 
ff(^<;\  expanse    of    the    Prairie  State   tliere  is   no 

_  count}'  which  affords  sustenance  to  a  greater 
number  of  agriculturists  than  this,  whose  produc- 
tive soil,  commercial  facilities  and  advanced  de- 
velopment make  it  pre-eminently  a  farmer's  home. 
One  of  its  comfortable  and  attractive  abodes  is 
that  of  the  subject  of  this  notice,  who  occupies  tlie" 
parental  homestead  in  Farmington  Township,  hav- 
ing an  undivided  interest  therein.  He  also  owns 
one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  acres  on  sections  14. 
and  15,  which  is  now  rented,  as  he  carries  on  the 
John  Gentle  estate. 

The  Gentles  were  originally  French,  settlement 
being  made  in  Mar3'land  by  members  of  the  family 
in  Colonial  times.  In  that  State  the  late  John  Gentle 
was  born,  accompanying  his  parents  to  Ohio  in 
1810  when  a  child  of  about  two  years.  He  grew 
to  manhood  near  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  marrying 
a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Louisa  Higdon.  Her  father,  Peter  Hig- 
don,  was  a  soldier  in  the  AVar  of  1812.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gentle  reared  a  family  of  nine  children,  hav- 
ing had  eleven  born  to  them.  They  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  their  family  in  18oo.  and  selecting  a 
location  in  Fulton  Count}-,  established  a  home 
from  which  the  husband  and  father  was  removed 
in  the  spring  of  1884.  The  widowed  mother  is 
still  living  and  has  now  reached  the  age  of  seventy 
seven  years.  She  makes  her  home  with  her  children. 

The  family  record  is  as  follows:  Mary  J.,  widow 
of  Jacob  Statliem,  lives  at  Normal;  Parthenia  E., 


Mrs.  Mottier,  resides  in  Gibson  City,  Ford  County; 
John  T.  Shotwell,  died  when  twenty-one  years  old; 
James  B.  married  Jliss  Maggie  JIcMullcn  and  had 
two  cliildren — Tliomas  II.  and  John  .N..  who  are 
now  inmates  in  the  home  of  our  sulijcct,  their  fp- 
llier  having  died  in  1879;  Thora:isSmilh  is  the  next 
in  order  of  birth;  Mrs.  Maggie  Bulger  lives  in  Gib- 
son City;  Julia  E.  died  when  twenty-seven  years 
old;  Ilattie  B.  is  the  wife  of  George  II.  Babbitt,  of 
Ashland.  Neb.;  Lulu  M.  married  Frank  Ashton 
and  their  home  is  in  Bryant,  this  State. 

Tiie  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was  born 
near  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  June  26,  1845,  and  was 
therefore  about  ten  years  old  when  he  came  to  this 
State.  He  began  his  school  attendance  in  Ohio  and 
continued  to  study  in  the  district  schools  of  Farm- 
ington Township.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years 
he  entered  Lombard  University  at  Galesburg,  ]jur- 
suing  his  studies  theie  four  terms.  He  had  an  ex- 
peiience  in  the  work  of  an  instructor,  teaching 
two  winter  terms  in  Peoria  and  two  in  Fulton 
County.  His  knowledge  is  amply  sufficient  to  en- 
able him  to  secure  a  fine  position  as  a  teacher,  but 
his  taste  does  not  lie  in  that  direction,  although  lie 
met  with  good  success  while  he  was  thus  employed. 

In  1876  Mr.  Gentle  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  L.  Kessler,  a  well  educated  lady  of 
estimable  qualities,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  but  edu- 
cated in  the  Canton,  111.,  High  School.  Her  father, 
W.  E.  Kessler,  a  native  of  Maryland,  went  to  the 
Buckeye  State  when  a  young  man,  learned  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter  and  established  himself  there. 
He  married  Miss  Kate  MeClain  who  bore  him  eight 
children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Gentle  is  the  eldest.  The 
Kesslers  came  to  this  county  and  for  several  years 
Jlr.  Kessler  was  engaged  in  farming  as  well  as  car- 
penter work;  he  is  now  living  in  Canton.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gentle  have  become  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, the  eldest  of  whom  is  now  about  twelve  years 
old.  They  are  named  respectively,  Anna  ^lay, 
Harry  J.,  Ralph  W.  and  Cieorge. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage  our  subject  set- 
tled on  the  homestead,  remaining  there  until  1881, 
when  he  purchased  ninety-five  acres  in  Ford  County 
and  removed  thither  where  he  remained  two  years 
when  he  came  back  and  settled  on  the  homestead. 
In  April,  1889,  he  sold  that  property  and  purchased 


702 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


his  present  estate.  He  was  appointed  administra- 
tor of  the  John  Gentle  estate  b}-  Judge  Boyd,  and 
also  of  that  of  his  brother.  James  B.  Gentle.  He 
has  a  decided  political  bent  and  works  earnestly  to 
promote  the  interests  of  Deraocracj-.  He  has  served 
as  School  Director  several  years  and  in  1889  was 
elected  Township  Supervisor.  He  bslongsto  Farm- 
ington  Lodge,  No.  192,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he 
filled  the  chair  of  Master  in  1875-76-77. 

Tlie  sterling  qualities  of  Mr.  Gentle  are  recog- 
nized by  all  who  l;now  him  and  his  genial  manners 
prepossess  strangers  in  his  favor.  He  is  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  welfare  of  his  children  and  future 
generations,  and  therefore  ready  to  bear  a  jiart  in 
all  those  movements  which  will  enhance  the  ma- 
terial, educational  and  moral  prosperity  of  the  na- 
tion. He  has  succeeded  well  in  worldl}-  affairs  and 
is  able  to  surround  his  faniih'  with  all  of  the  com- 
forts and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 


^fOIlX  W.  ERB.  This  county,  lilic  other  por- 
tions of  the  United  Stales,  is  largely  indebted 
to  citizens  of  foreign  birth  for  the  develop- 
ment of  her  agricultural  resources,  tlie  pro- 
motion of  the  cause  of  education  and  other  move- 
ments for  the  public  weal,  and  for  examples  of 
good  citizenship.  The  German  Empire  has  sent 
forth  many  sons  and  daughters  who  have  held 
prominent  and  honorable  places  among  the  num- 
ber. One  of  these  is  the  subject  of  this  biographi- 
cal notice,  wlio  occupies  a  farm  on  section  13, 
Deerfield  Township,  and  has  acquired  a  comfort- 
able estate. 

Philip  and  Calherine  (Schnur)  Krb.  the  parents 
of  our  subject,  were  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt, 
German}',  emigrated  to  America  in  1853,  and  lo- 
cated in  this  county  on  the  section  mentioned. 
There  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  in- 
dustry and  honor.  The  husband  breathed  his  last 
April  12,  1877,  and  the  wife  May  2,  1887.  The 
good  couple  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  our 
subject  being  the  third  son. 

The  natal  day  of  John  AV.  Erb  was  February  24, 


1834.  and  his  birthplace  the  province  in  which  his 
parents  also  had  opened  their  e3'es  to  the  liglit.  He 
attended  school  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  the 
Empire,  acquiring  a  good  practical  education,  to 
which  he  added  somewhat  after  he  was  brought  to 
this  country.  He  accompanied  his  parents  here, 
and  resided  under  their  roof,  assisting  his  father 
until  his  marriage  to  Catherine,  daughter  of  Lewis 
and  Catherine  (Bumbergar)  Martin,  which  occur- 
red April  19,  1860.  The  bride  was  born  in  Bied- 
ershausen,  Bavaria,  Germany,  February  1,  1840. 
After  a  brief  wedded  life  she  passed  away  Novem- 
ber 28,  1861,  leaving  a  daughter,  Anna,  born 
Maixh  22,  1861,  who  still  lives  with  her  fatlier. 

Mr.  Erb  was  again  married  May  13,  1862.  his 
bride  on  this  occasion  being  Anna  31.  .Schnur.  This 
lady  was  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  Au- 
gust 29,  1834,  being  the  second  child  and  eldest 
daughter  of  George  H.  and  Mary  M.  ( JIuhl)  .Schnur. 
Her  parents,  who  were  natives  of  the  same  province 
as  herself,  came  to  America  in  1841,  locating  in 
Ohio.  Four  years  later  they  removed  to  Adams 
County,  this  State,  and  from  that  time  until  called 
hence,  were  residents  in  Burton  Township.  Mrs. 
Schnur  died  Jul}'  6,  1864,  ami  .Mr.  Schnur  May  31, 
1884. 

Tlie  present  Mrs.  Erb  has  borne  her  husband  six 
children,  of  whom  we  note  the  following:  George 
llen:'3%  burn  March  4,  1863,  is  still  at  home;  Ella 
E.,  born  July  20,  1864,  is  the  wife  of  William  L. 
Elliott,  and  lives  in  Fairvitw  Township;  Emma 
Olivia,  born  September  12,  1866,  has  fitted  herself 
for  teaching,  attended  college  at  Carthage,  and  has 
taught  in  Joshua  and  Deerfield  Townships;  Amelia 
M.,  born  February  26,  1868,  has  taught  in  Deer- 
field and  Cass  Townships  for  tvvo  years,  and  has 
also  taken  a  term  of  instruction  in  shorthand  and 
typewriting  at  Dixon;  Maggie  M.,  born  March  19, 
1871,  has  been  attending  the  Northern  Normal 
School  at  Dixon;  William  E.,  born  January  24, 
1877,  died  February  12  the  same  year. 

Immediately  after  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Erb 
rented  a  farm  from  his  father,  occupying  it  iwo 
years,  after  which  he  removed  to  Adams  County. 
He  remained  there  until  1867,  then  returned  hither 
and  bought  land  on  section  13.  Deerfield  Township. 
In  1886  he  purchased   thirty    acres   jidjoiiiing  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


703 


farm  on  the  north,  and  took  up  his  residence  upon 
the  new  tract,  where  he  has  since  made  his  liomc. 
He  has  a  fine  frame  house,  and  in  many  wajs  im- 
proved the  place.  The  land,  most  of  whicli  lie  lias 
cleared  and  improved,  consists  of  one  hundred  and 
■  five  broad  acres  from  which  a  good  support  is  ob- 
tained an<l  the  famil}'  supplied  with  all  the  coni- 
forts  of  life. 

INIr.  Krb  has  taken  jzreat  ])ride  in  educating  his 
children,  and  fitting  tliem  for  usefulness  in  life. 
Th6  entire  family  belong  to  the  Lutheran  Churcli, 
in  which  the  father  has  been  Deacon.  Mr.  Erb  hiis 
been  a  Democrat  ever  since  he  can  remember,  and 
always  votes  the  straight  ticket.  He  belongs  to  the 
Joshua  Union  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance  The  only 
office  which  he  has  held  has  been  that  of  School 
I|>irector,  in  which  he  served  failhfnlly.  During 
the  Civil  War;Mr.  Erb  was  drafted,  and  paid  $900 
for  a  substitute. 


«  IfelLLIAM  C.  S.MITH.  Fulton  County  fur- 
\rJ/l  nished  its  full  quota  of  noble  men  to  the  rank 
W^  and  file  of  the  Union  Army,  among  whom 
our  subject  occupied  an  honorable  place.  He  is  now 
prosperously  pursuing  agriculture  in  Farmers  Town- 
ship, where  he  has  a  farm  comprising  one  hundred 
and  forty-three  acres,  upon  which  has  been  erected 
a  substantial,  roomy  residence,  a  good  granary  and 
such  other  buildings  as  are  needed  on  a  moilcru 
estate. 

Wayne 'County,  Ohio,  was  the  birthplace  of  Mr. 
Smith  and  the  date  of  his  birth  August  28,  1840. 
His  parents,  George  B.  and  Maria  (Spangler) 
Smith,  came  to  Illinois  from  the  Buckeye  .State  in 
1856,  accompanied  by  their  family  of  four  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  was  the  eldest.  They  spent 
the  ensuing  winter  in  Piatt  and  La  Salle  Counties, 
and  in  the  spring  of  18.57  Mr.  Smith  came  to  Far- 
mers Township,  this  count3',  and  for  a  number  of 
years  was  engaged  in  farming  as  a  renter.  He  finally 
bought  a  tract  of  land  and  in  the  course  of  years 
opened  up  a  valuable  farm,  making  all  the  improve- 
ments and  adding  to  it  from  time  to  time.  Here 
his  carlhlv  career  was  brought  to  a  close,  his  death 


rounding  out  an  upright  and  honest  life.  His 
widow,  who  i.s  now  seventy-one  years  old,  slill  oc- 
cupies the  old  hf)mestead  and  has  about  fifty  acres 
of  land. 

Our  subject  was  one  in  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
ilien.  and  he  pass.ed  his  earl\-  life  on  a  farm  until 
the  age  of  twerit\--two  years.  At  that  time  the 
great  Civil  War  was  raging  between  the  North 
and  South.  He  was  intensely  interested  in  watch- 
ing its  progress  and  August  7,  1862,  enlisted  in 
Company  A.  One  Hundred  ami  Thirty-third  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  and  was  with  his  regiment  until  he 
was  disabled  by  a  wound  received  in  the  line  of 
duty.  After  his  enlistment  he  went  to  Peoria  and 
in  October,  with  his  fellow-soldiers,  was  dispatched 
to  Cairo,  where  they  took  passage  on  a  boat  for 
Columbus,  Ky.  At  the  latter  place  they  embarked 
on  a  train  for  Jackson  and  Bolivar,  and  thence 
went  on  a  raid  against  the  rebels  in  the  direction  of 
Holly  Springs.  Thc^'  afterward  went  on  the  Cof- 
feeville  march  with  Gen.  Grant,  and  in  the  spring 
went  by  steamer  to  invest  Vicksburg.  landing  on  the 
banks  of  the  Yazoo  River  and  going  from  there  to 
the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  taking  an  active  part  in  the 
campaign  of  that  city.  After  it  fell  our  subject's 
regiment  went  to  Jackson  after  the  rebel  Gen. 
Johnston,  and  had  a  hard  fight  in  taking  the  place, 
.assaulting  the  works  and  taking  them  by  storm.  Our 
subject  then  returned  to  Black  River  and  in  the  fall 
of  1863  he  was  sent  with  his  regiment  to  reinforce 
the  Armj'  of  the  Cumberland  and  took  part  in  all 
the  engagements  to  the  taking  of  Savannah,  Ga., 
among  them  being  the  battles  of  Chattanooga,  Buz- 
zard's Roost,  Peach  Orchard  and  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Atlanta. 

Mr.  Smith  was  accidentally  wounded  by  an  axe 
in  the  hands  of  his  brother.  They  were  cutting  a 
tree,  standing  on  the  opposite  sides,  when  the  axe 
slipped  off  the  handle  and  sunk  into  our  subject's 
left  ankle  making  a  very  severe  wound.  He  after- 
ward accompanied  his  regiment  on  the  march  to  the 
sea  and  taking  a  boat  went  to  Bcaufoit,  S.  C,  and 
landing  there  marched  up  the  country  and  was 
present  at  the  surrender  of  Johnston.  After  that 
they  proceeded  to  Richmond,  thence  to  AVashing- 
ton,  where  our  subject  took  part  in  the  Grand  Re- 
view.  one  of  the  finest  military  displays  of  modern 


704 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


times.  He  wns  mustcrei  out  at  Louisville,  Ky., 
and  sent  to  Cliicago;  here  he  received  his  discharge 
papers  Jul}-  7,  1865.  He  Tpas  in  the  army  three 
years,  lacking  one  month,  and  liislmilitary  record 
was  that  of  a  courageous,  lo\al  soldier,  ^ho  did  his 
duty  in  whatever  position  he  occupied  regardless  of 
the  consequences  to  himself. 

A  very  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Smitli 
was  his  marriage,  in  1865,  to  Miss  Elizalieth  Cam- 
ron,  their  union  being  celebrated  at  the  bride's 
home.  Mrs.  Smith  is  the  daughter  of  James  and 
Elizabeth  Camron,  old  settlers  of  this  count}-. 
Seven  children  have  been  born  of  the  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife,  namely  :  Samantha  E.,  Lewis 
M.,  Mary  .Tane,  limina  May,  .John  A.,  Perry  and 
Charles.  The  latter  three  died  when  j^oung.  Sa- 
mantha is  the  wife  of  Henry^Chenoweth. 

Upon  the  farm  where  thej-jUow^^Iive  Mr.^and  Mi-s. 
Smith  settled  about  1868,  he  having  bought  thirty- 
eight  acres  of  it  at  that  time.  Hejhas  added  lo  it 
bj'  subsequent  purchase  until  he  has  one  hundrcil 
and  forty-three  aci-es  of  choice  farming  land,  which 
is  well  developed  and  supplied  with  substantial  im- 
provements, making  it  one  of  the  most  desirable 
estates  in  the  county.  He  votes  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  Although  devoting  his  time  mostly 
to  private  duties  and  not  caring  much  for  ^public 
life  he  has  yet  served  successfully  as  Commissioner. 
His  principles  are  above; reproach  and  in  him  the 
Baptist  Church  finds  one  of  its  most  sincere  and 
upright  members. 


WILLIAM  H.  SMITH,  one  of  the  leading 
agriculturists  and  stockmen  of  Pleasant 
_,  ^  Townsliip.  is  a  native  of  the  county  and 
well  known  as  a  son  of  an  old  pioneer.  The  pros- 
perity of  a  place  depends  in  such  a  great  measure 
upon  the  business  men  who  reside  there,  that  a 
sketch  of  a  prominent  man  is  at  all  limes  an  agree- 
al)le  thing  to  read,  especially  when  he  has  won  suc- 
cess in  his  chosen  line  of  work. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Fulton  County,  Decem- 
ber 19,  1844,  .and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah 
Smith,  natives  of  Virginia.  The  mother  died  when 


our  subject  was  in  his  seventh  year,  the  father  after 
he  was  eighteen  \enrs  of  age.  His  parents  moved 
from  their  native  State  to  Illinois  as  early  as  1834, 
residing  first  at  Rock  Island,  and  about  the  year 
1840  came  to  Fulton  County  where  they  located 
on  section  12,  Pleasant  Township.  They  were 
numliered  among  the  pioneers  of  that  place,  and 
did  much  to  advance  its  business.  To  them  were 
born  six  children,  of  whom  three  are  living  at  the 
present  writing,  viz:  Mary,  wife  of  Henry  Miller, 
of  Pleasant  Township;  AVesley,  who  makes  his  home 
in  Oklahoma,  and  William  II.  subject  of  our  sketch. 
The  father  was  a  strong  Democrat,  and  being  an 
exceedingly  public-s|iirited  man,  was  interested  in 
all  worth}-  matters  that  tended  to  the  improvement 
of  the  county,  or  the  elevation  of  society.  Hf  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
in  his  death  the  county  lost  one  of  its  most  promi- 
nent and  respected  citizens. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  passed  the  years  in- 
tervening between  childhood  and  man's  estate  in 
his  native  place,  and  is  thus  familiar  with  every 
phase  of  pioneer  life  and  the  marvelous  changes 
that  a  few  brief  yeai's  have  wrought  in  this  section 
of  the  country.  Being  reared  on  a  farm,  and  at  a 
time  when  the  ediicalional  facilities  were  poor,  he 
received  only  a  fairly  good  education,  securing 
none  of  the  "higher  education"  given  under  our 
present  school  system  alike  to  rich  and  poor, 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  United 
States.  AVhcn  nineteen  years  of  age  he  went  to 
Montana,  where  he  engaged  in  gold-mining, 
freighting  and  cattle-raising  for  a  period  of  ten 
years.  His  success  was  great  from  a  financial  stand- 
point, but  he  preferred  his  native  place  and  re- 
turned to  Pleasant  Township  where  he  has  since 
contiuued  to  reside. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  mariied  on  March 
23,  1871,  to  Miss  Sarah  Thompson,  daughter  of 
Anthony  Thompson,  who  lived  in  Woodland 
Township.  This  union  has  been  blessed  with  five 
children,  viz:  William,  Addie,  Harry.  Clyde  and 
Cora.  Mrs.  Sn\ith  was  born  September  6,  1854; 
lier  parents  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Wood- 
land, where  they  made  their  home  until  the  father 
died  in  1870.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dl'en,  of  whom  the  followingare  now  living:    ■\lar\'. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


707 


wife  of  Enoch  Thompson,  of  Pleasant  Township; 
Benjamin,  who  lives  in  Woodland  Township; 
Nanc;^',  wife  of  John  Hogan  a  resident  of  INIcDon- 
ough  Connty,  III. ;  Sarah,  Mrs.  Sniitli;  .lane,  wife 
of  Harvey  Shelley,  who  lives  in  Woodland  Town- 
ship; and  Martlia,  wife  of  Thornton  Barrel  of 
MeDonongh  County.  Mrs.  Thompson  was  born 
in  Indiana,  and  came  with  lier  parents.  Kinzic 
and  Katie  Shields,  to  Fnlton  County  when  only 
four  years  of  age.  Her  father  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  ami  came  to  this  county  at  an  early  date. 
Tiiey  were  both  members  of  the  Missionary  Baptist 
Church. 

Our  subject  owns  a  valnable  estate  embracing 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  highly  culti- 
vated land,  and  has  a  fine  residence  and  substantial 
barns.  He  commenced  in  life  on  his  own  account 
when  young  and  has  had  no  assistance  in  fighting 
bis  waj'  up  to  prominence.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  at  Ipava.  He  is  one  of  tiic  repre- 
sentative farmers  of  Pleasant  Township,  and  makes 
a  specialty  of  raising  Short-horn  cattle  and  Poland- 
China  hogs.  Indeed,  as  one  of  the  most  intelligent 
and  progressive  agriculturists  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  Mr.  Smith  is  held  in  highest  esteem,  and  has 
the  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him. 


-4— 


-^^ 


■if?  OHN  G.  HORNSTEIN  is  a  member  of  the 
enterprising  firm  of  Hornstein,  Bolton  & 
Co.,  of  Canton,  who  are  among  the  leading 
((^1/  brick  manufacturers  of  the  county.  He  is 
a  native  of  Crawford  County,  Pa.,  and  was  born 
November  24,  1836,  to  Adam  and  Rosanna  (Darr) 
Hornstein.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and  of  Ger- 
man descent,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  spent  their 
last  da3's  in  Pennsylvania.  They  were  the  parents 
of  three  children,  of  whom  John  G.  was  the  eldest. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  passed  in 
his  native  county  and  he  gained  his  early  knovvl- 
edge  of  books  in  the  primitive  log  schoolhouse.  In 
his  youth  he  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  machin- 
ist and  that  of  a  stationary  engineer.  On  the  com- 
pletion of  his  apprenticeship  he  drifted  westward 


to  Quincy,  in  this  State,  in  the  j'ear  1 855  and  in 
that  city  worked  at  his  trade  several  years.  He 
finally  went  from  there  to  I'eoria  where  he  was  en- 
gaged as  engineer  in  a  distillery. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  the  brave  veterans  of  the 
late  war,  serving  long  and  honoralily  in  defense  of 
his  countr3^  He  enlisted  in  the  month  of  Jul}-, 
18G1,  as  a  member  of  Comiiany  K,  Seventh  Illinois 
Cavalry,  which  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the 
Mississippi  then  commanded  by  Gens.  Pope  and 
Grant.  JMr.  Hornstein  look  part  in  several  battles 
and  engagements  and  proved  to  possess  excellent 
soldierly  qualities.  He  served  in  the  battles  of 
New  Madrid,  Mo.;  Inka,  Miss.,  and  other  battles, 
and  remained  with  his  regiment  until  October, 
1864,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged  at  Spring- 
field, 111. 

Returning  to  Canton  after  his  experiences  of  war 
and  bloodshed,  our  subject  was  employed  l)y  J.  H. 
McC'all  to  run  the  engine  in  his  distillery  and 
in  connection  operated  a  fiouring-mill  for  several 
years.  He  finally  purchased  an  interest  in  the  dis- 
tillery,'associating  hiins-elf  with  Charles  Rajmond 
under  the  firm  name  of  Raymond  &  Co.,  and  to- 
gether they  managed  the  distillery  for  two  j'cars. 
Mr.  Hornstein  then  purchased  the  entire  interest  in 
the  business  and  had  it  under  his  control  for  some 
years,  when  he  sold  the  distillery  to  the  whisky 
trust. 

Previously,  however,  Mr.  Hornstein  had  become 
interested  in  the  brick  business  under  the  firm  name 
of  Hornstein,  Bolton  &  Co.,  and  commenced  the 
manufacture  of  brick  of  a  superior  quality.  The 
members  of  this  firm  still  continue  together  and 
there  has  been  no  change  in  the  name  of  the  com- 
pany. They  have  the  best  of  machinery  and  material 
and  produce  a  superior  quality  of  brick  for  which 
they  find  re.ady  sale.  In  18H7  the  company  added 
to  their  works  the  dry-press  brick  machine,  tlnis 
greatly  increasing  their  facilities  for  carrying  or. 
business,  which  is  conducted  after  the  best  modes. 
TheJ'  have  been  burned  out  twice  but  have  rebuilt 
with  improvements  in  each  case,  and  now  their 
works  have  a  capacity  of  twenty-five  thousand 
bricks  per  day.  Their  yards  are  located  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  city  near  the  old  distillery 
plant. 


708 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mr.  Hornstleu  has  been  twice  married.  First  in 
January  18()5,  he  was  wedded  to  Miss  Elizabeth  M. 
Slocum,  of  Canton,  and  a  daughter  of  Stephen  P. 
Slocun).  She  departed  tiiis  life  in  1868,  leaving 
one  son — Fred  S.  The  marriage  of  our  subject  to 
his  present  wife,  formerly  Miss  Grace  S.  Raymond, 
took  place  in  1872.  Mrs.  Ilornstein  is  a  daughter 
of  John  and  jSIargaret  P.  Raymond,  and  she  was 
born  in  London.  England.  She  was  seven  years  of 
age  when  she  came  to  this  country.  Mr.  Hornstein 
is  a  man  of  social  proraiuence  and  is  a  member  of 
Morning  Star  Lodge  No.  734,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  also 
of  Peoria  Chapter  No.  7,  and  of  the  Peoria  Consis- 
tory of  K.  T.  He  and  his  amiable  wife  are  in  every 
way  worthy  of  tlie  high  regard  in  which  they  are 
held,  and  at  their  attractive  residence  No.  3.  AVest 
Illinois  Street,  they  dispense  a  pleasant  hospitality. 

A  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Hornstein  appears 
L'lsewhere  in  this  volume. 


c<i  MLLIAM  HINDERLITER  is  a  fine  repre- 
\r\///  sentative  of  our  self-made,  self  educated 
^y^J  men,  and  the  work  that  he  has  accomplished 
has  placed  him  among  the  wealthy, intelligent  farm- 
ers, who  have  borne  so  prominent  a  part  in  build- 
ing up  the  financial  prosperity  of  the  State  of 
Illinois.  He  is  the  son  of  an  earl}'  settler,  and  his 
own  pioneer  labors  entitle  him  to  an  honorable 
place  among  the  pioneers  of  this  county.  He  is 
one  of  the  largest  landowners  and  the  most  exten- 
sive stock-raisers  in  Cass  Township,  where  he  has  a 
handsome  commodious  brick  residence  on  section 
26,  and  a  farm  that  in  jjoint  of  dimensions,  im- 
provements and  cultivation  ranks  among  the  finest 
in  this  section  of  the  county.  It  comprises  six 
hundred  acres  of  good  prairie  land,  all  in  a  body, 
and  nearl)'  all  under  admirable  tillage.  He  I'ents 
much  of  it  and  has  retired  [jractically  from  active 
work,  though  he  superintends  the  raising  of  stand- 
ard grades  of  cattle,  horses  and  hogs,  and  of  quite 
a  quantity  of  grain,  the  most  of  which  he  feeds. 

John  Hinderliler,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  though  he  came  of  an  old 
Virginia  family,  some  of  whose  members  took  part 


in  the  Revolutionary  War.  His  father  was  a  far- 
mer. The  maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Dinah 
Howarter  and  she  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
Her  father  also  took  part  in  the  Revolution.  The 
parents  of  our  subject  were  married  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  lived  there  until  1838  when  Ihey  came 
to  Illinois.  The\-  were  pioneers  of  Fulton  County 
and  the  first  j^ear  they  spent  here  thej-  passed  on  a 
rented  farm  near  Canton.  The  next  j'ear  the}'  rented 
the  Maxwell  farm  near  Cuba.  Then  they  bought 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  25,  Cass  Town- 
ship, and  settled  here  with  their  family.  The  land 
was  timber  openings  and  here  he  built  a  log  cabin. 
The  situation  was  very  lonely  as  there  were  but 
few  neighbors  in  this  then  sparseh'  settled  re- 
gion, and  none  are  now  living  who  were  here  ihen. 
The  family  was  very  poor  and  as  the  father  had  ten 
souls  to  support  he  had  a  hard  task  before  him  in 
a  newl}'  settled  countr}-.  However,  his  boj's  were 
all  good  workers,  and  did  their  best  to  help  him. 
He  lived  a  great  many  years  and  when  his  death 
occurred  in  18S5,  caused  bj-  his  accidentall}'  falling 
from  his  reaper,  he  had  acquired  a  comfortable 
property.  His  wife  died  in  1884.  They  were  the 
pai'ents  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  ten  are  now 
living.  They  were  devout  Lutherans  aad  he  was 
a  prominent  man  in  the  church.  He  was  at  one 
time  leader  of  singing  in  a  Pennsylvania  congre- 
gation. 

William  llinilerliter  was  the  oldest  child  of  the 
family  and  was  born  Januarj-  18.  1820,  in  Berks 
County,  Pa.  He  received  very  limited  schooling 
in  the  subscription  schools  and  onlj-  attended  the 
free  school  one  term.  .\l  the  age  of  twenty  he  be- 
gan life  for  himself  by  apprenticing  himself  to 
learn  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  served  a  j'ear, 
and  after  that  worked  at  his  calling  in  this  neigh- 
borhood. In  1843-44  he  worked  in  Chicago, 
which  then  was  a  town  with  a  population  of  eight 
thousand  people.  He  then  returned  home  and  in 
1846  he  and  his  wife  settled  on  this  farm.  They 
were  poor  at  that  time,  having  started  out  to- 
gether empty  handed  and  were  in  debt  for  their 
eighty -acre  tract  of  land.  They  lirst  took  up  their 
abode  in  a  rude  log  house  which  was  replaced  bj' 
a  licwed  kig  house.  Their  third  residence  was  of 
luick  and  w.as  burned  in  1808,  and  after  that  their 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


709 


present  substantial  dwelling  was  erected.     It  was 

only  In-  tlie  closesl  economy,  by  hard  work  and  by 
living  from  hand  to  mouth  that  Ihey  siu-eeeded  in 
keeping  soul  and  body  together  those  first  few 
years.  Prudence,  tiirift,  patience  and  self-sacrifice 
were  the  levers  l>y  wliich  tliey  lifted  themselves  to 
their  present  position  of  independence    and  wealth. 

Mr.  Ilinderlitor  was  one  of  the  "-itters"  who 
sought  gold  in  California.  He  and  nine  others 
crossed  llie  i)lains  willi  ox-teams  and  after  travel- 
ing six  months  and  eight  da3-s  arrived  at  Sacra- 
mento. He  then  went  into  liie  mines  for  awhile, 
and  subsequently  secured  a  team  and  transported 
provisions  to  the  mines.  Ho  made  money  by  this 
enterprise  and  after  »  year  on  the  Pacific  coast  re- 
turned home  by  the  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Pan- 
ama, Nevv  York,  Pliiladelphia,  Cincinnati  and  St. 
Louis.  When  he  liegan  life  iiere.  as  before  men- 
tioned he  was  very  poor  and  had  to  depend  entirely 
on  his  hands  and  head  and  the  assistance  of  his 
good  wife. 

Mr.  Hinderliter  and  Miss  Mary  Ann  Smith  v/ere 
married  in  184.3,  and  to  her  active  cooperation  he 
is  greatly  indebted  for  his  present  prosperit}-.  Mrs. 
Hinderliter  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
(Kline)  Smith.  The)'  came  here  from  Ohio  and 
were  early  settlers  of  this  count3^  living  between 
Fairview  and  Ellisville.  They  are  now  deceased. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children  of  whom 
seven  are  still  living.  The  wife  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  1823  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  of  which 
her  father  was  a  pioneer  farmer,  and  she  was  a  lass 
of  seventeen  summers,  when  she  accompanied  her 
parents  to  Illinois  in  1810.  They  were  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church  and  her  f:ither  was  a  stanch 
Democrat. 

We  are  glad  to  inscribe  on  these  pages  this  ac- 
count of  the  successful  career  of  our  subject,  as 
a  perusal  of  this  biography  ni.ay  afford  encourage- 
ment to  many  young  men  who  are  just  starting 
out  in  life  with  no  other  capital  than  an  enterpris- 
ing and  persevering  spirit  and  a  good  capacity  for 
steady  labor.  Mr.  Hinderliter  is  a  man  of  sturdy, 
roundabout  common  sense,  rare  judgment  and  good 
!)usiness  tact.  He  is  an  exceptionally  well-informed 
man,  having  been  a  great  reader  all  his  life  and 
from  books  and  observation   has  obtained  a  good 


practical  education.     One  of   his  chief  treasures  is 

his  good  library,  in  wliieli  he  takes  much  pleasure. 
He  and  his  wife  are  devoted  members  of  the  Ba|)tist 
Church,  of  which  he  is  a  Trustee  and  Deacon  and 
they  are  both  interested  in  the  Sunday-school,  and 
he  has  been  Superintendent  of  the  same.  He  has 
done  much  for  the  cause  of  local  education  and  has 
been  a  School  Director  here  in  years  past  and 
Road  Commissioner.  In  early  life  he  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat, but  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  his  sym- 
pathies were  with  the  Republican  party,  though  he 
lived  in  a  strong  Democratic  neighborhood  where 
Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  ruled,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  been  a  strong  Rcjublican.  During  the 
war  two  of  liis  brothers  served  as  soldiers.  His 
brother  Jesse,  now  a  resident  of  Blandinsville,  was 
a  member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois 
Infantry.  He  was  twice  wounded,  his  arm  being 
crushed  the  first  time  and  the  second  time  he  was 
shot  through  the  leg.  His  Iirother  Samuel,  a  resi- 
dent of  Highland,  Wis.,  was  in  a  Wisconsin  regi- 
ment during  the  Rebellion. 


^^^- 


m 


:  OSEPH  C.  MORGAN,  well  known  and  hon- 
ored, is  a  native-born  citizen  of  this  county, 
arid  he  has  here  extensive  farming  interests. 
He  has  an  attractive  home  in  Harris  Town- 
ship, adjoining  the  village  of  Seville,  beauti- 
fully situated  on  an  eminence  overlooking  Spoon 
River,  and  commanding  a  fine  view  of  this  pleas- 
ant country  landscape.  Our  subject  is  a  son  of  the 
late  Dr.  Darius  T.  Morgan,  a  pioneer  physician  of 
Fulton  County,  who  was  for  many  3ears  one  of 
the  leading  members  of  his  profession,  till  his 
death  in  Bushnell,  III.,  in  1880.  He  was  greatly 
esteemed,  and  his  memory  is  honored  by  all  who 
knew  him;  as  much  for  his  kindly  acts  of  hand  and 
he.irt,  as  for  his  great  skill  as  a  physician.  He 
was  a  gentleman  of  broad  ideas  and  of  an  investi- 
gating mind,  and  as  such  followed  no  prescribed 
limits  in  medicine. 

The  Doctor  left  a  wife  and  five  children  resid- 
ing in  Bushnell.  Among  his  sons  is  F.  A. 
Morgan,  commonly  known  as  '"Bert,"  who  is  justly 


710 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


celebrated  for  his  phenomenal  musical  powers.  An 
enthusiastic  admirer  and  devoted  friend,  writes  of 
him  as  follows:  "With  liim  music  is  not  an  attain- 
ment hut  an  endowment.  Nature  has  poured  with 
laTish  hand  her  musical  treasures,  rich  and  rare, 
out  to  him.  She  sits  with  liim  at  the  instrument, 
guiding  his  hands,  while  from  the  kej-s  pour  forth 
the  rich  melod}-,  grand  harmonj-  and  concord  of 
sweet  songs,  till  the  listener,  carried  beyond  self, 
and  in  .consonance  with  the  deep  swelling,  throb- 
bing, over-mastering  emotions  produced,  finds  him- 
self either  crying  or  laughing  in  ecstatic  delight. 
You  feel  that  it  is  not  human  fingers  that  produce 
the  harmony  of  poetry,  the  melody  of  song,  the 
love  of  goils,  the  hate  of  devils,  the  whispering  of 
zeph3-rs,  the  fur}'  of  storms,  the  despaiiing  wail  of 
the  lost,  with  the  innocent  prattle  of  the  child;  the 
rushing  torrent,  and  the  babbling  of  the  brook; 
the  roar  of  battle,  with  the  chiming  of  bells.  It  is 
more  than  music  I  It  is  a  storj-  of  life,  love,  hope, 
fear,  despair  and  death.  The  writer  hereof  was 
for  several  years  associated  with  Bert,  and  has 
heard  him  in  his  various  moods,  often  and  often  at 
the  organ,  produce  music  bj-  inspiration,  and  can 
truly  say.  "Fair  Calliope,  the  goddess  of  music,  doth 
move  him.'  " 

Joseph  C.  Morgan,  the  subject  of  this  biographical 
review,  was  born  in  this  county  November  21,  1847, 
and  has  passed  nearl\-  all  his  life  here,  living  for 
many  years  in  Marietta.  When  he  was  fourteen 
\ears  of  age  he  started  in  life  for  himself,  working 
on  a  farm  and  teaming  till  he  grew  to  manhood. 
He  was  then  married  to  Miss  Julia  E.  Fuller,  a 
daughter  of  .\mos  8.  Fuller,  who  was  a  well-known 
miller  of  this  countv  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Cuba. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  have  no  children,  as  their 
only  child,  a  bo}-,  died  in  infancy.  This,  the  great 
sorrow  of  their  wedded  life,  has  but  served  to  bind 
them  closer  together,  and  theirs  is  an  example  of 
true  marriage. 

After  he  married,  our  suliject  settled  on  his 
father-in-law's  place  on  Spoon  River,  where  he  h.as 
opened  up  a  fine  farm  by  his  own  exertions.  It  is 
finely  located,  as  before  mentioned,  and  is  only 
about  forty  rods  from  the  village  of  Seville.  Mr. 
]\Iorgan  also, owns  another  farm,  which  comprises 
one  hundred  and  five  acres,  and  is  situated  in  Cass 


Township,  just  across  the  river  and  bridge  near 
the  Toledo,  Peoria  <fe  Western  Railroad.  His 
home  place,  about  a  half  a  mile  away,  comprises 
I  one  hundred  acres,  and  both  farms  are  finely  culti- 
vated and  yield  rich  harvests. 

Mr.  Morgan  is  a  gentleman  of  fine  presence, 
pleasant  manners  and  of  undoubted  integrit}-.  His 
j  manv  sterling  qualiiies  and  quiet,  unassuming  dis- 
1  position  have  won  him  a  high  place  in  the  esteem 
j  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  enjoys  the  comforts  of 
t  his  home  life  which  is  presided  over  by  his  estim- 
able wife,  a  ladv  of  fine  taste  and  rare  attainments. 


-^^i 


AMUEL  R.  HINKLE.  No  county  in  Illi- 
nois supports  so  large  an  agricultural 
population  as  this,  and  nowhere  on  the 
continent  can  a  more  enterprising,  pro- 
gressive and  intelligent  set  of  farmers  be  found. 
The  ownership  of  a  goodlj^  portion  of  land  with 
first-class  buildings  upon  it,  is  conclusive  evidence 
of  the  skill  and  good  judgment  of  any  man  whose 
home  is  within  the  limits  of  this  county.  When  we 
state  that  the  gentleman  above-named  owns  eighty 
acres  on  sections  19  and  30.  in  Canton  Township, 
and  also  eighty  acres  on  section  12,  Joshua  Town- 
ship, on  the  first  of  which  is  to  be  found  a  complete 
set  of  substantial,  commodious  buildings,  it  will 
be  understood  that  he  is  a  good  farmer  and  wise 
manager. 

Mr.  Hinkle  is  a  native  of  Washington  County. 
Md.,  born  December  2,  1837.  His  parents.  Samuel 
and  .\nna  (Rickard)  Hinkle,  were  born  in  Lancaster 
County.  Pa.  In  1851  they  came  West,  settling  in 
Joshua  Township,  this  county,  where  they  died 
when  about  seventy-seven  years  old.  Thej-  were 
the  jiarenls  of  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  our 
subject  being  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth.  The  youth 
accompanied  his  parents  hither  and  remained  with 
them  until  the  spring  of  1860.  when  he  married  and 
established  his  own  home.  He  lived  in  McDonough 
Count}-  during  the  summer,  and  in  the  fall  settled 
in  Canton  Township,  this  county.  In  1863  he 
located  upon  the  estate  he  now  occupies,  which 
forms  a  part  of  section  U).     He  has  devoted  his  at- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGR  APlIir  A  I,   AI.r,r>[. 


713 


tenlioii  to  agriculture  since  liis  early  life,  ami 
understiinds  well  liow  to  make  liis  laiui  and  lal)or 
remunerative. 

February  21,  liSCO,  Mr.  Ilinkle  led  to  tlie  hy- 
meneal altar  Minerva  F.  Randolpl),  tlie  marriage 
ceremony  lieing  performed  at  llieMjride's  home  in 
Joshua  Township.  Mrs.  H  inkle  is  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Nancy  F.  (Rawalt)  Randolph,  whose  history 
is  outlined  in  the  biography  of  tlieir  son,  Joiai  F. 
Randolph,  on  another  page  in  this  volume.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Randolph  were  among  tlie  earliest  settlers 
in  this  count}',  their  location  being  in  Joshua  Town- 
ship, where  their  daughter  Minerva  was  born  July 
4,  1837.  There  also  the  parents  died,  the  mother 
at  an  advanced  age.  Mrs.  Hinklc  is  an  estimable 
woman,  in  whose  companionship  her  husband  finds 
his  chief  delight,  and  whose  good  qualities  are  ap- 
preciated by  many  friends. 

Mr.  Hinkle  has  held  the  offices  of  Highway  Com- 
missioner and  School  Trustee,  serving  in  the  latter 
capacity  several  years.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  in  his  religious  views,  liberal.  He  is 
public-spirited,  deeply  interesteil  in  all  movements 
whicli  promise  to  advance  the  uiaterial  or  moral 
prosperity  of  the  citizers.  He  weighs  carefully  all 
matters  brought  before  him  for  consideration,  and 
when  once  he  has  arrived  at  a  decision  is  firm  in 
adhering  to  the  same.  His  fellow-men  hold  him  in 
good  repute  as  a  man  of  intelligence,  u|)righlness 
and  cordial  spirit. 


R.  L.  A.  ROBISON.  On  the  opposite  page 
will  be  noticed  a  portrait  of  this  prominent 
and  successful  |)hysician  at  Canton.  Now 
that  the  world  is  so  fidl  of  ''bread-winners,"  strug- 
gling each  to  secure  the  prizes  allotted  to  industry 
and  ability,  a  man  must  possess  both  talent  and  in- 
domitable energy  to  win  fortune's  smiles  and  fa- 
vor. Once,  when  educational  advantages  were 
limited  to  the  children  of  wealtlij'  parents, -com pe- 
tition in  the  professional  circles  was  not  nearly  so 
fierce  as  in  this  age,  when  public  schools  place  the 
best  instruction  within  the  reach   of  all.     And  this 


very  competition  has  been  the  means  of  securing 
unlimited  benefit  to  humanity,  in  that  it  h»s 
quickened  the  faculties,  and  given  rise  to  many- 
new  theories. 

Dr.  Robison  was  born  near  Oberlin,  Ohio,  May 
21,  1853,  and  the  brightness  and  beauty  of  his  natal 
month  seem  somehow  to  have  lingered  always  in 
his  pathway,  and  brought  him  much  of  the  "good 
the  gods  provide."  The  Robisons  are  of  Irish  de- 
scent, inheriting,  therefore,  the  natural  wit  so  pe- 
culiarly characteristic  of  those  born  in'the  Emerald 
Isle.  His  parents  were  Jacob  W.  and  Martha 
(Leonard)  Robison,  natives  of  Pennsylyania,  and 
to  them  were  born  sii  children,  viz :"  [Barbara, 
Mary  A.,  William  L.,  Elizabeth,  John  L.  and  L.  A. 
They  were  married  in  their  native  State  and  at  a 
later  date  moved  to  Ohio,  but  returned  to  Penn- 
sylvania while  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  an  in- 
fant. The  father  was  a  contractor  by  trade  and 
a  ver\'  successful  man. 

Our  subject  having  received  a  Qrst-class  educa- 
tion, taught  school  for  a  time  but  failed  to  find  the 
supposed  pleasure  in  that  profession.  For  a  while 
he  was  employed  as  time-keeper  for  I  he  Baltimore 
&  Ohio  Railroad,  and  was  afterward  engaged  in 
working  for  the  leading  mines  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania.  However,  his  natural  tendency  was 
towards  a  professional  life,  and  he  commenced  to 
study  medicine  under  the  instructions  of  Dr.  J.  F. 
Holbert.  After  about  a  year  and  a  half  devoted 
to  constant  study  he  entered  the  University  of 
Medicine  in  New  York  City.  He  also  attended  the 
Medical  College  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  upon  a 
State  Board  certificate  practiced  through  the  West. 
Finally  after  graduating  with  high  honors  at  the 
College  of  Medicine  and  Surgery  at  Cincinnati,  on 
February  20,  1888,  he  located  at  Breeds,  Fulton 
County.  During  the  winter  of  1889  and  1890  Dr. 
Robison  received  instruction  in  Chicago,  and  on 
the  1st  of  March  removed  to  Canton,  where  he  at 
once  established  an  extensive  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice, and  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem. 

The  Doctor  was  married  at  Breeds  on  June  21, 
1884,  to  Miss  Grace  Tabor,  daughter  of  Reuben 
and  Jane  (Arnold)  Tabor,  and  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  one 
child — Mary  Alma,  who  is  at  the  present  writing  an 


714 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


infant.  Our  subject's  kinsmen  have  always  been  de- 
vout ehurcli  members,  and  lie  wris  offered  a  liberal 
education  in  tlic  ministrj-  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
Tliis  he  declined,  not  because  ho  failed  to  appre- 
ciate the  benefits  it  implied,  but  simply  because,  as 
a '"Free  Thinker,"  he  could  not  conscientiouslj'  ac- 
cept the  same.  Indeed,  he  has  let  pass  several  ex- 
cellent opportunities  of  this  kind,  being  a  strictly 
honorable  man,  and  consequently  opposed  to  as- 
suming wliat  he  could  not  believe.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat. 


~^t^^- 


ON.  SAMUEL  P.  CUMMIXGS.  This 
i,  county  is  the  home  of  quite  a  number  of  men 
who  were  thrown  upon  their  own  resources 
at  an  earl>'  age,  and  whose  natural  ajitness 
and  energy  were  developed  and  strengthened  by 
contact  with  the  world,  resulting  in  making  their 
lives  more  than  ordinarily  successful  in  worldly 
prosperity  and  winning  respect.  Among  this  num- 
ber is  the  Hon.  S.  P.  Cumraings  of  Astoria,  who 
has  not  only  attained  a  competency  but  has  won  an 
houor.able  record  in  legislative  halls,  on  the  judi- 
cial bench  and  as  a  private  citizen. 

Heredity  is  so  im)jortant  a  factor  in  life  that  it 
may  be  well  before  noting  the  chief  incidents  in 
the  career  of  our  subject  to  make  brief  mention 
of  the  family  history.  His  grandfather,  McDonald 
Cummings,  a  native  of  Scotland,  was  gradu.ated 
at  Edinburgh  and  joined  the  King's  army  as  sur- 
geon. He  accompanied  the  troops  to  America  in 
Colonial  times  but  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revo- 
lution, took  sides  with  the  Colonists  to  whom  he 
gave  his  services  in  the  same  capacity  which  he 
had  filled  in  the  British  Army.  After  the  war  the 
State  of  Massachusetts  granted  him  land  near  Saco, 
then  included  in  that  State.  There  he  spent  his 
last  years  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
reared  four  sons,  among  them  being  Nathaniel,  the 
father  of  our  subject. 

That  gentleman  was  born  in  Saco  and  when 
quite  j'oung  turned  to  a  seafaring  life,  finally  be- 
coming a  vessel  owner.  He  was  Captain  of  the 
brig  "Liberty"  sailing  between  Boston  and   Liver- 


pool and  half  owner  of  her  when  she  was  wrecked 

December  24,  1801.  The  crew  and  passengers 
were  saved  and  some  of  the  latter  commemorated 
the  event  by  having  pitchers  made  in  Liverpool 
with  a  picture  of  the  brig  on  eacli  side,  one  repre- 
senting the  vessel  fully  rigged  and  the  other  with 
the  deck  swept  of  all  its  rigging.  The  date  of  the 
disaster  was  also  engraved  upon  the  [(itchers. 

After  the  loss  of  the  vessel  Capt.  Cummings  re- 
tired from  the  sea  and  gave  his  attention  to  teach- 
ing navigation,  residing  in  Saco  until  his  death,  in 
1827.  His  widow  survive:!  until  1868,  when  she 
too  entered  into  rest.  She  was  known  in  her 
maidenhood  as  Sarah  Junkens,  was  a  native  of  Saco, 
and  became  the  mother  of  nine  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, of  whom  the  only  survivors  are  Ste[)hen  aud 
our  subject.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Cummings,  Capt. 
Paul  .Tunkens,  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  had 
command  of  a  vessel  in  the  merchant  marine  ser- 
vice, running  from  Salem,  Mass.,  tu  Liverpool. 
He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Saco,  in  which  town  lie  breathed  his 
last. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  was  born 
February  5,  1818,  in  Saco,  York  County,  Me., 
where  he  spent  the  early  years  of  his  life  and  re- 
ceived such  an  education  as  was  possible  before  he 
was  obliged  to  do  for  himself.  He  was  about  nine 
years  old  when  his  father  died  and  some  three  years 
later  struck  out  in  life,  being  employed  at  v.arious 
occupations  until  he  was  fifteen.  He  then  went  to 
Portland  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  tailor,  and  after 
serving  .an  a|)i)renticeshi[)  of  three  years  started  in 
business  in  his  native  town,  although  he  was  still 
"only  a  bo}'."  He  continued  his  occupation  there 
until  1  840,  when  he  started  for  Illinois  by  the  route 
considered  the  most  expeditious  at  that  time. 

This  was  bj'  steamer  to  Boston,  by  rail  to  Fall 
River,  by  steamer  via  Long  Island  Sound  to  New 
York,  where  a  change  was  made  to  a  river  boat 
which  carried  him  to  Albany,  whence  he  jour- 
neyed over  the  Eric  Canal  to  Buffalo  and  there  cm-  ■ 
barked  on  a  steamer  bound  for  Chicago.  There 
was  so  much  ice  in  the  lakes  thatthe  boat  stopped  at 
Cleveland  and  Mr.  Cummings  pursued  his  journej' 
by  stage  to  Cincinnati  and  thence  on  the  Ohio, 
Mississippi    and    Illinois    Rivers    to    this    county. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


715 


Leaving  the  steamer  at  Sharp's  Landing  he  miicle 
his  way  to  Astoria,  then  a  village  of  but  a  dozen 
buildings,  two  only  being  frame.  There  was  one 
store  and  a  blaoksmith-shop  and  a  hotel  kept  in  a 
log  building. 

Mr.  Cuminings  concUided  to  locate  in  a  larger 
place  and  going  to  Lewistown,  the  county  seat, 
opened  a  tailor  shop  in  which  he  carried  on  busi- 
ness three  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  located  on  a  tract  of  wild  land,  built  a  dwelling 
and  devoted  his  time  to  clearing  the  land  and  till- 
ing the  soil  until  1852.  He  then  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Robert  McClelland  and  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  in  Astoria,  since  which  lime  he 
has  been  continuously  interested  in  tliat  pursuit, 
although  not  actively  engaged  in  the  labors  con- 
nected therewith.  In  1862  he  assisted  in  raising 
the  Eighty-flfth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  received  a 
Major's  commission,  serving  with  the  troops  in 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  He  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Perry  ville.  Stone  River,  and  other  smaller 
engagements,  and  served  with  credit  until  honor- 
ablj'  discharged  on  account  of  disability. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Cummings  was  celebrated 
August  25,  1840,  his  bride  being  Miss  Lucy  M. 
Durell.  This  estimable  lady  was  born  in  Kenne- 
bunk,  York  County,  Me.,  December  3,  1818,  her 
parents,  Eliphalet  and  Jane  (Merrill)  Durell,  being 
also  natives  of  the  Pine  Tree  State  and  numbered 
among  the  pioneers  of  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cummings  have  six  children,  namely:  Eliza,  wife 
of  John  W.  Greene,  a  merchant  in  Astoria;  Mc- 
Donald, a  merchant  in  Lewistown;  Emma,  wife  of 
William  Scripps,  of  Astoria;  Susie,  wife  of  Darrow 
Waggoner,  of  Astoria;  Henry  Orleans,  an  attorney- 
at-law  in  Springfield;  and  William,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business  in  Lewistown.  The  up- 
right and  useful  lives  of  these  sons  and  daughters 
reflect  credit  upon  the  parents  to  whom  they  owe 
so  much  for  loving  care  and  good  counsel,  and 
their  intelligence  and  good  bleeding  make  them 
popular  in  the  best  society  of  the  towns  in  which 
they  live. 

The  political  afliliation  of  Mr.  Cummings  has 
alwajs  been  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  State  Central  Commit- 
tee-at-large   and    had   been    a   delesjate    to  all    the 


State  conventions  for  upward  of  thirty  years.  In 
1876  he  was  delegate  to  the  National  Convention 
at  St.  Louis.  He  served  as  Justice  of  tiie  Peace 
for  thirty  years,  and  in  1877  was  elected  County 
Judge.  He  was  first  sent  to  the  State  Legislature 
in  1858,  re-elected  in  1860,  and  again  elected  in 
1870;  two  years  later  lie  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate  and  afterward  returned  to  the  House. 
In  1869  he  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention.  His  great  popularit3'  is  also  indicated 
by  the  fact  that  he  served  twenty-two  years  as  Su- 
pervisor, being  Chairman  of  the  County  Board 
eighteen  3'ears.  His  record  is  that  of  a  man  inter- 
ested in  public  improvements,  liberal  in  his  views 
regarding  appropriations,  but  averse  to  extrava- 
gance or  fraud. 

Socially,  Mr.  Cummings  is  a  member  of  Astoria 
Lodge,  No.  100,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Stapleton  Chapter 
No.  9,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Rushville  Commaudery  No. 
56,  K.  T.,  in  the  latter  of  which  he  is  Past  Eminent 
Commander.  The  energ}'  of  his  character  and  the 
force  of  purpose  inherent  in  his  nature  are  appar- 
ent at  a  glance.  He  sees  at  a  glance  the  difficult 
point  in  any  question  and  as  readily  sees  the  means 
that  must  be  adopted  to  carry  it.  Stanch  in  princi- 
ples, clear  in  perception  and  decided  in  character,  he 
deserves  the  good  things  which  have  come  to  him, 
and  the  high  character  for  probity  which  years  of 
intimate  business  and  social  acquaintance  have 
brought  him. 

.,  : sg^Mi^c       :    . 

VffOHN  KINGERY,  deceased,  was  a  valued 
citizen  of  Joshua  Township.  He  was  a  brave 
officer  in  the  late  war  and  although  he  did 
If/  not  die  on  the  battle-field,  just  as  surely 
gave  up  his  life  for  his  country,  as  his  death  was 
caused  by  disease  contracted  while  in  the  army. 

]Mr.  Kingery  was  born  November  8,  1824,  in 
Washington  County,  Md.  When  he  was  about 
eleven  years  old  he  accompanied  his  father  and 
mother  to  Montgomery  County,  Ohio.  His  parents 
resided  there  several  years,  but  finall3'  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  the  fall  of  1852  and  located  among  the 
pioneers  of  this  county.    Our  suljject  early  learned 


716 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  pursued  it  as  long  as 
lie  remained  iu  Ohio.  In  the  spring  of  1853  he 
followed  his  parents  to  this  county.  After  remain- 
ing in  Illinois  a  short  lime  he  returned  to  the 
Buckeye  State.  He  was  there  when  hostilities 
broke  out  between  the  North  and  the  South.  He 
watched  the  progress  of  the  war  with  intense  inter- 
est, and  as  soon  as  he  was  able,  cast  in  his  lot  with 
the  other  patriotic  citizen-soldiers  who  had  gone 
forth  to  aid  in  fighting  their  country's  liattles.  He 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  E,  Ninety-fourth 
Ohio  Infantry.  He  displayed  fine  soldierly  quali- 
ties which  attracted  the  attention  of  his  superiors, 
and  he  was  promoted  from  the  ranks  to  the  posi- 
tion of  Sergeant.  Subsequently  liis  gallant  conduct 
on  the  field  of  battle  was  duly  recognized  by  his 
promotion  to  be  Second  Lieutenant  and  at  the  time 
of  his  resignation  he  was  First  Lieutenant  of  his 
company.  He  took  part  in  manj'  hotly-contested 
buttles,  among  which  we  maj'  mention  those  of 
Perrysviile  and  Stone  River.  He  has  often  related 
to  his  devoted  wife  an(i  his  many  interested  friends 
his  miraculous  escape  from  death  on  the  Sunday 
morning  preceding  the  latter  engagement  when  so 
many  of  tlie  brave  boys  in  blue  fell  to  rise  no 
more. 

Our  subject  was  obliged,  much  to  his  regret,  to 
resign  liis  commission  in  18G3  and  retire  from  the 
army  on  account  of  disabilitj-,  and  he  was  honorably 
dischai'ged  July  25,  after  serving  his  countrj'  with 
the  utmost  fidelity  and  efficiency.  He  returned  to 
his  home  in  Ohio,  and  on  the  1st  of  December,  1863, 
again  took  up  his  residence  in  Fulton  County  an.i 
from  that  time  was  identified  with  the  interests  of 
Joshua  Township  until  his  untimely  death,  Decem- 
ber 30,  1889.  Those  qualities  which  made  him  a 
good  soldier  added  to  the  value  of  liis  citizenship. 
He  was  a  thoroughly  practical  man,  of  sturdy 
habits  and  excellent  character,  aiul  in  his  deatli 
not  onl}-  his  family  sustained  a  loss  but  the  com- 
munity at  large.  While  he  was  a  citizen  of  Mont- 
gomery County,  Ohio,  he  was  active  iu  its  public 
liCe  and   served  one  term  as  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Mr.  Kingery  was  happ3'  in  his  domestic  relations, 
securing  by  his  marriage  on  the  20th  of  September, 
1849,  with  Miss  Eliza  J.  Cosier,  of  Montgomery 
Count}.  Ohio,  a    true   and    devoted    wife.     Their 


marriage  was  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  three 
children,  and  the  following  is  the  record  of  the  two 
now  living:  Laura  Anna  was  born  January  10, 
1852;  Jessa,  June  24,  1857.  Laura  A.  married  Syl- 
vester Abbott  and  resides  some  six  miles  from  her 
mother's  home. 

Mrs.  Kingery  now  lives  on  the  farm  that  she 
owned  at  the  death  of  her  husband.  She  is  a 
woman  of  superior  sense  and  capability  and  al- 
though somewhat  advanced  in  life,  being  now 
sixty-three  years  old,  still  |;reserves  her  wonted 
physical  vigor  and  is  managing  her  farming  inter- 
ests in  a  business-like  way. 


:^;=8Si=i=^ J— 


AMUEL  C.  MAR\'EL  is  the  proprietor  and 
manager  of  a  first-class  liver}^  and  feed 
stable  on  the  corner  of  Pine  and  White 
Streets,  Canton.  A  fine  two  story  brick 
building,  well  and  comfortablj^  arranged,  afifords 
shelter  for  a  number  of  fine  horses,  a  good  supply 
of  buggies,  cariiages,  and  the  various  appurtenances 
belonging  to  the  business  in  which  Mr.  Marvel  is 
now  well  established. 

Our  subject  is  tlie  eldest  son  of  William  F.  and 
Mary  Ann  (Cratli)  Marvel,  who,  soon  after  their 
marriage,  removed  from  Ohio  to  Knox  County,  III. 
They  are  still  living,  being  now  residents  of  Joshua 
Township,  this  county.  Both  were  born  in  the 
Buckeye  State^  They  are  the  parents  of  six  children 
besides  our  subject.  Cynthia  is  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Shrader,  of  Joshua  Township;  Wilson  S.  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Knox  County;  Sarah  F.  married  Ed  Crowl, 
of  Joshua  Township;  Martha  J.  is  the  wife  of  Frank 
Lewis,  of  Fairview  Township;  John  and  Henry  re- 
side with  their  parents. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Knox  Count}',  having 
been  born  in  the  vicinit}'  of  Shintown  November 
10,  1852.  He  was  reared  as  are  most  farmers'  sons, 
early  acquiring  a  practical  knowledge  of  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  and  securing  a  fair  education  in  the 
school  held  in  the  vicinitj'.  He  attended  the  Lone 
Elm  schoolhouse.  After  reaching  manhood  he 
still  remained  under  the  shelter  of  his  father's  roof 
until   he  had  reached  his   twenty-fifth  year,  when 


'Si- A 


'^^rn^no^^n^    £^^^^ 


';f 


'%;    - 


'j.>-  '"■  ■■ 


c/^2^-^^^2-L4/     G,£-^L^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


721 


he  established  a  home  of  his  own.  Locating 
on  a  farm  in  Joshua  Township  he  pursued  the 
vocation  of  a  general  farmer  until  188(5,  when  he 
sold  his  stock  and  jiersonal  effects  and  removed  to 
Canton.  He  had  not  lived  in  that  city  lon<)-  ere  he 
had  instituted  the  business  in  whicii  he  is  [irospering 
as  his  energy  deserves. 

In  the  worii  of  establishing  his  iiomc  IMr.  Marvel 
was  ably  assisted  by  liis  wife,  who  bore  tlie  maiden 
name  of  Elizabetii  Rhodorraer.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Daniel  Rhodornier,  who  came  to  this  county  from 
New  Jersey  and  located  in  Fairfield  Township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marvel  have  three  children — Mazie 
L.,  Pliebe  1).  and  Leslie  Cleveland — who  form  an 
interesting  and  attractive  group.  Mr.  Marvel  has 
served  one  term  as  Tovvnship  Collectcn-,  faithfully 
discharging  his  d'uties,  although  he  has  no  pre- 
dilection for  public  life.  He  is  a  member  of  Morn- 
ing Star  Lodge,  No.  734,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  his 
wife  belongs  to  the  Eastern  Star  Lodge.  Politically, 
Mr.  Marvel  is  a  stanch  Demttcrat. 


\1?AMES  ELLIS.  This  venerable  gentleman 
is  distinguished  in  the  annals  of  Vermont, 
as  one  of  its  earliest  settlers,  and  the  oldest 
witliin  its  bounds.  He  still  owns  the  greater 
part  of  the  land  which  he  purchased  from  the 
Government,  fifty-five  years  ago,  and  has  placed  it 
under  a  liigh  state  of  cultivation.  It  is  within  the 
corporate  limits  of  the  village,  and  here  his  declin- 
ing years  are  quietly  and  pe.aeefuUy  passing  in  a 
comfortable  home  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  compan- 
ionship of  his  family  and  his  faithful  wife  who  has 
been  his  true  and  devoted  helpmate  for  more  than 
half  a  century. 

Mr.  Ellis  was  born  February  14,  1810,  in  that 
part  of  Henry  County,  now  included  in  Oldham 
County,  Ky.  His  father,  Joshua  Ellis,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  and  his  giandfather,  John  Ellis 
was,  it  is  thought,  l)orn  in  England.  He  spent  liis 
last  years  in  Goochland  County,  near  Richmond,  Va. 
Tlie  father  of  our  subject  was  reared  in  Virginia, 
and  went  from  there  to  Kentucky  when  a  young 
man,  making  the  journey  across  the  mountains   on 


horseback.  He  bought  a  tract  of  timber,  land  in 
what  was  then  Henry  County,  and  built  a  log 
house,  in  which  humble  dwelling  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  born.  The  father  cleared  quite  a 
tract  of  land,  and  resided  there  till  his  death..  'I'he 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Catherine  Powers  and 
she  also  died  on  the  home  farm.  She  was  an  adept 
at  spinning  and  weaving  and  clothed  her  childien 
in  homespun  garments.  They  were  pioneers  in  a 
sparsely  settled  country,  and  Louisville,  twenty- 
five  miles  distant,  was  the  nearest  market  for  sup- 
plies. 

James  Ellis,  of  this  sketch,  grew  to  man's  estate 
in  his  native  county,  and  lived  with  his  parents  till 
he  was  twenty-two  years  old.  Then,  a  stalwart  and 
able-bodied  young  man,  he  started  out  in  life 
on  his  own  account,  and  going  to  Jefferson  Count^'i 
secured  a  situation  as  superintendent  of  a  farm. 
In  1835  he  paid  his  first  visit  to  Illinois,  making 
the  entire  journey  to  and  from  Jefferson  County 
on  horseback.  He  visited  the  present  site  of  Ver- 
mont, but  at  that  time  there  was  no  village  here, 
and  there  were  but  few  settlers  in  all  the  township. 
The  land  not  held  as  military  land  was  held  by  the 
Government,  and  was  for  sale  at  $1.25  per  acie. 
He  bought  a  "squatter's  claim"  to  a  tract  of  timber 
which  is  included  in  his  present  farm,  and  afier  re- 
mnining  a  few  d.ays  returned  to  Kentu'.-ky. 

In  1837  Mr.  Ellis  again  started  for  this  State, 
taking  his  family  with  him  and  making  the  journe3' 
overland  to  their  future  home.  The  family,  with 
the  exception  of  Mrs.  Ellis,  who  rode  on  horse- 
back, came  in  a  wagon  drawn  by  a  |)air  of  horses, 
to  their  destination,  arriving  after  three  weeks' 
travel.  There  was  a  log  cabin  on  the  land,  into 
which  the  family  moved.  It  was  built  of  round 
logs,  and  had  an  earth  and  stick  chimney.  The 
country  was  in  a  very  wild  condition,  was  thinly 
inhabited,  and  deer,  wild  turkeys  ami  other  kinds 
of  game  were  plentiful.  There  were  no  railways 
here  for  3'ears  after  the  family  located  here,  and 
all  produce  was  drawn  to  Browning's  and  Sharp's 
landings,  fourteen  miles  distant,  and  from  there' 
shipped  to  St.  Louis. 

Our  subject's  means  were  very  limited,  but  he 
had  been  reared  to  habits  of  industry,  and  w.as  en- 
ergetic and  ambitious,  so  that  by  yeais  of  hard  toil 


722 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


he  aceomplislied  tbo  pioneer  task  of  evolving  a  good 
and  highly  productive  farm  from  the  wihlerness. 
He  was  so»n  enabled  to  rephico  the  rude  cabin  by 
,1  hewed  log  house,  later  erected  a  frame  house,  in 
wliich  he  and  liis  family  lived  a  few  3'ears.  and  he 
then  built  his  present  more  commodious  resi- 
dence. He  has  lived  to  see  tiie  country  develop 
from  its  wild  state  to  a  wealthy  and  well  settled 
community,  and  it  may  well  be  his  pride  that  he 
has  been  a  factor  in  i)ronioLing  its  growth. 

May  27.  1832.  Mr.  Ellis  and  Miss  Armon  Evins. 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Nash)  Evins, 
natives  of  'J'ennessee  and  Virginia,  respectively, 
conti-acted  a  marriage  that  has  been  blessed  to  both 
of  them.  For  fifty-eight  j-ears  thej-  have  traveled 
life's  road  together,  sharing  its  joys  and  dividing 
its  sorrows,  and  giving  to  the  people  around  them 
an  example  of  true  wedded  bliss.  They  have  had 
nine  children,  of  whom  three  are  living:  Martha 
Emily,  now-  Mrs.  DeFrain :  Rachel  (Mrs.  Barthol- 
omew), and  Armon  J.  Their  household  circle  is 
now  composed  of  their  daughter  Armon,  their 
granddaughter,  Julia  E.  Pugh,  and  their  grand- 
son, Frank  E.  Pugh.  The  two  latter  are  not 
brother  and  sister,  but  cousins.  Miss  Armon  and 
Miss  Julia  are  finely  educated  and  highh-  accom- 
plished, and  are  successful  teachers.  The  young 
man  is  also  highly  educated,  a  fine  conversation- 
alist, and  possesses  a  marked  talent  for  music. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  are  true  Christians,  and  are 
esteemed  and  consistent  members  of  the  Regular 
Baptist  Church,  with  which  she  has  been  connected 
for  the  long  period  of  sixty-three  years  and  he  for 
forty  j-ears.  Their  pleasant  ways,  kind  hearts  and 
man}-  good  deeds  have  won  for  them  a  warm  place 
in  the  hearts  of  their  many  friends,  who  will  be 
pleased  to  notice  their  lithographic  portraits  on  an- 
other page. 


o«o 


^^EORGE  K.  MONTGOMERY.  It  has  been 
often  said  that  invincible  determination  will 
accomiilish  any  desired  result,  and  already 
are  the  effects  of  its  constant  exercise  visible  in  the 
life  of  this  gentleman,  who,  although  one  of  the 
vouno^est  of  the  citizens  represented  in  our  Albu.m 


.^=95  EC 


has  won  a  respected  jjosition  for  himself  in  the 
communitj'  by  reason  of  his  industry,  perseverance 
and  genial  nature.  He  possesses  exceptional  wortii 
and  talent,  and.  is  a  fine  type  of  the  native-born 
citizen  of  Fulton  County.  He  stands  on  the 
threshold  of  life  and  h.as  good  reason  to  look 
forw,ard  to  a  bright  and  honored  future. 

April  2G,  1869,  w.as  the  rl.ate  of  the  birUi  of  Mr. 
Montgomery,  and  also  of  his  Ijrother,  James,  a  re- 
view of  whose  life  is  given  in  connection  with  this 
personal  sketch.  In  Farmington  Township,  Fulton 
County,  where  our  subject  was  born,  he  was  also 
educateil  in  the  common  sciiools  and  reared  to  a 
stalwart  manhood.  He  passed  the  winter  season  in 
attendance  at  the  district  schools,  while  the  summer 
was  devoted  to  labor  on  the  farm.  At  an  early 
age  he  displayed  ability  in  the  use  of  tools  and  in 
the  operation  of  machinery,  and  in  the  fall  of  1889, 
engaged  in  work  as  a  carpenter  under  M.  C.  Coyan, 
a  contractor  and  builder  of  Corning,  Ohio,  and 
helped  to  erect  the  twelve  miners'  houses  at  Middle 
Grove,  111. 

Feeling  it  the  dut\-  of  every  true  citizen  to  keep 
himself  well  posted  on  the  duties  of  American 
citizenship,  cur  subject  provides  himself  with  such 
agencies  of  enlightenment  as  the  press  furnishes,  in 
the  w.ay  of  periodicals,  books  and  newspapers.  lie 
takes  great  interest  in  national  and  local  afifairs,  and 
aspires  to  do  all  he  can  to  improve  the  social  and 
material  condition  of  the  country  at  large  and  of 
his  community  in  particular.  He  gives  his  hearty 
support  to  the  Republican  part}-,  and  expects  as 
soon  ,as  possible  to  aid  it  not  only  by  his  voice, 
but  also  by  the  ballot. 

James  Montgomery,  the  twin  brother  of  our  sub- 
ject, possesses  more  than  ordinary  ability,  being 
one  of  the  youngest  men  entitled  to  representation 
in  a  volume  containing  lives  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  Fulton  County.  He  and  his  brother. 
George,  are  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  eleven 
children,  eight  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  and  arc 
now  living.  In  this  community,  where  he  has 
thus  far  passed  his  life,  he  is  well  and  favorably 
known,  as  a  young  man  of  worth  and  honor.  He 
is  a  great  reader  and  keeps  himself  thoroughlv 
acquainted  with  all  the  important  issues  of  the  dav. 

Tlie  brothers  are  especially  skillful  in  the  use  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


7'23 


tools  and  machinery,  anrl  their  home  shows  manj' 
evidences  of  their  work  and  handicraft.  Tiiey 
added  to  the  ai)pearance  of  llieir  residence  b}-  a 
handsome  ])ortico  in  front,  and  placed  a  cupola  on 
the  liarn.  For  the  past  four  years  they  iiave 
assumed  tlie  responsibility  of  carrying  on  their 
father's  farm  and  success  has  crowned  their  efforts. 
The  estate  comprises  one  hundred  anii  sevent3--five 
acres,  and  here  they  are  carrying'  on  general  farm- 
ing with  the  skill  of  veterans  and  thr,  thoroughness 
which  only  a  careful  study  of  their  vocation  can 
give. 

In  his  youth  James  Montgomery'  had  such  ad- 
vantages as  are  to  be  obtained  in  the  iniblic  schools 
of  that  vicinity,  but  being  a  thoughtful  reader  and 
close  student  of  affairs,  national  and  local,  he  is 
well  posted  for  one  of  his  years.  His  intiuence 
stands  for  progress  and  protection  of  American  in- 
dustries, and  he  will  undoubtedly  in  future  years 
fill  many  positions  of  responsibility  and  honor. 

Thomas  Montgomery  is  the  father  of  the  gentle- 
man whose  biographies  are  given  above  and  is  a 
pioneer  citizen  of  Farmington  Township,  F^ilton 
County.  He  is  at  |iresent  representing  his  town- 
ship on  the  County  Board  of  .Supervisors,  and  has 
always  labored  for  the  development  of  the  resources 
of  the  county.  He  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem, 
and  serves  as  Elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Farmington,  where  ho  and  his  family  have  held 
worthy  membership  many  years.  He  is  especially 
interested  in  Sunda3'-school  work,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  has  been  t!;e  efticienl  Superintendent 
of  the  same. 

Thomas  Montgomery  comes  of  worthy  .Scotch- 
Irish  descent,  and  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Novem- 
ber 26,  1828.  his  parents,  William  and  Rachael 
Montgomery,  being  natives  of  Irelaid,  whence 
they  emigrated  at  an  early  date  to  America  and 
located  in  Philadelphia.  Of  their  union  five  chil- 
dren were  bom.  of  whom  Thomas  was  the  second 
in  order  of  birth  and  is  now  the  eldest  living.  The 
father,  William  Montgomery,  was  by  occupation  a 
weaver  and  cotton  manufacturer,  and  made  ging- 
hams, flannels,  cloak-patterns,  etc.  Coming  to 
Illinois  in  I.Sao,  he  located  in  Fulton  County, 
where  he  died  at  the  adv.'mced  nge  of  almost  eighty 
ye.ars.     The  mother  lived  to  be  about  the  same  age. 


They  gave  their  son,  Thomas,  a  common  school 
education  and  trained  him  for  a  life  -of  usefulness. 
His  first  occupation  was  that  of  a  weaver,  although 
he  has  devoted  his  time  principally  to  farming. 

On  December  6,  1849,  Thomas  Montgomer3'  and 
Miss  lillizabetli  Knouse  were  united  in  the  holy 
bonds  of  wedlock.  Mrs.  Montgomery  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Isabella  (llolowell)  Knouse 
and  was  born  in  Philadelphia  September  30,  1828. 
Her  mother  was  a  Quaker  and  came  from  one  of 
the  earliest  Pennsylvanian  families,  her  father's 
ancestors  originally  came  from  Holland  and  were 
among  that  band  of  Dutch  Reformed  Presbyterians, 
that  came  to  America  at  a  very  early  d.ay  and 
settled  in  the  William  Penn  colony.  Mrs.  Mont- 
gomery is  justly'  proud  of  her  illustrious  ancestors, 
who  participated  in  the  early  history  of  our  coun- 
try and  were  patriotic  and  brave  citizens.  She  is 
the  third  of  the  five  children  that  grew  up  to  years 
of  maturity  and  passed  her  early  life  in  Philadel- 
phia. Her  grandfather  fought  in  the  war  of  Li- 
dependence,  and  her  father  in  the  war  of  1812. 

To  T'homas  Montgomery  and  his  estimable  wife 
were  born  eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing namely:  Rachel,  Elizabeth,  Robert  J.  B., 
William  E.,  Cecilia.  Thomas  C.  George  M.  and 
James  M.  Rachel  married  Elam  Bartholomew,  and 
resides  in  Rooks  Count3',  Kan.  Their  children 
are  named  respectively:  George  E.,  Elmer  T., 
Lizzie  T.,  Jessie  E.,  and  I'larl  R.  F]lizabeth  married 
Millard  McComb  and  resides  in  McLean  County, 
111.,  they  have  one  child,  Nellie  M.;  Robert  J.  B., 
makes  his  home  in  Rooks  County,  Kan.  He 
married  Addle  McCormick,  and  the_y  have  two 
children,  Lizzie  and  Fannie.  William  E.,  who  is 
also  a  resident  of  Rooks  Country,  Kan  ,  is  unmarried. 
Cecilia  lives  in  Armourdale,  Kan.,  and  married 
John  Fenk.  They  have  one  child,  a  son,  Lloyd. 
Thomas  C,  who  is  unmarried,  resides  in  Lake 
County,  111.     George  and  James  are  at  home. 

Politically,  Thomas  Montgomery  is  a  strong 
Republican,  and  uniformly  supports  the  can<lidates 
brought  forward  by  that  party,  in  whose  principles 
he  believes.  He  has  exerted  an  influence  un- 
measured on  the  community  where,  since  18.'),"),  he 
has  made  his  home.  lie  inherits  the  thrift  of  his 
Scotch  ancestors,  who  settled  in  the  North  of    Ire- 


724 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


laml.  where  his  parents  were  born.  Their  children 
have  now  grown  to  years  of  maturity  and  in  other 
communities  are  rearing  families  and  still  further 
extending  the  upright  principles  implanti.d  In  their 
hearts.  Thus  the  example  and  influence  of  this 
worthy  pioneer  and  his  honored  wife  will  conlinne 
long  after  their  lives  have  been  bi-ought  to  a  close. 


-S!.^ 


If^M  AJ.  JOSEPH  R.  HERRING,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Canton.  III.,  was  born   at   Balti- 
more. Md..  .\ugust  18.  1821.     His  grand- 
*  parents  left  their  home  in  Scotland  in  the 

latter  part  of  1790  and  came  to  America.  They 
came  to  America  being  driven  from  their  native 
place  on  account  of  Republican  principles  which 
were  not  acceptable  in  that  countr3'.  The  grand- 
father's name  was  Thomas  Herring  and  the  grand- 
mother was  named  Margaret.  They  reared  but 
two  children,  viz:  Margaret,  who  was  born  in  Scot- 
land: and  Thomas  who  was  horn  in  Baltimore.  Md. 
The  latter  who  was  the  father  of  Maj.  J.  R.  Herr- 
ing was  a  sailor  during  the  war  of  1812,  was  cap- 
tured and  pressed  into  the  British  service.  Upon 
refusing  to  work  he  and  five  companions  were 
taken  to  Halifax  and  kept  there  as  prisoners  of  war. 
but  still  refused  to  do  duty  however  severel}-  pun- 
ished and  pushed  out  to  sea  in  an  open  boat,  were 
picked  up  by  a  Portugese  vessel  and  brought  to 
Boston.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  entered 
the  American  Navy,  and  Maj.  Herring  has  a 
minature  portrait  painted  on  ivory  of  him  as  he 
appeared  at  that  time.  He  served  through  the  en- 
tire war,  and  still  followed  the  sea  until  his  death 
was  caused  by  an  accident  on  board  of  a  vessel,  of 
which  he  was  the  first  officer.  He  had  married 
Miss  Hannah  Burnett,  a  native  of  Richmond.  Va. 
The  ceremony  was  celebrated  in  Baltimore  in  the 
year  1815  and  to  them  were  born  three  children, 
viz:  Margaret,  who  is  dead;  Mar}',  the  wife  of 
William  Maydwell  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  J.  R. 
Joseph  who  is  the  youngest  child,  passed  his 
youth  in  Baltimore  and  when  about  fourteen  years 
of  age  lost  his  mother,  and  after  that  sad  event 
came  to   Illinois  'n  company  with   the  step-father. 


Soon  after  their  arrival  in  this  State  the}'  settled  in 
Fulton  County  where  Maj.  Herring  devoted  his  at- 
tention to  farming  on  the  place  which  his  step- 
father had  purch.'ised.  He  enlisted  from  Canton. 
III..  July  1.  1861.  He  and  his  friend  Maj.  Nelson 
raised  the  company  at  this  point  and  he  was  ap- 
pointed First  Lieutenant  of  Compan}'  K.  Seventh 
Illinois  Cavalry,  and  was  mustered  in  at  Camp 
Butler.  They  furnished  their  own  horses  and 
equipments  and  joined  the  regiment  at  Springfield, 
and  went  from  that  point  to  Cairo.  After  two  or 
three  months  drilling  they  went  to  Bird's  Point, 
Mo.,  where  they  guarded  the  place  until  February. 
1862.  They  continued  the  march  up  the  river 
catching  many  prisoners  who  were  effca|)ing  from 
the  Island  and  going  on  to  Pittsburg  Landing. 
The  Major  was  wounded  at  Farmington.  Tenn., 
May  9.  1862,  where  the  rebels  made  their  stand;  it 
was  a  gunshot  wound  and  he  was  sent  immediately 
home  because  the  ball  having  passed  through  his 
left  arm  and  ranged  along  the  front  part  of  the 
chest  he  was  Uo  ill  for  service.  But  inside  of 
thiity  d.ays  the  Major  was  on  duty  again,  and  ex- 
perienced all  the  adventures  and  hardships  incident 
to  a  faithful  soldier's  life.  When  Price  made  his 
advance  on  luka.  M.aj.  Herring's  company  pressed 
him  so  closely  that  he  left  the  carriage  in  which 
he  usualU-  rode  and  the  boys  used  this  conveyance 
to  carry  the  sick  and  wounded  on  their  journe}'. 
Maj.  Herring  was  consi)icuous  in  the  battle  of 
Corinth,  and  after  that  famous  battle  so  familiar  to 
all  readers  of  history,  he  guarded  the  ^lemphis  & 
Charleston  Railroad,  and  at  a  later  date  received  a 
second  ball  through  his  left  arm  while  in  a  skir- 
mish with  Richardson's  R:ingers.  He  was  sent 
back  to  La  Grange,  but  hearing  that  his  regiment 
was  being  used  up  in  the  rear  of  A'icksburg  he 
made  application  to  return  to  his  company,  but  no 
permission  was  given.  However,  he  appeared  upon 
the  scene,  and  by  means  of  his  excellent  judgment 
w.as  of  great  service  to  his  company,  guarding, 
scouting,  and  fighting  all  along  the  line  of  the 
Memphis  &  Charleston  Railroad.  To  recount  the 
glories  and  fame  that  attended  Maj.  Herring's  ca- 
reer through  the  war  would  be  to  relate  many 
thrilling  incidents  in  which  he  figured  promincntl}', 
and  althousrh  several  times  dansrerouslv  ill  his  chief 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUftL 


725 


.lim  at  all  times  was  to  serve  his  counti-y  faithfully 
and  well,  ami  sacrifieo  his  ci^mfort,  financial  inter- 
est, and  even  life  itself  if  necessaiy  fur  the  benefit 
of  the  cause  which  he  espoused.  After  Price  was 
defeated  the  Major  feelinij  satisfied  that  the  war 
was  virtually  ended,  resigned  his  command  in  No- 
vember, 18G4.  having  been  made  ISIajoi'  in  Febru- 
ary, 1  863. 

Maj.  Herring  was  married  in  lisllj  to  Margaret 
ISIiiran,  daughter  of  Richard  L.  ami  Anna  (Haj'den) 
Jloran.  Mrs.  Herring  was  born  irj  .Maryland,  and 
after  reaching  her  seventy-fourth  year  died  in 
1887.  To  them  have  been  born  four  children,  viz: 
Maggie.  .Mrs.  Charles  Barnard,  of  Canton,  111.; 
Josephine,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  \V.  Hesor.  re- 
sides with  her  father;  Nelson,  who  resides  in  Ful- 
ton County;  and  Hannah,  wife  of  V.  Stockbarger 
of  Iowa.  Maj.  Herring  has  always  been  largely 
interested  in  agriculture,  and  a  most  successful 
farmer.  He  is  an  active  Republican,  and  has  fre 
quently  served  as  delegate  to  county  and  State 
ci'nventions,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  National 
Convention  February,  1890,  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 
The  vast  amount  of  experience  which  a  long  pros- 
perous career  in  lioth  social  and  business  circles 
has  gi\en  Maj.  Herring  enables  him  to  be  of  great 
assistance  in  all  |niblic  matters  in  the  community 
in  whicli  he  resides.  (Generous,  brave,  and  thought- 
ful for  the  welfare  of  others  he  lias  many  warm 
personal  friends,  who  delight  to  do  him  honor. 


-^^"^ ^ 


\1I  ON.  .STKPHKN  Y.  THORNTON  is  editor 
and  ]iroprietor  of  the  Fulton  County  Ledger, 
one  of  the  leading  Democratic  journals  in 
Central  Illinois  and  one  of  the  oldest.  It  is 
the  outgrowth  of  the  Illinois  Public  Ledger,  which 
appeared  in  Levvistown  in  October,  1850,  and  after 
a  change  in  name  and  ownership,  was  brought  to 
Canton  in  1854.  In  the  spring  of  18r)7  Mr.  Thorn- 
ton became  sole  propi'ietor.  Since  that  time  he  has 
remained  steadily  and  faithfully  at  tlie  helm  of  af- 
fairs, securing  a  liberal  advertising  ()atronage  and 
a  large  circulation.  The  Ledger  is  a  six-colunui 
paper,  issued  weekly,  presenting  a  neat  appearance 


and  abundantly  supplied  with  the  foreign  and  gen- 
eral news  with  which  the  public  desires  to  become 
acquainted,  with  fresh.  cris|)  local  items,  and  able 
editorials.  Political  movements  are  discussed  fear- 
lessly yet  dispassionately,  the  editor  being  guided 
by  what  he  conceives  vvill  best  subserve  the  true 
interests  of  the  nation.  He  advocates  the  best 
means  of  developing  trade,  fights  against  monopoly, 
fraud  and  everything  winch  vvill  teud  to  lessen  or 
retard  tlie  public  welfare. 

Mr.  Thornton  was  born  in  the  city  of  PhiladeU 
phia,  December  13,  1831,  being  the  eldest  son  of 
Tlieodore  and  Mar}-  (Yerkes)  Thornton.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  in  his  native  city,  fur- 
ther advancing  his  knowledge  by  a  course  of  study 
at  the  Cotfeyville  Boarding  School  in  Maryland, 
near  Baltimore.  At  the  ago  of  seventeen  years  he 
began  the  piinter's  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Demo- 
crat,a.1  Doylestown.  Pa.,  and  in  1854  spent  several 
m(jnths  in  that  of  the  "Washington  Globe,  at  Wash- 
ington. I).  C.  On  June  2,  of  the  same  year  he  came 
to  Canton  and  after  working  as  a  journeyman  until 
the  fall  of  185G,  he  assumed  an  interest  in  the 
Ledger  as  before  noted. 

The  keen  intellect  and  public  spirit  of  Mr.  Thorn- 
ton were  early  recognized  by  the  citizens  here,  who 
elected  him  to  the  position  of  County  Commissioner 
of  Schools  in  1859  and  two  years  later  re-elected 
him.  The}'  have  called  for  his  service  in  other 
capacities  also.  He  vvas  sent  to  the  Council  from 
the  F"ourth  Ward  in  1865  and  again  in  18G7  and 
from  the  Third  Ward  in  1870  and  subsequently 
served  another  term  in  the  same  ward.  From  1869 
to  1876  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education 
and  during  the  last  two  years  served  as  its  Presi- 
dent and  subsequently  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education  one  term,  which  comprised  five  years. 
In  1872  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature,  two 
years  later  was  re-elected,  and  in  1876  was  a  candi- 
date for  Secretary  of  State.  These  facts  are  indica- 
tive of  the  position  which  he  holds  in  the  ranks  of 
the  Democratic  party  and  the  opinion  which  his 
confreres  have  of  his  ability  to  advance  their  in- 
terests. In  1888  he  was  appointed  a  member  of 
the  State  Democratic  Central  Committee  and  re- 
ap|iointed  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  two 
years. 


^* 


726 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Mr.  Thornton  is  of  English  descent  in  the  pater- 
nal line  and  (icrnian  in  the  maternal.  Both  his 
parents  wore  I)orn  in  the  Keystone  State.  His 
grandparents  were  John  and  Mar\'  (Moon)  Thorn- 
ton, and  William  and  Letitia  (Long)  Yerkes.  The 
marriage  of  our  subject  and  Miss  Ann  Adelaide 
Baudoiiine  was  solemnized  in  the  Baptist  Church 
of  Canton  Februar3-  14,  1S5S.  Mrs.  Thornton  is 
a  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Cordelia  (Stout)  Ban- 
douine.  Our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  have 
had  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living, 
viz:  Ella  Irene,  Carrie, and  William  E.  Theodore  R. 
and  Jlary  L.  died  of  scarlet  fever  in  the  spring  of 
18G2,  breathing  their  last  within  ten  d.aj-s  of  each 
other. 

l^'EY.  CHARLES  W.  SANDERS.  Of  the 
L*^  good  citizens  and  professional  men  of  Ful- 
<Si\V  ton  County-,  none  is  more  worthy  of  note 
than  the  Rev.  C.  AV.  Sanders.  He  is  identi- 
fied with  the  ministr}-  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,  and  is  also  connected  with  the  farming  in- 
terests of  this  section  of  the  State.  He  has  bis 
home  on  section  10,  Joshua  Township,  on  one  of 
the  linest  improved  farms  in  the  vicinity.  He  was 
a  Chaplain  in  the  late  Civil  War,  and  not  only  did 
lie  minister  to  the  spiritual  wants  and  the  bodily 
sufferings  of  the  noble  soldiers  who  came  under  his 
care,  but  he  was  often  found  in  the  ranks  bravely 
fighting  by  their  side  in  the  heat  of  battle  in  de- 
fense of  their  common  countrj'. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  Israel  and  Eliza- 
betli  Sanders.  Thej-  were  natives  of  L3-coming 
County,  Pa.,  and  were  born  October  9,  1 806,  and 
April  13,  1807.  respectively.  The}-  died  in  the 
month  of  June,  1889,  liius  rounding  out  long  and 
useful  lives,  tliat  were  united  in  death  as  in  life. 
The  blood  of  three  nations  ran  in  the  veins  of  the 
ancestors  of  our  subject,  who  is  derived  from  min- 
gled German,  English  and  Scotch  stock.  He  was 
born  December  26,  1828,  near  Williamsport,  Ly- 
coming County,  Pa.  He  has  six  brothers  and  one 
sister  living  who  are  scattered  in  different  localities 
in  various  Sl,ates  of  the  Union.  Strict!}'  speaking, 
Mr.  Sanders  is  a  self-made  man.     Before  the  sys- 


tem of  common  schools  was  established  in  Penn- 
sylvania, he  sought  the  means  of  procuring  books 
so  that  he  could  inform  himself,  and  he  attended 
the  subscription  schools  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 
biith.  These  were,  however,  often  very  inade- 
quate in  their  teachings,  as  the  instructors  were 
oftentimes  unlearned.  He  became  a  member  of 
what  was  known  as  the  Franklin  L3ceum,at  Hughes- 
vllle,  Pa.,  a  literary-  institution  that  developed  his 
facult\-  in  extemporaneous  speaking.  It  was  pat- 
ronized by  the  best  3'oung  men  in  that  localit}-, 
some  of  whom  are  still  living  and  occupying  hon- 
orable and  responsible  positions  in  various  walks 
in  life. 

Mr.  Sanders  was  married  to  a  Miss  Speck,  of 
Lj'coming  County,  Januar3'  ),  1851.  After  mar- 
riage he  decided  to  follow  the  profession  of  dentls- 
tr3',  and  began  his  studies  with  a  competent  pre- 
ceptor at  Hughesville.  Pa.  After  acquiring  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  calling  he  carried  on 
business  up  to  the  time  of  liis  enlistment  In  the 
army.  The  income  that  hederiveil  from  the  prac- 
tice of  dentistry  afforded  him  an  opportunity  to 
prepare  for  the  ministry,  for  which  he  had  a  de- 
cided taste  and  inclination.  He  entered  upon  his 
tiieological  studies,  and  after  four  3'ears  began  his 
career  as  a  minister  in  the  position  of  chaplain  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Thirt3--flrst  Penns3lvania  In- 
fantry, which  was  enlisted  for  a  period  of  nine 
months,  lie  receiving  his  appointment  on  the  1st 
of  August.  1862.  After  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  enlistment  he  was  reappointed  to  the  same 
office  August  4,  1864,  in  the  Two  Hundred  and 
Eighth  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  which  was  enlisted 
for  a  i)eriod  of  twelve  months.  He  not  only  at- 
tended to  his  duties  as  a  chaplain,  but  his  patriotic 
spirit  was  aroused  and  he  aided  in  fighting  the  en- 
em3\  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Fredericks- 
burg and  Petersburg,  and  fought  in  otiier  engage- 
ments. After  the  expiration  of  one  year  Chaplain 
Sanders  was  honorabl}'  discharged  on  account  of 
sickness  and  disabilit3',  and  resigning  his  office  he 
returned  to  his  home  at  Seliu's  Grove,  Pa. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Sanders  did  not  continue  to  reside 
in  his  native  State  ver3'  long  after  the  close  of  the 
war,  but  in  November,  1865,  came  to  this  county, 
with  his  family.     In  the  same    fall   he  took  charge 


PORTRAIT  AN]J  BlUGRArillCAL  ALBUM. 


r27 


of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  pastorate  at  Canton, 
and  witliin  the  space  of  fourteen  months  succeeded 
in  liuilding  three  Lutheran  Churclies.  Aside  from 
heing-  an  interesting  and  eloquent  divine,  he  is 
known  extensive!}'  as  a  great  church  organizer, 
anil  has  performed  great  work  in  tliis  line  in  Fnl- 
ton  C'onnty  and  elsewhere.  After  resigning  his 
pastorate  in  Canton,  he  took  charge  of  several  so- 
cieties in  the  county,  whicli  he  had  been  instru- 
mental in  establishing,  and  he  still  continues 
in  the  ministry.  He  was  elected  delegate  by  the 
Northern  Illinois  Synod  of  the  Lvangelical  Ln- 
theian  Cliurch,  to  the  tieiieral  Synod  of  that  de- 
nomination which  convened  at  ILarrisburg,  Pa., 
September  4,  l.SG.i. 

The  following  is  recorded  of  the  children  born 
to  i\Ir.  and  ]Mrs.  Sanders:  ALarilla  was  born  August 
30,  1854;  Cora  Alice,  May  .-il,  18.5 G ;  Kirtz,  May 
12,  1858;  Charles  W.,  Jr.,  March  18,  1863;  Eu- 
genia, June  25,  LS66;  Lizzie.  June  10,  1868 ;  Will- 
iam. .lanuary  12,  1877.  Tliree  of  the  chihlren  aie 
married,  and  the  remainder  ore  at  home  with  theii' 
[jarents. 

Mr,  Sanders  owns  a  valuable  farm  of  eighty 
ao'es  in  Joshua  Townshii.,  which  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  has  first-class  improvements, 
lie  is  highly  esteemed  liy  his  neighbors  as  an  able 
and  upright  minister   and   as  an  honorable  citizen. 


ORXKLIL'S  B.  I!L  TLER,  a  brief  .sketch  of 
whose  life  now  claims  attention  from  the 
J^^''  reader,  is  a  son  of  Abel  Butler,  one  of  Far- 
mington's  earliest  and  best  known  [lioneers,  who 
came  to  this  place  as  earl}-  as  1842,  while  yet  the 
surrounding  country  was  in  reality  "a  forest  pri- 
meval." His  conung  was  prior  to  the  time  of  any 
railroads;  in  ff.ct,  everything  was  in  a  thoronghl}' 
uncultivated  state,  but  he  followeil  teaming  as  an 
occupation  and  succeeded  admirably  from  a  finan- 
cial point  of  view.  He  was  born  and  reared  in 
New  York  and  married  Miss  F^liza  Loomis  from 
the  same  .State,  and  brought  his  wife  and  two  chil- 
dren West  with  him  even  at  that,  early  day.  After 
the  steam    horse  ran   through   this  section  of  the 


country  he  commenced  to  farm,  and  became  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  .acnes  of  valu- 
able land.  At  the  age  of  seventy-eight  he  is  still 
living  at  Farmington.  and  his  wife  is  in  her  sev- 
enty-fifth year.  To  them  were  born  four  chil- 
ilren.  viz:  M.-iry.  who  died  when  lifti'eii  yciirsold; 
Charles  C,  Cornelius  Brown,  and  Frederick  A., 
all  of  whom  reside  in  F'arniington. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  w.as  born  September 
21,  1846,  at  Farmington,  where  he  spent  his  youth 
and  attended  tiie  High  .School.  Lpon  reaching  his 
si.xleeiitli  year  he  commenced  teaming,  hauling 
many  ties  and  other  material  for  tlie  building  of 
the  Chicago,  Btu'lington  and  t^uiucy  Railroad.  He 
was  married  in  the  year  1S72  to  Miss  Frances  Leeper, 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Rachel  Ann  (Williams") 
Leeper,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  respect- 
ively, and  married  in  the  latter  named  State,  both 
having  been  previously  marrieiL  Of  this  union 
there  were  born  four  children,  viz:  Thomas  J., 
Mary  M.,  John  and  Fannie  Z.  IMrs.  Butler's  father 
was  first  married  in  Pennsj  Ivania,  and  by  that  wife 
had  six  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz: 
Allen,  a  resident  of  Kansas:  and  William,  who 
makes  his  home  in  Missouri.  His  mother  was  flr.'.t 
married  to  Robert  Laurence,  of  Ohio,  and  to  them 
were  born  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living: 
Thomas,  who  lives  in  Ohio;  Benjamin,  a  resident  of 
Trenton,  N.  J.;  and  Robert,  who  lives  in  JOngland. 

The  father  lived  to  be  seventy-seven  years  old 
and  the  mother  sixty-six  years.  They  came  West, 
settling  in  Bloomington,  111.,  where  Mrs.  Butler 
was  born.  Her  parents  removed  to  Iowa  when  she 
was  three  years  old,  and  in  this  journey  she  w.as 
led  across  the  Mississippi  River,  which  was  covered 
with  thick  ice.  She  grew  to  maidenhood  at  De- 
Witt  and  Burlington,  attending  the  High  Schools 
at  the  former  place,  and  the  Baptist  University  in 
the  hitter.  In  18G8  her  |)arents  removed  to  Farm- 
ington, III.,  and  for  one  term  she  taught  school 
there. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butler  became  the  parents  of  four 
children,  viz:  Blanche,  Ailella  A.;  Charles  E.,  who 
died  when  four  years  old;  and  Harr}'  E.  All  of 
these  children  are  noted  for  brightness,  and  their 
parents  are  justly  proud  of  them,  because  of  their 
intellectuality  anil  musical  talent.     Their   home  is 


728 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


indued  a  cliarming  one,  the  interior  being  filled 
witli  booiis.  music,  v;orlis  of  ,ii't.  and  all  that  per- 
tains to  culture  and  elegance.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Butler  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  this  citj",  and  they  delight  to  do  deeds 
of  charity  to  those  less  fortunate  than  themselves, 
having  won  thus  a  warm  personal  regard  through- 
out the  entire  community.  He  is  an  ardent  ]{e- 
pnblican,  true  at  all  times  to  the  interests  of  his 
party. 


y — — 


T70HN  H.  ROHRER.  Although  this  gentle- 
man is  Still  comparatively  young,  he  has 
been  for  some  time  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural  interests  of  the  county,  and  has  be- 
come quite  well  known  as  an  enterprising  and 
prosperous  man.  His  present  residence  is  on  sec- 
tion 7.  Canton  Township,  where  he  located  in  tlie 
spring  of  1887.  His  estate  comprises  two  hundred 
and  sixty-three  broad  and  fertile  acres,  which  are 
under  excellent  tillage  and  bear  numerou.s  im- 
provements. The  farm  house  and  accompanying 
outbuildings  are  well  built  and  sntticiently  com- 
modious for  the  purposes  for  which  thej'  were  de- 
signed, and  include  whatever  will  add  to  the  conve- 
nience of  the  family  in  carr\ing  on  the  household 
and  farm  economy-.  Mr.  Koluer  gives  his  attention 
to  general  farming  and  stock-raising,  meeting  with 
very  satisfactory  success  in  both. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Abraham  Robrer, 
and  his  mother,  Mary  (Geltmacher)  Rohrcr,  both 
natives  of  Washington  County,  Md.  Thej-  are 
still  living  in  their  native  county.  The  father  is  a 
miller  by  occupation.  Their  family  consists  of 
f'uir  sons  and  two  daughters,  our  subject  being 
the  third  cliihl.  Ilis  birth  took  place  July  11, 
1848,  and  he  was  reared  almost  to  manhood  at  the 
place  of  his  nativity.  His  .vorthy  parents  instilled 
into  his  mind  and  heart  those  principles  of  conduct 
which  lead  to  an  honorable  careei',  and  bestowed 
upon  him  a  good  education. 

When  ho  was  twenty  years  old  Mr.  Rohrer  came 
to  this  county,  making  his  home  in  Joshua  Town- 
ship and  running  a  threshing  machine  until  early 
in  1879.     He  then  located  near  Bushnell,  McDon, 


ough  County,  where  he  operated  a  farm  three  j'ears. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  returned  to  this 
county,  making  his  home  in  Farmington  Township 
until  he  took  possession  of  his  present  estate. 

The  man}'  graces  of  mind  and  heart  possessed  by 
Miss  Alice  Eshelman  won  the  regard  of  Mr.  Rohrer, 
and  in  Februar}-,  1879,  she  became  his  wife.  She 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Catherine  Eshelman,  and 
was  born  in  Canton  Township,  in  March,  1856. 
Her  father  is  deceased,  but  her  mother  survives. 
The  congenial  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rohrer  has 
been  further  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  three 
children — Samuel  E.,  John  W.  and  George  H. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rohrer  are  kindly  in  their  social 
relations,  manifest  an  intelligent  interest  in  social 
affairs,  and  so  conduct  themselves  as  to  win  the 
respect  of  'all  with  whom  they  come  in  contact, 
while  gaining  the  deeper  regard  of  those  who  know 
them  best.  The  political  affiliation  of  Mi.  Rohrer 
is  with  the  Republican  party. 

We  invite  the  attention  of  our  many  readers  to 
a  fine  lithographic  view  of  the  handsome  residence 
and  surroundings  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Rohrer. 


^sa^-l- 


-^^^»^- 


W 


ILLIAM  H.  LOWE  was  born  August  7, 
1812,  on  the  homestead  where  he  now 
resides  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
31,  Orion  Township,  and  since  attaining  nnanhood 
h.as  placed  himself  amongst  its  substantial  farmers 
and  stock-raisers.  He  is  a  son  of  a  worthy  pioneer 
of  this  section  of  Illinois,  and  is  doing  his  share  to- 
wards advancing  the  interests  of  his  native  country, 
being  a  well-known  figure  in  its  public  life. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  John  and  Isabelle  (Rilej') 
Lo"e.  His  father  was  born  in  the  North  of  Ire- 
land and  was  a  son  of  John  and  Nanc}'  (Todd) 
Lowe.  The3'  were  Protestants  and  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  somewhere  between  1800  and 
1805.  They  located  in  Brooks  County,  Ya.,  where 
they  lived  until  1837  when  they  came  to  Illinois 
and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  our  subject, 
which  was  bougiit  by   his  father.     The  grand  par- 


Residence:  ofW.  H.  Lowe,5ec.51.  Orion  Tr  Fulton  Co.  I  ll 


- <Tia)as!ias.v"g.,a*J^!Jfr*S?~  '^"-'J, 


Residence  OF  John  H.Rohrer,5ecT.  Canton  Tp.  Fulton  Co.  III. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


731 


ents  both  died  here  at  a  venerable  age  and  are  Inir- 
ied  in  wliat  is  known  as  the  Orendurf  burying 
ground. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  but  two  j-ears  okl 
wlien  his  parents  landed  in  America.  In  his  early 
tnanhood  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  cast  in  his  lot 
witli  th(^  j)ioneers  of  this  county,  and  in  the  busy 
years  that  followed,  tlevoloped  a  fine  farm  from 
what  w.as  a  tract  of  wild  prairie,  eom[)rising  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  when  he  i)urchased 
it.  In  1868  he  sold  the  homestead  to  our  subject 
and  removeil  with  his  wife  to  Enimett  Township, 
JIcDonough  County,  where  their  lives  were 
brought  to  an  honorable  close  at  a  ripe  old  age. 
They  now  lie  sleeping  their  last  sleep  side  by  side 
in  the  Stickles  bur3'ing  ground  in  that  township. 
They  had  six  children,  of  whom  four  are  now 
living.  He  had  been  previously  married  to  a  Miss 
Holmes,  by  whoii;  he  hail  three  children.  Our  sub- 
ject is  the  only  male  member  of  the  family  now 
living  in  Orion  Township  or  Fulton  County.  He 
was  reared  under  pioneer  intluences  and  after  at- 
taining man's  estate  adopted  as  his  life  work  the 
calling  to  which  he  had  l)een  bred.  He  now  owns 
one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  highly  cultivated 
and  finely  improved  land,  which  is  supplied  with  a 
good  setof  farm  buildings,  including  a  commodious 
residence  of  a  more  modern  style  of  architecture. 
This  homestead  is  represented  by  a  view  elsewhere. 

Mr.  Lowe  was  united  in  marriage  in  18G7  with 
Miss  Ann  Eliza  Breed,  daughter  of  Jonas  and  Sarah 
(Wright)  Breed,  natives  of  Connecticut  and  Penn- 
sylvania respectivPl}'.  ]Mrs.  Lowe  is  a  true  home- 
maker,  looking  carefully  after  the  comforts  of  tiie 
household,  and  assisting  her  husband  in  every  way 
possible.  They  have  a  family  of  five  children  liv- 
ing, as  follows:  Mary  I.,  Charles  R.,John  H.,  Anna 
B.  and  J.  Bernice,  all  at  home.  The  famil}'  occupy 
an  enviable  position  socially,  and  enjoy  the  esteem 
of  their  numerous  acquaintances. 

We  should  be  doing  but  scant  justice  to  our  sub- 
ject if  we  did  not  mention  the  honorable  part  he 
took  in  tlie  late  Civil  War.  As  a  loyal  citizen,  he 
watched  with  anxious  interest  the  events  that  led 
up  to  the  ontl)reak  and  .as  soon  as  possible  offered 
his  services  to  his  country,  enlisting  August  5, 
1861,  in  Company-  A,  Fifty-fifth   Illinois  Infantry, 


and  for  three  years  and  three  months  did  valiant 
duty  as  a  faithful  and  eltlcient  soldier.  During 
that  time  he  was  for  nearly  three  years  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Sherman,  first  in  his  brigade  and 
later  in  Ins  division. 

Mr.  Lowe  fought  in  the  battles  of  Sliiloli ;  the 
Russell  House  skirmish;  took  an  active  part  in  the 
siege  of  Vicksbnrg;  was  present  at  Arkansas  Post; 
at  the  front  at  Mission  Ridge;  in  the  .assault  at 
Kenesaw  Mountain  on  the  27tli  of  June;  on  the 
2'2nd  of  July  did  duty  east  of  Atlanta  in  the  battle 
where  Gen.  MePherson  was  killed;  on  the  iStli  of 
July  was  at  New  Hope  Church;  and  on  the  30th 
of  August  was  in  the  midst  of  the  liottest  of  the 
fight  at  Jonesboro,  where  he  was  wounded  and  was 
not  able  to  be  in  the  following  d.a3-'s  engagement. 
During  his  last  j'ear's  service  he  was  Sergeant  of 
his  company  and  one  of  its  most  eflicient  otticers. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  at  Chattanooga, Tenn., 
October  30,  18G4.  He  did  not  escape  unliarmed 
in  the  many  battles  in  which  he  fought,  but  at 
Jonesboro  was  wounded  by  a  bullet  through  the 
neck,  which  fit  times  still  causes  him  considerable 
inconvenience. 

Mr.  Lowe  is  a  man  of  weight  and  influence  in 
this  county,  and  is  one  of  our  most  valutd  civic 
officials.  He  is  now  Ilighw.ay  Commissioner,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors 
for  two  terms  doing  good   work  in  the  interests  of 

I    township    and   county,   while    representing  Orion. 

1  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  adherent  of  the  Re|)nb- 
lican  party.  In  commemoration  of  his  soldier  life 
he  is  now  identified  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  as  a  member  of  the  Joe  Hooker  Post,  of 
Canton. 


"(_^.  F:NRY  I).  ROHRER.  Perhaps  nowhere  in 
the  county  are  stronger  evidences  of  good 
taste  to  be  seen  than  on  the  fine  farm  of  the 
gentleman  above  named.  The  dwelling  is 
a  roomy  structure,  presenting  an  appearance  of 
home  cheer  and  unpretentious  prosperity,  and  is 
I  shaded  with  fine  forest  trees  which  also  line  the 
drive  leading  to  the  highway.  The  various  out- 
buildings are  conveniently  arranged,  and  ailequate 


;V2 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


fur  tlieii  lojpective  purposes,  while  fields  and  «arden 
are  iieally  kept  and  lliorouglilj'  cultivated. 

The  imniediale  progenitors  of  our  subject  were 
Henry  and  Mary  (Doner)  Rohrer,  natives  of  Lan- 
caster County,  Pa.  After  their  marriage  they  made 
their  home  in  their  native  county  until  the  spring 
of  1 847,  when  they  came  AVest.  After  spending  a 
few  months  at  Quincy.  ill.,  they  came  to  this 
county  and  located  on  section  14,  Canton  Town 
ship.  There  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  days, 
respected  by  their  acquaintances  and  beloved  by 
their  friends.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  sons 
and  five  daughters,  who  lived  toj'oai-s  of  maturity, 
and  had  buried  two  children  in  childhood.  Three 
sons  and  three  daughters  now  survive. 

The  gentleman  whtse  name  introduces  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  the  Keystone  State,  near  Lancaster 
City,  August  2.5,  1846.  and  was  but  thirteen  months 
old  when  brought  to  this  county  by  his  parents. 
He  was  reared  to  farm  puisuits  on  the  land  he  now 
owns,  and  from  the  cultivation  of  which  he  derives 
a  good  revenue.  He  pursued  the  usual  course  of 
stud}-  in  the  common  schools,  and  being  possessed 
of  natural  intelligence  and  a  desire  to  be  well  in- 
formed, has  kept  himself  posted  regarding  the 
events  that  are  transpiring  in  the  world.  He  now 
owns  the  homestead  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
together  with  another  tract  of  fifty-three  acres  in 
the  same  townshij),  which  corners  on  the  home- 
stead. 

A.fter  having  lived  a  bachelor  until  his  thirty- 
third  year,  Mr.  Rohrer  assumed  the  duties  of  a  mar- 
ried man,  having  won  for  his  companion  Mrs.  Kina 
Shleich,  nf^e  Broherd.  That  lady  was  born  in  Farm- 
ington  Townsliip,  and  was  the  daughter  of  early 
settlers  of  the  county.  Her  father,  Daniel  Bioherd, 
dicil  near  Farmington,  but  her  mother,  Elizabeth 
(Kent)  Broherd,  survives.  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Broherd 
were  natives  of  Ohio.  The  daughter  Nina  was  first 
married  to  Victor  Shleich,  by  whom  she  had  one 
son,  Elmer  V...  who  died  in  the  fall  of  1888  when 
fifteen  years  old.  The  marriage  of  Mrs.  Shleich 
to  our  subject  was  solemnized  near  Farmington, 
November  7,  1878.  It  was  blessed  b}' th<>  birth  of 
two  children,  named  respectively:  Charlie  G.  and 
Mary  I.  The  loving  wife  and  mother  was  removed 
from  her  family  by  death,. January  1),  1887,  in  Flor- 


ida, whither  she  had  gone  in  the  hope  of  benefiting 
her  health.  She  W!is  an  active  member  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  one  of  those  noble- 
hearted  women  wliose  loss  is  felt  throughout  an 
entire  community. 

Not  only  has  Mr.  Rohrer  pursue!  his  chosen  call- 
ing with  energy,  and  brought  to  bear  upon  it  a  high 
degree  of  intelligence,  but  he  has  manifested  an  al- 
most equal  amount  of  zeal  for  the  public  welfare. 
He  may  be  counted  upon  to  bear  a  part  in  every 
worthy  enterjjrise  which  is  promulgated  in  the 
neighborhood,  being  particularh^  interested  in  the 
advancement  of  the  cause  of  education.  This  is  rec- 
ognized by  his  fellow  citizens,  who  have  bestowed 
upon  him  the  office  of  School  Director,  in  which  he 
is  at  present  serving.  He  believes  that  the  princi- 
ples laid  down  in  the  Republican  iililform,  are  best 
adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  nation,  and  he  there- 
fore votes  a  straight  Rei)ublican  ticket. 

— *- -#^-#^ "-^ 


~OHN  W.  SCHRODT.  The  career  of  this 
gentleman  has  been  marked  with  enterprise, 
industry  and  the  well-directed  efforts  th.at 
have  been  rewarded  by  the  accumulation  of 
a  considerable  amount  of  land,  and  the  machinery 
and  stock  necessary  for  carrying  on  a  first-class 
farm.  Mr.  Schrodt  is  one  of  those  German- Amer- 
ican citizens  of  whom  we  have  reason  to  be  proud, 
on  account  of  the  example  they  present  of  indus- 
try', moralit}'  and  good  citizenship.  He  was  boni 
in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Februar}-  3,  1820,  and  was 
about  eleven  years  old  when  his  parents  emigrated 
to  America.  He  remained  with  them  until  he  was 
!  fifteen  years  old,  then  went  to  learn  tlie  trade  of  a 
shoemaker  at  Hagerstown,  Md.  He  worked  at  his 
trade  until  earl}'  in  1847,  when  he  married  and  es- 
tablished himself  on  a  rented  farm. 

In  1850  Mr.  Schrodt  pre-empted  eighty-four  and 
a  quarter  acres  on  section  7,  Deerfield  Township, 
this  county,  where  he  now  resides.  In  1869  he 
added  thirty-six  and  a  quarter  acres  on  section  17, 
and  ten  years  later  became  the  owner  of  another 
eighty  acres  on  section  7,  together  with  forty  acres 
ou  section  8.     His  first  purchase  was  covered  with 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


733 


a  thick  growth  of  timber,  which  he  removed,  plac- 
ino;  the  land  under  good  improvement,  ;is  he  has 
tliat  whicli  he  lias  since  bonght.  He  now  has  about 
two  hundred  acres  under  fence,  and  one  hundred 
and  forty  under  cultivation,  and  is  doing  a  general 
farming  business.  When  he  took  up  his  abode  here 
there  were  few  neighl>ors,  but  now  the  conntr_y 
about  hiin  is  well  settled,  and  friends  are  quite  near 
at  hand. 

On  February  7,  1847,  ;\Ir.  Schrodt  led  to  the  hy- 
meneal altar  Mary  C,  daughter  of  I'liilip  L.  and 
Anna  M.  (Schnur)  Mahr.  Mrs.  Schrodt  was  liorn 
in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  September  .">.  1826, 
and  her  [larents  were  natives  of  thesiune  province. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blaiir  emigrated  to  America,  making 
their  home  in  the  Buckeye  State,  where  the  hus- 
band died  in  1850,  and  the  wife  in  about  1853  gr 
185t. 

Our  subject  and  his  good  wife  have  nine  living 
children  and  two  deceased:  John,  the  lirst-born, 
died  when  about  a  3'ear  old,  and  Wendel  on  March 
11,  1884,  at  the  .age  of  nineteen;  Henry  married 
Martha  Stick,  and  lives  in  Deerlleld;  Philip  mar- 
ried Clam,  Gardner,  who  died  August  3.  1888; 
Jenny  married  William  Knott,  who  died  in  1884, 
and  now  makes  her  home  in  Deeriield  Township; 
John  M.  took  for  his  wife  Delia  INIelton,  and  makes 
his  home  in  Lee  Township;  ilargaret  became  the 
wife  of  Henrj'  Shaffer,  their  home  being  in  Deer- 
field  Township;  Mar3'  married  David  Laswell,  and 
lives  in  Deeriield  Township;  George,  Lewis  P.,  and 
Catherine  are  still  with  their  parents. 

Mr.  Schrodt  is  a  Democrat,  but  of  l.atc  years  has 
taken  but  little  interest  in  politics.  He  has  been 
Road  Commissioner  and  Schoul  Director,  elHcientiy 
discharging  the  duties  of  those  oftices.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he  has 
held  the  office  of  Deacon.  For  more  than  live  years 
he  has  been  lame,  and  is  therefore  unable  to  attend 
church  or  go  aboui  as  he  would  like  to  do. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  and  Mar- 
garet Schrodt,  who  emigrated  from  the  Fatherland 
to  America  in  183L  Ttiey  landed  at  Baltimore, 
Jld.,  remained  there  about  a  year,  then  removed  to 
W'estminster,  and  some  time  later  went  to  Hagers- 
town.  Their  next  removal  was  to  Cliambersburg, 
Pa.,  iu  which  city  they  remained  two  ^cars   and   a 


half,  then  moved  to  Ohio.  After  sojourning  in 
that  State  nearly  ten  j'ears.  they  came  to  this  county 
and  made  their  last  settlement  on  section  10,  Deer- 
iield Township.  There  the  mother  breathed  her 
last  December  12,  LSG8,  and  the  father,  March  II, 
1870. 


OHN  W.  NEWELL.  There  is  nothing  of 
more  interest  to  the  general  reader  than  a 
sketch  of  a  gentleman  w4io  has  won  for  liim- 
^^Ml^  self  both  fame  and  fortune  iu  the  battle  of 
life,  and  according  to  this  principle  a  brief  account 
of  Mr.  Newell  cannot  fail  to  prove  interesting.  He 
ranks  among  the  oldest  and  most  successful  citizens 
in  Farmington,  and  is  closely  identified  witli  both 
the  commercial  and  social  [jrospeiity  of  this  city. 
He  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth,  and  snperior  intelli- 
gence, and  was  in  his  eaily  years  exceedingly  active 
in  all  business  pursuits.  Having  acquired  a  com- 
petency he  no  longer  troubles  himself  with  the 
noise  and  bustle  of  the  c(jmmercial  world,  and  is 
enabled,  through  ami)le  means  and  high  social 
position,  to  be  of  great  service  to  the  common- 
wealth. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  Brownliig- 
ton,  Vt.,  near  the  Canadian  line,  and  belonged  to  a 
family  of  six  children,  viz:  Orpliia,  Roswell,  .lolin 
Willard,  Susan,  Sarah  and  Clark,  all  of  whom 
reached  maturity,  with  the  exception  of  Orphia, 
who  died  when  seventeen  yejirs  old.  At  the  present 
writing  our  subject  and  his  sister  Sarah  are  the 
only  survivors.  She  is  the  widow  of  John  H. 
W^estbrook,  who  was  .an  extensive  lumberman  at 
Port  Huron,  Mich.,  and  makes  her  home  iu  B;iy 
City.  Mich.,  having  attained  the  great  age  of  eighty- 
one  years. 

Mr.  Newell  s  father,  Benjamin  Newell,  was  born 
at  Old  Salem,  near  Boston,  and  like  most  of  his 
family  was  engaged  in  ship  building.  'Lhe  Newells 
were  English  Puritans,  and  lived  at  Old  Salem  for 
several  generations.  (Jrandfather  Newell  took  part 
in  the  Revolutionary  W^ar,  and  such  was  his  hatred 
for  the  English  and  the  ••red  men,"  that  even  when 
peace  was  restored  it  was  diflicult  to  restrain  him 
from  shooting  huliaiis  when   they  crossed  his  path. 


734 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


lie  moved  to  Orford,  N.  II..  with  his  large  fnmily, 
!iii(l  Diir  siibji'Cl's  father  married  a  hid\-  in  St. 
Johnshurg,  ^'l..  :iu(l  after  marriage  settled  in 
Browningtoii.  After  several  moves,  he  finally 
settled  upon  a  farm  in  St.  Clair  County,  Midi., 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  which 
was  caused  by  an  accident  when  he  had  reached  his 
seventy- sixth  year. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  who,  previous  to  her 
marriage, was  Miss  Mary  Ide.  was  born  in  Rehobolh, 
Mass.,  and  belonged  to  an  induential  family,  among 
whom  were  many  professional  men,  and  several 
noted  clergymen.  They  came  originally  from 
Kngland.  Our  subject  was  born  December  21,  1804, 
and  was  a  boy  of  about  twelve  summers  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Ohio.  Belonging  to  a  family 
that  considered  an  excellent  education  an  essential 
feature  of  every  life,  he  commenced  to  attend  the 
public  schools  at  an  early  age.  Thus  his  boyhood 
was  well  and  prosperously  spent,  near  the  pictur- 
esque and  attractive  shores  of  Lake  Memphremagog, 
and  in  the  bracing  atmosphere  of  the  Green 
Mountains.  He  was  tausjht  habits  of  industry,  and 
after  an  apprenticeship  of  several  years,  was  made 
foreman  of  a  tannery  at  Paynesville.  Ohio,  immedi- 
ately after  attaining  his  twenty-first  year. 

Mr.  Newell  owed  his  appointment  as  foreman  to 
his  perfectly-  abstemious  habits,  which  he  retained 
from  youth  to  old  age.  He  remained  foreman  for 
ten  years,  when  his  employer  died,  and  he  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  going  on  a  farm.  Accordingly, 
in  1836,  he  started  for  Illinois,  buying  a  horse  and 
making  the  trip  on  horseback.  He  traveled  over 
the  old  Chicago  turnpike,  and  through  Southern 
Michigan,  making  his  way  southwest  from  Michigan 
City  and  arriving  at  Canton  June  30.  Here  he  met 
the  Rev.  Robert  Stewart,  to  whom  he  took  a  strong 
liking,  and  wishing  to  enjoy  the  religious  privil- 
eges here  offered,  he  concluded  to  settle  in  this 
community. 

The  first  purchase  of  Mr.  Newell  was  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  four  and  one-half  miles  north- 
east of  Canton.  He  knew  nothing  about  farmings 
and  being  advised  to  buy  timber  lands,  did  so.  He 
cleared  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres,  improving 
the  farm  and  starting  an  apple  nursery,  the  first  in 
the  township.     He  soon  discovered  that  the  prairie 


lands  were  best  adapted  to  this  purpose,  and  selling 
out  his  nursery,  bought  a  prairie  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  three  miles  from  Farm- 
ington.  Later  he  purchased  fort3'  acres  of  timber 
land. 

In  18oo  Mr.  Newell  again  sold  out  and  returned 
to  Canton,  where  he  lived  nine  years;  thence  re- 
moving to  Farmington.  where  he  has  since  lived. 
He  was  first  married  in  1838  to  Miss  Sarah  Bond, 
daughter  of  Stephen  Bond  and  a  niece  of  Gen. 
Bond,  of  Pay-nesville,  Ohio.  The  Bond  family- 
came  to  Illinois  in  183.5  and  located  in  the  Marchant 
settlement.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newell  were  born 
two  children.  Samuel  .and  Clark,  the  latter  dying 
when  fifteen  months  old.  Samuel  resides  on  a  farm 
in  Peoria  County,  two  miles  from  Farmington.  He 
married  Elizabeth  M.  Thompson,  of  Ellington, 
Conn.,  and  to  them  was  born  one  daughter,  Sarah  E. 

Mrs.  Samuel  Newell  died  when  her  daughter, 
Sarah  E.,  was  a  babe  of  thirteen  d.ays,  and  thj  child 
was  then  taken  into  the  home  of  her  grandfather 
and  has  been  there  since.  She  has  received  the 
best  of  care  from  the  second  wife  of  our  subject 
and  is  now  a  student  at  Knox  College,  from  which 
she  expects  to  graduate  with  the  class  of  '92. 
Our  subject  was  married  a  second  time  in  1857  to 
Miss  Seliua  Booth,  whose  [larents  were  natives  of 
Connecticut.  Her  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Clarissa  Dewe}',  was  born  near  East 
Windsor,  that  State,  and  was  married  to  Mr.  Booth 
at  Suflfleld.  The  father  owned  an  estate  of  four 
hundred  acres  at  P^ast  Windsor,  where  he  died 
when  seventy-six  y-ears  of  age.  The  mother  passed 
away  when  sixty  years  olil.  Their  family'  com- 
prised nine  children  who  lived  to  manhood  and 
womanhood. 

Mrs.  Newell  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  at- 
tended the  early  schools  of  the  district.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen  years  she  entered  Mt.  Holyoke  Sem- 
inary, where  she  took  the  regular  course.  In 
company  with  her  sister  Harriet  she  went  to  Iowa 
in  1845  and  taught  a  select  school  in  Farmington 
two  years.  Thence  she  removed  to  Toulon,  111., 
and  organized  a  select  school  which  was  liter 
merged  into  the  Toulon  Academy.  In  1850  she 
came  to  Farmington,  this  county,  and  taught  in 
the    high    school,    which    vvas    supported    thrtiugh 


/U^riAM^    ' 


^■^ 


'T 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


737 


private  enterprise.  It  prospered  from  tlie  first,  and 
in  1853  Prof.  Chiircliill,  of  Galesburo-,  was  culled 
as  an  assistant.  He  lias  for  the  past  thirty-six 
years  been  connected  with  Knox  College  as  pro- 
fessor. 

Mrs.  Newell  made  the  acquaintance  of  our  sub- 
ject while  teaching-  at  Farmington.  Slie  had  friends 
at  a  ladies'  seminary  in  Henry,  111.,  and  being  fre- 
quently solicited  to  accept  a  position  as  teacher  in 
that  institution,  she  flnuUy  accepted  the  offer,  and 
went  there  in  1854,  taking  charge  of  the  seminar3'. 
At  that  time  there  were  about  one  hundred  students 
attending  the  seminary.  Mrs.  Newell  is  a  lady  of 
rare  intellectual  endowments,  and  is  conceded  to  be 
one  of  the  most  intelligent  ladies  of  this  cit}'.  She 
reads  extensively  and  possesses  the  happy  faculty 
of  retaining  the  information  thus  obtained.  Her 
reputation  as  a  teacher  was  extended,  and  she  still 
keeps  informed  on  all  topics  of  general  and  local 
interest. 

Mr.  Newell  has  been  very  prominently  connected 
with  the  Congregational  Church  at  Farmington  and 
has  helped  to  build  one  at  Canton.  He  served  as 
Deacon  of  the  church  in  Canton  eight  years  and  in 
the  Farmington  Church  twenty-live  years,  until  on 
account  of  his  deafness  he  resigned  his  charge.  He 
has  been  Church  Treasurer  twenty  seven  years. 
Politically,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  has  voted 
the  anti-slavery  ticket  since  1833,  and  still  votes 
with  the  Republican  party.  He  has  lived  a  C^hris- 
tian's  life,  and  now  in  his  old  age  he  is  clieered  by 
a  Christian's  hope. 


—  3"»-: 


^=^EORGE  HEMENOVER.  One  of  the  most 
III  (— ^  finelj'-located  farms  in  Canton  Tt>wnsliipis 
'^^JJ  owned  and  occupied  by  George  Hemenover, 
whose  reputation  as  an  agriculturist  is  only  excelled 
by  his  character  as  a  man.  The  estate  consists  of 
one  hundred  and  five  broad  acres  on  which  may  be 
seen  a  substantial  residence  of  pleasing  architect- 
ural design,  and  numerous  buildings  adapted  to  the 
need  of  a  prosperous,  enterprising  farmer.  This 
place  has  been    the  home   of  oui'  subject   since  the 


spring  of  1845,''and  around  it  cluster  memories  of 
trials  and  pleasures,  joys  and  sorrows. 

Januarj^  8,  1818,  the  eyes  of  our  subject  opened 
tothe  light,  his  birthplace  being  in  New  Jerse}', 
of  which  State  his  parents  were  natives.  His 
mother,  Margaret  (Boj'd)  Hemenover,'"died  in  that 
.State  and  his  father,  Mathias  by  name,  near  Prai- 
rie City,  this  county.  He  of  whom  we  write  w.as 
reared  to'manhood  in'  his  native  State,  continuing 
to  res'de  there  until  he  was  twenty-six]'years  old. 
His  father  being'a  farmer,  he  was  bred  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits^which  he  has  followed  as  a  life  work. 
In  the  summer  of  1844  he^  came  to  this  county, 
and  within  a  few  months  was  located  where  he 
still  resides,  and  beginning  the  improvements 
which  ^make  ^his  land  one'  of  the  most;' valuable 
pieces  of  property'in  the  vicinity. 

Mr.  Hemenover  Jias^[been  twice  married.  The 
first  marriage  took  place  in  New  Jersey,  December 
17,  1841,  his  bride  lieing  Miss  Susan  Mills, ^with 
with  whom  he  lived  happily  until  December  22, 
1878,  when  she  entered  into  rest.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Mills  and]  was  of 
Irish  descent.  She  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  wearing  lier  icligion  as  an  ever}-- 
day  garment.  The  marriage  was  blest  by  the 
birth  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  lived  to  man- 
hood and  womanhood.  These  are:  Mary,  now 
the  wife  of  Fred  Jones;  Amanda,  who  married  John 
Bell  and  died  in  Canton;  Amos,  a  farmer  in  Mc- 
Lean] County;  Surilda,  wife  of  Daniel  Shearer; 
pjmma,  wife  of  Edwin  Roe;  and  Andrew,  a  painter 
in  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  The  deceased  are  Sarah, 
who  died  when  nine  months  old,  and  George,  who 
lived  tojthe  age  of  two  years. 

The  i)resent  jMrs.  Hemenover  w.as  born  in  Sus- 
sex County,  N.  J.,  July  18,  1830,  to  Samutl  and 
and  Charlotte  ( Hinchman)']'Bhincliard.  Her  pa- 
rents were  natives  of  the  Empire  State.  They 
emigrated  to  Illinois,  where  the  mother  died, 
the  father  subsequently  returning  to  New  Jersey- 
where  he  breathed  his  last.  Miss  Eliza  Blanchard, 
now  Mrs.  Hemenover,  first  married  Loren  Dun- 
ning, who  died  in  Oskaloosa,  Iowa,  September  25, 
1880,  he  being  the  father  of  six  children — Phebe 
E.  and  Julia  A.,  deceased;  Charlotte  A.,  James  A., 
Samuel  M.   and  Floyd  E.      After  having  remained 


738 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


a  widow  until  December  28,  1889,  Mrs.  Dunning 
lu'ciima  the  wife  of  our  subject.  Under  Ler  care 
llie  home  is  neat  ami  orderly,  well  supplied  with 
good  cheer  for  the  body  and  recreation  for  the 
iiiiiid.  Mrs.  Ilemenover  has  many  friends  who 
greatly  enjoy  their  visits  in  her  home. 

Mr.  Ilemenover  is  identified  witli  the  Rei)ublieaii 
|jarty.  He  is  an  active  memlier  of  the  Baptist 
Church  to  which  he  has  belonged  since  1846.  He 
is  a  life  member  of  the  Baptist  Theological  Union, 
loi'ated  at  Chicago.  His  portrait,  which  is  shown 
on  another  page,  represents  one  of  Fulton  County's 
old  sBttlers  and  esteemed  citizens. 

GEORGE  W.  HORTON,  a  member  of  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors,  is  one  of  the 
s>^<y  leading  citizens  of  Astoria.  He  is  a  native 
of  Ohio,  the  place  of  his  birth  near  New  Castle, 
Coshocton  County,  and  the  date  thereof  October 
11,  1837.  His  fatiier,  William  Horton.  was  born 
in  the  same  county,  and  his  father,  wlK)se  given 
name  was  Thomas,  was  born  either  in  New  York 
or  A'irginia,  He  was  a  son  of  Ezra  Horton,  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland,  who  emigrated  to  Ohio  and  was 
a  pioneer  of  Coshocton  County,  where  lie  s])enthis 
last  years,  dying  at  the  venerable  age  of  ninety 
years. 

Thomas  Horton  resided  in  New  York  and  also 
in  \'irgiuia  |)rior  to  his  removal  to  Ohio.  He  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Coshocton  County, 
where  he  bought  a  tract  of  forest-covered  land 
two  miles  east  of  New  Castle.  He  cleared  and  de- 
veloiied  a  good  farm,  on  which  he  lived  until  the 
fall  of  18.'J3,  when  he  came  to  Fulton  County. 
Here  he  bought  an  improved  farm  one-half  mile 
south  of  Summum,  and  that  was  his  home  until 
death  called  him  honce.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Elizabeth  Butler,  was  reared  on  the  bank 
of  White  Woman's  River  in  Coshocton  County, 
Ohio,  and  died  on  the  home  farm  in  Summum.  Ilei 
father,  great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
Thomas  Butler.  He  was  a  Welshman  by  birth, 
and  after  coming  to  this  country  settled  first  in 
Virginia,   and   from  there  removed   to  Coshocton 


County  in  the  early  days  of  its  settlement.  There 
his  pilgrimage  was  brought  to  a  close  at  the  vener- 
able age  of  eighty-five  3' ears  by  his  accidental 
death,  caused  Ijy  his  being  thrown  from  a  horse. 

The  father  of  our  subject  learned  the  trade  of  a 
carpenter,  and  was  engaged  in  it  in  Ohio  until 
1853,  when  he  came  to  Fulton  County,  and  settled 
in  Woodland  Township.  He  bought  a  tract  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  two  miles 
east  of  Astoria.  He  rented  a  house  for  a  time  and 
then  bought  forty  acres  more  land  adjoining  his 
first  purchase,  on  which  there  was  a  double  log 
house,  which  the  family  occupied  until  1868.  Mr. 
Horton  then  sold  that  place  and  bought  one  in 
Hancock  County,  three  and  one  half-miles  southwest 
of  Augusta.  Four  years  later  he  returned  to  this 
locality  and  resided  on  the  land  he  first  bought 
until  his  death  in  !March,  1882.  He  had  married 
in  Ohio,  taking  as  his  wife  Sarah  Dennis.  She  was 
horn  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  and  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Philip  Dennis,  who,  so  far  as  known,  was 
also  a  native  of  the  Kej'stone  State.  He  removed 
from  that  State  to  Knox  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
bought  a  tract  of  land  and  engaged  in  farming 
thereon  until  death  rounded  out  his  life.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Elizabeth  Horn,  and 
she  w;is  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  died  in  Knox 
County.  The  mother  of  our  subject  now  makes 
her  home  with  her  sou,  T.  J.,  on  the  home  farm. 
Nine  of  the  ten  children  born  of  her  marriage  are 
living. 

George  W.  Horton  was  sixteen  years  ohi  the  day 
the  family  arrived  in  Fulton  County.  He  had  at- 
tended the  public  schools  in  Ohio,  and  was  a  pupil 
in  the  winter  schools  of  this  county  three  terms 
after  coming  here.  When  but  a  boy  he  commenced 
work  at  the  tra'le  of  a  carjjenter  with  his  father, 
and  followed  that  calling  part  of  the  time  when  not 
engaged  in  farming  until  1861. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  the  brave  oflicers  of  the 
late  war,  and  his  valuable  services  won  him  a  mili- 
tary record  of  which  he  and  his  may  well  be  proud. 
After  the  vvar  broke  out  he  watched  its  progiess 
with  intense  interest,  and  as  soon  as  he  could  ar- 
range it,  enlisted  to  defeud  the  honor  of  his  coun- 
try. August  13,  1861,  he  became  a  member  of 
Company  H,  Third  Illinois  Cavalry.      He  was  mus- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


731) 


tei'Cfl  in  as  Orilciiy  Sergeant,  and  for  bravery  ami 
excellent  soldierly  qnalities  was  promoted  to  be 
See  >nd  Lieutenant.  December  31.  18(il.  and  May 
12,  1862,  was  advanced  to  the  position  of  First 
Lieutenant  of  his  comjiany.  For  a  few  months  in 
18U2  lie  was  Regimental  (.Quartermaster  and  Com- 
missary. 

Lieut,  llorton  veteranized  in  February,  1SG4,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  His  regiment 
tooU  pa)t  in  eighteen  regular  liattles.  and  in  many 
minor  engagements.  The  most  im|)ortant  battles 
in  which  our  subject  fought  were  those  at  Pea 
Ridge,  Chickasaw  Bluffs.  Tupelo,  Miss.,  Franklin 
and  Nashville,  Tenn.  In  May,  186.n  the  war  hav- 
ing closed,  he  resigned  his  commission  and  re- 
turned home. 

After  his  experience  of  military  life  our  subject 
quietly  resumed  farming  in  Woodland  Township, 
remaining  there  until  186S.  We  next  hear  of  him 
in  Hancock  County,  where  he  ijurchased  a  farm,  on 
which  he  dwelt  until  1872,  when  he  sold  it  and 
went  to  California.  There  he  was  employed  at  his 
old  trade  of  a  carpenter,  working  in  San  Francisco 
six  weeks,  ami  then  in  Goshen  the  same  length  of 
time,  and  from  tliere  he  went  to  the  Sierra  Nevada 
Mfiuntains,  where  he  was  emploj'ed  on  the  Central 
Pacific  Railroad  in  building  snow  sheds  and  bfidge? 
until  ,Ianuar\',  1873  After  that  he  visited  his  old 
home  for  a  few  months,  and  in  April  went  back  to 
California,  where  he  resided  until  the  month  of 
.luly.  He  then  returned  eastward  as  faras  George- 
town, Colo.,  where  he  eng.aged  in  mining  two  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  came  back  to  this 
county  and  l)()Ught  a  homo  in  Astoria,  and  has  re- 
sided here  ever  since. 

The  first  marriage  of  our  subject,  which  took 
|)lace  May  1,  1864,  was  to  Mary  Ann  Saft'er,  a  na- 
tive of  Woodland  Township.  She  departed  this 
life  October  18,  1871,  leaving  four  children — Will- 
iam S.,  Oscar  .1.,  Clara  E.  and  Albert  S.  Mr.  llor- 
ton was  married  a  second  lime  April  23,  1871), 
taking  as  bis  wife  Miss  Sallie.I.  McKim,  a  native  of 
.Steubenville,  Ohio.  Mr.  Horton  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  Astoria;  he  is  a  man  of  large 
experience,  possesses  firmness  of  character,  fore- 
thought andjsound  common  sense,  and  his  fellow- 
citizens,  recognizing  the  value  of   these  traits   in   a 


civic  ollici:il.  h:ive  often  called  him  to  (ill  positions 
of  trust  and  honor.  He  is  at  present  serving  his 
third  term  as  a  member  of  the  County  Board  of 
Supervisors,  I'cpresenting  Astoria  Township.  He 
has  served  on  the  Village  Board  of  Trustees  and 
has  been  Collector  two  terms.  Socially,  be  is 
connected  with  Astoria  Lodge,  No.  112,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
In  his  political  affiliations  he  has  alw.ays  been  a 
Democrat,  and  he  cast  his  fii'st  vote  for  Stephen  A. 
Douglas.  While  a  resident  of  Woodland  he  was 
elected  .lustice  of  the  I'eace  in  1866.  and  in  1867 
h(>  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Summum. 


IhiA.  ADISON  HEAD  is  identified  with  the  leg.al 
profession  of  Fulton  Count}'  as  an  able 
lawyer,  and  is  also  closely  connected  with 
its  agricultural  interests,  owning  and  man- 
aging a  choice  farm  on  sections  11  and  12,  of  Union 
Township,  where  he  has  a  charming  home.  He  has 
miiigled  much  in  public  life  and  his  record  as  a 
civic  oflicial  is  aliove  reproach. 

Mr.  Head  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  Statl>,  born 
in  Tompkins  County,  .lanuary  13,  1829.  John  J. 
and  Rhoda  (Banker)  Head  were  his  parents;  his 
father  was  born  in  Columbia  County.  N.  Y.,  No- 
vember 30,  1802,  and  is  now  living  in  Avon,  this 
State,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-eight  years. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  from  his 
father  gained  sound,  practical  knowledge  of  agri- 
culture in  all  its  branches;  he  was  given  the  advan- 
tages of  a  good  education,  which  he  improved  as 
he  was  a  fine  scholar  with  a  thoughtful  turn  of 
mind.  He  was  graduated  with  honor  from  the 
Mecklenburg  High  School  in  1847,  and  was  thus 
well-equipped  for  any  career  he  niiglit  adojit.  After 
leaving  school  he  accepted  a  situation  offered  him 
by  Madison  Truman  as  clerk  in  his  store  in  the 
village  of  Mecklenburg,  and  during  the  seven 
years  that  he  remained  with  Mr.  Truman  lie  gained 
a  good  insight  into  business  and.  the  best  modes  of 
carrying  it  on,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time 
was  enabled  to  establish  himself  as  a  merchant,  and 
for  two  yeai's  was  actively  engaged  in  business  on 
his  own  account.      He  then  took  into  consideration 


740 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Horace  Greeley's  sententious  advice.  '•  Go  West, 
young  man,"  and  concluded  to  act  upon  it,  con- 
vinced that  here  were  broader  fields  for  the  exer- 
cise of  his  talents,  or  the  carrying  out  of  an}- 
enterprise  in  which  lie  might  embark,  and  soon  we 
find  him  pleasantly  located  in  Virgil,  this  count}', 
and  busily  engaged  in  farming.  In  1860  he  turned 
his  attention  to  the  legal  profession  and  read  law 
with  Henrj'  Goodspeed,  finished  his  studies  with 
Biirrese  (fe  Grant,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1863.  He  immediately  established  himself  in  his 
profession  in  Avon,  and  in  the  ensuing  j-ears  built 
up  a  lucrative  practice,  which  he  conducted  until 
1872  in  that  place. 

While  busy  at  his  professional  labors  our  subject 
had  not  forgotten  his  earl}-  training  as  a  farmer 
and  his  predilection  for  that  noble  calling,  and  in 
the  year  mentioned  he  again  turned  to  it,  without 
wholly  abandoning  the  law,  however,  and  was  soon 
comfortably  located  on  a  farm  on  section  6,  Ellis- 
ville  Township.  He  remained  there  until  1881, 
when  he  purchased  the  farm  on  which  he  now  re- 
sides, finely  situated  on  sections  11  and  12,  Union 
Township.  It  <  ontains  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  tillable  and  well-cultivated  land,  supplied  with 
a  good  class  of  buildings  and  every  necessary  ap- 
pliance  for  carrying  on  agriculture. 

January  15,  1853,  Mr.  Head  was  married  to 
Sarah  Soul,  who  died  in  the  month  of  October,  1 863, 
after  a  wedded  life  of  ten  years.  In  August.  1864, 
our  subject  was  a  second  time  married,  taking  as 
his  wife  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Daniel  Wright,  of 
Avon.  She  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  at  Avon,  and  is  in  every 
way  worthy  of  the  respect  accorded  to  her  on  all 
sides.  Her  union  with  Mr.  Head  has  been  blessed 
to  them  by  one  daughter,  Myra  S.,  who  was  born 
December  7,  1873,  and  resides  with  her  father  and 
mother. 

Mr.  Head  still  engages  in  his  profession  although 
he  devotes  so  much  of  his  time  to  his  agricultural 
interests,  and  is  quite  often  employed  as  an  attor- 
ney by  tis  neighbors  and  fellow-townsmen,  who 
appreciate  his  legal  knowledge  and  have  every  con- 
fidence in  his  ability  and  integrity,  perhaps  espe- 
cially so  as  the}'  consider  him  a  first-class  farmer. 
He  is  a  stalwart  among   the  Republicans,   and  has 


frequently  been  called  to  positions  of  honor  and 
trust.  For  a  period  of  twelve  years  he  was  United 
States  Commissioner,  discharging  the  duties  of  his 
position  with  dignity  and  characteristic  efficiency ; 
for  eight  years  he  was  Justice  of  the  Peace ;  and 
he  has  been  Township  Assessor. 


--5B-S- 


ENKY  LOCK  is  a  respected  member  of  the 
|;  farming  community  (if  this  county.  For 
thirty  years  he  has  owned  and  occupied  his 
present  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  .loshua  Township.  He  has  it  under  fine  culti- 
vation, has  placed  upon  it  substantial  improve- 
ments, and  as  the  result  of  a  hard,  earnest,  laborious 
life,  has  made  here  a  cozy  home,  wherein  he  can 
pass  his  declining  years  in  comfort,  peace  and  hap- 
piness, free  from  the  cares  tiiat  befct  his  younger 
days. 

Mr.  Lock  is  of  English  birtii,  born  in  Devon- 
shire in  1824.  In  the  prime  of  a  vigorous  man- 
hood lie  emigrated  to  America,  hoping  thereby  to 
better  his  fortunes.  Our  subject  was  six  weeks  en 
voyage  to  this  country;  they  were  liecalmed  four- 
teen days  in  the  ice  and  the  vessel  lost  her  mast  in 
a  storm  off  Newfoundland.  After  landing  on  these 
shores  he  made  his  way  to  this  State,  settled  in  Peo- 
ria County,  and  the  ensuing  seven  years  w.as  in- 
dustriously engaged  in  farming  tiiere.  When  he 
first  entered  upon  his  career  after  coming  to  this 
State,  he  had  but  five  pounds  sterling  with  which 
to  begin  his  new  life.  He  had,  however,  what  was 
better;good  physical  endowments,  industrious  hab- 
its and  a  well-balanced  mind  and  these  have  been 
sufficient  capital  to  place  him  in  prosperous  cir- 
cumstances. In  185!)  he  removed  to  this  county 
and  has  since  been  a  useful  citizen  of  Joshua  Town- 
ship, where  his  farming  operations  are  centered. 

Our  subject  found  in  this  county  soon  after  com- 
ing here  one  of  life's  choicest  blessings,  a  good  wife, 
in  the  person  of  Miss  Polly  Smith,  to  whom  his 
life  was  united  July  28,  1861.  Mrs.  Lock  was  born 
in  Ohio  and  is  the  daughter  of  Mathias  and  Polly 
(Burns)  Smith,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
To  tliem  have   been  born    two  sons — William   11. 


O^S^I^dU^./C^/^'^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


(43 


and  James  A.,  aged  rt.'S|)eclively  twenty-six  and 
tvventy-fovir  years.  They  have  been  carefully 
trained  and  are  following  in  the  footsteps  of  their 
parents  and  are  respected  and  honored  youn<!;  men 
in  this  their  native  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lock  are  highly  regartlcd  by  all 
who  know  them  for  those  sterling  traits  of  chtirac- 
ter  that  mark  them  as  eminently  worthy  of  respect. 
Mr.  Lock  is  a  strong  Republican  in  his  political 
views,  and  is  mucli  interested  in  the  affairs  of  his 
adopted  country.  Mrs  Lock  is  a  puie  Chiislian 
woman  and  a  member  of  the  Duukard  Church. 


I.  GEIARHART.  The  pioneer  residents 
of  Fulton  County  have  witnessed  manj' 
changes  within  the  last  fifty  }'ears;  uncul- 
tivated tracts  of  land  transforrued  into  fields  of 
waving  grain,  elegant  structures  where  once  stood 
the  log  cabins  of  the  frontiersmen,  schools  and 
churches  where  once  the  savage  roamed  unmo- 
lested. Among  those  who  have  aided  in  effecting 
this  happy  result  and  who  have  lived  to  see  the 
fruits  of  their  labors,  is  the  subject  of  the  present 
sketch,  who,  for  more  than  a  half  century,  has  been 
engaged  heie  in  various  lines  of  business.  He  is 
now  a  furniture  dealer  and  undertaker  in  Canton, 
where  the  most  of  his  life  has  been  passed. 

The  [jarents  of  our  subject,  Jacob  and  Mciry 
(Whitaker)  Gearliart,  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  they  continued  to  live  for  many  3-ears 
after  their  marriage.  Their  five  children  were 
named  Elizabeth,  John,  Angeline,  William  and 
Harriet.  ,  Hearing  of  the  blight  prospects  the  West 
offered  to  settlers,  Jacoli  Gearhart  resolved  to  emi- 
grate hither,  and  with  his  family  loft  Penns3'lvania 
in  1839,  and  proceeded  b}'  boat  down  the  Ohio 
River,  up  the  Mississippi  an.i  Illinois  Rivers.  They 
landed  at  Cop|)eras  Creek,  arid  thence  journeyed  to 
Canton,  this  county.  The  a.aticipations  of  pros- 
perity which  Ihe  father  enjoyed  were  never  real- 
ized, for  about  three  weeks  after  reaching  Canton, 
he  passed  from  the  scenes  of  earth,  leaving  a  widow 
and  five  small  children  in  a  strange  land  with  very 


limited  means  for  their  support.  The  mother  sur- 
vived until  about  1875,  having  attained  her  sixty- 
fifth  j-ear. 

During  the  residence  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gearhart  in 
Danville,  then  in  Columbia  Count}',  Pa.,  our  subject 
was  born  March  14,  1835,  and  was  therefore  only 
three  years   old   when   he   accompanied  his  i)arents 
to  Illinois.     AVhen  only  seven  years   old   he   went 
as  clerk  in  the  drv-goods  store  of  Ma|)ie  &   Piper, 
helping    in    the    maintenance    of    the    family,    his 
mother  being  a  widow  with  limited  means.     Al- 
though such  a  small  child,  he  gave  satisfaction  and 
continued  in  the  emplo}'  of  merchants  until    1858. 
At  that  date  he  .associated  himself  with  the  firm  of 
Breed,  Kline  &  Co.,  in  the  dry  goods  business,  but 
after  continuing  for  two  years  the  firm  became  in- 
solvent and   Mr.  Gearhart  lost  las  two  3'ears  labor 
and  half  of  his  capital  on  account  of  the  drought. 
Nothing  daunted,  however,  by  this  unfortunate 
experience  Mr.   Gearhart  once   more   returned  to 
clerking,  which  occupied  his  time  until  1866.  With 
his  brother-in-law  Mr.  William  Thompson  he  com- 
menced in  the  furniture  business.     Soon  afterward 
the  brother-in-law  died  and  Mr.  Gearhart  took  en- 
tire charge  of  the  business,  and  since  1880  has  been 
the  sole  owner  of  the  stock.     His  genial  disposition 
and  upright  character  have  added  to  his  success  as 
a    business   man,    and    he    is    deservedly    popular 
wherever  known.    A  long  period  of  active  interest 
in  the  commercial   world  has  given  him  a  splendid 
insight  into  the  best  methods  of  conducting  a  mer- 
cantile business,  and  has  also  prepared  him  to  esti- 
mate people  and  things  correctly. 

Although  he  has  frequent  oiiportuuities  to  fill 
public  offices,  Mr.  GJoarhart  is  so  engrossed  with 
the  duties  of  his  extensive  business  thai  he  has  no 
time  for  accepting  the  political  honors  his  friends 
wish  to  bestow  upon  him.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  at  Canton,  111.  Politicallj-  he 
casts  his  ballot  for  the  candidates  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  in  religions  matters  is  conservative, 
A  man  of  strict  integrity  and  generosity  of  opinion, 
he  naturally  wins  friends  easily,  and  is  respected 
throughout  the  entire  county.  His  life  is  an  exam- 
ple of  success,  attained  only  a fter  the  most  tre- 
mendous efforts  on  his  part.  Thus  each  day 
furnishes  us  exam|)les  of  noble,   true  hearted   men, 


■14 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


bravely  facinor  the  obstacles  that  invariably  attend 

;i  couiniereial    career  and   "liy   opposinji'  troubles, 
eii'l  lliein." 

Ill  conneeliDii  with  this  brief  bicitraphiu.al  sketch, 
tlie'reailer  will  notice  a  portrait  of  Mr.  (iearliart  on 
another  page. 


Ji.'KHl 


'\i;OHIs  N.  OLDS.  Tiie  business  career  of  this 
gentleman,  a  dealer  in  iiardware.  farm  imple- 
ments, stoves  and  groceries  in  Canton, 
covers  a  period  of  tliirty-six  years.  He  be- 
sjan  Ills  experience  here  when  a  mere  boy  without 
means,  but  by  faithfulness,  energy  and  ai)plication 
to  business,  he  won  his  way  upward,  step  by  .'itep, 
and  has  accumulated  quite  a  competence.  Tlie  at- 
tractive surroundings  of  his  home  on  Xortli  Fourth 
.Street  indicate  the  presence  of  refined  womanhood 
at  the  head  of  the  domestic  .'itTairs. 

The  Olds  family  is  of  English  and  Scotch  descent 
in  the  paternal  line,  and  the  maternal  ancestors  of 
our  subject  were  originally  from  Scotland.  His 
father,  Otis  Olds,  w-as  l)orn  in  Connecticut,  where 
Grandfather  Olds  was  born.  Otis  Olds  marrieil  for 
his  second  wife  Lucinda,  daughter  of  John  Smith. 
Both  died  in  the  Empire  State.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  four  children,  our  subject  being  the  eldest. 
He  was  born  in  Saratoga  Countv.  near  the  cele- 
brated Saratoga  Springs.  March  8,  1835,  and  passed 
his  school  days  in  his  native  county  in  attendance  at 
the  common  schools.  He  then  came  west  to  Can- 
ton, entering  the  store  of  his  uncle,  Amos  Smith, 
in  the  capacity  of  a  clerk. 

After  having  filled  tliat  position  eight  years,  Mr. 
Olds  was  taken  into  the  firm  as  a  p.artner,  the  style 
becoming  Smith  4  Olds,  aud  their  stock  consisting 
of  hardware  and  stoves.  When  the  connection  had 
continued  six  years  our  subject  sold  out  to  his 
pirtner,  taking  pa}'  for  his  interest  in  groceries.  In 
their  sale  he  continued  actively  engaged  until  May, 
1868,  when  his  store  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  he 
sustained  a  serious  loss.  However,  he  rel)uilt  on 
tlie  same  site  a  two-story  brick  building,  put  in  a 
new  stock  and  continued  to  trade  in  groceries  ex 
clusively  for  several  years,  when  he  added   stoves, 


hardware,  implements  and  farm  machinery,  and  in 

connection  opened  a  tin  shop.  He  carries  a  large 
and  varied  stock  of  all  the  goods  above  mentioned 
and  transacts  an  extensive  business.  His  long  ac- 
quaintance with  and  experience  in  trade  Ik's  quali- 
fied him  for  the  conduct  of  a  flourishing  establish- 
ment wherein  various  departments  require  careful 
and  intelligent  oversight. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Olils  was  celebrated  in 
18156.  he  having  won  for  his  wife  _Miss  Emma  L. 
Birch,  a  native  of  Ohio,  whose  parents.  William 
and  Estiier  Bircli.  formerly  resided  in  New  York. 
Prior  to  her  marriage  Mrs.  Olds  was  quite  popular 
in  Canton  society  and  as  the  population  of  the  city 
has  increased  she  h.as  gained  new  friends.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Olds  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  onl}-  one 
of  whom,  Frank  Birch,  is  now  living. 

Mr.  Olds  has  served  two  terms  ,as  an  Alderman, 
representing  the  First  Ward.  He  is  a  member  of 
Olive  Brancli  Lodge,  I.  O.  O  F..  and  of  tlie  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen.  A  man  of  intelligence, 
reliable  in  his  citizenship,  honorable  in  his  dealings 
with  his  fellow-men.  and  kiniUy  in  social  and  do- 
mestic life  he  is  regarded  with  a  due  measure  of 
esteem  by  those  about  him. 


^^ 


OBERT  PRICHARD.  an  honored  resident 
of  Lewistown  is  a  representative  of  a  pio- 
neer family  of  this  count}',  and  the  work  that 
he  has  done  towards  devekiping  its  interests 
gives  him  a  worthy  place  among  the  true-hearted 
hardworking  men  who  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
present  prosp?rity  of  this  part  of  Illinois.  He  is 
numbered  amongst  Lewistown  Township's  practical, 
well  to-do  farmers  and  has  here  a  farm  that  com- 
pares with  the  best  in  the  township. 

Mr.  Prichard  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Newark, 
Licking  County.  t)hio,  JIaicli  11,  1831.  his  father, 
Jorden  Prichard.  having  been  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  that  part  of  Ohio.  Tlie  latter  was  a 
native  of  Washington,  Washington  Count}'.  Pa., 
and  his  father.  Benjamin  Prichard,  was  the  son  of 
a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  as  far  as  known  was 
of   I'ennsN  1  vania   birth.      He  crossed   the  State  line 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


745 


Into  Ohio,  and  was  a  pioneer  of  Licking  County, 
where  lie  bought  timbered  land  and  developed  a 
farm  on  which  he  lived  until  death  sumtnoned 
him  hence.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  .young 
man  wlicn  he  went  with  his  family  to  Ohio.  He 
followed  farming,  the  career  to  which  he  iiad  lieen 
bred,  in  Licking  County,  until  1S37.  In  that  year 
he  became  a  pioneer  settler  of  Illinois,  bringing 
hither  his  wife  and  four  children,  making  the  entire 
journey  with  a  pair  of  horses  and  a  wagon  in  six 
weeks.  After  his  arrival  in  Fulton  County,  he 
bought  a  tract  of  timber  in  Liverpool  Township, 
of  which  one  acre  was  cleared  and  on  it  stood  a 
little  cabin  10x14  feet  in  dimensions,  built  of  round 
logs.  The  family  moved  into  this  humble  dwell- 
ing and  made  it  their  home  for  a  few  3ears.  Mr. 
Prichard  was  a  very  intelligent,  well-educated  man, 
and  his  services  were  sought  b}'  his  fellow  pioneers 
as  a  teacher,  and  in  the  winter  season  he  conducted 
a  school.  It  was  the  custom  in  those  days,  as  we 
are  informed  by  the  pioneers  that  yet  live,  for  the 
teacher  to  treat  the  scholars  sometime  during  the 
term.  One  morning  Mr.  Prichard  upon  going  to 
the  schoollionse  found  the  door  barred  and  the 
scholars  insisted  that  he  should  treat  before  he 
came  in.  He  finally  went  to  a  neighbor's  to  get  as- 
sistance and  relumed  with  help.  They  managed 
to  effect  an  entrance  but  the  boys  were  too  many 
for  them  and  took  them  out  and  rolled  them  in  the 
snow.  The  schoolmaster  then  went  to  other  neigh- 
bors, got  some  whiskey,  treated  his  pupils  and 
everything  went  on  serenely-. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  very  industrious, 
hard-working  man,  and  was  prospering  finely  when 
in  1849  an  epideniic  of  cholera  prevailed  in  his 
neighborhood  and  during  the  month  of  .Tuly  him- 
self and  wife,  his  son  and  daughter,  and  a  grand- 
child, all  succumbed  to  the  dread  disease.  Thus 
his  noble  life  was  brought  to  an  untimely  end  and 
one  of  the  most  respected  pioneers  of  the  county 
was  removed  from  the  midst  of  his  fellow  pioneers 
while  yet  he  was  at  the  height  of  his  usefulness. 
In  early  manhood  he  had  marri(;d  Artemesia  Shaw, 
a  native  of  Licking  County.  Ohio.  Her  father, 
Alexander  Shaw,  is  thought  to  have  been  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  pioneer  of  Licking  County. 
He  came  to  this  county  from  there  as  early  as  1828 


and  was  one  of  the  very  first  settlers  in  Lewistown 
Townshij).  He  secured  a  tract  of  Government 
land,  develope<l  it  into  a  farm,  and  resided  thereon 
until  ills  life  was  brought  to  a  close.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Mary  Barkley,  and  she  spent 
her  last  years  on  the  home  farm. 

Robert  Prichard,  the  subject  of  this  biography, 
was  six  years  old  when  he  came  to  this  county  with 
his  father  and  mother,  and  though  so  young  he  still 
remembers  well  the  incidents  of  the  overland  jour- 
ney and  of  the  early  pioneer  life  here.  His  edu- 
cation was  conducted  in  the  pioneer  schools  that 
were  taught  in  the  log  buildings,  which  were  healed 
by  fireplaces  and  had  slab  benches  for  seals,  and 
greased  paper  iiisteail  of  glass  for  windows.  As 
soon  as  large  enough  he  commenced  to  help  his 
father  clear  land  and  till  the  soil.  After  the  death 
of  his  parents  he  worked  on  the  farm  by  the  montli 
until  18.50,  and  then  bought  a  threshing  machine 
whirh  he  operated  four  years,  or  until  his  raarringe. 
At  that  lime  he  purcliased  the  interests  of  the  other 
heirs  in  the  old  homestead  and  lived  thereon  until 
1870,  when  he  rented  it  and  I'ernoved  to  Lewis- 
town.  In  1878  he  bought  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives.  It  is  a  valuable  piece  of  property,  compris- 
ing ninety-seven  acres  of  very  fertile,  highly  tilled 
land,  adjoining  the  town,  provided  with  excellent 
buildings  and  all  the  necessary  machinery  for  doing 
farm  work. 

November  18,  1854,  our  subject  and  Miss  Re- 
becca Shelby  were  married.  She  was  born  in  White 
County,  111.,  to  Noah  and  Maria  Shelby.  She  and 
our  subject  have  reared  five  children,  giving  them 
all  the  advantages  of  a  good  education  and  m.'dcing 
of  them  good  citizens.  Their  names  are  Georcre 
W.,  Allie  S.,  Peter  L.,  Noah  and  Olive  A.  George 
W.  was  graduated  with  honor  from  Rush  Medical 
College,  and  soon  after  established  hiniselrin  Cold- 
water,  Kan.  He  built  up  an  extensive  practice  but 
his  noble  life  was  cut  short  b}'  his  dastardly  assas- 
sination in  that  place  in  May,  1890.  Alice  lives 
with  her  parents;  Peter  is  a  resident  of  Ilillsboio. 
Trail  County,  N.  Dak.;  Olive  A.,  married  dairies 
W.  Ashbaugh,  a  resident  of  Lewistown;  Noah 
lives  in  Itliica,  Neb. 

Fulton  Couniy  is  greatly  indebted  to  the  promi- 
nent  part  Mr.  Prichard  has  taken  in  the   introduc- 


(46 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIIICAI.  ALBUM. 


lion  of  liigli  graded  stock.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
to  introduce  the  Norman-Peiclieron  horse.  As 
early  asM874/he  imported  a  stallion  and  has  owned 
several  since  that  time  and  at  i)rescnt  has  two  of 
tlie  most  valuable  slock  horses  in  the  county. 
Short-liorn  is  liis  favorite  breed  in  cattle  and  he 
has  a  fine  herd.  Mr.  Prichard  has  been  a  con- 
spicuous figure  in  tiie  public  life  of  townshii)  and 
county,  his  business  tact,  energy  and  well-known 
talent  for  aflfairs,  making  him  an  invaluable  civic 
official.  He  has  represented  Lewistown  on  the 
County  Board  of  Supervisors  several  terms.  He 
was  elected  Sheriff  of  Fulton  County,  in  1870,  re- 
elected in  1872.  and  is  one  of  the  best  men  who 
ever  held  that  responsible  position  in  this  county. 
He  is  a  valued  member  of  Lewistown  Lodge.  No. 
104,  A.  F.  ife  A.  M.  Politically  he  has  always  been 
a  stalwart  Democrat.  He  has  ably  served  in  Liv- 
erpool Tow-nship  as  Assessor.  Constable,  Collector, 
Road  Commissioner,  and  School  Director,  holding 
the  latter  (losition  fifteen  years.  He  has  ever  been 
true  to  the  duties  and  responsibilities  imposed  upon 
him  in  his  various  official  capaqities,  his  public 
life  is  without  stain,  and  his  i)iivate  careei'  is  blame- 
less. 

EV.  MARION  F.  HAVERMALK,  a  promi 
nent  minister  of  the  Methodist  denomination. 
\V  though  he  IS  not  in  the  active  work  now 
'^  and  is  principally  engaged  in  the  care  and 
management  of  the  fine  old  homestead  in  Joshua 
Township  that  he  |  urchased  from  his  father,  a 
pioneer  of  the  county,  is  a  descendant  of  an  old 
German  family  who  settled  near  Ilagerstown.  Md., 
one  hundred  and  forty  years  ago.  The  name  was 
then  spelled  Houvermahl,  afterwards  Hawverniale, 
but  for  the  past  fifty  years  has  been  spelled  as 
indicated  above. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  August  4, 
1  834  to  Peter  and  Maria  (Gardenhour)  Haverraale. 
The  father  was  born  about  July,  1796.  and  the  date 
of  the  birth  of  the  mother  was  January  1,  1798. 
Peter  Havermale  was  a,  weaver  by  trade,  but  always 
made  farming  the  principal  Imsiness  f)f  his  life.  As 
early  as  1883,  he  migrated   with  his  family  from 


his  old  pioneer  home  to  tlue  wilds'.of  Montgomery 
County. Ohio,  making  the  entire  journey   with  the 
old  fashioned  four-horse   team    and    wagon    as    a 
means    of  conveyance.     The  family^lived  among 
the  pioneers  of  that  part  of  Ohio  eleven  years,  and 
at  the  expiration  of  that   time][ decided    to   come 
further  West,  and  by  the  same  method  of   convey- 
ance as  had  brought  them    to    Ohio,    started    for 
Illinois  in  1844.     The  fall  and  winter  of  that  year 
they   staid    in    Farmington,  and  during  that  time 
Mr.  Havermale  purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  on  section  24,  Joshua  Township.    The  follow- 
ing spring  he  went  with  his  family  to  live  on   this 
land,  occupying  as  a  dwelling  a  log  cabin,  for  a 
year  or  more.     About  the  time  of   his  piu'chase  a 
Swedenborgi,an  settlement  or  colony   had    been   es- 
tablished on  the  '•  community  plan"  on  land  about 
one  mile  north  of  his  farm.     The  community  lasted 
as  an  organized  bod3'  only  about  a  year,  but  in  that 
lime  had  erected  a  number  of  small  buildings,  and 
had  also  manufactured  a  large  quantity  of  brick 
with  which  to  build  a  temple  of  worship.     On  the 
dismemberment  of  the  community  Mr.  Havermale 
purchased  the  brick  and  with  that  material  at  once 
erected  a  commodious  and   roomy   brick  house  in 
1846,  which  became  the  family  residence  and  which 
he  occupied  as  such  during  the  remainder  of  his 
life.     The  following  year  he  built  a  substantial  and 
coi^v^enient  barn,  and   both   buildings,   with   slight 
alterations,  remain   till   the  jfresent  time   and   are 
occupied  and  used  by  the  family  of  his  "Son.  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch.     Mr.    Havermale  was  an 
industrious  and  God-fearinsr  man,  and  became  one 
of  the  most  prosperous  residents  of  this  vicinity. 
In  early  life  he  was  a  member   of   the    Lutheran 
Church  and  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  Church 
Council.  ^  He  afterwards  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  to  which   faith   lie  adhered  till 
his   death.      In  his   political  predilections    he  was 
a  Republican  and.  although   never   a   politician   or 
an  office  seeker,  served  his  township  in  some  of  the 
minor  offices.     He  died  Marcli  27,    1888,  leaving 
behind  the  record  of  an  upriglit,  honorable   life. 
!    His  wife  h.ad  jjreceded  him  only  three  days  to    the 
I    other  sliore,  having  died   March    24,    1888.     Her 
orave  was  re-opened  and  his   mortal    remains   were 
placed  by  her  side,  and  they  now  lie  in  the    Lulh- 


PORTRAI  r  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


747 


eran  grave  yard  a  short  distance  south  of    the    old 
honu'slfail. 

Peter  and  Maria  (Gardenhour)  Havennale.  have 
the  followinu;-nanied  children:  Noah,  who  "a.s 
kilh'd  in  tlie  terrilile  Cliatswortli  railioad  wreck 
in  Ksis",  his  being  the  lirst  dcatli  thtit  had  occurred 
in  tlie  family  for  upwards  of  furty-eigiit  years; 
Sauiucl  (i..  who  hccamea  minister  of  tlie  Methodist 
persuasion  and  now  lives  at  Santiago.  Cal.;John  J., 
a  farmer  of  .loshua  Township;  Daniel  G.,  a  retired 
farmer,  resilient  of  Canton  ;  George  W..  a  Methodist 
minister  aiDe  Soto,  Kan.;  the  Rev.  Marion  F.,  sulj- 
jei-t  of  tliis  sketcli;  Ltniisa  F..  the  wife  of  Joiin  F. 
Randolpli  of  Canton  Townsliip;  f;nd  -hiseph  S..  a 
lirickmason  jfesiding  in  Canton.  As  seen  by  the 
foregoir.g,  of  tlie  eight  chihlren  in  tlie  family,  three 
became  active  ministersof  the  MelhodLst  Church. 

The  Rev.  Marion  F.  Havermale  was  educated 
piinciiiaily  in  the  Fulton  County  schools.  He 
early  manifested  a  ferventlj- religious  turn  of  mind, 
and  in  1860;  became  a  minister  of  the  Methodist 
denomination,  since  when  he  lias  preached  under 
the  aus|iices  of  either  the  R(,ick  River  or  Central 
Illinnis  Conference.  Ten  years  ago,  however,  b}- 
special  |)ermission  of  his  conference  he  returned  to 
the  home  of  his  aged  parents  to  care  for  them,  and 
ever  since  he  and  his  familj-  have  lived  on  the  old 
homestead,  of  which  he  is  now  the  possessor.  Mr. 
Havermale  is  a  genial.  Christian  gentleman,  hospita- 
ble to  a  fault  anfi  on  account  of  his  many  good 
qualities  of  head  and  heart  is  greatly  esteemed  and 
respected  wherever  known.  During  the  war  for 
the  Union  our  subject  was  appointed  by  Gov. 
Yates,  as  Chaplain  for  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
fifth  Illinois  Infantry.  At  that  time  the  regiment 
had  started  with  (?en.  Sherman  on  its  famous 
march  to  the  sea,  and  as  he  was  unable  to  reach 
the  command,  he  resigned  his  commission  three 
months  after  his  aiiiiointment.  About  the  time  he 
was  appointed  Chaplain  Mr.  Havermale  was  drafted 
into  the  army,  luit  owing  to  family  and  other  in- 
terests of  importance  he  furnished  a  snlistitute  at 
an  exiiense  of  ^700  or  more. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Havermale  was  married  December 
.SO,  185.5  to  Miss  .Mary  C.  Chits,  the  ceremonj'  being 
performed  at  Culia.  HI.;  Mrs.  Havermale  was  born 
N\)vember  "2.  1.S37.  and  is  descended    from    an   old 


Pennsylvania  family  of  German  origin;  like  her 
husband,  her  parents,  Joseph  and  Eveanna  (  Kckeii- 
rode)  Chits,  were  early  and  respected  citizens  of 
P\i!ton  County.  Her  father  died  August  17.  1863, 
and  her  inotlier  .lune  I  1.  lfS86,  and  boili  lie  buried 
in  the  Sanders  graveyard.  They  had  the  follow- 
ing named  children:  .Soiihie,  borr  .Inly  9,  1821).  a 
resident  of  Clinton;  Josi;ih,  burn  February  i  o.  1831, 
a  resident  of  Ohio;  Fra<iicis  J.,  burn  October  18, 
1  832.  a  resident  of  El  Paso,  III.;  Louisa  M.aria,  born 
February  !>,  1834,  and  died  December  4.  1837; 
iMary  Catherine,  born  Novemlier  2,  1837,  wife  of 
our  suliiect;  Angeline,  born  August  15.  1839,  liv- 
ing near  Fairview;  Rebecca  Lovina,  born  May  2(!. 
184  1,  living  in  Cuba;  Benjamin  F.,  born  April  9. 
1849,  also  a  resident  of  Cuba. 

The  following  chihlren  have  been  born  to  tlie 
Rev.  Marion  F..  and  M.iry  Havermale:  Clara  A.- 
born  December  26,  1856;  Percy  W.,  April  25,  1859, 
Cliarley  M.,  September  10.  1864;  Mattie  D.,  Sep- 
tember 24,  1868;  Jassie  M.,  May  27,  1873.  Clara 
A.,  died  December  30,  1862. 


r  ACOB  S.  DOWNIN.  Among  all  classes  and 
in  every  condition  of  life  where  the  struggle 
for  a  livelihood  is  going  on  there  must,  pcr^ 
force,  be  numerous  trials  and  hardships  to 
overcome  before  the  ladder  of  fame  and  financial 
success  is  climbed.  The  early  years  of  our  subject 
were  marked  with  serious  disadvantages,  and  his 
success  is  therefore  a  compliment  to  his  own  exer- 
tions and  ability.  His  life  has  lUKteubtedl}"  veri- 
fied the  adage,  "a  bad  beginning  makes  a  good 
ending,"  since  he  is  at  the  (irescnt  writing  a  retired 
gentleman,  and  mixes  no  longer  in  the  busy  din  of 
the  commercial   world. 

Mr.  Downiu's  birth  occurred  February  19,  1816. 
in  Washington  County.  Md.,  about  sixty-five  miles 
from  Washington,  1).  C,  and  within  three  miles 
of  Hagerstown.  While  he  attended  the  common 
schools  of  his  district  he,  in  reality,  educated  him- 
self, studying  the  higher  branches  at  home  after 
working  hours.  His  father  died  in  .1826  and  his 
mother  two  years  later,  leaving  him  an  or|ihan  at 


748 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tbe  lender  age  of  twelve  years.  He  tben  went  to 
live  witli  Daniel  Zeller,  who  took  charge  of  him  up 
to "liis  seventeenth  j-ear.  He  had  previously  lived 
on  a  farm,  but  then  was  employed  as  clerk  by  Col. 
Weaver,  contractor  on  the  Chesapeake  &  Ohio 
Canal,  in  the  State  of  Maryland.  He  held  this 
position  for  seven  years,  and  so  satisfactory  was 
his  work  that  he  was  offered  a  partnership,  but  be- 
cause of  his  youth  declined  the  same. 

Our  subject  was  married  about  this  time  to  Jliss 
Mar}'  Jane  Kreigh,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Kreigh, 
and  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  the 
•State  of  Maryland,  one  of  great  wealth,  and  of 
German  descent.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Downin 
was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff  of  his  native  count}-, 
but  not  liking  that  position,  came  west  in  the  spring 
of  18-11,  and  after  investigating  several  other  loca- 
tions, came  to  Illinois  and  purcliased  land  in  Fair- 
view,  where  he  made  a  considerable  fortune  in 
buying  and  selling  real  estate  and  now  owns  valu- 
able property  in  that  place.  He  served  as  Super- 
visor of  the  Township  for  a  [jeiiod  of  twelve 
years,  and  was  .School  Treasurer. 

Our  subject  came  to  Farmiiigton  in  1879,  and 
has  continued  to  make  this  his  home.  His  first  wife 
died  in  1873,  leaving  six  children  living  viz:  Eliza 
Jane,  James  W.,  Thomas  K.,  Angeline  M.,  Joseph 
v.,  and  Lillie;  those  deceased  are  Nelson,  Juliette 
and  Emma.  His  second  marriage  was  with  Mrs. 
Hcaton,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Kellogg) 
Kennedy.  3Irs.  Downin  is  an  own  cousin  of  Pitt 
Kellogg,  and  was  born  in  Peoria.  Slie  was  pre- 
viously married  to  Adelphia  lleaton.son  of  Morgan 
Healon,  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Farmington. 
To  them  was  born  one  son,  Fred  A.  Heaton,  a 
promising  young  hardware  man  in  Prairie  City, 
Iowa,  who  married  Miss  Hannah  Adams  of  that 
city. 

Mr.  Downin's  father,  John  Downin.  was  born  in 
England,  and  came  to  America  when  a  boy.  about 
the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  His  mother, 
who  previous  to  her  marriage  w.as  Catherine  Stager, 
was  born  in  Penns3-lvania.  and  was  the  only  child 
of  her  parents.  Her  father  being  a  brilliant  man. 
she  received  an  excellent  education,  and  was  quite 
a  linguist.  Mr.  Downin's  parents  haii  eleven  chil- 
dren, viz:  John,  Elizabeth,  Mary.  Catherine,  Sarah, 


David,  William,  Margaret,  Susan,  Samuel  S.,  and 
Jacob,  all  of  whom  are  dead  except  Samuel  S.,  and 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  latter  merits  great 
praise  for  his  industry-,  and  for  the  unusual  ability 
he  evinced  in  mastering  some  of  the  most  difficult 
studies  without  any  aid  whatever.  Few  men  in  any 
community  ever  deserved  or  received  higher  esteem 
or  more  genuine  friendship  than  has  Mr.  Downin. 
He  has  been  from  youth  an  .ictive  and  steadfast 
Democrat. 


_^^®. 
'"^S' 


ilMOTHY  F.  HAMBLIN,  one  of  the  well- 
known  business  men  of  Lewistown,  was  born 
in  Portland,  Me.,  coming  of  an  old  New 
England  family.  His  father.  Jacob  Hamblin,  was  a 
native  of  Gorham,  Cumberland  County.  'Sic.  which 
at  the  time  of  his  birth  formed  a  part  of  Massachu- 
setts. He  was  a  son  of  Gershara  Hamblin.  who  is 
supposed  to  have  been  a  native  of  the  same  local- 
it}^  and  to  be  derived  from  a  Scotch  ancestr}',  he 
being  a  descendant  of  one  of  three  brothers,  wlio 
came  from  their  native  .Scotland  to  this  country  in 
early  Colonial  da3's. 

The  father  of  our  subject  began  life  as  a  sailor 
when  quite  young  and  followed  the  sea  in  the  mer- 
chant service  till  thirt}'  years  of  age.  Ho  then  lo- 
cated in  Gorham  and  for  a  time  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  that  place.  He  afterwards  removed  to 
Limington,  York  County,  where  he  carried  on  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  till  his  death. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Jane  Small  and  she  was  also  a  native  of  York 
.County,  Me.,  and  there  she  spent  her  entire  life. 
Her  marriage  was  productive  of  the  following  ten 
children:  Joshua  and  Leonard  deceased;  Emilj-.wife 
of  Henr}-  Lord,  and  a  resident  of  Lovell,  Me.; 
Jacob,  a  resident  of  North  Adams,  Mass.;  John, 
who  lives  in  Bangor,  Me.;  Samuel,  deceased;  Tim- 
othy, who  was  drowned  when  six  years  old;  Mary 
Jane,  deceased,  and  James,  a  resident  of  Galesburg. 

The  subject   of    this  sketch  was    the  youngest 

child  of  the   family  and   he   was   reared   amid  the 

I    pleasant  scenes  of  his  native  Slate  and  received  an 

I   excellent  education  in   its    |)ublic  schools.     When 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


749 


sixteen  years  old.  the  manly,  enterprising-  lad 
started  ont  in  life  for  liiniself,  and  going  to  Port- 
land, apprenticed  himself  to  learn  llie  trade  of  a 
carpenter  and  joiner.  At  tlie  expiration  of  liis 
tliree  years'  term  of  service  lie  did  journey  work 
for  three  years.  In  IKo2  he  started  westward,  as 
he  shrewilly  thought  that  in  a  newly  settled  country 
young  men  of  his  cai)acity  and  enterprise  would  be 
in  demand  aiul  could  make  money.  Me  first  sto|)ped 
at  Chicago,  which  was  then  a  comparitively  small 
[ilace.  with  hut  little  indication  of  its  present  size 
and  importance  as  one  of  the  chief  comnn'rcial  cen- 
ters of  the  United  States.  A  few  nionths  later  he 
went  to  Clinton  in  DeWitt  Couniy.  and  for  nearly 
two  years  was  engaged  at  his  trade  there.  He  then 
established  himself  in  the  lumber  business,  con- 
tinuing in  tliat  tliree  years. 

We  next  hear  of  our  subject  in  (Talesbnrg.  where 
he  w.as  actively  engaged  in  the  butchering  business, 
buying  and  shipping  stock.  In  1882.  he  came  to 
Lewistown  and  followed  butchering  and  buying 
and  selling  live  stock  for  five  years.  After  that  he 
became  interested  in  the  grocery  business,  in  which 
he  has  been  very  successful,  building  up  a  good 
paying  trade,  and  placing  himself  among  the  solid 
men  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Ilamblin  has  been  twice  married.  Tlie 
maiden  name  of  his  first  wife  was  Maiy  II.  Phares 
and  she  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  By  her  death  in 
1876  he  lost  a  wise  counselor  and  a  true  helpmate 
and  liis  children  were  deprived  of  the  care  of  a 
good  mother.  His  second  marriage  was  with  Miss 
Pearl  .Tones,  a  native  of  Kno.x  County,  and  was 
solemnized  in  1879.  Their  pleasant  wedded  life 
has  been  blessed  to  them  by  the  birth  of  one  child, 
a  daui^hter.  whom  they  named  Blanche  Blaine.  Mr. 
Hamblin  had  three  children  by  his  lirst  marriage,' 
as  follows:  Charles  Fremont,  a  raan.ager  of  tiie 
Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  at  Jlonniouth : 
Maynard  W. .manager  of  the  same  company  at  Dav- 
enport Iowa,  and  Luln.  at  home  with    her  parents. 

Mr.  Ilamblin  is  a  shrewd  wide-awake  man  of 
business  and  stands  well  in  financial  circles.  He 
has  been  identified  with  the  Republican  partv  since 
its  organization  and  in  its  ranks  is  to  be  found  no 
truer  C)r  more  faithful  supporter  of  its  principles 
than    he.      While  in  Galesburg  he  was  veiy  promi- 


nent in  the  jiublic  life  of  the  city.  He  was  twice 
electeil  Alderman  from  the  Fourth  Ward,  resign- 
ing during  his  second  term  to  accept  the  iiosition 
of  City  Marshal,  which  office  he  filled  with  credit 
and  to  the  good  of  tlie  municipality. 


OBERT  BENNP:TT.  This  c.untry  is  the 
home  of  many  Englishmen  who  have  come 
A  ,\\  here  from  time  to  time  to  take  advantage  of 
^''^the  peculiarly  favcn-able  opportunities  of- 
fered for  .accumulating  money,  and  few  have  won 
more  friends  or  been  more  successful  than  the  sub- 
ject of  our  sketch.  lie  was  born  in  J^aiicashire, 
England,  in  the  parish  of  Ashton.  being  the  .son  of 
(Tcorge  and  Betty  (Robinson)  Bennett.  'I'hc  father 
was  born  in  England,  as  was  also  the  mother,  and 
to  them  weie  born  ten  children,  seven  of  whom 
grew  to  maturity,  viz;  Robert,  AVilliam,  Lucy, 
Shakespeare,  .Sarah  A..  Iloratit).  and  Eliza. 

Our  subject's  birth  occurred  .July  10,  1824.  and 
he  grew  to  maturity  in  his  native  country:  as  his 
father  was  in  reduced  circumstances  he  attended 
day  school  a  little  before  the  age  of  ten  years  and 
then  went  to  night  scho(>l  afterward.  At  the  age 
of  ten  years  he  commenced  to  work  in  a  cotton 
mill,  working  twelve  hours  each  (Lay,  and  at  the 
same  time  attending  night  school,  to  which  he  was 
comiielled  to  walk  a  mile  and  a  half  after  his  long 
day's  work.  He  continued  in  the  cotton  mills  and 
cotton  warehouses  until  he  was  twenty-two  years 
old.  at  which  time  he  starteti  in  the  tea  and  coffee 
business  on  a  small  scale,  and  was  also  engaged  in 
the  dry-goods  business  at  Ashton. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  when  twenty-four 
years  of  age,  married  Miss  .Tane  Clegg,  a  daughter 
of  Daniel  Clegg.  and  a  native  of  ]>ancashire,  Eng- 
land. About  a  month  after  their  marriage  August 
21.  1848,  they  sailed  foi'  America,  leaving  the  port 
of  Liverpool  on  the  ship  "The  New  World"  which 
was  commanded  by  Caiit.  Knight.  The}-  arrived 
in  New  York  on  September  21,  1848,  and  went 
immediately  to  Valley  Falls,  R.  I.,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  two  3'ears.  Of  this  union  were  born 
three  children,  viz;     Leander  F.,   George   S.    and 


750 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Bruce.  Leander.  wlio  married  Miss  Sarah  Jacobus, 
lives  in  Knox  County,  and  lias  six  children.  George 
S..  resides  in  Kansas  and  is  a  farmer  at  XorthSeld. 
Bruce  is  .at  homo.  The  devoted  wife  and  mother 
passed  away  in  188.5.  at  the  age  of  sixty  years. 

In  Rhode  Island  Mr.  Bennett  worked  longer 
hours  (thirteen  or  fourteen  per  day)  than  ever 
before.  The  close  confinement  and  change  of 
climate  was  a  severe  tax  upon  him,  and  realizing 
that  he  must  change  his  abo'le  or  lose  his  health 
permanently  he  determined  to  go  to  California. 
ric  paid  out  8!o0  at  New  York  lor  a  ticket  to  San 
b'rancisco  and  started  on  his  long  journey,  leaving 
his  wife  in  Rhode  Island.  Arriving  in  California 
he  started  for  the  mines  in  Calaveras  County  and 
buying  a  i)ick  and  pan,  went  down  to  the  river, 
where  some  men  were  at  work  in  a  shaft.  He  put 
on  the  red  shirt,  the  usual  hal)iliment  of  the  miner, 
and  inquired  for  work.  Soon  the  proiirietor  came 
around  and  asked  him  if  he  understood  "cay'oot- 
ing."  He  replied  tliat  he  guessed  he  did,  and  was 
immediately  set  to  work  in  the  mine. 

When  evening  came,  the  '•  boss"  came  around, 
paid  him  ^.5  for  th(>  day's  work,  and  asked  him  to 
come  again  the  next  day.  He  continued  to  work 
in  this  shaft  some  time.  Everything'  was  new  and 
was  worked  with  an  eye  to  the  ()rotits  alone.  The 
mine  not  being  properly  timbered,  accidents  by  the 
caving  in  of  the  earth  v.ere  of  daily  occurrence. 
One  day  while  they  were  gone  to  dinner  a  big  rock 
fell  in  and  completely  stopped  the  passage  way  to 
the  mine,  and  thus  ended  operations  at  that  place. 
A  few  days  Inter  at  a  i)ul)lic  |)lace  he  fell  in  with  a 
man  who  offered  him  ^80  and  board  to  go  with 
him.  He  accepted  and  after  working  for  him  some 
time,  conceived  the  idea  of  forming  a  mining  com- 
pany on  the  Calaveras  River.  They  took  up  a 
claim  which  proved  very  valuable,  realizing  a  profit 
which  ranged  from  *10  to  ^80  per  hand  weekly. 
The  water  failing,  they  took  up  another  claim  and 
continued  it  for  four  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1856  our  subject  came  home, 
more  than  ?;.3.000  ahead.  Ever  since  boyhood, 
when  he  read  of  the  wild  horses  of  Illinois,  he  had 
his  mind  made  up  that  he  wanted  to  be  in  the 
meadows,  open  fields,  and  about  the  horses  and 
cattle  of  Illinois,  in  other  words  tliat  he  wanted  to 


be  a  farmer.  He  now  resolved  to  remove  West, 
and  starting  from  his  Eastern  home,  arrived  here 
about  September,  1S56.  He  immediately  purchased 
one  hundred  an<l  thirty  acres  of  line  land,  later,  in 
1868,  buying  eighty  acres  more.  Not  onlj'  was  he 
prospered  financially,  but  his  health  was  greatly 
improved  and  he  became  quite  rugged  and  strong. 
He  became  naturalized  in  California  and  has  voted 
for  Pierce.  John  C.Ereraont,  Lincoln,  (irant,  Hayes, 
Garfield,  Ulnine  and  Harrison. 

In  addition  to  his  possessions  here.  Mr,  Bennett 
owns  fourteen  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  of  land 
in  Clay  County,  Tex.,  which  is  rapidly  increasing 
in  value.  In  1884  he  made  a  trip  back  to  England 
and  noted  with  a  great  deal  of  interest  the  improve- 
ments in  that  country.  He  noticed  that  England 
was  greatly  im|)roved  as  a  manufacturing  country 
and  saw  more  beauty  in  his  native  land  than  he 
ever  noticed  before.  It  will  be  seen  from  the  above 
that  he  has  an  extensive  and  varied  history',  and 
through  judicious  investments  he  has  become 
wealthy,  although  he  started  in  life  very  poor. 

. — ^    . .     ©; — ^— -i!i,-^j— ^     , .    , . 


lV 


ILLIAM  Tl'RL  is  a  prominent  citizen  and 
a  leading  Democrat  of  Orion  Township, 
where  he  is  pros[)erousl3'  conducting  agri- 
culture on  a  good-sized.  w-eU-managed  farm,  pleas- 
antly located  on  the  northeastern  |)art  of  section  18. 
He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Mary  Ann  Turk  of 
Devonshire,  England,  the  maiden  name  of  his 
mother  being  ^Vilson,  and  her  marriage  with  his 
father  look  [ilace  in  182(-).  The  paternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  who  was  also  named  James, 
was  likewise  married  to  a  Miss  jMar3'  Ann  V\'ilson, 
who  lived  to  the  extraordinary  age  of  one  hundred 
and  one  years. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to 
Amei-ica  willi  his  family  in  1852,  sailing  from 
Plymouth,  England,  and  encountering  severe 
storms  and  icebergs  in  mid  ocean.  England  was 
the  birthplace  of  his  qight  children,  of  whom  the 
following  is  recorded:  Elizabeth,  the  eldest,  is  the 
wife  of  Edward  Purchase,  of  this  township;  Mary 
Ann,  the  second  daughter,  married  Charles  Hubble, 


'•*-•  ' 


•^ 


f  ^ 


'.<gSfc'      *>t^i^ 


vs"*^ 


GEORGE  C.COOPER. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


753 


and  resides  in  Canton;  James,  llie  thinl   eliild.  was 
mrj'iied  to  Jane  MeCreaiy,  and  lives  in  Peoiia. 

"William  Tnrl,  the  sulijeet  of  this  sketch,  was 
married  in  \6Gi  to  Malissa  (Vance)  Moore,  and 
they  have  two  children,  the  eldest  a  daughter 
named  Lillie,  aged  niuett-en,  and  one  son  named 
Ike,  aged  thirteen  years,  and  both  reside  with  their 
parents  on  the  old  Vance  homestead. 

Mrs.  Turl  is  in  every  respect  a  line  woman  and 
worthy  of  tlic  esteem  in  which  she  is  held.  She  is 
the  daughter  of  a  pioneer  family.  Her  parents, 
George  and  Susan  "N'ance,  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Massachusetts  respectively,  and  to  them 
were  born  nine  children.  In  1840  the  Vanc(^  fam- 
ily came  to  Illinois,  arriving  here  June  10,  and 
built  the  substantial  log  dwelling  house  in  wliich 
our  subject  and  his  family  now  live. 

Mr.  Turl  h.as  been  quite  succes^sfid  in  his  farm- 
ing operations,  and  owns  two  hundred  ai  d  forty 
acres  of  as  fine  farming  land  as  is  to  be  found  in 
the  township.  He  has  it  supplied  with  excellent 
machinery  for  carrying  on  his  operations  to  tlie 
liest  advantage,  and  from  the  cultivation  of  tlie 
soil  derives  an  excellent  income,  and  in  his  cozy 
hoiue  he  and  his  family  enjoy  the  substantial  com- 
forts of  life.  Our  subject  is  a  genial  gentleman, 
and  his  pleasant  social  cpialities  make  him  a  general 
favorite,  while  his  ability  gives  him  a  prominent 
part  in  the  management  of  local  affairs.  He  is  a 
leader  in  politics,  and  has  frequently  been  elected 
to  public  positions  in  Orion  Township,  and  has  held 
the  offices  of  Collector,  School  Director  and  Trus- 
tee, with  credit  to  himself  and  with  benefit  to  the 
community. 


^?=^EOKGK  C.  COOl'KH.one  of  the  pioneers  of 
'II  (^— ,  Fulton  County,  now  makes  his  home  on  sec- 
^v^:^  tion  23,  Pleasant  Towiishi|).  and  has  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  people  throughout  this 
section  of  the  country.  His  l>irth  occurred  on  the 
1st  of  Septemiier,  iSlis,  in  Washington  County, 
Pa.,  and  he  is  the  son  of  George  and  Nancy  (liond) 
Cooper,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  Cooper  fam- 
ilj'  is  ail  old    and   aristocratic  one,   and    numbered 


among  the  earliest  settlers  in  AVashington  County, 
near  the  Mononi;;diela   River. 

Our  subject  is  the  third  son  in    his   fatlior's   fam- 
ily, and  removed  wiih  his  parents  to  Wayne  County. 
Ohio,  settling  about  six  miles  northeast  of   Woos- 
ter.     When  twelve  years  of  age  our  subject's  (lar- 
eiits  removed  with  their  family  to  Holmes  County, 
Ohio,  and  there  tliey  died.      Mr.   Cooper   received 
his  education   in  tlie    subscription   seliools   of    his 
neighborhood,  and  having  been  deprived  iiy  death 
of  his  father  when  only  fourteen  years  old,  he  was 
naturall}'  forced  to  commence  taking  care  of   him- 
self at  a  very  early  .age,  and  it  also  fell   to  him  to 
take  charge  of  the  farm  and  look  after  the  family. 
Tliis   responsiliility  soon   developed  his   talent  for 
i    money-making,  and  taught  iiim  si)lenrlid  lessons  in 
jierseverance    and   self-denial.      When    twentv-one 
years  old  he  sustained  the  sad   loss  of   his  mother. 
Mr.  Cooper  came  to  Fulton  County  in  1848,  and 
being  in  poor  financial  circumstances,    he  worked 
at  what  he  could  find,  and  at  the  same  time  rented 
a  farm   and  carried  on  that  business.      He  was  mar- 
ried July  3,    1851,  to  IMiss  Sarah  Beadles,  who  was 
born  in  Fulton  County,  Feliruary  24,  1833,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  Rice  and   Polly  (Warren)  Beadles. 
botli    natives  of    \'irgiiiia.     Her  parents  came  to 
Fulton  County  from  the  Blue  Grass  State  in   1830. 
settling  first  in    P>ernadotte   Township,    and    after- 
ward moving  to  Pleasant  Township. 

The  mother  died  here  in  1852,  and  the  father  af- 
terward removed  to  the  State  of  Missouri,  where  he 
died  in  1878.  To  them  were  born  twelve  cliildren, 
the  following  of  whom  are  living:  Sarah,  (Mrs. 
Cooper);  Lewis;  William  W.,  who  lives  at  Table 
Grove,  HI.;  James  lives  in  iMissouri;  Mary  is  tlie 
wife  of  John  Adams,  and  lives  in  Kansas;  America 
i  is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  llutton,  and  resides  in  Bcr- 
nadotte  Township;  Margaret,  who  married  James 
Jordan,  lives  in  Kansas.  By  the  father's  second 
marriage  one  child  was  liorn.  Berry  D.,  who  makes 
his  home  in  Missouri. 

To  our  subject  and  vvife  have  been  born  nine 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  living  at  the  present 
writing,  viz:  Nancy  J.,  wife  of  Soren  Knowles.  of 
Missouri;  Lucinda,  who  is  the  wife  of  William 
■Shawgo,  lives  in  Fulton  County;  Corwin,  of  this 
place;  Sarah    V...  (George;    Lucy,    vvife  of    .Viidrew 


r54 


PORTRAIT  AN^D  BIOC  UAl'IIICAL  ALHUM. 


Shawgc  makes  her  home  in  Peoria;  Margaret,  ami 
Amraa.  After  his  marriage  diir  suhjeet  settled  in 
"Woodhinil  Township,  near  tlie  present  site  of  8um- 
ninm  ^■illage,  and  in  tlie  fall  of  1857  located  in 
Pleasant  Township  on  his  present  farm,  lie  owns 
five  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  valualile  hiiid,  and 
is  oenerally  conceded  to  be  a  model  farmer.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  member  of  tlie  RepubHcin  parly. 
Bolii  lie  and  his  worthy  wife  as  old  age  comes 
cre<>i)ing  on  apace,  are  enjoying  the  consciousness 
of  years  well  and  prolitalily  spent,  and  surrounded 
by  loying  chihlren  and  warm  personal  friends  are 
iioing  down  the  declining  [lalhwfiy  of  life  gracefully 
r.nd  peacefully. 

On  another  page  of  this  volume  will  be  noticed  a 
lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Cooper. 


TEPIIEX  E.  IHKEMAN.  How  pleasant 
after  a  long  life  well  and  prosperously 
spent  it  is  to  look  back  over  the  vista  of 
\-ears  that  intervene  lietween  old  age  and 
childhood,  and  in  memory  live  again  the  triumphs 
and  joj'S.  Aliuve  all.  how  enjoyable  it  is  to  possess 
the  consciousness  of  having  benefited  both  one's  self 
and  others  in  the  struggle  essential  to  the  busy 
commercial  world.  Mr.  Dikeman  is  conceded  to  be 
one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  Fulton  County,  which 
is  noted  for  its  prominent  and  well  to-do  citizens, 
lie  has  always  been  singularly  successful  in  money- 
making,  and  has  through  his  own  exertions  attained 
success,  since  he  commenced  life  with  nothing  but 
a  bright  mind,  willing  hands  and  a  great  deal  of 
ambition. 

The  estimable  wife  of  our  subject  has  been  truly 
his  helpmate  in  pursuing  the  course  of  life,  having 
by  her  industry  and  frugality  helped  him  save 
money  for  larger  investments  as  the  3'ears  passed 
b\'.  He  laid  out  the  land  upon  which  the  village 
of  Middle  Grove  was  built,  and  owns  several  dwell- 
ings and  store  houses  there.  A  native  of  Madison 
County,  N.  Y..  he  w.as  born  May  16,  1824,  to  Gil- 
son  and  Parnel  (Tultle)  Dikeman,  natives  of  Con- 
necticut.   They  were  married  in  the  town  of  Fenner 


[    (now  called  Cazenovia)   Madison    County,    N.    Y. 

1  The  father  was  in  the  saddle  ami  harness  business, 
and  previous  to  his  death  owned  at  one  time  some 
valuable  land  in  New  York,  but  lost  much  of  his 
property.  He  came  to  Fulton  County  in  1844.  set- 
tling on  section  15.  Fairview  Township,  which  for 
tuany  years  was  known  as  the  Dikeman  homestead. 
The  father  succeeded  fairly  well  in  business  and 
was  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  Supervisor  for  a 
[)eriod  of  nine  years.  He  died  when  eighty-six 
years  of  age;  the  mother  when  in  her  seventy-third 
year.  Twelve  chddren  were  born  to  them,  ten  of 
whom  reached  maturit}-,  viz:  Alvira,  William, 
Hannah,  Elizabeth,  Cornelius,  Harriot,  Hiram. 
Dighton.  .Stephen  E..  and  Henr_\.  Onl\-  three  aie 
now  living:  Hannah,  Henry  and  onr subject.  The 
latter  wheu  a  year  old  wis  taken  b\'  his  parents  to 
Oswego  County,  wiiere  he  continued  to  live  up    to 

I    his  nineteenth  year.      His    educational    advantages 

1  were  poor,  and  at  an  eail\-  age  he  worked  on  a  farm. 
When  only  eighteen  years  old  he  bound  himself 
out  to  a  carpenter  iu  order  to  learn  that  trade,  and 
this  man.  1).  W.  Sherman,  coming  west  to  Chicago 
in  the  fall  of  1843,  our  subject  naturall\-  came  with 
him. 

After  three  years  in  that  city.  .Air.  Dikeman  came 
to  Fulton  County,  in  the  fall  of  1847,  and  worked 
at  his  trade  until  he  married  Miss  Susan  Lindzey 
in  1852.  She  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Hannah  (Dix)  Lindze\-, 
both  natives  of  England  and  married  in  that  couii- 
tiy.  Her  father  was  a  painter  by  trade,  working  for 
a  time  in  the  cotton  mills  in  IMassaeliusetts  and 
Rhode  Island  and  removing  to  the  vicinity  of 
Providence,  K.  I.,  where  he  remained  five  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1850  he  brought  his  family  to  the 
State  of  Illinois,  coming  via  the  Erie  Canal  to  Buf- 
falo, thence  by  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  and  from  there 
1)3'  the  Illinois  Canal  to  Illinois    River,  landing    at 

j    (Copperas  Creek. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dikeman 
lived  one  year  with  his  iiarents,  then  removed  to  a 
portion  of  his  present  homestead.  He  owned  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  before  bis  mar- 
riage, and  subsequent  industry  has  greatly  incre;ised 
his  possessions.  He  has  slii()ped  hundreds  of  loads 
of  stock  to  Chicago  ,and  Peoria,   and   has    hauled 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


755 


wheat  from  here  to  Chicago,  selling  it  for  sixty -sis 
cents  per  bushel,  and  taking  merchandise  back  to 
Peoria  nt  sevent_v-five  cents  i)er  hundred  weiglit. 
Mr.  Dikeman  is  a  Republican  and  was  numbered 
among  the  men  who  suffered  a  "rotten  egging"  on 
account  of  being  a  Whig  and  his  Abolitionist  pro- 
clivities. 

The  following  is  a  record  of  the  seven  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dikeman:  Charles  E.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenlv-two  years;  Cyrus  M.; 
Frank,  who  died  wlien  three  years  old ;  Flora, 
George,  Ambrose  and  Lindzej-.  Cyrus  M.  married 
Addie  Turner,  and  they  have  two  children,  Lee 
and  Charles;  their  home  is  in  Knox  Comity,  Flora 
is  the  wife  of  Herbert  Green,  a  prosperous  farmer 
in  Farmingtou  Township,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, May  and  Susan.  George  is  a  clothing  mer- 
chant at  Elmwood,  being  partner  in  the  firm  of 
Wdson  &  Dikeman.  Ambrose  and  Lindzey  are  still 
at  home.  Mr.  Dikeman  takes  great  interest  in  edu- 
cational matters  and  lias  served  as  School  Director; 
also  as  Roadmaster  and  on  jury  dut^-.  He  and  his 
estimable  wife  look  back  upon  their  life  with  a 
great  deal  of  [jleasure  and  satisfaction,  for  bj-  un- 
tiring effort  they  have  accumulated  a  competency 
for  their  declining  years  ami  prepared  their  cliil- 
dren  for  useful  and  lionoralile  careers. 


ENRY  MERRILL.  Prominent  anaong  the 
pioneer  citizens  of  Fulton  County  is  tliis 
gentleman,  who,  although  now  past  four- 
score years  of  age,  is  remarkably  well  pre- 
served and  active.  He  has  been  inseparably  asso- 
ciated with  the  business  and  political  history  of 
Farmington  Township,  and.  now  in  the  evening  of 
his  life,  rests  from  his  more  arduous  duties,  with 
the  consciousness  of  a  life  well  s|)ent.  His  frontier 
existence  was  cheered  by  the  presence  and  aid  of 
his  wife,  a  most  estimable  lady,  and  one  whose 
worth  is  appreciated  throughout  the  community. 
Mr.  Merrill  is  a  native  of  Oneida  County.  N.  Y., 
and  was  born  February  10,  1810. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Asa    and   Penelope 
(Dalaby)  Merrill,  were  natives  of  Sinisburv.  Conn,, 


and  were  married  in  1805.  Of  their  union  were 
born  seven  children,  whose  record  is  as  follows: 
James  D.  practiced  law  sixty-three  years,  and  died 
•  in  P]ast  Tro3',  Wis.  He  was  at  one  time  Postmaster 
of  Jlilwaukee.  Alonzo  was  a  farmer  and  merchant, 
and  died  when  sixty  years  old.  Henry,  our  sub- 
ject, is  next  in  order  of  birth.  Sarah  M.,  the 
widow  of  Amos  Hewitt,  who  was  a  resident  of 
Marsiiall,  Mich.,  is  now  seventj-.eight  years  old. 
Hamilton  Wilcox  graduated  from  West  Point,  and 
served  in  the  Florida  AVar  and  in  the  Mexican  War 
under  Gen.  Scott.  He  is  nsuall}-  known  as  Maj. 
Merrill  and  resides  in  Nciv  York  City.  Nelson  is 
a  famous  attorne3'-at-law  in  New  York  City,  and 
his  reputation  has  extended  far  be^'ond  the  limits 
of  the  city.  Alzina  married  Henry  Hewitt,  a  law- 
yer, and  died  when  twenty-six  years  old. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  the  father  was 
married  a  second  time  to  C'elina  Prindle,  who  bore 
him  five  children,  and  for  his  third  wife  he  was 
joined  in  marriage  with  Charlotte  Wiggins.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  an  own  sister  of  M.aj. 
Dalab}',  who  had  charge  of  the  arsenal  in  Detroit, 
holding  his  position  under  Gen.  Hull.  It  will  thus 
be  seen  that  he  is  descended  from  worthy  and  pa- 
triotic ancestry,  while  the  high  reputation  gained 
by  his  forefathers  is  well  sustained  by  our  subject 
and  his  relatives.  Our  subject  was  brought  to 
Genesee  Countj-,  N.  Y.,  in  childhood,  and  grew  to 
man's  estate  upon  a  farm.  He  was  rocked  in  a 
hollow  basswood  log  cradle,  and  in  his  father's 
house  there  was  not  a  solitary  nail,  it  being  covered 
with  elm  bark.  The  schools  were  very  common 
and  educational  advantages  poor  indeed,  but  our 
subject  attended  school  in  the  first  schoolhouse 
built  in  Byron  Township,  where  in  company  with 
the  other  boys  he  received  only  a  limited  education. 
Mr.  Merrill  married  Miss  Almyra  Jenison  in 
1831;  but  she  died  one  year  after  marriage,  leaving 
one  child,  Almyra,  who  now  resides  in  P^agle,  Mich. 
He  was  married  the  second  time  November  29,  1 832, 
to  Miss  Delilah  Rose,  daughter  of  P^phraim  and 
Rachel  Rose.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Sara- 
toga and  Westchester  Counties.  N.  Y.  and  came 
west  in  1835.  settling  in  Farmiugton  Townshij). 
The}'  had  eleven  children:  viz.,  Alpena  R.,  Martin, 
Luther,  Hiram.    Sulonion,    Minerva,    llaniiali.    Lu- 


rsG 


PORTRAIT  AND  HIOGRAPIllCAL  ALBUM. 


cind.i,  who  died  when  one  and  one-half  years  old; 
Dolilali.  Pnu'lhi.  uiirt  KunifO.  Mrs.  Merrill  w.ns 
liorn  ill  Aiiisteidiun.  Montiromci'3-  Coiiiity,  N.  Y., 
June  4.  ISIO. 

Our  subji'Cl  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  viz:  Clara  M.,  Kuplieniia-  R.,  Sarah  Al- 
zina,  Jaiues,  Asa  II..  and  Nelson  D.  Clara  M. 
married  Kiley  Ilnrwood,  became  the  mother  of  five 
children  and  after  his  death  married  Emery  Ed- 
wards, a  resident  of  Wyoming.  111.  Eupheraia 
lives  in  Middle  Grove,  and  is  the  widow  of  George 
H.  ^Vright;  they  had  three  children  Sarah  A. 
married  H.  II.  Leonard  and  lliey  live  in  Rantoul, 
111.,  and  have  five  children,  James  died  in  infancy. 
Asa  IL,  (vho  lives  in  Omaha,  Neb.,  is  connected 
with  the  I'liion  Stockyards  and  married  AIui3ia 
Jones;  they  have  six  children.  Nelson  D.  married 
Anna  Leaverton  and  Ihey  have  two  children.  Their 
home  is  in  Crcstun,  Iowa. 

Besides  their  own  children  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merrill 
tnok  into  their  home  and  gave  loving  care  to  a 
little  girl  named  Nettie  Simms,  who  married  Frank 
Parish  and  after  his  death  was  united  in  the  holv 
bonds  of  wedlock  with  James  Broherd.  Our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  liad  two  chililreu,  when  the}'  left 
Neiv  York  September  15,  1838.  They  took  with 
tliein  a  team  of  horses  and  a  wagon,  which  thej- 
put  on  hoard  a  steamer.  \Vheu  they  came  to  To- 
Icdii  tlie\-  saw  the  lirst  train  of  cars  they  had  ever 
beheld.  Thence  the}'  drove  on  the  Chicago  turn- 
[like  to  Chicago  and  from  there  to  Fulton  County. 
Here  he  bought  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of 
hind  in  Fairview  Township,  cultivating  and  embel- 
lishing it  with  substantial  buildings.  On  this  pleas- 
ant homestead  he  lived  fort^'-fonr  years,  until  he 
retired  from  active  life  and  reinoVed  to  Farming- 
ton  in  188-2. 

Mr.  Merrill  commenced  life  under  great  disad- 
vantages, but  by  means  of  undaunted  energy  and 
great  courage  has  reached  a  high  position  both  in 
social  and  mercantile  circles.  Though  eighty  years 
of  age  he  is  still  active  and  healthy,  indeed  a  most 
reinarkabl}'  strong  man.  both  physically  and  men- 
tally. This  fact  may  in  a  great  measure  be  attrib- 
uted to  his  strict  morality,  since  at  no  time  in  his 
life  has  he  indulged  in  either  intoxicating  drinks  or 
the  use  of  tobacco.     His  children  and   grand-chil- 


dren are  ver}'  handsome  and  the  entire  family  is 
now  in  exceedingly  prosperous  circumstances.  Mrs. 
Merrill  is  entitled  tc  a  vast  amount  of  praise,  not 
only  for  her  charming  manners  and  excellent  judg- 
ment, but  also  for  her  good  management  of  home 
and  children.  It  would  lieaditHcult  matter  to  lind 
a  happier  or  more  highl\-  esteemed  couple  than  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Merrill.  They  are  both  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church  and  take  great  interest  in  religious 
matters.  He  has  served  as  Scliool  Director  for 
several  years,  and  was  Postmaster  at  Middle  Grove 
for  thirteen  years,  and  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Republican  party. 


-i-~ — ■ 


¥r 


~^ 


LONZO  (i.  BEATY.  Among  the  men 
who  are  cultivating  a  portion  of  the  soil 
14  of  Lee  Township  to  good  advantage  is  the 
above  named  gentleman,  whose  home  is  on 
section  19.  His  farm  consists  of  eighty  acres, 
which  he  has  improved  in  maij\  ways  since  he  be- 
came its  owner,  building  a  barn  and  other  struc- 
tures that  he  considered  needful.  He  has  li>ed  in 
this  county  since  infancy  and  belongs  to  a  family 
well  represented  here,  having  five  bVothersand  two 
sisters  within  its  limits.  These  are  Lenmler,  Or- 
lando, Robert,  Andrew,  Lsaac,  Marian  and  Dorcas, 
the  latter  the  wife  of  Isaac  Camp. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  \irginia 
and  the  mother,  formerly  Fanny  Alford.  was  a  na- 
tive of  Connecticut.  This  couple  were  married  in 
Ohio,  whence  they  came  to  this  county  in  1849, 
locating  in  Woodland  Township.  Mrs.  Bealy 
passed  away  in  1867,  while  her  husband  survived 
until  1888,  attaining  to  a  ripe  old  age.  The  good 
couple  had  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  two  of  the 
latter  being  now  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  biography  was  born  in 
Ohio,  September  22,  1848,  and  was  therefore  but  a 
year  old  when  brought  to  Central  Illinois.  He 
obtained  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
Woodland  Townshi|)  and  under  the  home  care  of 
his  parents  acquired  much  knowledge  not  to  be  ob- 
tained in  the  schoolroom.  He  continued  to  make 
his   home    under   the   parental   roof    until    he    was 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOCRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


twenty-four  3'ears  old  when  lie  started  out  in  the 
world  for  himself,  engaging  in  farming.  Afttr  his 
marriage,  whicli  occurred  a  few  years  later,  he  set- 
tled ill  Pleasant  Township  Init  sojourned  only  a  few 
years  ere  buying  and  reninviiig  to  the  farm  he  now 
occupies. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Heaty  was  known  in  iier  girl- 
hood as  Susan  E.  Hendee.  She  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  in  which  the  fainilj-  of  whicli  she  is  a  mem- 
ber is  well  represented.  Her  natal  day  was  .laiiu- 
ary  -20.  1851,  and  her  marriage  w.as  celebraled 
April  25,  1878.  Her  father  was  horn  in  Connecti- 
cut and  her  mother  in  Keiiliicky,  but  they  became 
man  and  wife  iii  this  county,  to  which  they  had 
accompanied  their  respective  parents  some  time  be- 
fore. The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flendee  consists 
of  eight  daughters  and  three  sons,  all  still  living 
but  one  daughter.  Besides  the  wife  of  our  subject 
there  are  Mary  J.,  Laura  E..  Stephen  A.,  Ilestei-  A., 
Warren  D..  Martha  I..  Jose|)li  W.,  Alice  A.,  Kmma 
L.,  and  Sarah  R. 

Mrs.  Beaty  is  the  third  child  and  daughter  of  her 
parents,  who  bestowed  upon  her  good  advantages 
in  the  way  of  education  and  home  care.  She  has 
become  the  mother  of  three  children,  sons,  in  wliose 
childish  graces  and  grovving  intelligence  the  parents 
take  great  delight.  They  are  Earl  H.,  born  August 
5,  1881 ;  Chester  A.,  May  15,  1883,  and  Joseph  W., 
May  28,  1887.  Mrs.  Beaty  belongs  toths  Cliristian 
Church,  being  idcntitied  with  the  congregation  at 
Lewistown.  Mr.  Beaty  is  not  an  active  [lolitician 
but  generally  votes  the  Democratic  ticket. 


^- 


1^2= 


<«  lULLlAM  SMITH.  The  farming  interests 
\\/iJ/  ^^  Bernadolte  Township  are  al)i_\-  re|ire- 
^xj^  sented  by  this  gentleman,  whose  practical- 
ity, sagacity  and  thrift  have  brought  him  to  the 
front  as  a  fairner  and  stock- raiser. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Pa., 
March  6,  1827.  His  parents  were  also  natives  of 
the  Keystone  State.  He  came  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents  when  two  years  old.  In  1837  he  came  to 
Effingham  County,  III.,  and  east  in  his  lot  wiih  its 
pioneers,  lemaining  tliere   until  1839.      He  then  re- 


turned eastward  as  far  as  Knox  County,  Ohio, 
where  ho  made  his  home  until  1852.  In  that  year 
he  came  again  to  Illinois,  and  this  time  settled  in 
Fulton  County.  He  bought  a  farm  of  eighty  acres 
in  \'ermoiit  Township,  which  he  rented  to  his 
brother-in-law.  James  Irwin,  while  he  went  to  work 
by  the  month  on  a  farm  the  ensuing  two  years.  He 
went  back  to  Ohio  in  185  t  and  was  there  until  1858. 
Coming  to  Fulton  County  again  he  worked  by  the 
month  until  his  marriage.  October  21,  1860,  to  Ellen 
E.,  daughter  of  Dr.  (i.  X .  and  Fallen  Hopkins,  who 
reside  in  Woodland  Township. 

Soon  after  marriage  our  subject  rented  a  farm  of 
ninety  acres  in  F'armers  Township,  paying  cash  rent 
for  three  years.  The  first  year  he  paid  at  the  rate 
of  ^'i  an  acre;  the  second  year,  S2.75  an  acre  and 
the  third  year  at  the  rate  of  S2.50  an  acre.  In 
1863  he  bought  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  on 
section  34,  of  whicli  he  is  still  the  proprietor.  He 
has  disposed  of  a  part  of  it  and  now  has  a  valuable 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  acres,  all  un- 
der excellent  improvement  and  well  cultivated. 
There  is  a  good  set  of  buildings  on  the  place  and 
an  ample  supply  of  reapers,  mowers,  and  such  ma- 
chinery; he  has  a  first-class  Minneapolis  twine 
binder,  and  all  other  machines  necessar}'  for  carry- 
ing on  a  good  farm. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  had  ten  cliililren,  of 
whom  eight  are  living.  Their  record  is  as  follows: 
Margaret  O.,  born  July  17,  1861,  married  William 
Rowland  and  they  live  on  their  own  farm  of  eighty 
acres  on  section  24,  Bernadolte  Township;  Mary 
Ann,  born  September  2,  1862,  died  in  infancy; 
Laura  E.,born  September  7,1863,  married  John  Row- 
land, Principal  of  tlie  Lewistown  Normal  School; 
Phrebe  A.,  borii  October  30,  1805,  married  Henry 
Rowland,  and  they  live  in  Bernadolte  Township; 
F'lanees  V,  bin-n  February  28,  1868,  lives  at  home; 
William  and  Henry  (twins),  born  September  21. 
1870,  the  former  dying  February  4,  1873;  .lohn 
D.,  born  September  31,  1872;  Garret  B.,  .Inly  Id. 
1876;  Nellie  H.,  February  28,  1884;  the  last  four 
are  at  home  witli  their  parents. 

Our  subject  is  a  man  of  sterling  principles  and 
all  his  acts  are  guided  b}-  a  high  sense  of  honor 
and  unswerving  integrity.  He  is  a  true  Christian, 
though  not  connected    wn'th    aii\'    chiireli    organiza- 


758 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


tlon,  and  is  well  liked  and  respected  by  all  who 
know  him.  He  is  temperate  in  nil  tliinus,  lias  pro- 
liibition  tendencies,  is  very  much  opposed  to  to- 
l)acc()  in  any  shape  or  form,  and  has  tlio  support  of 
his  ojood  wife  in  bis  views.  He  has  given  liis  town- 
ship faithful  service  as  School  Director. 


if^_^  ENRY  B.  (iUSTlNE,  an  enterprising  and 
iTjii  popular  young  pharmacist  of  Canton,  al- 
^/^  ready  occupies  an  honorable  position  in  the 
(©,'  business  world  of  his  native  county.  He 
was  born  in  Lewistown  August  11,  1864.  His  fa- 
ther. James  Gustiiie,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1834,  and 
was  the  son  of  .lohn  Gusline,  who  was  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  settled  in  this 
county,  over  fifty  yerrs  .ago,  and  is  still  living 
here,  and  is  over  eighty  years  old.  His  wife,  wlio 
is  also  living,  was  Polly  Cliilders,  and  she  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  and  remembers  well  the  pioneer 
davs  of  Fulton  County.  She  and  her  husband  have 
reared  a  large  family  of  thirteen  children.  They 
are  botli  in  the  enjoyment  of  all  their  faculties, 
having  been  well  endowed  mentally  and  physically. 

.lames  (iiistine  was  a  small  boy  when  his  parents 
brought  him  to  this  county,  and  settled  in  the 
count\-  seat,  Lewistown,  where  he  was  reared  and 
married,  taking  as  his  wife  Mrs.  Deborah  Duvall, 
widow  of  William  llotchkiss.  Her  parents  died  in 
this  county  many  years  ago.  After  marriage  Mr. 
Gustine  settled  in  Lewistown  where  he  was  occu- 
pied as  a  carpenter  and  butcher  for  many  j'ears. 
He  is  now  prosperously'  eng.aged  in  shipping 
poultry.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gustine  are  the  parents  of 
four  cliildren  of  whom  tlie  following  is  recorded: 
Edward  is  a  conductor  on  the  Fulton  County 
Narrow  Gauge  Railroad;  Sadie  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 
R.  A.  Randall,  of  Lewistown;  Alta  B.  is  the  wife 
of  Loien  F'reeman,  of  Lewistown ;  and  Henry  B., 
our  subject.  By  her  former  marriage  Mrs.  (!us- 
tine  had  one  daughter,  Mina,  who  is  now  the  wife 
of  Tht)uias  Whitworth,  a  ineichant  of  Victor,  Iowa. 

Henry  Gustine.  of  this  biographical  sketch,  was 
the  second  son  of  his  parents.    He  spent  his  school 


daj'^s  in  Lewistown  where  he  was  given  excellent 
educational  advantages,  and  at,  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  entered  the  drug  store  of  Tompkins  ct  Standard, 
with  whom  he  remained  three  3'ears  and  thorough!)' 
learned  the  drug  business  in  all  its  details.  When 
he  left  their  employ  he  went  to  Havana,  in  Mason 
Count}',  and  became  clerk  in  the  drug  store  of  M. 
E.  Covington  for  tliree  years.  Afterwards  he  w.as 
with  Dr.  P.  L.  Dieffenbaclier,  one  year.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1888,  he  came  to  Canton  and  clerked  for  P. 
C.  Ross  one  year.  At  tlie  expiration  of  tliat  time 
he  entered  into  partnership  with  James  Ross,  a  son 
of  Dr.  Ross,  under  the  firm  name  of  Ross  ct  Gus- 
tine, and  they  conducted  business  together  about  a 
year.  Then  Mr.  Gustine  jiurchased  the  interest  of 
his  partner,  continuing  the  business  at  the  same 
stand,  on  the  south  side  of  tlic  |iublic  square.  Here 
he  has  a  neat  and  commodious  drug  store,  complete 
in  all  its  ap|)ointnients,  and  well  stocked  with  drugs, 
medicines,  toilet  articles,  and  all  things  to  be 
found  in  such  a  store.  Mr.  Gustine  pays  especial 
attention  to  the  compounding  of  prescriptions,  and 
he  is  conducting  here  a  good  and  well  paying. busi- 
ness. He  passed  the  examination  of  the  Illinois 
Board  of  Pharmacy  and  is  registered. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1886,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Alvenia  Woeston,  of  Havana,  III.  She  was 
born  and  reared  in  that  place  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Mary  (Bush)  Woeston,  natives  of  Ger- 
many, and  early  settlers  of  Havana.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gustine  have  one  son  living,  Clifton  C.  Their 
son  Charles  C.  died  in  infancy.  They  have  an  at- 
tractive home  at  No.  303  South  Main  Street,  ilr. 
Gustine  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  AVorkmen. 


m 


m^^o^:^^m 


RS.  MARY  ROWLANDSON,  wife  of  Rob- 
ert Rowlandson,  of  Putman  Township,  is 
the  subject  of  the  jireseut  sketch.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Mar}-  Murphj'  and  she 
was  a  daugliter  of  Elisha  and  Jeannette  (Fields) 
Murphy,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Her  jiarenls 
were  married  in  Pennsylvania  and  made  that  State 
their  home  until  tlie  year  1819,  at  which  time  they 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


759 


reraovcfl  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Ricliland  Comity,  and 
afterward  c-ame  to  Illinois  in  1833,  locating  in  Cass 
Township.  Tlie  father  died  in  1834,  and  the  mother 
in  1854.  To  them  had  been  horn  twelve  children, 
of  whom  onl\'  three  are  living  at  the  present  writing, 
viz :  Mrs.  Rowlandson,  Abrahani  and  Jesse,  and  the}' 
had  many  interesting  ex|)erienccs  in  clearing  np 
the  land  and  cultivating  the  soil  upon  the  old  home- 
stead. 

Our  subject  was  sixteen  years  t)ld  at  the  time 
her  parents  came  to  this  place,  and  she  had  re- 
ceived a  good  education  in  Ohio,  previous  to  the 
removal  from  that  State.  On  .lanuai-y  IG,  1834,  slic 
married  David  S.  Baughman,son  of  Henry  Baugh- 
man,  who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Cass 
Township.  After  their  marriage  they  settled  on 
section  31,  in  Putnian  Townsiiip,  where  tiie  land 
was  in  an  uncultivated  stale,  and  the}'  endured 
many  liardships  and  deprivations  while  preparing  a 
home;  indeed,  they  lived  in  a  rail  pen  foi'  one 
entire  summer  while  they  were  building  a  log-cabin, 
and  had  on'}'  ■'i<4{)  with  which  to  furnish  a  house. 
Mr.  Baughman  was  delicate,  and  consfquentlv  vv.as 
unable  to  manage  their  business  affairs,  and  this  re- 
si)onsibility  fell  to  his  wife.  .She,  however,  was  equal 
to  the  emergency,  being  a  woman  of  great  strength 
of  character  and  unusual  judgment.  She  worked 
faithfuUj',  both  in  the  house  and  out  on  the  estate, 
and  seems  to  possess  a  marvelous  amount  of  streni>;lh 
and  force  of  character.  Her  occnpation.s  were 
numerous  and  varied  ;  she  did  weaving  with  a  hand- 
loom,  they  raised  flax,  jinlled  it.  spun  it,  and  wove 
it  into  cloth.  Such  activity  and  enterprise  could 
not  fail  1(1  reach  a  good  result  and  prosperity 
gradually  came  to  them,  although  it  seemed  slow 
during  the  da)'s  of  ceaseless  toil. 

Mrs.  Rowlandson  distinctly"  recalls  the  apiiear- 
ance  of  that  count}-  at  that  date.  It  was  new  and 
had  only  a  small  population,  there  being  one  house 
between  their  home  and  Lewistown.  The  Indians 
had  only  been  driven  away  the  year  before,  and  the 
surroundings  were  very  wild  about  the  little  log- 
cabin  in  which    the  family  li\ed. 

Mr.  Baughmain  died  March  23,  1852.  having 
reached  his  foriieth  year.  They  were  the  parents  of 
six  ciiildren,  viz:  Kmeline,  wife  of  John  JIcMaug, 
who  lives  in  Oreg(jn  and  has  eleven  children;  Jesse, 


Thomas,  and  David  M.,  deceased;  Hannah  is  the 
wifeof  Perry  Murphy,  and  lives  in  Nebraska;  Mar- 
garet, widow  of  Julius  Cromwell.  David  M.  enlisted 
in  Com|)any  A,  Kighty-ninth  Illinois  Regiment  as 
a  [uivate  soldier  in  the  year  18Gl,and  was  killed 
June  27,  1864,  after  serving!  faithfully  through 
nearly  three  years,  and  suffering  grcatl}-  from 
sickness.  His  death  occurred  at  Pickets  Mill,  Ga. 
The  subject  of  our  sketch  marricdi  her  present 
husband,  Robert  Rowlandson,  in  May,  18G0. 
He  is  a  son  of  (ieorge  and  Sarah  (HIackburn) 
Rowlandson,  both  of  whom  were  English  by  birth 
and  education.  INIr.  Rowlandson  was  born  in  Eng- 
land in  1821  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1851, 
locating  at  first  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  He  afterwards 
moved  to  Chicago,  and  in  1855  settleil  in  this 
county,  where  he  has  resided  up  to  the  present  date. 
Since  their  marriage  they  have  resided  on  the  farm 
Mrs.  Rowlandson  owns,  and  where  she  has  lived  for 
over  fifty  years.  This  estate  embraces  seventy 
acres  and  is  now  in  a  splendid  state  of  cultivation. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rowlandson  enjoy  good  health. 
They  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  liave 
retired  from  business. 


\w/  MADISON  TUCKER.  How  often  it  seems 
that  the  younger  men  outstrip  their  elders 
in  the  race  for  commercial  and  political 
honors.  The  activity  and  energy  of  youth 
is  known  to  be  greater  than  in  after  life,  and  thus 
a  child  properl}-  trained  to  habits  of  industry  and 
frugality  will  most  likely  win  success  quite  early  in 
life.  Such  has  been  the  experience  of  J.  Madison 
Tucker,  whose  sketch  now  invites  attention  from 
the  reader. 

Mr.  Tucker  first  made  bis  appearance  in  this 
world  on  the  4th  of  May,  in  the  year  184G,  at 
the  homestead  of  his  grandfather  Lake.  He  spent 
his  childhood  and  youth  in  Farminston,  receiving 
a  good  common-school  education,  and  lieing  tauglit 
tiiose  grand  principles  of  industry  and  self-denial 
which  have  always  remained  with  him.  After 
reaching  maiiliooil,  our  subjoct  f.-irmed  for  awhile 
on   the  old  Tui'kcr   hrnncste.ad  before  death   robbed 


rfio 


PORTRAIT  AND  HrOGRAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


liim  of  his  father,  and  in  1889  he  purchased  his  pus- 
(Mil  property  tiiat  emliracert  ninety  acres  of  land. 
Me  has  continued  to  add  to  liis  possessions,  and  is 
at  the  present  writing  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  forty-four  acres  of  valuable  land. 

Our  subject  is  very  successful  as  a  farmer,  a 
horseman,  and  in  running  a  thri'shing  machine. 
His  political  sympathies  are  all  wiili  the  Republican 
()arty,  and  he  takes  great  interest  in  the  political 
issues  of  the  d.a}'.  He  cast  his  (irst  Presidential  vote 
in  18fi8  for  V .  S.  Grant,  ■•the  soldier  President." 
as  he  is  so  frequently  called.  IMr.  Tucker  has  not 
missed  more  than  one  caucus  since  he  reached  his 
majority,  nor  has  he  failed  to  attend  a  single  elec- 
tion. Such  men  we  know  form  the  bulwark  for  their 
part}',  and  are  invaluable  to  the  community  in 
which  they  reside. 

Mr.  Tucker  is  serving  his  sixth  term  as  School 
Trustee  of  Farmington,  and  has  lost  no  opportunity 
to  advance  educational  causes  and  so  promote  the 
advantages  of  this  city,  lie  is  also  a  comniitteeman 
on  the  Republican  Central  Committee  of  Fulton 
County,  from  Farmington  Township,  an  office  that 
he  dignities  verj'  much  by  his  good  habits  and  care- 
ful movements.  He  also  served  as  Commissioner 
of  Highways  three  years  and  has  been  on  the  grand 
jury. 

Our  subject's  father,  Klevon  Tucker,  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Farmington  Township,  and  his 
death  in  1871  caused  universal  regret.  He  was  a 
good  man,  and  held  several  public  otiices.  For 
sevfen  }-ears  he  served  as  Assessor,  and  was  also 
Highway  Commissioner  and  School  Trustee.  Our 
subject's  mother  died  in  1888,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  seventy-two  years.  The  father  was  born  in 
Hamilton.  Oliio,  and  was  reared  Viy  John  Lake,  the 
father  of  the  lady  he  afterward  married,  his  own 
father  being  drowned  in  the  Ohio  River  while  at- 
tempting to  cross  that  stream  in  a  small  boat.  The 
mother  and  her  children  were  in  another  boat 
crossing  at  the  same  time.  The  Lake  family  and 
the  Tuckers  were  old  friends,  and  Mr.  Lake,  there- 
fore, very  naturally  assumed  charge  of  Elevou 
Tucker  when'death  had  deprived  bim  of  bis  natural 
protector.  The  Tucker  famil)-  is  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent,  and  the  Lakes  originally  came  from  Hol- 
land and  are  connected  with  the    family  of  the  re- 


nowned Anneke  .bins,  whose  vast  estate  in  New 
York  has  been  so  long  in  litigation.  Our  subject's 
mother  was  Miss  Catherine  Lake,  and  she  had  three 
sisters — Eliza,  Elleanor  and  Mary  Ann.  Eliza  mar- 
ried Thomas  Leeper  (deceased)  of  Farmington; 
Elle.anor  is  now  Mrs.  William  Leeper,  of  Farming- 
ton  Township;  and  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Cunning- 
ham Brown,  of  Farmington,  died  in  1888.  Our 
subject  is  a  worthy  representative  of  an  old  and 
honored  family,  and  though  he  has  never  married, 
lives  a  happy  and  comfortable  life,  surrounded  b^' 
a  host  of  admiring  friends. 


-^i^ii^^^^^^^^^— 


'ACOB  DANXER,  the  son  of  a  former  pio- 
neer and  extensive  landowner  of  this  count}', 
is  a  man  in  prosperous  circumstances,  a 
member  of  the  farming'  community  of  Asto- 
ria Township,  who  derives  a  handsome  income 
from  his  agricultural  ventures  and  the  rental  of 
his  valuable  coal  land.  He  was  born  in  Hamilton 
Count}',  Ohio,  May  3,  1849.  His  great-great- 
grandfather Banner  came  from  Germany  and  set- 
tled near  Philadelphia  among  the  original  colonists 
of  Pennsylvania. 

The  father  of  otir  subject  was  a  distiller  in  his 
native  State.  In  1832  he  left  Penns^'lvania  for 
Ohio,  and  in  1838  made  a  trip  throughout  the 
West,  searching  for  a  suitable  location.  He  had 
[jreviously  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  in  Indiana.  In  1850  he  came  to  Illinois  in  a 
wagon,  arriving  here  after  a  journey  of  nearly  six 
weeks.  He  bought  one  hundred  and  sixtj'  acres  of 
land  in  Astoria  Township,  wheie  he  resided  until 
his  death.  He  met  with  more  th.an  ordinary  suc- 
cess, became  a  man  of  wealth  and  accumulated  six 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  this  and  Schuyler  Coun- 
ties. He  w.as  the  f.ather  of  seven  cliildi;en,  four 
sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  three  sons  and 
one  daughter  are  living.  He  was  a  man  of  Chris- 
tian principles,  and  a  member  of  the  Gerniin  Bap- 
tist Church. 

The  son  of  whom  wc  write  passed  his  early  life 
on  a  farm  and  received  bis  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools.     At   the  .age  of  nineteen,  after  the 


^^*7Vs 


JOHN    LACt^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


UiZ 


death  of  his  mother,  he  began  farming  for  himself 
witli  his  fatlier.  On  the  Sth  of  May,  1873,  he  took 
an  imi)0ilant  step,  whereby  he  secured  the  .active 
co-operation  of  a  good  wife  by  his  marriage  on 
that  date  to  Miss  Hannali  M.  Tliorapson,  of  Astoria 
Township.  She  was  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
and  a  ilaughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  A.  (Moreer) 
Thompson.  Ilor  father  died  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
lier  mother  came  to  Illinois  about  1859.  Of  the 
seven  children  bom  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Banner  four 
died  in  infancy'.  Those  living  arc  named  Rosa  L., 
Orley  O.  and  Clarence. 

Mr.  Danner  located  where  lie  now  resides  in  the 
fall  of  187i).  He  has  here  one  hundred  and  ninety 
acres  of  land  exceedingly  valuable,  not  only  for 
agricultural  purposes  but  on  account  of  its  mineral 
wealth.  He  has  made  many  extensive  improve- 
ments, among  which  we  may  mention  a  line  fish 
pond,  covering  five  acres  and  stocked  with  choice 
varieties  of  fish,  he  being  the  first  to  start  anything 
of  the  kind  in  this  localit}-.  He  has  here  substan- 
tial and  well-appointed  buildings  and  a  home  re- 
plete with  comfort.  His  farm  is  all  coal  land,  and 
he  leases  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  it  for 
mining  puri)Oses.  He  is  a  thorough  Democrat  in 
his  political  views.  He  is  glad  to  assist  in  any  way 
in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  township,  and  h.as 
ilone  valuable  service  as  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways. 

OHN  LACEY.  Great  honor  is  due  the 
sturdy  pioneers  who  left  their  homes  in  tlie 
East,  and  hewed  out  a  path  in  the  trackless 
^J  forest,  or  traveling  across  the  seemingly 
limitless  prairie,  finally  reached  their  destination 
in  the  uncultivated  lands  of  Fulton  County.  Here 
they  located  in  their  rude  homes,  deprived  of  the 
comforts  of  life,  and  the  companionship  of  friends. 
Gradually  thej'  evolved  pleasant  farms  from  the 
uninviting  surroundings,  and  by  persevering  labor, 
met  with  a  deserved  reward.  As  a  representative 
of  this  worthy  class,  we  are  [ileased  to  present  the 
life  historv  and  portrait  of  this  veteran  of  eighty- 
six  years. 

Prior  to  the    Rev^.lutionar\-  War.  three  brothers 


bearing  the  name  of  Lacey  emigrated  from  Eng- 
land to  America,  settling,  one  in  New  Jersej-,  an- 
other in  Virginia,  and  the  third  in  one  of  the 
Eastern  States.  The  father  of  our  subject,  Richard 
Lacey,  was  a  native  of  New  .lersey  and  was  one  of 
eight  brothers  in  the  large  family  born  to  his 
parents.  He  married  Susan  Smith,  who  was  also 
born  in  New  Jersey,  and  their  family  consisted  of 
one  son,  John,  and  three  daughters,  now  deceased. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  our  subject  is  the  only  sur- 
vivor in  the  family,  and  he  was  boni  January  8, 
1804,  in  Hunterdon  County,  N.  J. 

When  about  six  years  old  our  subject  was 
brought  by  his  jjarents  to  Tompkins  County,  N. 
Y.,  and  there  passed  his  youth.  He  was  trained 
from  childhood  to  habits  of  industry  and  persever- 
ance, and  having  been  taught  the  principles  of 
farming,  has  naturally  reaped  the  benefit  in  his 
success  as  an  agricultuiist.  His  education  was 
very  limited,  but  having  a  natural  taste  for  read- 
ing he  has  kept  himself  well-posted  alike  upon 
literary  and  public  matters.  Like  the  m.ajority  of 
self-made  men  he  has  met  with  marked  success  in 
all  his  undertakings  in  life,  and  this  is  due  in  a 
great  measure  to  his  ambition  and  unfailing  energy. 

When  read}-  to  establish  a  home  of  his  own,  our 
subject  was  married  in  New  Y'ork,  in  1831,  to  Miss 
Cliloe  Hurd  and  their  union  was  blessed  with  nine 
children,  of  whom  those  living  at  the  present  writ- 
ing are — Judge  Ljnnan  Lacey,  of  Havana,  111.; 
Harriet,  wife  of  C.  E.  Johnson,  of  Pleasant  Town- 
ship; Susan,  now  Mrs.  E.  Porter,  of  Table  Grove, 
III.;  and  Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  Arthur 
Cattron,  of  McLean  Count}',  III.  In  company 
with  his  wife  and  children  Mr.  Lacey  removed  from 
the  State  of  New  York  to  Oakland  County.  Mich., 
and  after  sojourning  there  about  one  and  one- 
half  years,  came,  in  the  fall  of  1837,  to  Fulton 
County,  HI.  Here  lie  entered  a  considerable 
amount  of  land,  for  wliieh  he  paid  the  Govern- 
ment $1.'25  per  acre. 

On  the  estate  of  our  suliject  at  the  present  time 
there  may  be  noticed  a  little  log  cabin  about  25x30 
feet  in  dimensions,  and  this  was  the  i)ioneer  home 
of  the  family;  Nine  years  later,  Mr.  Lacey 
erected  his  present  handsome  residence  which  is  a 
decided  contrast  to  tlie   former  one  and    illuslr.Tles 


764 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPIIK  Al.   ALBUM. 


the  diflfereiice  between  the  primitive  and  prosper- 
ous times  in  this  county.  Our  subject  w.ns  cora- 
pplied  to  break  and  cultivate  liis  land,  a  task  that 
naturally  calh  for  both  energy  and  skill.  He  is  to- 
day very  prosperous  and  owns  fifteen  hundred 
acres  of  valuable  farming  land,  all  fertile  and  cul- 
tivated. Previous  to  his  marriage  he  had  saved  about 
$1,500.  and  the  habits  of  economy  wliicli  he  had 
learned  in  his  youth,  he  carried  through  his  ma- 
turer  years,  so  that  now  his  old  age  is  filled  with 
every  comfort  wealth  can  bestow. 

Mr.  Lacey  has  always  been  very  popular  in  Ful- 
ton County,  and  served  tn-o  years  as  8ui)ervisor  of 
Pleasant  Township,  two  years  as  Assessor  and  was 
for  a  time  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  has  been  a 
life-long  Democrat  and  alw.ays  votes  that  ticket  on 
national  issues.  The  death  of  his  wife,  January 
15,  1879,  was  a  great  blow  to  him,  for  she  had 
been  a  true  helpmate  to  him  through  tlieir  long  and 
happy  married  life.  Slie  had  many  warm  friends 
in  the  community  where  she  had  lived,  and  was  a 
a  woman  possessing  many  Christian  virtues.  Mr. 
Lacey  is  numbered  among  tlie  most  successful  pio- 
neers of  Fulton  County,  and  lias  many  fnends,  who 
recognize  the  nobility  of  his  character  and  realize 
that  he  deserves  to  be  held  in  the  highest  possible 
esteem. 


OHN  W.  GADDIS.  There  are  few  things 
in  life  that  -inspire  a  more  general  interest 
than  does  a  sketch  of  a  successful  business 
man,  who  by  achieving  fortune  himself, 
gives  an  example  to  those  trying  to  climb  the 
ladder  of  fame,  and  encourages  those  who  are  in 
the  busy  commercial  world  to  liope  for  similar  suc- 
cesses. Our  subject  is  a  man  of  decided  abilit}', 
and  is  generally  conceded  to  rank  among  the  first 
business  men  of  Fairview.  He  is  a  partner  in  the 
firm  of  Gaddis  &  Hill,  dealers  in  groceries,  hard- 
ware, paints  and  notions.  He  is  also  Cashier  of  the 
Fairview  Banking  Company,  of  which  T,  H.  Tra- 
vers  is  President,  L.  W.  Davis,  Vice-President,  and 
P.  B.  Voorhees,  Assistant  Cashier. 

Our  subject  was   born  in  Jacksonville,  Morgan 
Countj'.  111.,  December  5.    1859,   being  the  son  of 


Dr.  John  V.  D.  Gaddis.  He  grew  to  manhood 
ill  his  native  place,  attending  the  public  schools  of 
that  city,  and  at  a  later  date  the  Jacksonville  Col- 
lege. He  afterward  took  an  academic  course  at 
Freehold.  N.  J.,  and  a  business  course  in  the  East- 
man Business  College  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  He 
removed  to  Fairview,  III.,  in  1881,  and  engaged  in 
business  at  his  |iresent  place,  the  firm  name  being 
Gaddis  A-  Wilson.  He  bought  out  his  partner  in 
1883.  and  up  to  1887  operated  the  business  by  him- 
self, at  which  date  he  entered  into  a  [lartnership 
with  Hairy  C.  Hill.  This  firm  is  doing  an  immense 
business,  and  by  means  of  strict  integiii}'  and  in- 
dustrious habits  on  the  part  of  the  managers  is 
growing  in  popularity  all  the  time.  They  carry  a 
large  stock  of  goods,  amounting  to  -S4.500. 

Mr.  Gaddis  was  married  March  19,  1889,  to  Miss 
Sarah  L.  C.  Ledeboer,'llie  daughter  of  Dr.  L.  Lede- 
boer,  of  Holland,  Mich.  Of  this  union  has  been 
born  one  child — Lillie  Ray.  The  subject  of  our 
sketch  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  be- 
longing to  Fairview  Lodge,  No.  350,  and  holding 
the  office  of  Worshipful  Master.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  political  belief,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Reformed  Church,  of 
Fairview.  He  has  built  an  elegant  residence  in  the 
western  part  of  the  villaa:e,  and  has  bright  pros- 
pects of  fortune  before  him. 

Dr.  John  Gaddis  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  place,  and  is  numbered  among  the  oldest  and 
most  jiopular  physicians  of  Fairview.  .  He  was  a 
very  distinguished  man  and  possessed  a  rnre 
amount  of  natural  ability,  and  has  received  a  thor- 
ough education  and  so  fitted  himself  for  his  chosen 
profession.  His  birth  occurred  in  New  York  City, 
and  he  was  graduated  from  the  Eastern  College  of 
Medicine  and  Surgery.  He  happened  to  know  a 
family  tliat  was  coming  West  and  so  concluded  to 
try  his  fortunes  in  the  wild  country  and  enjny  the 
rudeness  of  pioneer  life. 

Dr.  Gaddis  married  Miss  Julia  Wilson,  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  A.  D.  Wilson,  the  founder  of  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  Church  of  Fairview.  She  was  the 
second  in  number  of  the  six  children  born  to  her 
parents,  and  came  with  them  to  Fairview  from  her 
Eastern  home.  Dr.  Gaddis  met  with  great  success, 
and  in  cdiuK  ction  with  his  professional   duties  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


765 


also  interested  in  mercantile  lines.  It  was  for  the 
purpose  of  educating  liis  daugiiter — IMaogie — that 
he  removed  to  Jacksonville,  where  our  subject  was 
born.  Of  the  entire  family  three  children  reached 
maturity — Maggie,  Kate  and  .John  W.  Maggie  is 
at  the  present  writing  Mrs.  James  F.  Bless,  a  manu- 
facturer of  Newarls,  N.  J.;  Kate  L.  married  H.  M. 
Joralmon,  a  resident  of  Denver,  Colo.,  and  for  a 
long  time  on  the  editorial  staff  of  the  American 
Field.  Our  subject  was  the  youngest  in  the  fam- 
ily, and  he  is  the  happy  possessor  of  both  fame  and 
fortune,  and  has  many  warm  personal  friends  who 
rejoice  in  his  success. 


f 


.SAAC  N.  LEEPP^R,  one  of  the  representative 
citizens  of  FartDington,  and  a  man  of  enter- 
prise and  influence,  is  a  brother  of  the  Hon. 
John  A.  Leeper,  whose  biography  will  be  found 
elsewhere.  His  father,  William  Leeper,  came  to 
this  county  in  1844,  and  resided  in  Fairview  Town- 
shii)  until  his  death  in  1888,  when  almost  eighty- 
one  years  old.  He  was  born  in  Ilarailtdn  County, 
Ohio, and  his  father,  Allen  Leeper,  came  from  Penn  ■ 
sylvania  to  Ohio,  and  died  in  that  State.  The  Lee- 
l)er  family  is  a  very  old  and  aristocratic  one,  and 
have  for  man\'  generations  wielded  untold  influence 
in  the  communities  where  they  made  their   home. 

Our  sulijeet's  mother,  who  previous  to  her  mar- 
riage was  Miss  EUeanor  Lake,  was  born  in  Franklin 
Count}',  Ohio,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  Lake,  a 
stonemason,  who  worked  on  the  first  jail  built  in 
the  cit}'  of  Cincinnati,  and  on  many  of  the  public 
buildings  there.  To  tliis  day  many  culverts  on 
the  public  streets  remain,  and  for  hundreds  of  years 
will  remain  monuments  of  his  handicraft. 

Mr.  Lake  was  born  on  Long  Island,  and  liis  people 
came  originally  from  Holland,  and  were  lelatives  of 
Anneke  Jans,  whose  vast  estates  are  in  litigation 
at  the  present  time,  and  will  at  some  future  day 
make  each  heir  immensely  wealthy.  The  mother 
died  in  August.  1890,  in  her  seventy -seventh  j-ear, 
at  the  home  of  her  dangliter.  Mrs.  Nettie  Slack,  of 
Faruiingtcm.     Untu  her  and  lirr  husband  had  been 


born  ten  children,  namely:  John  A.,  Isaac  N.  Har- 
riet, Emeline,  Gilbert  T.,  Oliver,  Charles,  Henry, 
Frank,  and  \ettie. 

Gilbert  T.  married  Mary  Daft,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  left  four  children.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  served  three  years  in  the  late 
war.  Oliver  enlisted  in  the  army  when  sixteen 
years  old,  and  served  through  the  war.  He  has 
passed  the  m-^st  of  his  life  in  Texas  and  the  South- 
west. Charles,  a  farmer  in  Kansas,  is  married  and 
has  four  children ;  Henry,  a  resident  of  Fairview 
Township,  has  been  twice  married;  Frank,  who  was 
a  farmer,  is  now  deceased;  Harriet  is  the  widow  of 
Joseph  McMillen,  a  carpenter  residing  near  Ft. 
Scott,  Kan.;  Emeline  is  married  and  resides  on  a 
ranch  in  Southwestern  Kansas:  Nettie  is  the  wife 
of  William  Slack  (see  sketch  of  Alexamler  Slack). 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  w.as  born  Se[)leml)er  19, 
1833,  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio,  and  attended 
school  in  that  Stale.  lie  was  seven  j'ears  old  when 
with  his  family  he  removed  to  Illinois, and  noticed 
a  great  difference  between  the  schools  of  his  native 
State  and  the  small  log  sehoolhouses  found  here. 
He  entered  the  Lombard  I'niversit}-  at  Galesburg, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  having  previously  studied 
at  the  academy  in  Farmington.  He  is  a  clever, 
level-headed  gentleman,  and  possesses  unusual  tal- 
ents, especially  in  the  direction  of  portrait  paint- 
ing which  he  took  up  accidentally.  He  is  quite  a 
noted  horseman,  and  shows  good  judgment  in  re- 
gard to  horse-flesh.  His  popularity  is  proven  bv 
the  fact  that  he  was  made  executor  of  the  estate  of 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Newcomb,  without  bonds,  .although 
the  property  in  charge  was  valued  at  |!1  75,000. 

Mr.  Leeper  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  yeais  mar- 
ried Miss  Ellen  Wilson,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
ISIaria  Wilson,  pioneers  of  Fulton  County,  and  now- 
deceased.  Mrs.  Leeper  is  the  fourth  in  luimber  of 
the  family  of  seven  children  born  to  them,  viz: 
Thomas,  Mary  J.,  Maria,  Ellen,  Margaret  Ann, 
Amanda,  and  James,  who  died  when  j'oung.  Our 
subject  immediately  after  his  marriage  began  farm- 
ing, an  occupation  which  lie  has  continued  to  fol- 
low u|)  to  the  present  lime,  and  in  connection  wiili 
this  has  devoted  much  time  to  raising  fine  horses. 
He  has  shipped  thousands  of  pounds  of  poik  at  vari- 
ous times,  and  took  a  sweepstake  prcmiurn  for  ro;id- 


766 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ster  stallions  for  several ^  years  in  succession  at  the 
Fair  in  Canton.^ Ile'has  been  School  Trustee  for 
several  years,  aiifl  is  an  active  member  of  the  Re- 
publican i)arty.  He  owns  a  valuable  estate  com- 
prising two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Farming- 
ton  Tovvnsliip,  on  section  8,  and  has  besides  an 
elegant  residence.  He  is  at  the  present  lime  build- 
ing a  raagniBcent  city  residence  on  the  corner  of 
Main  Street. 

It  has  been  remarked  l)y  some  of  Mr.  Leeper's 
friends,  that  he  missed  his  calling  in  not  becoming 
a  crayon  artist  while  injhis)  youth.'  No  one,  least 
of  all  himself,  imagined  that  he  had. "gen ins  in  that 
direction  until  a  few  j-ears  ago,  when  one  day  he 
was  reading  his  stock  journals,  and  his  eyes  hap- 
l.ened  to  catch  liie  picture  of  a  bull.  He  sketched 
it,  and  the  likeness  vvas  so  good  that  he  was  encour- 
aged to  try  the  picture  of  a  horse  in  the  same  way, 
wliich  attempt  ended  with  equal  satisfactory  results. 
About  this  time  he  owned  a  very  valuable  and 
graceful  stallion  that  he  wanted  a  picture  of.  Ac- 
cordingly, vvitli  the  original  before  him,  he  made  a 
beanliful  representation  of  his  pet  steed.  He  nest 
tried  portrait  work,  and  finding  he  had  the  same 
success  here,  he  sought  instruction  in  the  art.  To 
this  work  he  has  devoted  only  his  jspare  moments, 
and  exhibited  to  the  leporler  some  very  fine' crayon 
l)ortraits,  which  abundantly  prove  his  talent  in  this 
direction. 


gasaggjHgBg 


IhM  ARCUS  L.  CLIFFORD  is  the  son  of  a  pio- 
l\\  neer  family  of  Fulton  County,  and  the  la- 
Hi  bors  that  he  has  performed  in  aiding  in  the 
develojiment  of  the  agriculture  of  Lewis- 
town  Township,  where  he  has  a  good,  well-improved 
farm,  entitles  him  to  an  honorable  place  among  the 
pioneer  farmers  of  Illinois. 

Mr.Clifford  was  born  in  Conneaut  Township,  Ash- 
tabula County,  Ohio,  in  1830.  His  father,  whose 
given  name  was  Amos,  was  a  native  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. His  father,  so  far  as  known,  spent  his  entire  life 
in  New  England.  The  father  of  our  subject  w.as 
reared  and  married  in  his  native  State  and  about 
1812   emigrated   to  Ohio,  making  the  removal  with 


teams.     He  became  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of 

Conneaut  Townshi|)  where  he  bought  a  tract  of 
timber  land.  There  were  no  railways  or  canals  for 
manj'  years  after  he  settled  there,  and  no  markets 
excepting  the  lake  ports,  and  the  people  lived 
chiefly'  on  the  products  of  their  farms  and  on  wild 
game,  which  was  plenty.  Mr.  Clifford  kept  sheep 
and  raised  flax,  and  the  wooljand  the'_  liber  of  the 
flax  his  wife  used  to  si)in  and  weave,  and  fiu-  many 
vears  her  husband  and  children  w-ere  clothed  in 
homespun.  She  did  all  her  cooking  before  tlie  fire 
in  the  rude  fireplace.  Mr.  Clifford  had  to  carry  on 
his  work  with  the  most  primitive  implements.  He 
used  the  wooden  mold -board  plow  and  he  cut  his 
grain  with  a  sickle  until  a  cradle  was  invented.  He 
was  industrious  and  cleared  quite  a  tract  of  land 
and  contiraied  to  reside  in  Ohio  until  1837.  In 
that  year  he  made  a  new  departure,  coming  to  Illi- 
nois having  sold  his  possessions  in  the  Buckeye 
State.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  ten 
children  and  they  started  on  their  journey  with 
teams;  when  they  arrived  at  the  Ohio  River  the}' 
embarked  on  its  waters  and  came  by  the  way  of 
that,  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers  to  Havana, 
where  tlie  little  ))arty  was  met  by  friends  with  teams 
and  were  taken  to  this  county. 

After  his  arrival  here  Mr.  Clifford  rented  land 
one  year  and  then  bought  a  tract  that  was  heavih' 
timbered,  on  section  33,  of  Lewistown  Township, 
and  built  thereon  a  log  house.  He  resided  there 
until  his  death  Jiuie  7,  1860,  and  his  wife  also  died 
on  the  home  farm  December  29.  1842.  Before  her 
mairiage  she  was  Lois  Fox,  and  she  was  born  in 
New  Hampshire.  Her  father  was  Sinclair  Fox  and 
he  was  .also  of  New  Kngland  birth.  He  removed 
from  there  to  Ohio  at  an  early  date  and  settled 
among  the  pioneers  of  Ashtabula  Count}',  where  he 
cleared  a  farm  and  passed  his  remaining  days.  The 
name  of  his  wife  was  Lois  Marnviile.  She  was  born 
in  New  England  and  died  in  Ohio.  The  names  of 
the  children  born  to  the  parents  of  our  subject  are 
as  follows:  Dianllia,  Arvilla,  Nelson,  Zilpha.  .lohn 
L.,  Pauline,  Milo,  Roxanna,  Martin  Lafa3ette  and 
Mary. 

Marcus  Clifford  was  a  boy  of  six  when  he  came 
to  Fulton  County  witl>  his  parents,  but  he  remeni- 
i>ers  well  the  incidents  of  the  long  journey  and  tlie 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


7G7 


events  6f  interest  in  the  early  history  of  the  county. 
He  ntlended  the  i)ioneer  schools,  which  were  taught 
in  the  primitive  log  house  with  plain  log  hunches 
and  heated  hy  Arc  in  the  rude  lircplace.  As  soon 
as  old  enough  he  began  to  assist  his  father  on  the 
farm  and  remained  an  inmate  of  the  parental  home 
until  his  marriage,  when  he  commenced  life  for 
himself  and  his  bride  on  a  rented  farm.  He  had 
beei  reared  to  habits  of  industry  and  in  his  farming 
operations  was  quite  successful.  He  finally  bought 
the  (lid  homestead  upon  which  he  had  been  reared, 
resided  on  it  a  few  years  tiien  sold  and  bought  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres  and  now  has  one  hundred  and 
forty  five  acres  on  section  33,  Lewistown  Township, 
one  and  one-half  miles  sontliwest  of  the  city.  This 
pleasant  place  has  since  been  his  residence. 

April  30,  1857,  Mr.  Clifford  and  Miss  Amelia  I. 
Wells  united  their  lives  and  fortunes  in  what  lias 
l)roved  to  be  a  happy  marriage.  Mrs.  Clifford  is  a 
native  of  Indiana  and  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Ann  Wells.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clifford  arc  the  parents 
(if  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased:  Mar- 
cus L.  was  b.u'ii  March  1-1.  1859,  and  died  .lanuary 
•>2.  1H74;  Charles  II.,  born  January  4,  1SC8,  died 
March  4,  1887,  and  a  babe  unnamed.  Their  only 
living  child,  Carrie,  is  married  to  Prof.  Ceorge  W. 
IJick  and  has  three  children — Ross  Clifford,  Winnie 
and  Meradeth.  ]Mr.  Dick  is  a  popular  teacher  in 
the  public  schools  ami  has  a  cozy  home  in  Lewis- 
town  Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clifford's  ciiaracters  are  such  as  to 
command  the  respect  and  affection  of  the  entire 
community.  As  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  they  are  active  in  its  every  good  work. 
Mr.  Clifford  is  a  consistent  supiiorter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party. 


^: 


Zs^ 


"Y  OHN  ABBOTT  is  perhaps  one  of  the  largest 
if  not  the  largest  landowner  in  Fanuiug- 
ton  Township.  He  is  one  of  our  self-made 
/  men,  and  has  been  wonderfull)-  successful 
financially.  He  has  four  farms,  as  follows:  his 
home  farm  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-three  acres, 
and  three  farms  of  eighty  acres  each  in  Farmington 


Township,  comprising  in  all  five  hundred  and  thir- 
teen acres  of  as  fine  farming  land  as  may  be  found 
in  the  county. 

Our  subject  was  liuni  .lanuaiy  10.  IS;!!,  in  Scot- 
land County,  Ind.  lie  is  a  son  of  Alexander 
and  Xancy  (Doty)  Abbott,  who  were  natives  re- 
sjieetively  of  Ohio  and  Scotland  ('mintios.  Ind. 
They  came  from  tlie  Iloosier  State  to  Illiiiois  in 
1840,  and  were  early  settlers  of  Farmington  Town- 
ship. Mr.  Abbott  was  only  thirteen  years  old  when 
he  came  to  Illinois  in  1847,  with  his  uncle  Wesley 
Abbott.  He  was  a  poor  boy,  had  had  but  few  a<I- 
vantages,  and  his  prospects  were  not  very  biilliant 
when  he  began  life  on  his  own  account.  However, 
he  had  good'  health,  strong  muscles,  and  a  stout 
heart,  and  was  endowed  with  a  great  deal  of  energy 
and  push.  These  were  capital  enough  for  such  a 
young  man,  and  since  1860  lie  has  accumulated 
property,  and  has  liecoine  one  of  the  wealthy  men 
of  Farmington.  For  three  years  after  marriage  he 
rented  a  farm,  and  then  bought  one  of  eighty  acres, 
for  which  he  soon  paid,  and  he  has  ever  since  been 
buying  and  selling  land,  and  has  been  very  fortu- 
nate in  his  speculations.  In  all  his  transactions  he 
has  been  wise  and  cautious,  and  at  the  same  time 
bold  and  eiiteriirising,  so  that  he  has  rarely  made  a 
misdeal. 

Mr.  Abbott  is  a  large  cattle  raiser  and  feeder. 
He  feeds  about  a  carload  each  year,  and  he  also 
disposes  of  about  a  carload  of  hogs,  and  always 
knows  when  to  place  them  on  the  market  to  the 
best  advantage.  Every  one  of  his  farms  are  finely 
improved,  and  his  homestead  is  provifled  with  two 
residences.  The  dwelling  which  he  occupies  was 
erected  in  1869,  and  is  a  substantial,  roomy,  com- 
fortable farm  residence,  neatly  and  well  furnished. 
The  grounds  around  are  attractive,  and  the  lawns 
are  kept  neatly  cut  with  a  lawn  mower.  Every- 
thing about  the  place  denotes  skillful  care,  and  the 
best  of  management  on  the  part  of  the  owner.  Mr. 
Abbott  is  just  and  fair  in  all  his  dealings,  and  his 
riame  stands  high  in  financial  circles.  He  is  a  good 
neighbor,  kind  and  accommodating,  and  stands 
well  in  his  comraunity.  In  politics  he  is  a  decided 
Democrat. 

Our  subject  has  been  greatly  helped  in  his  work 
by  his  good  wife,  who  in  her  careful    management 


768 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUCAI.  ALIUM. 


of   household    affairs  lias  done  her  share  towards 

bringing  alxiut  tlieir  prosunt  prosperity.  They 
were  raarrieil  June  I.  18;j4.  Mrs.  Abbott's  former 
name  was  iNIargaret  IJarkiey,  siie  was  born  Septem- 
ber 5,  1837,  and  is  a  ilaugliter  of  .loliu  and  .S:\rah 
(Anderson)  liariiiey.  "iio  e;<nic  to  Illinois  from  their 
old  home  near  Dayton.  Ohio.  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Ab- 
l>ott  have  had  seven  ehildren,  all  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing, who  are  ii.ameti  as  follows:  Samuel,  William, 
Sarah,  Julia.  Laur.a,  Albert,  and  Ma}-,  the  latter  of 
whom  is  at  home  with  her  parents.  .Samuel,  who 
lives  on  a  farm  in  Farmington  Township,  married 
a  Miss  Catherine  Ileddon,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Viola  and  Lelah;  William,  who  rents  a  farm 
in  Peoria  County,  married  Amy  Roth,  and  they 
have  three  cliildren — Flora.  Mary,  and  Fairy;  Sarah 
married  Anthony  Heddon,  of  Farmington  Town- 
ship, and  Ihey  have  two  cliildren — Alvie  and  Car- 
rie; Julia  married  Calvin  O.  Field,  and  they  have 
five  children — Cora,  Margaret,  Eililh.  Raymond, 
and  Harland;  Albert  is  a  resident  of  Farmington 
Township,  married  Miss  Elma  Heddon,  and  the\- 
have  one  child  named  AlLie;  Laura  married  Frank 
Ileddon,  of  Farmington  Township,  .-md  they  have 
one  child,  John. 


^^ 


llj^AVID  SCOTT  RAY,  Jk.,  tlie  agent  and 
)),  telegraph  operator  at  the  station  of  Mari- 
etta, is  a  repiesentative  native-born  citizen 
of  Mason  County,  III.  Though  a  }oung 
man  he  has  already  attained  some  prominence  in 
the  political  and  pul)lic  life  of  this  section  of  Illi- 
nois, and  is  well  and  favorably  known. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  D.  S.  and  Arminda  (Zuie- 
man)  Ray,  both  of  wdiom  came  from  old  Colonial 
families,  a  number  of  whose  members  took  part  in 
the  Revolution.  The  father  is  a  native  of  Mar}-- 
land,  and  the  mother  was  born  in  Canada,  and  is  a 
dauchter  of  Peter  and  Lueinda  Zolenian  of  Ohio. 
Ml.  and  Mrs.  Ray  were  married  in  Missouri,  and 
came  to  Fulton  County  from  there  about  1848,  and 
w-erc  pioneers  of  this  region. 

Scott  Ray  was  born  iu  Mason  County.  Novein- 
licr  "24,  1860.     When  he  was  five  years  old  bis  pa- 


rents took  up  their  residence  in  Lewistown,  Avliere 
they  lived  till  he  was  twelve  years  old.  From 
there  they  went  to  Vermont,  and  thence  to  Bush- 
nell,  the  father  being  then  engaged  as  a  traveling 
man  necessitating  these  various  removals.  In  1878 
the  family  came  to  Marietta,  wliere  they  have  re- 
sided ever  since.  Our  suliject  received  his  early 
education  iu  the  |niblie  scliools  of  the  different 
towns  in  which  his  boyhood  days  were  passed,  and 
it  was  completed  b)'  a  fine  course  of  study  pursued 
at  the  Bushnell   High  School. 

When  our  suliject  was  twenty-one  yeais  old  he 
went  to  Smithfield  to  work  at  the  station  at  that 
point.  He  had  been  there  but  a  short  lime  wlie;i 
he  was  offered  the  position  of  telegraph  oper- 
ator, he  having  become  an  expert  in  that  line. 
The  following  year  he  was  given  charge  of  the 
ortice  at  Marietta,  and  is  still  at  his  post  here,  dis- 
charging his  duties  with  characteristic  promptness 
and  efficiency  to  the  perfect  satisfaction  of  the 
railway  com[iany,  and  looking  carefully  after  its 
interests. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Ray  to  Miss  .Susan  Jack- 
son was  consummated  May  30,  1885,  and  to  them 
has  come  one  child  whom  they  have  named  Arthur. 
Mrs.  Ray  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ainericus 
(Campbell)  Jackson. 

Our  sul)ject  is  a  young  man  of  much  character, 
and  influential  in  his  community.  He  is  much  in- 
terested in  political  Uialters,  and  is  one  of  the  leail- 
ing  young  Democrats  of  this  part  of  the  county. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  County  Board  of  .Su- 
pervisors, and  did  good  service  during  the  term 
that  he  held  that  responsible  position. 


n  SAAC  L.  AND  CHARLES  R.  SWEGLE  are  gen- 
!     tiemen  of  high  standing  in  the  community,  and 

/i)  are  much  respected  b)'  all  who  know  them. 
Their  parents.  Isaac  Daniel  and  Margaret  Ann  (Al- 
legar)  .Swegle  were  among  the  early  (lioueers  of 
Fairview  Townshii),  having  come  to  Illinois  in  1838, 
and  owning  a  trad  of  land  that  embraced  two  liun- 
dreil  and  thirty  acres.  The  father  was  born  iu  New 
Jersey,  as  was  also  the  mother,  and  both    removed 


PORTRAIT  AND  HIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


TfiO 


with  their  (larents  to  the  State  of  Illinois  at  an  early 
age,  and  were  here  marriod.  The  father's  deatli  oc- 
curred May  I'o.  1890.  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years 
aud  four  months.  Of  their  union  wei-e  liorn  nine 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living  at  the  present 
writing,  viz:  Daniel  A..  Isfiac  L.,  Sarah  F..  Chailes 
R.,  Abram  D.,  and  .lacol)  E.  Daniel  A.  resides  in 
London  Jlills,  and  is  in  the  grain,  stock  and  lum- 
ber business;  lie  married  Miss  Miranda  Hart,  and  to 
them  iiave  been  born  two  children,  viz:  Burtfin  B., 
,  and  Ada  ISLabel.  Sarah  F.  married  John  Schleieh, 
a  farmer  of  Deerfield  Township,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Raymond  Lester;  Charles  R.  is  single, 
and  lives  at  iiome;  Abram  D.  is  agent  at  Cramer, 
111.,  on  tlie  Iowa  Central  Railroad;  Jacob  K.  lives 
at  home;  two  children  died  in  infancy,  and  Frank- 
lin M.  died  in  1  886.  at  the  age  of  tvvent^y-nine  years. 
Charles  and  Jacob  have  charge  of  the  Swegle  farm. 
The  estate  has  not  been  divided  and  the  heirs  wish 
to  run  it  together  as  long  as  possible. 

Isaac  Lemuel  was  born  on  the  30th  of  May.  1858, 
on  the  Swegle  homestead,  and  after  receiving  a  com- 
mon-school education,  he  entered  the  Gem  City 
Business  College  in  .laniiary,  1886.  and  there  com- 
pleted a  full  business  course,  graduating  from  that 
institution  December  15,  1886.  He  then  went  to 
Charleston,  Coles  County,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
abstract,  real  estate,  and  insurance  business,  enter- 
ing into  partnership  with  George  C.  Mathers.  He 
remained  in  the  business  eight  months,  and  at  the 
end  of  that  time  returned  to  Fairview  in  order  to 
fill  an  office  to  which  he  had  been  appointed  under 
President  Cleveland.  This  office  he  held  a  little 
more  than  two  years,  and  was  then  elected  Collector 
of  the  township,  collecting  the  taxes  due  for  188'J 
and  1890,  beginning  his  work  January   1,  1890. 

During  the  last  illness  of  his  father,  our  subject 
was  very  faithful  in  his  attendance,  and  has  since 
the  sad  event  of  his  father's  death  given  much  at- 
tention to  the  management  of  the  estate.  His 
mother  is  still  living  in  her  fifl3-eiglitli  year.  Mr. 
Swegle  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  partj-.  The 
great-grandfather  came  from  Germany  and  settled 
in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  (irandfalher  Swegle 
served  as  a  training  ofHeer  in  a  military  company 
there,  and  was  known  as  C'apt.  Swegle.  The  mater- 
nal grandfather,  James   AUegar,   vvas  liorn    in  the 


State  of  New  Jersey,  and  was  a  very  successful 
brewer  and  distiller.  He  married  Miss  Ann  Apgar, 
a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  of  this  union  wore  born 
three  children,  viz:  Margaret  A.,  Mary  K..  and 
Franklin  L.  James  Allegar  was  married  jireviously 
to  his  union  with  Miss  Apgar,  and  of  the  first  u'ron 
were  born  eight  children,  all  of  wIkhh  are  now  du- 
ceascd. 

Charles  R.  Swegle  was  born  December  16,  1862, 
at  the  old  homestead,  and  grew  to  manhood  in  Fair- 
view  Township,  on  the  farm.  He  has  had  charge 
of  the  estate  for  the  past  four  years  in  company 
with  his  brother  Jacob.  Tlie^y  raise  a  high  grade  of 
cattle  for  the  market,  and  have  been  very  success- 
ful in  their  agricultural  pursuits.  Our  subject  is  a 
most  enterprising  and  energetic  young  man;  he  is 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Fairview  Lodge  No. 
1  20.  and  at  present  Conductor.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  in  poli- 
tics his  S3'mpath\-  and  support  are  alwajs  given  to 
the  Democratic  party. 


EMIEL     R.     VANDEVENTER.      Among 

Ji)  those  cultivating  a  portion  of  the  soil  of 
Orion  Township  to  good  advantfige  may  be 
numbered  the  subject  of  this  notice,  who  owns  and 
operates  a  well-regulated  farm  on  section  1 1.  He  is 
classed  among  the  most  progressive  j'oung  agricul- 
turists of  this  section,  aiming  in  every  detail  of  his 
work  to  keep  abreast  of  the  times  in  all  that  i)er- 
tains  to  his  occupation.  He  is  a  proininent  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Labor  and  a  well-res|)ected 
member  of  the  community. 

Oiir  subject  is  a  son  of  John  F.  .and  Sarah  C. 
A'andeventer,  residents  of  this  county,  whose  family 
includes  five  sons  and  daughters.  Lizzie  lives  in 
Orion  Township,  being  the  wife  of  James  Rowe; 
Wilton  M.,  a  lawyer  residing  in  Chicago,  is  also 
married;  F'rank  took  to  wife  Miss  Sarah  Shoe- 
maker, their  home  being  Glasford;  Algeron  F., 
married  Clara  Davis  and  lives  in  Arkansas. 

The  natal  daj'  of  our  suljject  was  December  16. 
1860.  His  school  privileges  were  most  excellent 
and  hP  acquired  a  liberal  education.    On  September 


770 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


10.  1885.  he  was  iiiiiteft  in  marriage  with  Cassie  A. 
Kelly,  daughter  of  Jolin  B.  and  Raeliaol  (Proctor) 
Kelly,  her  family  lieing  one  of  the  oldest  in  the 
county.  Mrs.  Yandevenler  is  well  informed,  with 
i)leasing  manners  and  noble  tr.iits  of  character.  She 
is  the  mother  of  two  children:  Ray  C,  born  Au- 
gust 17.  188fi,  and  Glenn  L..  January  20,  1888. 


JRANVILLE  M.  McMILLAN.  This  gen- 
-.  tieman  is  extensively  engaged  in  farming, 
^:ii5)  owning  six  hundred  and  thirty  acres  on 
section  5,  Banner  Township.  'Ihe  fine^  estate  is 
supplied  with  every  needful  and  convenient  struc- 
ture in  the  way  of  farm  buildings,  is  enclosed  and 
divided  into  fiel<ls  of  convenient  size  by  substan- 
tial fences,  and  further  beautified  by  fruit  and  for- 
est trees  and  small  fruits.  The  eneigetic  owner  is 
still  quite  a  \oung  man,  having  been  born  Febru- 
ary 9,  1856,  in  Trumbull  County,  Ohio.  His  boy- 
hood was  spent  on  a  farm  and  the  bus}'  hours 
occupied  b)'  the  usual  duties,  studies  and  recrea- 
tions of  a  farmer's  son.  He  attended  the  district 
schools,  and  having  come  to  this  count}-  in  1871). 
spent  the  ensuing  winter  in  attendance  at  the  com- 
mercial college  in  KeokiiU.  Iowa. 

The  man}-  excellent  C(ualilies  possessed  by  JIary 
E.  Pickering  won  tlie  lasting  regard  of  our  subject, 
;Lnd  after  a  successful  wooing  the  young  couple 
were  united  in  marriage  August  8,  1882.  The 
rongeuial  union  h.as  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
three  children,  viz:  .lolm  'SI.,  born  August  29, 
1883;  Ch.arles  U.,  .huie  2.  1886;  and  Minnie,  De- 
cember 15.  1889.  Mrs.  McMillan  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  and  is  earnest 
in  her  efforts  to  exemplify  her  faith  by  her  works 
and  creditably  fill  her  siihere  in  life.  Mr.  .AIc- 
Millan  is  Township  Clerk  and  Treasurer  of  the 
School  Board  of  his  district.  His  political  alfilia- 
tion  IS  with  the  Republicans.  His  parents  are 
.lohu  and  Tatherine  McJIillan.  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Manyard  Pickering,  father  of  Mrs.  McMillan, 
was  born  in  Wert  County,  W.  Va.,  and  was  of 
Knglish  ancestry.     He  carac  to  this  county  in  185'^, 


and  on  Pibruary  20,  1859,  married  Mrs.  .lemima 
Rockhold.  widow  of  E.  M.  Rockhold.  The  only 
child  of  this  union  is  no'.v  the  w-ife  of  our  subject. 
Mrs.  Pickering  came  to  this  county  with  lier  i)ar- 
ents  in  1832.  Her  father.  Starling  Turner,  settled 
in  Buckheart  Township,  where  the  old  dwelling  he 
built  still  stands.  He  was  noted  as  a  scientist  of 
that  early  period,  and  possessed  all  manner  of  in- 
struments with  which  he  pursued  his  investigations 
in  various  fields,  particularly  in  .astronomy.  He 
was  very  charitable,  disposed  to  assist  all  wo  thy 
objects,  aud  one  of  his  enterprises  was  the  buik'Mig 
fif  a  church  imnoediately  opposite  his  residence, 
which  edifice  is  still  known  as  Turner's  Church. 
He  entered  into  rest  February  22,  1871,  a'^  the  age 
of  ninety-four  years  and  five  months.  His  widow 
survived  until  September  18,  1875,  she  also  reach- 
ing an  advanced  age,  being  ninety-two  years  and 
nine  mouths  old  when  called  hence.  The  mortal 
remains  of  the  aged  couple  were  deposited  in  Turn- 
er's graveyard  in  Buckhart  Township. 

On  another  [lage  of  this  volume  will  be  noticed 
a  lilhographie  view  of  the  home  of  our  subject, 
with  its  pleasant  surroundings. 


-►^-K-|=S3^t+^ 


ON.  LEWIS  W.  ROSS.  In  the  annals  of 
Fulton  County  the  name  of  Ross  stands  out 
in  great  prominence  as  belonging  to  a  fam- 
ily whose  members  have  been  very  closely 
identified  with  its  highest  interests  since  the  very 
first  days  of  its  settlement,  aud  in  its  record  we  find 
much  that  really  forms  a  part  of  the  history  of  the 
county.  The  first  actual  settler  of  what  is  novv 
Fulton  County  had  scarcely  located  in  his  new- 
hjnie  when  Ossian  M.  Ross  and  his  family  came  to 
be  his  neighbors.  This  gentleman  became  con- 
spicuous in  the  public  life  of  this  section  of  Illi- 
nois as  one  of  its  foremost  pioneers.  He  assisted 
in  the  organization  of  the  county,  and  .as  the 
founder  of  Lewistown  his  memov}-  will  ever  be 
held  in  reverence  unto  the  latest  generation. 

As  a  son  of  this  remarkable  man,  and  as  a  repre- 
sentative of  a  family  whose  members  have  been 
distinguished  in   various   walks  of  life,   and   have 


Residenceof  Brock  Bro's,  5ec. 21.  CassTp. Fulton  Co. 111. 


PICKERING  ESTATE,RES.or  G.M.  McMillan,  5EC.5.  Banner  Tp.  Fulton  Co.  111. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


773 


borne  a  pniiniiiciit  [irirt,  in  State  and  National 
affairs,  we  t;ike  pleasure  in  placing  on  the  pages  of 
this  biograpliical  work,  wliieli  would  not  be  com- 
plete without  it.  an  account  of  the  life  of  tlie  Hon. 
Lewis  W.  Ross.  It  vvas  for  him  tiiat  his  father 
named  the  city  of  Lcwislown,  and  he  is  to-da^^  one 
of  its  most  honored  citizens.  As  a  lawyer  of  no 
mean  .abilitv,  as  a  stateman  and  politician  of  the 
best  type,  he  has  been  eminent  in  the  ind)lic  life  of 
tlic  county  and  the  State;  and  as  a  merchant  and 
practical  farmer,  lie  lias  bten  a  very  important 
factor  in  building  up  llie  business  and  agricultural 
interests  of  tlio  community,  where  lie  has  spent 
much  of  his  life  as  boy  and  man  for  nearly  seventy 
;  years.  He  now  lives  retired  from  the  active  duties 
of  life,  having  a  banilsome  income,  he  being  a 
large  real-eState  holder  and  a  man  of  wealth. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  born  in  Seneca 
Falls,  Seneca  County,  X.  Y..  December  8,  1812. 
Ills  father  was  born  in  the  same  State,  and,  it  is 
tliought,  in  the  same  county,  the  date  of  his  birth 
being  August  16,  1790.  He  was  a  son  of  Joseph 
Ross,  who  was  a  son  of  Zebulon  Ross,  who  came  to 
this  country  from  his  native  Scotland  early  in  the 
eighteenth  century.  V>ut  little  is  known  of  his  his- 
tory, however.  Joseph  Ross  was  a  pioneer  farmer 
of  Seneca  County,  and  there  spent  his  last  years. 
The  maiden  name  of  bis  u-ile  was  Abigail  Lee,  and 
she  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Wat}'  (Shear- 
man) Lee.  After  tlie  death  of  her  husband  she 
came  to  Illinois  to  live  with  her  children,  and  died 
in  Havana  at  an  advanced  age. 

Ossian  M.  Ross  was  reared  to  agriiailtural  pursuits 
in  his  native  State,  and  resided  thereuntil  1S19, 
when  he  came  to  this  State  to  secure  the  land  given 
the  soldiers  b\'  the  Government  for  services  ren- 
dereil  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  vvas  accora|)anied  by 
his  wife  and  three  children,  and  they  made  the  first 
|)artof  their  journey  by  team  to  Glean  Point,  where 
they  embarked  on  the  long  voyage  on  the  Alleghany, 
Ohio  and  IMississippi  Rivers  to  their  destination. 
After  his  arrival  at  Alton  Mr.  Ross  rented  a  place 
near  Milton,  in  Madison  County.  He  held  patents 
for  several  quarter-sections  of  land,  located  on  the 
military  tract  in  what  is  now  Fulton  County. 
During  the  summer  of  1820  he  made  a  trip  on 
horseback   to  this  part  of  tlie  country,  in  com|)any 


with  three  others,  and  decided  to  locate  on  a  quar- 
ter-section of  his  land  that  lay  on  Otter  Creek,  that 
he  might  improve  the  water  power. 

P^rom  the  "History  of  Fulton  County"  we  extract 
the  following  interesting  account  of   Mr.   Ross'  re- 
moval to  this  section    of  the  ccunty,   and    the  dis- 
couragements  that   be    met  that   altered    his  plans, 
and    caused    him   to  locate  where   Lewistown  now 
stands:     "In   the  spring   of    1821    Mr.    Ross,  with 
his    family    and    a   few    men  employed   l)y  him    to 
make  improvements,  sailed  up  the  Illinois  River  to 
Otter   Creek  in  a  keel-boat.     After    traveling  up 
Otter  Creek  for  some  distance  in  their  cumbersome 
keel-boat  they  came  to  a   large   tree   fallen  across 
the  stream,   which    made  a  barrier  that  could   not 
be  passed  over  or  around.     These  sturdy  jiioneers, 
however,  were  not  easily  turned  from   their  conse. 
They  made  preparations  to  saw  the  log  into    pieces 
and  remove  it.     This  scheme  was  frustrated,   liow- 
ever,   and   the   whole  course   of    Mr.   Ross'    plans 
changed.     A  heavy  rain  fell  during  the  night,  and 
in  the  morning    the   log  they  intendeil    to   saw  was 
six  to  eight  inches  under  water,  and   therefore  out 
of  reach  of  workmen.     He  ran  bis  boat  stern  fore- 
most back  down  Otter  Creek  to  the  Illinois,  and  up 
that  stream  to  Spoon  River.   He  entered  this  stream 
and  started  np  its  swift  swollen  waters  for  Mr.  Eve- 
and's  landing,  intending  to  go  where  he  owned  three 
quarter-sections  of    land.     The  greatest  difficulty 
was  experienced  in  ascending  this  turbulent  stream, 
made  so  by  recent  reavy  rains.      It  consumed  sev- 
eral daj^s  of  constant  hard  labor  to  reach  Eveland's. 
At  places  men  were  put  upon  the  bank  and   with 
ropes  dragged  or  cordelled  the  boat  along.     They 
linally  reached  Eveland's,  in  whose  cabin  the  party 
found  a  warm  welcome.    There  they  remained  until 
the  arrival  of  the  teams  anil  stock,  which  had  lieen 
brought  across  the  country.   Mr.  Ross  with  bis  teams 
then  started  for  his  own  land,  where  Lewistown  now 
is.     Men  were  sent  ahead  to  cut  down  trees  and 
clcMr  a  road.    On  arriving  at  the  end  of  the  journey, 
Mr.  Ross  jubilantly  exclaimed  to  his  family,  'We 
are  now  on  our  own  land.'  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Steele, 
of  Canton,  who  was  then  a  little  girl,  quickly  spoke 
np,  'Wh}',  pa,  have  we  come  all  this  distance  just 
for  this  ?'  Nothing  but  a  vast  wilderness  was  s[)read 
out  before  tlicm  wnerc  the  'itllegirl  e.\[ieeted  to  lind 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sometliing  wonderfully  fine,  else  they  woulil  not 
iiave  eiuliii-ed  :ill  the  hardships  that  hart  befallen 
tliem  on  Iheii-  long  journey."  The  little  girl  voiced 
tiie  sentiments  of  many  a  tired,  heartsick  pioneer 
family  on  first  arriving  at  its  journey's  end  on  some 
wild  prairie  or  in  tlie  depths  of  a  primeval    forest. 

i\Ir.  Ross  constrncted  a  temporary  slielter  by 
putting  forlced  posts  in  the  ground,  extending  poles 
between  tliem  and  covering  them  with  bark.  This 
nide  structure  was  usi'd  for  a  habitation  by  the 
family  until  it  was  replaced  in  a  few  days  by  a 
cabin  built  of  round  logs,  neither  sawed  timber  or 
nails  being  used  in  its  construction.  The  floor  was 
made  of  puncheon,  and  the  boards  that  covered 
tlie  roof  were  rived  by  hand  and  held  in  position 
bv  weight  poles.  At  that  time  deer,  wild  turkeys 
and  other  game  were  plentiful,  but  l)read  stuffs 
were  scarce.  There  were  no  mills  nearer  then  San- 
gamon County,  and  corn  h.ad  to  be  ground  by  a 
primitive  and  novel  method.  A  hole  was  burned 
in  the  top  of  a  i;tuinp,  and  a  pole  suspended  after 
the  manner  of  a  well-sweep  over  the  stump,  which 
ground,  or  rather  pounded  the  corn  into  meal. 
Another  way  of  [uvparing  it  was  to  )Hck  the  corn 
in  the  fall  of  the  year  before  it  had  hardened,  and 
grate  it  by  passing  it  over  a  plane  or  grater,  and  in 
that  way  reduce  it  to  meal. 

As  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence, 
alulily  and  force  of  character,  Ossian  M.  Ross  soon 
assumed  liis  rightful  place  as  a  leader  of  the  pioneers 
who  came  in  to  settle  up  this  section  of  the  coun- 
trv  after  he  took  u|)  his  abode  here,  and  they  ever 
looked  to  him  for  counsel  and  assistance.  He  bore 
the  principal  part  in  securing  the  organization  of 
the  county,  going  before  the  .Legislature  in  1821 
and  using  his  influence  to  obtain  the  p.assagc  of  an 
act  whereby'  the  greater  portion  of  Northern  Illi- 
nois was  organized  into  a  county  called  Fulton. 
He  was  also  instrumental  in  securing  the  location  of 
the  county-seat  at  Lewistown,  and  he  gave  the 
countv  thirteen  town  lots  to  bo  used  for  public 
purposes.  He  filled  various  important  civic  ottices, 
serving  as  tlie  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the 
county,  its  second  SheiitT,  and  as  the  third  Treas- 
urer of  the  county. 

When  Mr.  Ross  settled  hero  he  was  so  pleased 
with  his  land  and  the  beauties  of  the  loi'ation.  and 


its  advantages  as  a  town  site,  that  he  determined 
to  lay  off  a  town,  and  immediately  put  his  project 
into  execution,  and  the  village  tints  platted  he 
named  in  honor  of  his  little  son  Lewis,  and  from 
this  auspicious  beginning  has  arisen  a  busy  and 
flourishing  little  city,  that  is  to-day  an  important 
agricultural  and  commercial  center. 

The  founder  of  Lewistown  did  not  tarry  many 
years  within  its  limits,  but  in  1829  he  sought 
greener  fields  and  pastures  new,  going  to  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Havana,  Mason  County.  To  him  also  be- 
longs the  honor  of  laying  out  that  town  and  being 
its  first  merchant,  and  he  likewise  platted  the  town 
of  Bath.  He  was  a  mm  of  large  enterprise,  and 
his  energies  were  devoted  to  several  business  ope- 
rations at  the  same  time.  He  continued  in  the 
mercantile  trade,  and  at  the  same  time  managed  a 
ferry  across  the  Illinois  River,  called  Ross'  Ferrj-. 
and  was  also  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising. 
His  death  in  Havana,  January  20,  1837,  while  in 
the  prime  of  life,  v*^as  a  severe  blow  not  only  to  the 
community,  but  to  the  county-  at  large,  and  even 
beyond  its  bounds. 

In  the  person  of  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Marj'  Winans,  iMr.  Ross  had  an  able  coadjutor, 
who  sj'mpathized  with  him  heartily  in  his  work, 
and  b3'  her  advice  and  assistance  was  an  important 
factor  in  his  success  in  life.  Slie  was  born  April  1, 
1793,  in  Morris  County,  N.  J.,  and  was  married  in 
Waterloo,  N.  Y.,  July  7,  1811.  .Slie  was  a  fine 
type  of  the  self-s.acriBciug.  warm-hearted  pioneer 
women  of  this  State,  and  at  her  death  a  source  of 
valuable  information  eoncerning  the  pioneer  his- 
tory of  this  part-  of  Illinois,  whose  growth  she  had 
watched  with  intelligent  interest,  was  lost.  She 
reared  six  children,  of  whom  the  following  is  re- 
corded: Lewis,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the 
eldest  of  the  fainil3';  Harriet,  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  Ambrose  .S.  Steele;  Harvey  L.  resides  in 
Oakland,  C.al.;  Lucinda,  the  first  while  child  born 
in  Fulton  County,  now  living  in  Denver,  Colo., 
married  the  lion.  William  Kellogg,  late  Member  of 
Congress;  Leonard  1'.,  a  resident  of  Iowa,  was  a 
Lieutenant  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  a  General  in 
tlie  War  of  the  Rebellion;  Pike  C.  is  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business  in  Canton. 

The  Hon.  Lewis  W.  Ross,  in  whose    honor  these 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


775 


lines  are  written,  was  in  his  eiglitli  year  when  he 
came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents.  He  leceiverl  his 
education  in  the  pionesr  schools.  The  first  he 
ever  attended  was  taught  in  the  log  sclioolhouse  of 
_vore,  with  its  puncheon  floor,  benches  made  of 
splitting  a  log,  hewing  one  side  smooth,  and  insert- 
ing wooden  [jins  for  legs,  and  greased  paper  cover- 
ing the  hole  made  l)j'  removing  a  log  from  the 
side  of  the  cabin  serving  instead  of  glass  for  a 
window.  He  subsequently  became  a  student  at 
Jacksonville  College,  of  which  Edward  Beecherwas 
then  President,  and  during  his  three  years  course 
there  obtained  high  rank  for  good  sciiolarship. 
He  had  a  taste  for  jurisprudence,  having  a  logical, 
analytical  mind,  and  good  powers  of  orator}-,  and 
in  1835  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  with  Josiah 
Lamborn, at  Jacksonville,  111.  He  applied  himself 
closely  to  his  books  under  the  instruction  of  that 
gentleman,  remaining  with  him  a  3'ear,  and  at  the 
end  of  that  time  went  to  Havana,  where  he  contin- 
ued his  studies.  In  the  winter  of  183G-37  he  went 
to  Vandalia.  then  the  State  C'ai)ital,  and  when  the 
Legislature  was  organized  was  appointed  clerk  of 
one  of  the  committees. 

While  performing  his  clerical  functions  in  llie 
Assembly,  ]Mr.  Ross  received  the  sad  tidings  of  the 
ileath  of  his  father,  in  the  month  of  January,  1837, 
and  he  immediately'  set  out  on  his  return  home. 
He  borrowed  a  horse,  and  made  his  way  home 
across  the  intervening  wild  and  sparsely  settled 
country  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  at  the  end  of 
two  weeks  arrived  at  his  journey's  end  at  Havana. 
He  had  been  appointed  one  of  the  executors  of  his 
father's  estate,  and  at  once  entered  upon  his  duties 
as  such.  He  resided  in  Havana  until  1839,  when 
he  came  to  Lewistown  and  formed  a  partnership 
with  J.  P.  Boyce  for  the  practice  of  law,  and  thev 
were  together  some  years. 

In  1846  Mr.  Ross  enlisted  to  take  part  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  was  elected  Captain  of  Com- 
panj'  K,  Fourth  Illinois  Infantry,  commanded  by 
Col.  E.  D.  Baker.  Our  subject  continued  in  the 
service  until  his  honorable  discharge  in  June,  1847, 
with  his  regiment,  he  having  proved  a  brave  and 
able  officer.  He  returned  to  Lewistown  and  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  law,  and  his  time  was  devoted 
to  the  interests  of  an  extensive   clientage  until  he 


was  elected  to  Congress  and  entered  upon  his  dis- 
tinguished career  as  a  statesman.  When  he  re- 
turned to  private  life  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile 
business,  and  at  one  time  w.as  also  extensively  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  is  now  living  in  retirement. 
in  the  enjo^'ment  of  a  handsome  income  from  his 
landed  estates  and   other  valuable   property. 

Fifty-one  years  ago,  June  13.  1839.  the  subject 
of  this  biography  was  weddeil  to  .Aliss  Frances  M. 
Simras,  who  was  born  in  Virginia  July  18,  1821. 
Theirs  has  been  a  felicitious  marriage,  as  she  has 
found  in  him  a  devoted  husband,  and  he  in  her  a 
true  companion  and  faithful  friend,  who  has  tilled 
in  a  perfect  measure  the  duties  of  wife  and  mother. 
Much  of  the  comfort  and  pleasintness  of  their  at- 
tractive home  is  due  to  her  untiring  efforts  and 
her  able  management  of  household  affairs.  Wliile 
life  has  brought  to  them  many  pleasures,  the  sorrow 
common  to  mortals  has  befallen  them  in  the  death 
of  some  of  their  children.  They  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding  June  13,  1889.  They  have  four 
children  living:  John  W.,  Postmaster  of  Washing- 
ton, D.  C;  Lewis  C.  and  Pike  C.  at  home  with  their 
[mrents;  Jennie,  wife  of  G.  K.   Barrere,  of  Canton. 

Mr.  Ross  has  exerted  a  marked  influence  on  the 
civil  and  political  life  of  this  county,  has  taken  a 
deep  interest  in  its  welfare,  materially  and  other- 
wise, and  has  borne  a  prominent  part  in  promoting 
its  rise  and  progress  to  its  present  high  standing 
among  its  sister  counties  as  a  wealthy  and  well- 
developed  country  and  the  richest  agricultural  cen- 
tre of  Illinois.  He  has  long  been  prominent  in  the 
councils  of  the  Democratic  party.  When  a  you  no- 
man  he  was  in  sympathy  with  the  Whigs.  While 
he  was  in  college  he  joined  a  debating  society,  of 
which  he  was  for  a  time  President.  He  took  a 
leading  part  in  the  debates,  always  preparing  his 
speeches  with  great  care.  In  his  search  for  knowl- 
edge upon  which  to  base  his  arguments,  his  politi- 
cal o|>inions  were  formed,  and  he  becam«  a  member 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  since  been  a  zeal- 
ous supporter  of  its  principles.  His  fellow-citizens 
have  honored  him  and  themselves  by  calling  him 
to  responsible  public  positions,  which  he  has  filled 
with  ability  and  with  a  conscientious  regard  to  the 
highest  interests  of  the  .State  and  country.  He  was 
elected-  to   the    Hlinois    Legislature    in    1840,  and 


"70 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAl'IIR'AL  ALBUM. 


;igain  in  1844.  Tn  1SB2  he  was  eJecteil  Congress- 
man from  the  Xiiitli  l^istrict,  and  so  well  i)leased 
was  liis  constituency  with  his  course  during  Hint 
term,  it  re-elected  him  in  1864,  and  again  in  186G, 
am!  his  whole  career  while  at  the  National  Capital 
niai-ked  him  as  an  able  and  wise  legislator.  Mr. 
Ross  has  been  a  menil)er  of  two  constitutional  con- 
ventions in  Illinois,  and  a  delegate  to  manj'  of  the 
State  and  National  Conventions.  He  acted  in  thtit 
capacity  at  the  Charleston  Convention  in  1860,  and 
at  Baltimore  in  the  same  year,  being  one  of  the 
strongest  supporters  of  S.  A.  Douglas  present  at 
either  convention.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the 
ileliberaiions  of  the  National  Convention  at  St. 
Louis  in  1876  as  one  of  its  prominent  delegates, 
and  used  his  influence  to  secure  tlie  nomination  of 
Samuel  J.  Tilden.  and  he  was  a  delegate  to  the 
National  Convention  at  Cincinnati  in  1880. 


U=i=^—^ 


,ETER  B.  SMALL.  If  bread  is  the  staff  of 
life  accoiding  to  vegetarians,  there  is  a  large 
class  who  would  accord  that  place  to  meat. 
The  man,  therefore,  who  supplies  his  fellow- 
citizens  with  healthy  flesh  fills  a  position  of  impor- 
tance in  the  settlement,  and  may  well  be  noted 
among  the  prominent  business  men.  Such  a  place 
is  held  by  Mr.  Small,  who  has  been  more  or  less  i 
extensively  engaged  in  butchering  during  the  past  ! 
twenty-five  years  and  is  now  carrying  on  a  fine 
tr.'icle  in  Canton. 

Mr.  Small  is  a  native  of  Franklin  County,  Pa., 
where  his  eyes  ojiuned  to  the  light  October  13, 
1S41.  His  parents,  John  and  Nancy  (Uuffey) 
Small  nerc  also  born  in  the  Keystone  .State,  the  one 
one  being  of  German  and  the  other  of  Irish  de- 
scent. The  grandfathers  of  our  subject  bore  the 
respective  names  of  .John  Small  and  James  Duffey. 
John  Small  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life. 
Some  time  after  his  marriage  he  removed  to  this 
county,  locating  in  Canton  and  dying  here  in  1861, 
about  the  time  that  the  Civil  War  broke  out.  He 
had  been  living  here  a  little  more  tiian  a  decade 
and  had  become  quite  well  known  as  a  good  work 


man  and  worthy  citizen.  His  family  consisted  of 
five  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  yet 
living  except  two. 

Our  subject  is  the  lirst-boin  in  the  parental  fam- 
ily. His  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  in  his 
native  county  where  he  acquired  a  fair  educati(ju 
and  then  learned  the  trade  of  a  saddler  and  harness- 
maker.  This  he  followed  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
Rebellion  when  he  laid  aside  the  peaceful  weapons 
with  which  he  was  endeavoring  to  acquire  a  compe- 
tence aii<l  look  up  the  more  deadly  ones  which  be- 
long to  a  soldier.  He  enlisted  in  Company  K. 
Seventh  Illinois  Cavahy,  and  during  a  period  of 
four  years  and  three  months  gallantl}' served  in  the 
ranks  of  his  country's  defenders.  He  took  part  in 
many  raids,  skirmishes  and  battles,  the  most  im- 
portant conflicts  in  which  he  was  engaged  being 
Corinth,  Nashville,  Germantown  and  luka.  He 
receive<l  an  honorable  discharge  and  was  mustered 
out  in  the  fall  of  1865,  returning  to  Canton  to 
engage  in  the  business  which  he  is  still  carrying 
on. 

A  neat  and  last}'  residence  on  Sev'entli  Street  in 
this  citj'  is  occupied  by  Mr.  Small  and  his  estimable 
wife.  This  lady,  with  whom  he  wa'*  united  in 
marriage  in  1878  was  formerly  Miss  Lottie  T. 
Ilummell  of  this  city,  a  daughter  of  William  Hum- 
niell,  Esq.  The  union  has  been  a  childless  one, 
lint  by  a  former  marriage,  contracted  in  1859,  Mr. 
Small  became  the  father  of  one  daughter,  now 
married. 


HARLES  C.  DAVIS.  This  county  is  pre- 
eminently  one  of  comfortable  rural  homes. 
^'  there  being  no  large  cities  within  its  limits. 
The  soil  being  wonderfully  fertile  and  the  facilities 
for  market  excellent,  a  great  number  of  agricul- 
turists secure  a  competence  by  the  cultivation  of  a 
moderate  acreage.  One  of  the  successful  farmers 
of  Farmington  Township  is  Charles  C.  Davis  who 
operates  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  23. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  Evan  Davis,  a  na- 
tive of  Huntingdon  County,  Pa.,  and  a  stonemason 
by  trade.  In  his  native  county  he  married  Lctitia 
Connelley,  who  was  born  in  Philadelphia.     In  1833 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBl  AI. 


777 


lie  removed  witli  his  family  to  Ohio,  takiii": 'up 
agricullural  pursuits  in  Highland  County  and  re- 
maininir  there  four  years.  He  then  removed  to 
Illinois,  making  the  journey,  as  was  quite  usual,  in 
a  wiigon.  His  first  home  in  this  State  was  near 
Fairview  hut  he  subsequently  removed  to'  Prairie 
City,  McDonough  County,  where  he  spent  the 
later  years  of  his  life  in  ease  and  comfort.  He 
breathed  his  last  in  1873  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eighty-two  years.  The  vvidow  survived  until  1875, 
reaching  the  age  of  four-score.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  six  children,  named  respectively,  James, 
William,  Charles  Connellcy,  George,  John  and  Re- 
becca. 

In  Huntingdon  County,  Pa..  January  1.3,  1826, 
the  child  was  born  whose  life  is  the  subject  of  this 
brief  notice.  He  was  a  lad  of  nine  years  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Ohio,  and  had  just  entered  his 
teens  when  they  came  to  this  State.  He  sittended 
school  in  the  various  localities  in  which  he  resided, 
gaining  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  subjects  taught, 
and  under  home  training  and  influences  developed 
the  qualities  which  have  led  to  his_  worldly  success 
and  present  standing  in  the  community.  In  1853, 
having  won  a  companion  in  life,  he  established  his 
own  home  on  a  farm  near  Prairie  City,  in  which 
place  he  afterward  engaged  In  the  sale  of  general 
merchandise,  following  the  business  from  1855  to 
1857  inclusive.  He  finally  took  possession  of  his 
l)resent  estate,  a  good  body  of  land  which  has  been 
supplied  with  many  first-class  improvements. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Davis  was  known  in  her  girl- 
hood as  Miss  Annie  Patton.  Her  p.ucnls  were 
James  and  Elizabeth  (Vandevander)  Patton,  na- 
tives of  Huntingdon  County,  Pa.  Her  father,  who 
was  a  distiller,  was  killed  in  an  accident  when  she 
was  but  two  j-oars  old.  Her  mother  subsequently 
married  James  McQuaid,  a  gunsmith  by  trade. 
They  came  in  1845  to  Canton  where  Mr.  McQuaid 
subsequently  embarked  in  the  grocer}'  business. 
The  mother  of  Mrs.  Davis  lived  to  be  eighty-two 
years  old.  She  had  borne  her  first  husband  three 
children — Rebecca,  Annie  and  John.  Her  father 
was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  ]\Irs.  Davis 
possesses  more  than  ordinary  mental  ability,  has 
the  genial  manner  which  makes  even  strangers  feel 
at  ease  in  her  i)rcsence,  and    during  the   course    of 


her  life  has  Ihoroughly'proved  her  worth  in  the 
home.  She  is  a  near  relative  of  Hon.  George 
Patton,  of  Pennsylvania,  who  for  the  past  ten 
years  has  been  serving  his  nation  in  the  legislative 
halls  at  Washington. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  have  nine  children  whose 
chai"acter  and  attainments  give  them  a  just  cause  for 
parental  pride.  The  oldest  daughter,  Alice,  is  the 
wife  of  Morris  Johnson,  Higliw.ay  Commissioner  of 
Farmington  Townshij)  and  a  member  of  the  City 
Board  of  Education;  they  have  three  children, 
Stella,'  Frank  and  Minnie:  Laura,  the  second  child, 
married  George  Pinegar  and  has  two  children, 
Olive  and  Carrie;  Edward,  the  oldest  son.  married 
Emma  Hill  and  resides  in  this  township;  James,  a 
farmer,  married  Kate  Iseburg  and  has]two  children, 
Bertha  and  Pearl;  Minnie  married  William  Wilson, 
a  farmer  at  Prairie  City,  McDonough  County; 
Fred  married  Louie  W^olf;  Libby,  LouQand  Elmer 
are  still  with  their  parents. 

Mr.  Davis  has  served  as  School  Director  and  in 
his  capacity  as  a  private  citizen  does[]much  to  aid 
in  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  education  and 
other  matters  that  will  promote  the  interests  of 
this  section.  He  wr.s  formerly  an  old-line  Whig, 
his  first  Presidential  ballot  having  been  cast  foi' 
Gen.  Zaehary',Taylor.  More  recently  he  has  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  element  and  stanchly 
supports  the  principles  of  the  party.  He  is  one  of 
the  celebiated  band  known  as  '49ers,  having  in 
company  with  his  cousin,  James  Davis  and  Joe 
Prime,  crossed  the  plains  during  the  gold  excite- 
ment and  spent  soine  lime  in  mining  in  California. 
He  did  fairly  well  as  a  gold-seeker  butj  was  quite 
willing  to  return  to  the  East  wh.ere  he  could  enjoy 
a'better  civilization. 


'^r^-^. 


^^^^^k^^f^!^-^- 


"ij  ENJAMIN  ROHRER.  one  of  the  successful 
fV  farmers  of  Canton  Township,  occupies  a 
substantial  and  well-designed  farmhouse  on 
section  13.  Conveniently  arranged  about 
his  dwelling  are  the  various  buildings  which  are 
necessary  to  house  the  crops  and  shelter  the  stock 
raised    by    Mr.  Roluer   (in    tlic   surrounding    acres. 


778 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


The  landed  estate  consists  of  four  hundred  and 
forty  iicri's  in  Canton  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 
in  Orion  Townsiiip,  all  of  wiilch  has  been  well  im- 
proved. The  solid  financial  standing  of  our  sub- 
ject is  due  to  industrious  and  wcU-dirfccted  efforts, 
coupled  wiili  a  thorough  reliabilit}'  in  all  his  deal- 
ings. Of  a  deliberative  mind,  he  has  been  cautious 
vet  enterprising,  and  the  result  is  that  he  has 
gained  an  abiiudant  share  of  "  filthy  lucre,"  or  its 
equivalent. 

Mr.  Rohrer  is  a  Pennsylvanian  by  birth  and  pa- 
rentage, Lancaster  County  having  been  the  place 
of  his  own  nativitj%  as  well  as  that  of  his  father 
and  mother.  Henry  and  Mary  (Doner)  Rohrer 
lived  in  their  native  county  for  some  years  after 
their  marriage,  then  came  to  the  Prairie  State  and 
made  their  home  in  Quincy  about  four  montiis. 
Thence  the}'  removed  to  this  count}'  in  the  fall  of 
1847,  spending  the  remainder  of  their  lives  as  resi- 
dents of  Canton  Township.  They  had  three  sons 
and  five  daughters,  the  firstliorn  being  tlie  subject 
of  this  notice. 

The  natal  day  of  Benjamin  Rohrer  was  Januarj' 
17,  1833.  No  event  especially  worthy  of  note 
took  place  in  his  life  until  he  was  about  fourteen 
years  old,  when  the  family  journe3'ed  to  this  Slate. 
The  lad  remained  with  liis  father,  assisting  in  the 
development  of  the  homestead  and  learning  useful 
lessons  of  life,  until  his  marriage,  which  took  place 
in  his  native  count}'  in  Pennsylvania.  He  then 
established  his  own  home  on  the  old  farm,  opera- 
ting the  quarter  section  adjoining.  About  1860  he 
took  possession  of  his  present  home  where  he  and 
his  family  enjoy  the  comforts  and  many  of  the 
luxuries  of  life. 

The  many  estimable  traits  of  character  and  the 
useful  habits  possessed  by  Miss  Mary  Ilershey,  a 
native  of  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  made  her  seem  to 
Mr.  Rohrer  a  desirable  companion,  and  neither  has 
had  cause  to  regret  their  union.  They  have  eight 
living  children:  Hiram,  Benjamin  F.,  Emma,  Abra- 
ham H.,  Henry  H.,  Susie,  Mary  H.  and  John  D. 
Emma  is  the  wife  of  Elmer  Sutton.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rohrer  have  lost  their  first-born,  Abner,  who  died 
when  sixteen  years  old. 

Mr.  Rohrer  inherits  a  liigh  degree  of  [)ublic  si)irit 
and  interests  himself  for  the  welfare  of  those  about 


him.  He  served  as  Highway  Commissioner  three 
years  and  during  that  time  made  many  substantial 
improvements  by  building  iron  bridges.  He  has 
been  School  Director  for  many  years  and  was  at 
one  time  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention  con- 
vened for  the  purpose  of  nominating  .State  officers. 
He  exercises  the  elective  franchise  in  behalf  of  Re- 
publican principles  and  institutions.  He  and  his 
wife  are  identified  with  tlie  German  Baptist  Church, 
commonly  known  as  Dunkards. 


SCAR  T.  SALISBURY.  The  business  of  a 
grocer  is  one  of  the  most  important  in  a 
city  or  hamlet,  and  the  growth  of  a  settle- 
ment could  well  be  marked  by  the  number  of 
flourishing  establishments  found  therein.  Tlie  sub- 
ject of  this  notice  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Swearingen  &  Co.,  dealers  in  family  groceries  at 
Canton,  and  is  numbered  among  the  enterprising 
dealers  of  the  city.  They  carry  a  full  stock  of 
groceries,  togetiier  with  a  large  supjily  of  flour, 
and  also  ran  a  baker}'.  Their  place  of  business 
is  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  square  in  the 
large  brick  building  owned  by  the  Graham  estate. 
Before  notirg  the  main  facts  that  liave  trans- 
pired in  the  life  of  our  subject  it  will  not  be  amiss 
to  say  a  few  words  regarding  his  parents.  His 
father,  Samuel  J.  Salisbury,  is  a  native  of  the  Buck- 
eye State,  in  which  he  resided  until  1880,  when  he 
moved  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Canton  where  he  still 
makes  his  home.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife 
was  Margaret  E.  Hendrickson  and  she  is  a  native 
of  the  P]m  pi  re  State.  Her  father,  Elijah  Hendrick- 
son, was  born  in  Kentucky.  She  also  is  still  living, 
and  so  likewise  are  her  six  children. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  biogra|)liical  notice 
was  born  in  November,  1848,  in  Butler  County. 
Ohio,  and  is  the  oldest  member  of  the  parental  house- 
hold. He  attended  the  common  schools  in  his  na- 
tive county  and  subsequently  pursued  his  studies 
two  years  in  Hamilton  Academy  at  Hamilton.  On 
leaving  school  he  began  his  mercantile  experience 
as  a  clerk  in  Hamilton  and  two  years  later  embarked 


PORTRAIT   AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALUUM. 


771) 


in  business  on  his  own  a-jcouiit.  opening  a  general 
stock  of  goods  at  MeGonigle.  While  there  he  was 
appointed  Postmaster,  serving  in  that  capacity  sev- 
eral years.  Mr.  Salisbury  tinally  disposed  of  his 
stock  and  good  will  and  in  ISSO  removed  to  Can- 
ton forming  a  partneisliip  with  Henry  M.  Kline  in 
1881.  The  new  firm  bought  the  goods  of  W.  E. 
Wolgamot  and  continued  to  carry  on  the  business 
at  the  same  stand. 

In  1871  Mr.  Salisbury  was  married  to  Anna  J. 
Pheelis,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Marilda  Pheelis. 
She  died  March  28,  1878.  His  (iresent  wife  is  a 
native  of  New  London,  Ohio,  the  daughter  of 
James  and  Nancy  White,  and  was  christened  Eliza- 
beth. She  was  well  reared  by  worthy  parents,  is 
very  intelligent  and  well  informed,  and  has  a  con- 
sistent Christian  character.  She  and  her  husband 
belong  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  which  Mr. 
.Salisbui'y  holds  tlie  office  of  Deacon.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
and  a  liberal  contributor  and  supporter  to  every 
<lepartment  of  its  work.  It  is  scarcely  necessary 
to  add  that  he  is  held  in  high  repute  by  the  citizens 
of  Canton  and  the  adjacent  country  on  account  of 
his  excellent  character,  business  ability  and  pleas- 
ing iiualilics. 


rIIITli''=|  mill? 


M.  B.  WILSON.  Among  the  successful 
j]  agriculturalists  of  Fairview  Township,  and 
popular  citizens  of  F.iirview  viUage,  is 
numbered  this  gentleman,  who  is  the  son  of 
the  well-known  minister,  A.  D.  Wilson.  He  is  in- 
(luential  in  i>olitical  circles  and  in  1890  he  ninde  a 
close  run  for  the  candidacy  for  County  Clerk  of  Ful- 
t(in  County  and  served  as  Su[)ervisor  of  Fairview 
Township  in  187L  His  political  belief  is  that  of 
the  Democratic  party,  while  he  belongs  to  the  Re- 
formed Church  at  Fairview,  and  is  now  serving  his 
second  3'ear  as  Deacon. 

Much  of  interest  might  be  related  concerning  the 
life  of  the  Rev.  A.  D.  Wilson,  the  father  of  our 
subject.  Of  him  the  History  of  Fulton  (bounty  thus 
speaks:    "October  3,  1837  Rev.  A.  1).  Wilson  from 


New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  arrived  at  Fairview,  being 
sent  to  see  if  a  church  could  be  established.  On  the 
1 6 tb  the  Reformed  Church  of  F'airview  was  or- 
ganized by  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson.  The  organization  con- 
sisted of  eight  members,  with  John  S.  Wyckoff  and 
Clarkson  Van  Nostrand  as  Elders  and  Aaron  D. 
Addis  as  Deacon.  This  was  the  first  organization 
of  this  religious  denomination  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghany Mountains,  and  is  truly  styled  'the  parent 
Church  of  the  West.' 

"Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  then  returned  to  his  home  in 
the  East,  and  left  the  congregation  without  a  pastor 
or  church  building.  But  the  people  were  zealous 
and  steadfast  and  from  Sunday  to  Sunday  assembled 
for  prayer  and  praise.  These  meetings  were  gen- 
erally led  by  Capt.  John  S.  Wyckoff.  During  all 
this  time  the  little  band  was  sending  up  the  Mace- 
donian cry  to  their  friends  in  the  East  to  come  and 
help  them.  The  matter  was  laid  before  the  church 
authorities  in  convention  assembled  and  the  cry 
arose,  "who  will  go?"  No  one,  as  he  contemplated 
the  privations  and  hardships  incident  to  pioneer 
life,  had  a  desire  to  endure  them.  For  a  time  si- 
lence reigned.  At  last  a  voice  arose  in  that  assem- 
bly saying,  'tlie  child  born  in  the  wilderness  shall 
not  be  left  to  perish;  if  no  one  else  can  be  found,  I 
will  go.'  This  was  the  voice  of  the  Rev.  A.  D. 
Wilson,  who  the  fall  previous  had  organized  the 
congregation,  but  had  no  expectation  or  desire  to 
move  West,  being  pleasantly  situated  among  his 
congregation  at^North  Branch,  N.  J." 

Responding  to  the  call  of  duty  this  noble  minis- 
ter left  his  home  and  came  to  the  pioneer  lands  of 
Illinois,  arriving  in  Fulton  County  in  July,  1838, 
and  immediately  commenced  his  labors.  After 
successfully  carrying  on  the  work  many  years,  he 
resigned  April  11,  1850.  In  regard  to  his  personal 
history  it  may  be  said  that  he  was  a  native  f)f  Am- 
well  Township,  Hunterdon  County,  N.  J.,  and  a 
graduate  of  Rutgers.  He  was  truly  a  wonderful 
man  and  possessed  the  peculiar  power  of  making 
and  keeping  friends.  His  first  charge  was  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Julia  A.  Evertson;  she  was  a  native  of  Orange 
County,  N.  Y..  and  was  educated  at  Poughkeepsie. 
Ten  children  were  born  of  their  union,  of  whom 
six  li vcd  to  niaturilv,  as   follows:     John    E..   Jane 


780 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


D.,  Julia  A.,  Abraham  D.,  Margaret  A.,  and  Henry 
Mailiu  Baldwin,  our  subject. 

The  name  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  justl}'  appears 
on  the  annals  of  the  church  history  of  Fulton  County 
as  being  a  man  of  moio  than  ordinar}-  skill  and 
worth  and  as  being  universally^  respected  by  all 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  To  those  who  be- 
lie\"e  iu  the  wise  piovisions  of  Providence,  the  fact 
of  his  illness  and  afflictions,  which  pointed  to  an 
early  grave,  was  but  His  spur  to  drive  him  into  the 
far  West,  there  to  do  His  work.  Tlie  strange  thing 
is  that  after  having  been  given  up  by  his  phj^sicians 
in  the  East  and  being  so  reduced  that  he  weighed 
only  ninety-seven  pounds,  he  nevertheless  regained 
perfect  health  after  coming  here.  It  appears  that 
the  Lord  had  a  work  for  him  to  do,  and  when  He 
had  directed  him  to  go  where  He  wanted  him  He 
gave  him  strength  of  body  in  order  to  attend  to 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  flock.  His  vigor 
came  back  to  him  with  interest,  as  it  were,  for 
his  standing  weight  for  3-ears  was  from  one  hun- 
dred and  ninetj'-six  to  two  hundred  pounds.  He 
lived  to  be  ninety  years  old,  and  optratcd  a  farm 
in  connection  with  his  clerical  duties. 

Our  subject  was  boru  April  "22,  1838.  and  at  an 
early  age  manifested  great  liking  for  farm  life, 
commencing  wiiile  quite  young  to  assist  in  its  la- 
bor. He  had  the  educational  advantages  of  the 
Fairview  public  school.  He  entered  Knox  College 
at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  when  seventeen  entered 
Rutgers,  wliere  he  remained  two  j'ears.  In  1862  he 
made  an  overland  trip  to  California  in  company 
with  Luther  Pumyea,  reaching  Marysville,  Cal., 
about  the  1st  of  September.  AVhen  there  the^'  en- 
gaged in  mining  and  met  with  good  success,  and  he 
finally  started  a  meat  market  at  that  city.  He  re- 
turned home  via  tlie  Isthmus  in  18()4,  and  resumed 
farming. 

Mr.  Wilson,  in  18G9,  married  Miss  Sarah  Cath- 
erine Skillman,  daughter  of  William  and  Eliza  Ann 
(Robertson)  Skillman,  natives  of  New  Jersey. 
They  came  to  Illinois  in  1837,  settling  at  first  in 
Menard  County,  and  coming  to  Fairview  during 
the  war.  After  his  marriage,  our  subject  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  and  after  his  father's  death 
bought  the  old  homestead  wiiich  embraced  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres.     To  himself  and   wife    have 


been  born  seven  children,  viz:  Oscar  L..  Bertha  A.. 
Leoda.  Margie,  Kliza  A..  Lester  Gaddis.  and  Celia 
E. 

Tiie^subject  of  our  sketch  lias  figured  very  con- 
spicuouslyjin  bringing  the  railroad  to  this  pUaceaud 
is  prominent  in  politics.  He  is  an  extensive  prop- 
erty owner,  owning  the  brick  store  that  contains  the 
Masonic  Hall,  and  has  four  fine  farms.  He  con- 
tributed liberall}-  to  the  railroad  enterprise  and  also 
gave  hisper.sonal  attention^to  the  matter  [working 
faithfully-  for  the  cause,  bothliere  and  in  Lewistown 
Tov?nship.  Indeed,  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  gentleman  of 
l)ronouneed  ability  and  in  addition  to^fthis.  is  one 
of  those  courteous,  genial  men  who  have  always  a 
high  place  in  the  regard  of  the'community  in  which 
the}'  reside. 

1^^- •■ 


m 


;,f  OHX  W.  MOORE.  This  energetic,  enter- 
prising joung  man  is  a  representative  stock- 
grower  of  this  county.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  well-known  firm  of  A.  C.  Moore  &  Sons, 
breeders  of  Percheron  horses  and  Poland-China 
hogs,  carrying  on  their  extensive  business  in  Buck- 
heart  Township. 

The  subject  of  this  review  was  born  Maj-  25, 
1850,  in  Fulton  County.  His  father  is  a  native  of 
New  Jersej'.  He  left  that  State  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  and  settled  among  the  pioneers  of  Butler 
Count}'.  Ohio,  and  for  several  years  was  connected 
with  the  agricultural  development  of  that  part  of 
the  country.  He  thei-e  met  and  married  Jane  Will- 
iamson, a  native  of  Butler  County,  born  of  pioneer 
parentage.  The  following  is  the  record  of  their 
three  children:  Maggie  J.,  who  was  born  in  the 
month  of  April.  1847,  is  living  now  in  Iowa, 
but  will  soon  take  up  her  residence  in  Buckheart 
Township;  Charles  A.,  born  in  the  month  of  July. 
1859,  is  in  business  with  his  father  and  brother; 
John  W.  is  our  subject.  Charles  is  a  bright,  wide- 
awake young  man,  and  is  ably  man.aging  his  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  fine  farming  and 
pasture  land. 

John  Moore  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits 
and  has  displayed  an  adaptability  and  talent  for  his 
calling  ever  since  he  entered   upon  hi^  career  as  a 


a^-j. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


7h;5 


breeder  of  horses  and  liogs  that  has  placed  him 
high  in  the  ranks  of  our  best  farmers.  He  owns  a 
slock  farm  of  two  liundred  acres,  that  is  under  fine 
improvement,  is  supplied  with  ample  barns,  a  sub 
slantial  residence,  and  all  necessary  buihlings  and 
machinery. 

The  business  in  which  our  subject  is  principally 
engaged  was  established  by  his  father,  who  came  to 
this  State  in  1855,  man}'  years  ago,  he  being  the 
first  to  introduce  the  full-blooded  Poland-China 
hog  into  this  section  of  the  country.  Four  3ears 
ago  he  and  his  sons  began  the  breeding  of  the 
Percheron-Norman  horse.  They  have  already 
made  a  success  of  this,  as  the3-  did  in  raising  bogs, 
and  their  name  is  becoming  well-known  in  the 
principal  markets  as  the  breeders  of  sound,  higli- 
graded  stock. 

To  the  lady  vvho  presides  so  gracefully  over  his 
comfortable  home  and  aids  him  in  dispensing  its 
charming  hospitalities  to  their  numerous  friends, 
Mr.  Moore  was  married  March  7,  1877.  She  was 
formerly  Miss  Jessie  Hetrick,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Amanda  Hetrick,  of  Canton  Township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  have  three  children:  Wyllys 
K.,  the  oldest,  who  was  born  December  11,  1878; 
George  A.,  .Tanuarv  27,  1879;  Fred  C,  Ma}'  11, 
1884.  ' 


LVAN  KIDDER.     The    old   saying  "that 
mucli  reading  makoth  a  wise  man"  is  fully 
verified  in  the  case  of   our   subject,  who 
{^J  through  the  greater  i)artof  his  life  has  been 

a  constant  reader  of  standard  works,  and  is  gifted 
with  a  wonderfully  strong  memory, and  thus  enabled 
to  treasure  np  the  information  gained.  Few  men 
possess  greater  po  •  er  as  a  conversationalist  than 
does  Mr.  Kidder,  and  few  can  so  well  plead  the 
cause  of  their  party  when  it  comes  to  a  political 
contest.  He  is  perhaps  more  widely  known 
throughout  Fulton  County  than  any  other  gentle- 
man in  Farmington.  and  is  a  politician  of  great 
force. 

Mr.     Kidder   (irst     made    his     ap|)earance    upon 
the     stage  of    life  at     Randolph,    i\Iass.,    being    a 


son  of  Alvan  and  Betsy  (Mann)  Kidder.  His 
birth  occurred  on  November  25,  1824,  and  he  re- 
ceived a  creditable  education  in  his  native  State, 
first  attending  the  common  schools,  and  later,  when 
eight  years  old,  entering  the  academy  at  Randolph. 
He  afterwards  attended  Centre  Academy  in  Ver- 
mont, and  a  Quaker  boarding-school  in  Sandwich, 
Mass. 

Onr  subject  commenced  his  business  career  as  a 
clerk  in  a  mercantile  house  at  Randoliih.  and  in 
1847,  in  comp.iny  witli  iiis  brotlier  George,  came 
West  to  manage  his  father's  branch  house  in  Farm- 
ington. Here  they  carried  on  an  extensive  and  lu- 
ralive  business,  devoting  their  entire  time  to  com- 
mercial matters,  and  paying  no  attention  what- 
ever to  society.  Our  subject  at  an  early  age 
evinced  a  decided  taste  for  politics,  and  even  in  his 
native  State  his  S3'mpathies  were  all  on  the  side  of 
the  Democratic  party.  He  soon  withdrew  from 
the  mercantile  business,  putting  his  money  into 
land,  and  turned  his  skill  and  energy  to  the  suc- 
cessful cultivation  of  the  same.  In  this  occupation 
he  still  continues  up  to  the  present  writing,  having 
made    his  home  on  his  present  estate  since  1850. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  married  October 
24,  1852,  to  Miss  Lucy  J.  Evvalt,  a  native  of  the 
Hoosier  State  and  a  daughter  of  John  P^walt,  one 
of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Peoria  Count}-.  Mr. 
Ewalt  came  here  as  a  young  man  with  his  wife, 
who  previous  to  her  marriage  was  Miss  Lucy  Dow- 
den,  of  the  Blue  Grass  State.  They  afterward 
moved  t,o  Indiana,  where  Mrs.  Kidder  was  born, 
being  the  ninth  of  the  ten  children  born  to  her  par- 
ents. She  received  an  education  such  as  was  to 
be  had  in  the  pioneer  days  of  Illinois,  having  come 
here  with  her  parents  when  three  3-ears  old. 

Blr.  and  Mrs.  Kidder  have  been  blessed  wilh 
three  children,  viz:  Earl  Douglass.  George  L.  and 
Harriett.  Miss  Harriett  possesses  decided  musical 
talent,  and  is  a  vocalist  of  considerable  note.  She 
sings  in  the  Universalist  Church  at  Peoria,  and 
having  received  careful  training  for  a  long  time 
from  efficient  vocal  teachers  will  no  doubt  achieve 
marked  success  in  the  musical  world. 

Our  subject  owns  valuable  farming  land  in  Knox, 
Peoria,  Fulton  and  Woodford  Counties,  and  re;d 
estate  in   Farniiniiton    and    Peoria,      lie    is    not  a 


784 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ehurcli  member, jbut  if  he  has  any  preference  it  -is 
towards  the  Universalist  Church.  His  fatlicr,  who 
boie  tlie  samcjnnme,  was  a  cultivattd  man  and  had 
represented  large  business  interests  all  his  life.  He 
was  a  man  of^singular  force  of  character,  and  was 
alvays  ready  to  assist  the  needy,  and  practice  jus- 
tice in'every  relation  of  life,  and  his  son,  having 
in  a  great  measure  inherited  these  traits,  is  natur- 
ally a  successful  and  popular  gentleman. 


-— >>^c:^^5o^^'^^=— 


JOSEPH  WESLEY  FISHER.  A  fine  repre- 
sentative of  a  famil}'  to  whom  mathematical 
and  mechanical  abilit}'  seem  natural,  the  gen- 
tleman of  whom  this  brief  notice  is  written  is 
an  exceedingly  intelligent  citizen  of  Fulton  County, 
wdiere  he  prosecutes  his  avocation  as  a  contractor 
and  builder,  and  is  also  proprietor  of  an  hotel  at 
Middle  Grove,  Farmington  Township.  An  inter- 
■  csiintc  com[)anion,  a  devoted  husbarjd  and  kind 
father,  it  is  not  surprising  that  he  enjoys  the  friend- 
siiip  of  the  entire  community  and  the  goodwill  of 
all  who  know  him. 

;Mr.  Fisher  comes  of  worthy  and  patriotic  lineage, 
his  great-grandfather.  Jacob  .Smith,  serving  in  the 
lievolulionary  War.  His  other  great-grandfather, 
,)ohn  Fisher,  was  a  famous  frontiersman  in  the 
Indian  Wars.  Judge  Smith  was  a  prominent  man 
in  his  d.ay,  and  the  entire  family,  on  both  sides,  is  an 
illustrious  one,  which  from  generation  to  generation 
wins  high  esteem  in  the  communities  where  its 
various  representatives  reside.  The  characteristic 
feature  of  the  family  is  mechanical  genius  and  they 
have  one  and  all  manifested  great  skill  in  archi- 
tecture. 

The  father  of  our  subject  bore  the  name  of  Jacob 
Fisher,  and  was  the  son  of  John  Fisher,  a  success- 
ful farmer  in  Pennsylvania,  and  tradition  has  it 
that  his  ancestors  settled  in  the  Keystone  State 
about  the  time  of  William  Penn.  The  father  mar- 
ried Miss  Louisiana  Gardner,  u  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, as  was  also  her  husband,  and  to  them  were 
born  eleven  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the 
second    in    order  of    birth.     The   family,   in  1 8.5o, 


came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  F'ulton  County, 
where  the  father  became  prominent  and  served  for 
several  years  as  Supervisor  of  Young  Hickory 
Township,  being  elected  on  the  Democratic  ticket. 
He  is  now  residing  in  Oneida.  Knox  County,  this 
State,  and  although  he  has  attained  his  seventy- 
seventh  year,  is  as  active  as  a  boy  of  eighteen.  The 
mother  died  in  1887  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years. 
They  were  highly  esteemed  in  this  county,  and  were 
regarded  as  among  its  worthiest  citizens. 

The  following  is  the  record  of  the  brothers  and 
sisters  (jf  our  subject:  Christopher  Paul,  who  was 
a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  enlisting  in  Comjiany  B, 
One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois  Infantry,  and  is 
now  a  farmer  near  Rising,  Neb.;  next  in  order  of 
birth  is  our  subject;  Daniel  Moftit,  an  ai-cliitect  and 
builder,  is  at  present  in  London  Mills;  Franklin 
Mari.an  lives  in  Middle  Grove;  Jacob  Edward  Grif- 
fin, an  attorney  in  Harper.  Kan.;  Homer  James 
Clark,  a  carpenter  and  contractor,  is  now  a  mer- 
chant in  Macomb,  III.;  Elizabeth  (Fisher)  Folmer, 
the  wife  of  a  farmer  in  Fairview  Townsliip; 
Laura  Kate,  Mrs.  Barlow,  a  teacher  in  Canton.  111. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  born  April  1,  1842,  in 
West  Newton,  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  and 
p.assed  the  first  thirteen  years  of  his  life  in  his  native 
place,  receiving  the  advantages  of  a  common  school 
education  and  aiding  his  father  in  the  work  at  home. 
He  was  a  bright  and  intelligent  lad,  full  of  fun  and 
frolic,  yet  possessing  a  good  disposition  and  a  de- 
sire to  progress  in  his  studies.  In  18ju  he  accom- 
ixanied  his  parents  from  their  Eastern  home  to  the 
Ohio  River,  down  that  placid  stream  to  the  broad 
Mississippi,  then  up  the  Illinois  River  to  Liver|)ool, 
where  they  landed.  The  father  being  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  our  subject  was  enabled  at  an  early  age  to 
perfect  iiimself  in  this  calling. 

When  he  had  arrived  at  years  of  maturity.  .Mr. 
Fisher  became  deeplj'  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
the  Union,  and  upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War 
he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Third 
Illinois  Infantry,  under  Capt.  O.  D.  Car|)cnter.  In 
the  same  company  were  three  uncles  of  Mr.  Fisher, 
five  cousins,  and  a  brother.  He  was  mustered  into 
service  in  Peoria  in  1862,  and,  after  drilling  at 
Camp  Fulton  about  six  weeks,  was  assigned  with 
his   company    to  Sherman's  Old   Fifteenth   Corps. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


785 


They  pnrticipated  in  man}'  important  engagements, 
their  firsi  battle  being  at  Blaclv  Hiver,  and  later 
they  were  engaged  at  Jackson.  Miss.,  Mission  Ridge, 
Resaca,  Big  Shanty,  Kcnosaw  Mountain.  New  Hope, 
Dallas,  the  battle  of  July  22,  when  McPherson  fell, 
that  of  July  28  on  the  right  of  Atlanta,  Jonesbor- 
ough.  Rough  and  Read}-,  and  Atlanta. 

Of  his  excellent  war  record  iMr.  Fisher  is  justly 
proud,  lie  was  never  captured,  although  in  some 
of  the  fioicest  battles  of  the  war.  He  look  part  in 
the  battle  of  GriswoldviUe,  Ga.,  on  the  march  to 
the  sea,  where  Wolcot's  Brigade  of  fourteen 
hundred,  met  ton  times  their  number  of  rebels  in 
an  open  field  light,  and  after  four  hours  of  hard 
fighting  drove  them  in  confusion  from  the  field, 
killing  and  capturing  more  than  the  victorious 
party  numbered.  Mr.  Fisher  was  severely  wounded, 
being  shot  through  the  thigh  by  a  minie  ball,  which 
he  carried  two  uionths  before  it  was  extracted,  and 
which  is  still  in  his  possession.  He  was  sent  to 
Beaufort,  .S.  C,  and  remained  in  the  hosijital  for 
some  time,  aftfr  wliich  ho  was  transferred  to  New 
York,  and  from  the  hospital  of  that  city  was  hon- 
orably discharged  May  22,  1865. 

Immediately  after  his  discharge  Mr.  Fisher  re- 
turned home,  and  in  the  winter  of  18G5-06  attended 
Eastman's  Business  College  in  Chicago.  For  several 
years  he  continued  to  advance  his  education  by 
teaching  during  the  winter  and  attending  school  in 
summer.  He  ordered  goods  to  start  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  in  1868,  in  Maqnon,  but  wa5  burned 
out  before  they  were  opened.  Fndismayed,  how- 
ever, by  this  unfortunate  occurrence,  he  re-com- 
menced his  duties  as  a  teacher.  He  subsequently 
labored  as  a  contractor  and  builder,  and  his  industry' 
and  unflagging  perseverance  have  brought  to  him  a, 
high  reputation  among  his  fellow-men.  He  now 
ranks  among  the  leading  contractors  of  the  county. 
He  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian  Church 
and  is  serving  as  Deacon. 

One  of  the  most  important  events  in  the  life  of 
Mr.  Fisher  was  his  union,  October  18,  1871,  to  Miss 
Addie  Flake,  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy 
(Nelson)  Flake.  Her  parents  were  married  in 
Illinois,  whither  tliey  had  come  from  their  native 
States,  the  father  being  a  native  of  Indiana  and  the 
mother  of  Pennsylvania.  At  the  early  age  of  thii  ty- 


seven  years  the  father  died  at  his  home  in  Union 
Township.  The  mother  survives  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two  years,  and  resides  with  her  children. 
They  were  the  [jarents  of  five  children,  viz:  Charles, 
Addie,  William,  Frank  and  John.  To  our  subject 
and  his  estimable  wife  were  born  six  cluldren, 
namely:  Laura  Edith,  Anna  Gertrude,  William 
Herbert,  Homer  Ralph,  Harr}'  LeRoy  and  Franklin 
Earl.  The  children  are  bright  and  refined,  and 
are  receiving  excellent  training  in  the  schools  of 
the  town  and  under  careful  home  influences. 


ILLIAM  P.  MILES.  The  native-born  cit- 
\\\A///  i^s^s  of  this  county  are  coming  rajiidly  to 
tlie  front  in  various  lines  of  work;  partic- 
ularly in  agriculture,  which  is  pre-eminently  the 
occu|)ation  of  the  residents  herein.  The  gentle- 
man above  named  is  one  of  the  shrewdest,  most 
intelligent  farmers  of  Waterford  Township,  worth- 
ily representing  an  honored  ancestry.  He  be- 
gan his  life  career  with  no  capital  but  his  natural 
endowments,  a  common-school  education  and  a 
strong  will.  Althougli  comparatively  young  ho 
h.as  already  made  a  small  fortune  and  has  a  home 
of  great  comfort. 

Before  entering  ui)on  the  life  of  our  subject  it 
will  not  be  amiss  to  note  some  facts  in  the  ances- 
tral record.  Benjamin  Miles,  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  born  March  11,1754,  and  was 
one  of  the  colony  that  accompanied  Gen.  Eufus 
Putnam  to  Ohio  in  1791,  three  years  after  Gen. 
Putnam's  first  settlement.  The  first  six  years 
of  residence  was  spent  in  the  fort  of  Blarietta,  after 
which  Mr.  Miles  removed  to  Belpre,  sixteen  miles 
below,  where  he  secured  a  tract  of  land.  He 
erected  a  rude  log  house,  opened  a  public  tavern, 
being  one  of  the  early  landlords  of  the  State,  and 
cleared  a  farm' from  the  wilderness.  There  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  October  29.  1817. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Hannah  Buck- 
minster.  She  was  born  June  21,  1781.  .She  and  htr 
husband  were  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  she  used  to  ride  on  horseback  to  meet- 


786 


I'ORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


iiig.  It  is  relaterl  that  at  one  lime  siie  ro'le  to 
Newarlv,  one  luin<!reil  miles  distant,  to  visit  bcr 
son,  tlie  Rev.  Solomon  S.  Miles.  She  diedSepteni- 
bei-  i\  1825. 

The  ciiildren  in  the  family  of  tlie  couple  above 
mentioned  were:  .Toseph  B.  and  Benjamin  II. 
(Ivvins),  James  L.,  Lucy  W.,  William  Moore,  Mary 
1'.  (iSIrs.  Stadman),  Borzilla  (Mrs.  Taplian),  Solon 
S.,  John  E.  and  Riifiis  W.  Benjamin  was 
born  in  Rutland,  Mass.,  January  21,  1781,  and  was 
ten  years  old  when  he  went  to  Ohio  with  his  pa- 
rents. He  learned  the  tiade  of  a  miller,  and  being 
a  natural  mechanic  worked  also  at  those  of  a  black- 
smith and  carpenter.  In  1830,  accompanied  by 
his  six  children,  his  wife  having  died  in  1828.  he 
emigrated  to  Illinois,  making  the  removal  with  a 
team.  He  carried  iiis  household  goods,  tc^gether 
with  provisions,  cooking  and  camping  by  the  way. 
The  route  for  a  great  portion  of  the  wa}'  laj' 
through  a  wildernes.s  and  the  roads  were  ver}-  bad. 
The  [larty  alw.ays  observed  the  Lord's  day  by  rest- 
ing. 

After  four  weeks  of  travel  the  party  arrived  in 
this  county.  Blr.  Miles  located  in  Lewistown.  which 
was  th:n  l)ut  a  hamlet,  and  of  which  not  one  of  tlie 
resiilcnts  at  that  time  is  now  left  here.  Mr.  Miles 
had  visited  the  place  a  short  time  before  and 
Ixjught  four  l)locks  of  real  estate,  with  tlie  excep- 
tion of  two  lots  on  one  block.  There  was  a  good 
log  house  and  a  log  shop  suitaljle  for  blacksmithing 
and  I'arpentry  on  the  land,  and  there  the  new  owner 
carried  on  the  blacksmith's  trade  for  six  yeais. 
During  that  time  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Waterford 
Township,  removed  his  family  thither  and  took  up 
agricultural  pui'suits.  He  continued  to  farm  until 
his  death,  January  3,  1844.  He  w.as  a  member  of 
the  Congregational  Church  in  Ohio,  and  served  .as 
Deacon,  but  after  coming  here  he  joined  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  and  was  the  flrst  elder  of  the  soci- 
ety in  l^ewistown. 

Tlie  maiden  name  of  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Miles 
was  Persis  Maria  Burlingame.  She  was  born  in 
Rutland,  Mass..  September  21,  1788,  and  died  in 
Belpre.  Ohio,  in  1828.  Her  father,  Christopher 
Burlingame  w.as  born  in  Rhode  Island  in  17.")3,  and 
went  to  Ohio  with  Gen.  Putnam  in  17',)l.  He  had 
learned  the  hatter's  trade,  and  estaiilished  the  busi- 


ness at  Marietta,  being  undoubtedly  the  first  hatter 
in  Ohio.  He  followed  the  trade  many  years,  and 
died  at  Marietta  July  12,  1841.  His  wife,  Susan- 
nali,  was  tlie  daughter  of  (Jen.  Rufus  Putnam,  the 
pioneer  settler  of  Ohio,  and  she  also  died  at  Mar- 
ietta. 

Benjamin  and  Persis  ( Ijiirlingame)  Miles  reared 
six  children,  of  whom  we  note  the  following: 
Christopher  B..  died  July  26,  1870,  in  Waterford 
Township,  this  county;  Hannah  B.,  who  married 
Francis  Foote,  died  April  13,  1842,  in  Iowa;  Isa- 
Ijclla  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Egbert,  and  resides  in 
Stark  Ccjunty,  this  .State;  Arthur  lives  in  Platte 
Count}-,  Neb.;  Persis  P..  the  wiilow  of  Jacob  B. 
Foote,  lives  in  Lewistovvn,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest 
residents  of  that  city;  Joseph,  the  father  of  our  % 
subject,  died  February  16,  1863. 

Joseph  Miles  was  born  at  Belpre.  Ohio,  and  came 
to  this  State  with  his  father  in  1830,  when  fi  mere 
lad.  Some  of  his  boyhood  d.ays  wei-e  spent  in 
Lewistown,  but  the  greater  part  on  the  farm  in 
Waterford  Townsliip,  where  lie  attended  school  in 
the  old  log  sehoolhouse  of  that  time.  Soon  after 
his  marriage,  which  was  solemnized  May  2,  1851. 
Mr.  Miles  settled  on  the  farm  now  occuiiied  by  our 
subject,  on  section  6,  Waterftjrd  Township,  occu- 
pying it  until  his  death.  Fel)rnary  16,  1863.  He 
was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  well 
liked  by  all  who  knew  him.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat.  He  held  theoHice  of  Township  Collec- 
tor in  18,jO,  that  of  Town  Clerk  in  1852,  and  that 
of  Supervisor  in   1853. 

The  wife  of  Joseph  Miles  and  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, bore  the  maiden  name  of  Isabella  Porter. 
She  was  born  in  Mercer,  now  Lawrence  County, 
Pa.,  and  died  in  August,  1890.  Her  father,  Will- 
iam Porter,  likewise  a  native  of  Lawrence  County, 
was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  later  in  life  a  mer- 
chant. He  w.as  a  member  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Legislature  during  a  term  of  three  years.  lie 
moved  to  this  count}'  in  1845,  spent  a  year  on  a 
farm  and  then  began  hotel-keeping  in  I.,ewistown, 
continuing  the  occnpaticin  until  his  career  was  out 
short  by  an  untimely  death.  He  was  born  in  1800 
and  died  in  1849.  He  was  a  Deacon  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Til''  mother  of  Mrs.  Josepli 
Miles   was  born    in    Mercer  County,  Pa.,   in    1807, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  she  also  diert  in  1849,  the  month  of  herdeceasc 
behifj  F'ebiuarv.  Like  her  husband  she  was  a  mem- 
ber of  llie  Presbyterian  Cliurcli.  Siio  had  borne 
the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  lle/.le|i.  She  was  tlie 
mother  of  ten  eiiihben,  seven  of  whom  grew  to 
matin  ity.  viz. :  Samuel,  Isabidla  (Mis.  MiU's),  Na- 
tlianiel.  .lames,  Klizabelh    M.,   Woods  and    R<ibert. 

WiUian  P.  Miles,  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  was  liorn  .hily  1"2,  185L  and  s|ii'iit  his  cliilil- 
hodd  in  Waterford  Township,  attending  the  dis- 
trict scliool  from  the  age  of  six  to  ten  years.  At 
that  time,  the  father  having  died  the  year  before, 
the  famiJN'  removed  to  Levvistown  where  tlie  lad 
attended  school  in  the  winter  for  live  or  six  years 
and.  worked  at  odd  jobs  during  the  summer,  lie 
was  imrsuing  his  studies  in  the  highest  room  in 
the  public  schools  when  he  ceased  his  attendance, 
lie  worked  in  a  lirickyard  four  summers,  and  in 
1873  settled  on  the  old  homestead,  whicli  he  has 
since  been  cultivating.  In  188-2  he  bought  out 
the  other  heirs,  and  .hmuary  17,  1883,  added  to  it 
sixty  acres  adjoining.  The  whole  one  hundred 
and  forty  acres  is  nicely  improved,  and  under  good 
cultivation.  Excellent  ero|)s  are  raised  as  well  as 
considerable  stock  of  good  quality.  'I'lie  family 
residence  is  a  neatly  printed  two-story  frame  house, 
one  of  the  best  in  the  township,  and  the  various 
outbuildings  are  substantial  and  commodious. 

JIarch  7,  1878,  Mr.  Miles  led  to  the  hymeneal  al- 
tar Miss  Hattie  Eveland,  who  was  born  in  Linn 
County,  Kan.,  October  21),  1859.  Mrs.  Miles  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  from  girl- 
hood, wears  her  religion  as  an  cveryda3'  garment, 
and  exerts  a  good  influence  beyond  the  walls  of 
her  own  home.  Her  inteiesting  chihiren  are  being 
carefully  reared,  both  parents  ardently  desiring  to 
fit  them  for  useful  and  honorable  careers.  The  fam- 
ily record  is  as  follows:  Edward  B.,  born  October 
26,  1879;  Carrie  E.,  September  8,  1881;  Mary  B., 
January  13,  1883;  Nellie  R..  February  10,  1887, 
and  llattie  M.,  April  12,  1889. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Miles  are  Chandler  and 
Catherine  (Ackerson)  Eveland.  both  natives  of  the 
Buekeje  State.  Their  family  consists  of  the  fol- 
lowing living  children:  Ilaltie  J.,  Eva,  Jennie  F., 
Elizabeth,  Dora  M.  and  Katie  B.  Two  died  when 
quite  young.     The  famil}'  circle,  of  vvhioh  our  sub- 


ject makes  one,  includes  also  Elizabeth,  now  de- 
ceased, who  was  born  December  19,  1857;  Ed- 
ward C.,  born  .I.'iiuKiry  22,  1800;  anil  (Jeorge  F.. 
born  .lune  18.  18G2. 

The  political  adherence  of  !\Ir.  Miles  is  given  to 
the  principles  of  Democracy.  lie  held  the  oHice 
of  Road  Overseer  in  1879,  Collectnr  in  1888.  and 
Assessor  in  1889.  He  has  been  .lustice  of  the 
Peace  since  1880  and  School  Trustee  since  1882. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  he  is  considered  worthy 
of  the  confidence  of  his  fellow-men  and  capalile  of 
advancing  their  interests.  Since  April,  1888,  he 
has  been  a  member  of  Levvistown  Post,  Ko.  228, 
M.  W.  A.,  and  likewise  belongs  to  Commonwealth 
Chapter,  No.  60,  of  the  I.  O.  M.  A.  at  Levvistown. 


^^ 


JlpvEWMAN  McKINNEY  owns  and  operates 
)[  jjl  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  the  fine 
Ji\^^:  land  whose  productiveness  has  made  this 
county  the  garden  spot  of  Illinois.  It  is  situated 
on  sections  28  and  33,  in  a  favorable  location,  and 
has  been  supplied  with  a  comfortable  farm  house  mid 
all  the  accompaniments  in  the  w.ay  of  barns,  sheds, 
etc.,  that  are  needed  in  properly  carrying  on  the  do- 
mestic and  farm  economy.  Mr.  McKinney  h:is 
made  the  greater  part  of  his  money  b^'  raising 
hogs  and  corn. 

Mr.  McKinney  is  a  native  of  Newton,  N.  J., 
where  his  parents,  John  and  Ann  (Current)  Mc- 
Kinney, were  likewise  born.  His  father,  who  was 
a  farmer,  died  in  1855,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine 
years.  His  mother  had  died  two  years  before, 
being  but  thirty-eight  years  of  age  when  called 
hence.  She  left  five  children  and  had  two  lost 
sons — James  and  Franklin — in  infancy.  Harriet, 
the  oldest  child,  is  now  the  widow  of  L.  O.  Sher- 
bern  and  lives  in  Brooklyn;  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
John  N.  Morgan,  a  well-to-do  farmer,  who  lives  in 
Galva,  Henry  County;  Ellen  married  Calvin  Batty, 
their  home  lieing  in  Champaign  County;  Samuel 
is  a  farmer  in  Champaign  County;  he  of  whom  we 
write  is  the  fourth  member  of  the  family  circle. 

The  natal  day  of  our  subject  was  .Tanuary  8, 
1838.     Being  the  older  son,  and  his  father  having 


788 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


been  bedridden  for  two  ycfii's  prior  to  his  demise, 
the  lad  had  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of  tlie 
farm  and  the  houseiiold  when  ii.  his  fifteenth  j'ear. 
He  eontinned  in  charge  of  his  father's  farm  for  two 
years  after  the  death  of  the  parent.  He  then 
thought  that  he  would  like  to  see  the  West  and 
quit  stumping  liis  toes  against  tiie  rocks  and  briais 
of  New  Jersey.  He  turned  his  footsteps  westward 
and  making  his  way  to  Peoria,  was  soon  engaged 
with  a  farmer  in  Canton  Township.  Tiiis  was  in 
1858,  and  although  the  country  seemed  well 
adapted  for  agriculture  tlie  3'oung  man  was  disap- 
pointed and  homesick.  He  says:  "In  fact,  I  was 
homesick  for  fifteen  3-ears,  until  I  went  back  East, 
but  there  1  found  things  so  changed  that  I  was 
satisfied  with  Illinois." 

In  18C0  Mr.  .McKinney  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  prairie  land  near  Galva,  which  he  placed  under 
partial  improvement.  He  did  not  retain  his  owner- 
sliip  of  ii  long,  but  sold  out,  having  purchased 
another  farm  of  forty  acres  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood, which  was  under  high  cultivation  and  bore 
better  imjirovements.  This  was  his  possession  at 
the  time  of  his  marriage,  in  1863.  After  that 
ha[ipy  event  he  made  his  home  in  Galva  about  six 
months,  and  then  purchased  one  inindred  and  forty 
acres,  which  forms  a  part  of  his  present  estate. 
Some  seven  j"ears  since  he  bought  another  tract 
consisting  of  one  hundred  acres,  which  brings  his 
estate  up  to  a  goodly  size.  By  the  members  of 
his  class  he  is  regarded  as  an  A  No.  1  farmer,  and 
their  opinion  vvill  not  be  disputed  by  any  wlio  visit 
his  home. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  McKinney  is  a  native  of  Can- 
ton Township,  and  prior  to  her  mariiage  was 
known  as  Miss  Irena  Andrews.  She  is  an  excellent 
housekeeper,  a  good  neighbor,  an  efficient  helpmate 
and  devoted  mother.  Her  children  are:  IIenr3% 
William  Grant,  Samuel  L.,  Frank,  Clarence,  Belle. 
Kate  and  Hattie.  Henry  married  Ma>-  Cosier  and 
has  two  children — ^Ivan  N.  and  Yiola;  he  resides 
on  a  part  of  his  father's  farm.  William  G.  is  a 
farmer  in  Buckheart  Township;  he  married  Lizzie 
Hill  and  has  two  children — Marie  and  Rossie.  The 
other  members  of  the  family  still  brighten  the 
home  fireside.  The  oldest  daughter.  Belle,  has  a 
keen  intellect  and  a  decided  aptitude  for  the  prac. 


tical  application  of  business  principles.  She  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Business  College  at  Canton,  and  is 
thordughl}-  qualified  to  support  herself  should  any 
need  arise  of  her  exercising  her  talents. 

Mr.  McKinney  has  alw.aj'S  taken  a  deep  interest 
in  school  affairs.  He  is  at  present  a  member  of  the 
School  Board  and  has  done  efficient  work  as  such 
for  twenty  years.  He  is  one  of  the  stanch  meiube's 
of  the  Republican  parly,  whose  vote  can  always  be 
counted  on.  His  religious  belief  is  expressed  in 
the  creed  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  he  is  identilied 
with  the  society  of  that  denomination  in  Canton. 
He  is  undoubtedly'  looked  upon  with  as  great  a  de- 
gree of  respect  as  any  citizen  in  this  vicinity,  and 
possesses  as  many  genuine  friends  as  any  man  can 
boast.  He  is  of  Irish  ancestiy  in  the  paternal  line, 
his  great-grand  father  McKinney  having  been  born  in 
the  P^merald  Isle.  He  emigrated  to  America  and  be- 
came the  owner  of  large  estates  in  New  .Jersey. 
He  gave  his  allegiance  to  the  side  of  the  Tories, 
fearing  that  the  English  would  gain  tlie  day  and 
confiscate  the  property  of  the  Whigs  when  the 
struggle  for  American  independence  took  place. 
In  the  maternal  line  Mr.  McKinney  is  descomled 
from  Daniel  Youngs,  a  native  of  Ilollanrl,  who 
served  in  the  Revolutionary  War  as   a   patrolman. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  McKinnej-,  Henr^'  Y.  An- 
drews, was  one  of  the  earl}-  settlers  of  this  .State, 
having  been  brought  hither  by  his  jiarents  when 
but  a  child.  This  was  in  1819,  when  Peoria  w.is 
but  an  Indian  trading-post.  The  following  year 
his  parents  died  within  three  days  of  each  other, 
and  he  was  thus  left  an  orphan  at  the  tender  age 
of  seven  years.  He  vvas  adopted  into  the  family  of 
his  brother-in-law,  D.  W.  Barnes,  and  reared  by 
that  gentleman  in  the  wilds  of  Fulton  County.  He 
ma^-  be  said  to  have  had  a  "log  cabin"  education, 
as  he  attended  the  first  school  at  Peoria,  then  Ft. 
Clark,  and  also  the  first  one  in  Canton,  both  of 
which  were  held  in  log  buildings.  His  early  sur- 
roundings were  those  of  a  sparselj"  settled  prairie 
and  his  playmates  the  children  of  the  red  men  who 
then  trod  the  sod  where  the  thrifty  city  of  Canton 
is  now  located.  Pages  could  easil}'  be  written  of 
his  interesting  and  at  times  hazardous  experiences, 
now  joining  in  the  sports  of  the  little  savages,  now 
wending   his  way  to  school,  and  again  taking  part 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


789 


in  the  iluer  hunts,  Christmas  flinners  and  otlicr  holi- 
day festivities  whose  iiihirity  enlivened  those  eaily 
times,  lie  j^ives  a  glowin<;  desci'ipticjn  of  the  lirst 
tth  of  July  celebralion  in  this  county,  where  he 
listened  to  the  oratorical  efforts  of  William  Ems, 
who  did  the  '-spread  engle"  act  in  honor  of  the 
Nation's  birthday. 

In  182-1  Mr.  Andrews  removed  to  Canton  Town- 
shii).  settling  about  one  mile  northwest  of  the  pres-  i 
ent  site  of  Canton,  where  not  even  llie  vestige  of  a 
hamlet  was  then  to  be  seen.  The  year  1.S27  found 
him  working  in  the  h'ad  mines  of  Galena,  and  in 
1832,  while  still  in  his  teens,  ho  was  engaged  in  the 
famous  Black  Hawk  War.  At  its  close  lie  returned 
to  this  county  and  settled  down  to  farming.  Feb- 
ruary 2o,  1840,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Shane, 
who  was  l)orn  in  Virginia  and  came  with  her 
father,  James  Shane,  to  this  section  iit  an  early  day. 
Mr.  Andrews  is  now  seventy-five  years  old  and  his 
wife  sixty-eight.  They  still  live  near  Canton. 
They  have  had  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. These  are:  Hervey  L.,  of  Peoria;  Mrs.  L.  F. 
Randolph,  of  Joshua  Township;  Mrs.  Newman  Mc- 
Kinney ;  George  B. ;  Abner  B. ;  Frank  B. ;  Sadie  mar- 
ried Louis  Kruse,  and  they  live  in  Peoria:  and 
Corwin  II. 


i^,  HILIP  RKIHM.  The  fine  place  owned  and 
occupied  by  this  gentleman  consists  of  two 
hundred  and  ten  acres  on  sections  27  and 
28,  Yonng  Hickory  Township,  watered  by 
Coal  Creek  and  the  living  water  from  several 
S|)rings.  The  dwelling  is  a  capacious,  homelike 
structure,  26x28  feet,  erected  in  1883,  and  sur- 
rotinded  by  orchard  and  shade  trees,  and  other  evi- 
dences of  good  taste.  A  barn,  30x3C  feet,  was  put 
up  in  188(3,  and  the  estate  is  further  supplied  with 
structures  necessary  and  convenient.  The  latest 
improvements  in  the  way  of  machinery  are  used  by 
Mr.  Reihm,  who  holds  a  high  position  among  the 
agriculturists  of  the  vicinitj-. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Bavaria,  born  in  the 
village  (jf  Marbaeh,  two  miles  from  Sweedbriggen, 
Marcli  17,  1834.     His  birthplace   was  a   farm    vil- 


lage su|iplied  with  good  schools,  where  he  studied 
from  six  until  fourteen  years  old  in  accordance  with 
the  law  of  the  land.  He  also  became  acquainted 
willi  farm  hibor,  remaining  with  his  father  unlil  he 
was  seventeen  years  old,  when,  believing  that  bet- 
ter opportunities  awaited  him  in  America,  he  de- 
cided to  come  liither. 

In  the  spring  of  18.01  young  Reihm  sailed  from 
Havre,  France,  on  the  American  shii)  "'Electric," 
whirli  reached  New  York  after  a  somewhat  exciting 
l)assage  of  fortj'-two  days.  The  vessel  was  be- 
calmed three  weeks,  after  which  a  storm  arose.  The 
CM|)tain  had  tiecome  intoxicated,  and  when  he  be- 
gan issuing  commands,  did  not  know  what  he  was 
saving.  The  first  mate,  realizing  the  situation,  gave 
a  contrary  command,  at  which  the  sailors  stopped 
their  maneuvers.  An  altercation  arose  between  the 
captain  and  mate,  which  ended  in  the  former  being 
kicked  into  his  room  and  locked  uji.  In  twentj'- 
I'our  hours  the  boat  was  in  New  York  harbor, 
whereas,  had  the  captain's  orders  been  carried  out 
it  would  probably  have  gone  down  in  tlie  gale. 
During  the  vo3'age  the  jiassengers  had  been  in 
close  proximity  to  icebergs  and  a  school  of  whales. 

Mr.  Reihm,  after  landing  among  strangers,  went 
on  to  Oneida  County,  where  he  worked  out  the 
first  year  for  $80,  his  vv.ages  being  advanced  the 
next  year  to  $10  per  month,  and  afterward  still 
further  increased.  He  remained  in  that  county 
four  and  one-half  years,  working  on  three  difTerent 
places  during  that  time.  In  the  fall  of  1858  he 
came  to  Illinois  by  rail,  slopping  at  Prairie  City, 
and  thence  coming  on  to  Ellisville.  In  this  neigh- 
borhood he  worked  out  by  the  month  until  after 
the  otitbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  when,  firmly  con- 
vinced of  the  justice  of  the  Union  cause,  he  entered 
the  army.  In  August,  1862,  he  was  enrolled  in 
Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Thiid  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  going  from  Fairview  to  Peoria,  w.as 
mustered  in  and  sent  South. 

The  company  commander  was  Capt.  Wycoff,  un- 
der whose  leadership  our  sui)ject  was  soon  engaged 
in  martial  affrays.  Tlie  first  service  of  the  com- 
pany w,as  chasing  Price's  men,  guarding  roads  and 
skirmishing  for  about  a  3'ear.  Mr.  Reihm  was  then 
left  at  the  Memphis  hospital  sick,  and  on  recover- 
ing rejoined  his    regiment  at   Black    River.     The 


790 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


boys  were  in  the  rear  at  Vioksburg,  then  went  up 
tlie  Mississippi  to  Memphis,  wlicnce  they  marched 
to  Chattanooga,  anrl  took  i)art  in  the  battle  of  Mis- 
sionar3'  Ridge.  Before  the  engagement  the  brigade 
to  which  our  subject  belonged  was  sent  on  a  flank 
movement  around  the  ridge,  and  Price  getting  af- 
ter them,  they  came  near  being  cut  off  from  the 
rest  of  the  forces  and  captured.  They,  however, 
got  hack  across  the  river,  and  held  a  place  on  the 
left  during  the  engagement.  After  the  battle  they 
moved  back  to  the  vicinity  of  Scottsburg,  where 
they  went  into  winter  quarters. 

In  the  spring  of  1864:  they  joined  Sherman,  but 
our  subject,  who  had  in  the  meantime  been  again 
taken  sick,  was  left  behind,  lie  was  detailed  for 
garrison  duty  at  Kuntsville,  Ala.,  until  Hood's  re- 
turn to  that  neighborhood,  when  ho  went  back  to 
Nasliville.  His  next  duty  was  to  guard  men  to 
.and  from  their  commands,  having  from  twent}^  to 
sixty  men  under  his  command.  He  was  taken  sick 
again  two  montiis  before  his  discharge,  having 
taken  cold,  and  over  exerted  himself.  His  dis- 
charge was  received  at  the  Nashville  hospital  May 
15,  1865,  and  coming  to  Springfield,  111.,  he  was 
|)aid  off  and  then  came  to  Fairview. 

Mr.  Reihm  again  went  to  work  as  a  fnxm  laborer, 
liut  in  the  fall  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
.acres  of  his  present  pLice.  He  was  joined  in  the 
enterprise  by  Mr.  J.  L.  Fingel.  his  father-in-law  and 
his  brother-in-law,  but  the  land  wiis  divided  between 
them  in  18.66.  There  were  scarcely  any  improve- 
ments upon  the  land,  but  Mr.  Reihm  took  posses- 
sion and  at  once  began  to  clear  and  grub  out  the 
timber  and  break  the  sod.  He  went  in  debt  for 
stock  and  machinery,  but  from  year  to  year  paid 
off  his  indebtedness  and  improved  his  circumstances. 
He  replaced  the  log  cabin  which  was  his  first  home, 
by  the  substantial  dwelling  he  now  occupies,  set 
out  apple  and  peach  trees,  built  fences  and  other- 
niax;  brought  up  the  place  to  its  present  excellent 
condition.  He  .added  to  his  share  of  the  original 
liurch.ase,  m.aking  the  home  farm  the  size  before 
noted,  and  owns  also  twenty  acres  of  timber  ianrl 
on  .section  ■/I.  He  raises  both  grain  and  stock,  the 
latter  being  of  liigh  gr.ade.  His  horses  are  graded 
Norman  and  Clydesdales,  and  some  eight  head  are 
i;cnerally  to  be  seen  on  the  place.     Two  teams  are 


emploj'ed  in  cultivating  the  soil  and  earing  for  the 
produce.  Mr.  Reihm  fi^eds  about  a  car  load  of 
hogs  and  cattle  per  year. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Reihm  and  Miss  Catherine 
A.  Fingel  was  solemnized  in  Deerfield  Township, 
November  12,  1865.  The  bride  was  born  near  Du- 
denhofen,  Germany,  June  27,  1848.  She  was  six 
j'ears  old  wh^  her  parents  emigrated  to  America, 
and  soon  as  she  was  old  enough  she  worked  her  own 
way  in  life.  Her  father,  John  L.  Fingel,  was  born 
in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  and  was  a  farmer 
there.  In  1854  he  crossed  the  briny  deep,  and  set- 
tled in  Deerfield  Township.  He  now  owns  one 
hundred  and  sixt}'  acres  of  land  there,  upon  which 
he  resides  and  which  he  has  thoroughly  improved. 
His  wife,  formerly  Margaret  AV^alter,  is  also  a  na- 
tive of  Germany.  They  are  identified  with  the 
Lutheran  Church.  Their  family  comprised  two  sons 
and  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Reihm  being  the  young- 
est. The  oldest  child,  Peter,  died  in  Deerfield 
Township;  Mary  is  now  Mrs.  Marr,  of  Iowa;  Henry 
lives  on  the  homestead. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reihm  eiglit  children  have  been 
born,  named  respectively:  Henry,  Katie,  Charles, 
Fiank.  Frederick,  Philip.  Jr. ,  Albert,  and  Sylves- 
ter. Henry  is  clerking  and  doing  other  work  in 
Fairview;  Katie  is  also  employed  in  that  vill.age ; 
Charles  and  Frederick  are  at  work  near  that  place; 
the  other  members  of  the  family  are  yet  at  home. 

Mr.  Reihm  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as 
School  Director.  He  belongs  to  Casper  Shleich 
Post,  No.  618,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Ellisville.  .and  has  been 
Orderly.  He  is  a  true  Republican,  labors  actively 
to  advance  the  party  principles,  and  was  delegate  to 
county  conventions  unty  he  resigned  from  that 
honor.  He  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  Church  at 
Coal  Creek,  which  he  assisted  in  building  up,  and 
of  which  he  has  been  Deacon.  He  is  as  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  public  welfare  as  an}'  man  in  this 
vicinity,  and  enjoys  the  esteem  of  his  neighbors. 
His  good  wife  is  one  of  the  most  highly  honored 
ladies  in  the  township,  fully  deserving  of  the  repu- 
tation which  she  bears. 

Our  subject  is  a  gr.andson  of  Daniel  Reihm,  a 
Bavarian  farmer  who  owned  much  property.  He 
was  a  Justice  and  Mayor  of  Marbach.  The  family 
was  one  of  prominence,  and  htid  long  lived  in  that 


>-%% 


yf--/2#^^^wL. .  H;  ^- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


791 


vicinity.  Tlie  father  of  our  subject  was  reared 
tiiere,  followed  the  ancestral  occupation,  and  be- 
came the  owner  of  a  farm.  He  was  considerably 
interested  in  stock-raising  as  well  tis  in  tillint;-  the 
soil.  He  drew  liiniself  free  from  army  service.  He 
was  a  Squire,  transacting  the  business  of  the  town. 
He  died  in  1864,  cheered  by  the  faith  of  t!ie  Evan- 
gelical Ciuirch. 

The  motlier  of  our  subject  was  Louisa  Casper,  a 
Bavarian  lady  who  lircathed  her  last  in  18r)3.  Slie 
was  borji  in  Anerbach,  where  her  father,  Daniel  Cas- 
per, w.as  engaged  in  farming.  She  bore  her  hus- 
band six  children — Daniel,  Philip,  Belcher,  Mary, 
now  Mrs.  Brady;  Apeline  (Mrs.  Dalhauser) ;  and 
Margaret  (Mrs.  Noe).  The  latter  is  living  in  Ohio, 
being  the  only  one  besides  our  subject  who  has 
emigrated  to  America. 


^£ 


l^ 


WjILliam  b.  martin,  m. 
resentativc    of   tiie   youui 
,,   ^       Fulton    County,  who  are 


rilLLIAM  B.  MARTIN,  M.  D..  is  a  fine  rc))- 

piiysicians  of 
ity,  who  are  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  their  noble  calling.  He  is 
a  young  gentleman  of  marked  enterprise  and  niucli 
ability,  and  an  honorable  and  remunerative  career 
appears  to  lie  before  him  in  the  fields  of  politics 
and  medicine. 

The  Doctor  is  a  native  of  this  State,  born  in 
Coal  Valley,  Rock  Island  County,  March  7,  IHfiO. 
His  father.  Dr.  Thomas  Martin,  came  from  Colum- 
biana County,  Ohio,  to  Illinois  and  died  in  Hock 
Island  County  in  the  montli  of  April,  1890.  at  tlu! 
age  of  sixty-six  years.  He  was  a  very  inomineut 
citizen  in  that  (lart  of  the  State  and  was  atone  time 
Supervi.sor,  representing  Coal  Valley  on  the  Rock 
Island  County  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  was  also 
Postmaster  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  was  an 
officer  in  the  war  and  served  gallantly  .as  Captain 
of  Company  II,  One  Ilundrel  and  Twent3'-sixtli 
Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  pre-eminent  in  the  re- 
ligious and  social  life  of  his  community,  and  was 
the  leading  organizer  of  the  Coal  Valley  Presby- 
terian Church,  towards  the  support  of  which  he 
contributed  libeially,  acting  as  its  ruling  Elder  to 
the  time  of  his  death. 

In  early  life  Thomas  Martin  married  Miss  Mar\ 


A.  Connelly,  a  native  of  Ireland.  She  survives  her 
husband  and  is  now  fifty-eight  years  old.  .She  is  r. 
most  estimable  lady  and  a  respected  resident  of 
(Joal  \'alle}\  Prior  to  this  union  Mr.  Martin  had 
been  married  before  and  by  that  marriage  had  one 
child,  Walter  B.  who  is  still  living.  Our  subject's 
mother  had  also  been  married  before  she  met  Mr. 
Martin,  her  first  husband's  name  being  William 
Brown.  She  had  no  children  I)y  that  marriage. 
By  the  union  with  the  father  of  our  subject  she  had 
three  children:  William  lirown,  our  subject,  Thomas 
R.  and  Minnie.  The  latter  is  a  successful  teacher 
and  had  charge  of  the  ))rimary  department  of  the 
Norris  Schools  in  the  season  of  1889-90.  Thomas 
R.  is  engaged  as  clerk  for  the  Coal  Valley  Mining 
Company  in  Rock  Island. 

Dr.  Martin,  of  whom  we  write,  spent  the  early 
j-ears  of  his  life  in  his  native  county  and  when  a 
boj'  beg.an  to  clerk  in  his  father's  drug-store.  He 
was  given  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education, 
and  after  attending  the  Coal  Valley  High  School  he 
w.as  a  student  in  the  Scientilic  Department  of  Knox 
College  three  years  and  ranked  as  a  junior  when 
he  left  college  to  teach.  His  first  experience  as  a 
teacher  was  in  the  sjiring  of  1878-79  in  a  country 
school  in  Rural  Township.  Rock  Island  County.  III. 
In  188o-84  he  was  Principal  of  the  Rapids  City 
High  School.  The  next  two  years  he  acted  in  the 
same  capacity  in  the  Coal  Valle}-  Higli  School.  He 
made  a  decided  success  as  a  teacher  but  had  a  pro- 
nounced taste  for  the  medical  profession  and 
abandone<l  teaching  to  prepare  himself  for  his 
chosen  calling. 

In  the  fall  of  188G  our  subject  entered  Rush 
Medical  College  at  Chicago,  and  was  graduated 
with  the  class  of  '88  from  that  institution.  He  took 
a  special  course  in  Dental  Surgery  and  Pathology, 
and  thus  well  equippe<l  for  his  vocation  became  to 
Norris  to  establish  himself  in  practice.  He  had 
previ(nisly  made  the  acquaintance  of  T.  W.  Will- 
iams, the  owner  of  the  Norris  coal  mines,  who  in- 
duced him  to  locate  here  and  made  a  contract  with 
him  to  act  as  mine  surgeon.  He  built  a  well-ap- 
pointed office  here  in  1888  and  enjoys  a  very  fair 
practice. 

The  Doctor  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Norris 
in  the   month  of  Deceniber,  1889,  and  is  discharg- 


792 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOi;  liAl'IIICAL  ALRUM. 


ing  work  tlitis  devolving  upon  liiin  to  the  salisfac- 
tion  of  mII  concerned,  as  \w  is  ahvays  courteous, 
prompt  and  obliging.  Ih:  joined  tlie  Masonic  fra- 
ternity at  Canton,  in  1889.  and  is  a  member  of 
Canton  Lodge  No.  7:M.  He  is  an  aident  young 
Rei)nbliean  and  is  intliiential  in  the  political  life  of 
his  commnnity. 


,SCAR  M.  CARVER.  This  gentleman  i>  a 
representative  in  llie  third  generation  of  old 
settlers  in  FnUon  County,  and  of  Southern- 
born  ancestors.  His  grandfatlier,  Pleasant  M.  Car- 
ver, was  born  in  Albemarle  (bounty,  Va.,  January, 
1788,  and  died  on  his  farm  in  Bnckheart  Township, 
this  county,  November  22,  1876.  His  wife,  form- 
erly Catherine  .Sliryock,  died  some  time  before  his 
own  decease.  They  had  come  hither  from  Lexing- 
ton, Ky.,  in  1833.     They  had  nine  children. 

The  natal  day  of  Allen  Carver,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  October  29,  1819,  and  his  birthplace 
Lexington,  IMadison  County,  Ky.  He  grew  to  ma- 
turity in  Fulton  County,  111.,  marrying  Elizabeth 
Mahannah,  the  ceremony  taking  place  June  7,  1854. 
Mrs.  Carver  was  born  in  Buckheart  Township,  July 
5,  1829,  her  parents  having  come  hither  from  Penn- 
Si'lvauia,  and  removed  to  Fairbury,  Livingston 
County,  about  1850.  Fhe  family  of  Allen  Carver 
and  his  wife  consisted  of  the  follovving  children, 
namely:  Mary  R.,  Benjamin  C,  Catherine  Eliza, 
Cornelius  Benton.  Emma  Elizabeth,  Oscar  M.,  and 
Annie  Sirrilda.  Benjamin  C.  was  born  November 
7,  1860,  and  died  June  19,  1866;  Catherine,  born 
February  20,  1858,  married  James  Rosin  of  Buck- 
heart  Township.  November  29,  1879;  Cornelius, 
.  born  November  7.  1859,  died  February  14,  1866; 
Emma,  born  May  20,  1861,  married  Edwin  Wheeler 
of  Canton,  in  November,  1882;  Annie,  born  No- 
vember 25,  1868,  is  living  with  her  uncle,  Gideon 
Carver,  in  this  township. 

Oscar  Marvin  Carver,  of  vvhom  we  write,  was 
born  in  Buckheart  Township,  ( )(!tober  19,  1866, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1867  had  deeded  to  him  by  his 
father  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  adjoin- 
ing that  on  which  he  now  lives.     Of  the   property- 


then  deeded  to  him  he  had  sold  ninety- five  acres, 
and  recently  buying  out  the  other  three  heirs  to 
the  eighty-one  acres  on  which  he  lives,  now  |)os- 
sesses  a  comfortable  estate  of  one  hundred  and 
forty-six  acres.  The  improvements  upon  the  home 
farm  were  made  by  the  father  prior  to  his  death. 
The  son  has  some  graded  Norman  horses  and  also 
raises  Short-horn  and  Durham  cattle,  together  with 
large  droves  of  Poland-C'liina  hogs,  which  he  sells 
to  the  home  market. 

On  May  1  2,  1889,  Mr.  Carver  led  to  the  hymeneal 
altar  Miss  May  Kennedy,  a  young  lady  who  has 
had  the  advantages  of  good  home  training  and  ex- 
cellent schooling,  and  does  credit  to  the  privileges 
which  she  has  enjoyed.  She  is  a  daughter  u(  Siian  ■ 
non  and  Elizabeth  (Rupe)  Kennedy,  of  Monterey, 
Banner  Townshi|),  this  county,  at  which  place  her 
marriage  rites  were  celebrated.  The  ha[)py  union 
has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  a  son,  Kenneth 
Lloyd,  whose  natal  day  was  March  2,  1890. 


HARLE.S  H.  STANLEY,  contractor  and 
builder  of  Canton,  has  been  connected  with 
i^'  the  building  interests  of  this  county  for 
many  3'ears,  and  is  well  and  favorably  known.  He 
was  bori:  in  Buckinghamshire,  England,  February 
10,  1834.  His  parents,  Robert  F.  and  Caroline 
(Hester)  Stanley,  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
when  our  subject  was  three  years  old.  They  staid 
a  short  time  in  New  York  City,  and  thence  went  to 
Rochester,  in  the  same  State.  The  father  died  there 
in  1848,  leaving  his  wife  with  three  children  to 
care  for.  He  was  a  son  of  an  Episcopalian  minis- 
ter, and  was  educated  by  the  Church  of  England. 
His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  John  Hester. 

The  subject  of  thi„  sketch  was  the  only  son  of 
his  parents.  He  was  a  lad  of  fourteen  years  when 
he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  father.  His  school 
days  were  passed  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.  After  the 
completion  of  his  education,  he  learned  the  trade  of 
a  carpenter  with  his  uncle,  Charles  H.  Stanley,  with 
whom  he  remained  three  years.  I'pon  the  expira- 
tion of  tliat  time  he  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  to 
work   with  another  uncle  at  the  same  trade,     In 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


793 


1856  he  drifted  West  to  Havana,  111.,  and  in  1857 
uame  to  Canton,  III.,  of  whicli  lie  lias  since  been  a 
liioniinent  resident.  Soon  after  iie  came  iiere  he 
liegan  Ijusiness  as  a  contractor  and  builder,  and  has 
since  followed  it  actively.  He  is  a  si<illed  work- 
man, and  linows  well  what  to  require  of  tliose  who 
work  under  iiiin,  and  lie  possesses  much  executive 
aliility,  and  lias  done  finely  at  his  business.  Many 
of  the  principal  business  buildings  in  Canton  were 
erected  under  his  direction,  as  well  as  numerous 
dwellings. 

Mr.  Stanley  has  been  twice  married.  While  he 
was  residing  in  Havana,  III.,  he  was  wedded  to  Miss 
J  Nancy  Meeker,  of  that  city,  who  died  in  18(">1,  leav- 
ing one  child,  Charles  C.  Mr.  Stanley's  present 
wife  was  Dorenda  Bybee.  a  daughter  of  James  By- 
bee,  an  old  settler  of  the  county.  One  daughter 
has  been  born  of  this  marriage,  Luella  J.,  wife  of 
Jacob  Abbott,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Canton. 

Mr.  Stanley  is  a  straightforward,  prompt  and 
methodical  man  of  business,  and  his  success  has 
contributed  to  the  upbuilding  of  Canton.  He  is  a 
memlier  of  IMorning  Star  Lodge,  No.  734,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  also  belongs  to  Canton  Chapter  R.  A. 
M.,  and  to  the  K.  of  P.  In  politics  he  gives  stanch 
support  to  the  Democratic  party.  His  fellow-Demo- 
crats have  sought  his  assistance  in  the  guidance  of 
the  municipal  government,  and  he  is  at  present  a 
member  of  the  City  Council,  and  Alderman  of  the 
Fourth  Ward.  His  residence  is  on  Majile  Street, 
and  there  he  and  his  family  have  a  home  replete 
with  comfort. 


C.  DeMORRIS,  JI.  I).  There  are  few  men 
l]  of  the  present  d.ay  more  successful,  or  more 
worthy  of  honorable  mention  than  the  sub- 
^  ject  of  our  present  sketch.  A  record  of 
his  life  fully  illustrates  what  may  be  accomiilislied 
by  determined  will  and  perseverance,  for  through 
his  own  efforts  he  has  risen  to  the  position  of  a 
leading  practitioner  in  this  community,  and  is  well 
and  favorably  known  throughout  the  county. 

Born   at  a  time   when   the  education   of  children 
did  not  receive  special  attention,  he  gained  only  a 


limited  amount  of  literar3'  training,  but  at  an  early 
age  evinced  a  special  tendency  towards  the  practice 
of  medicine,  his  greatest  desire  being  to  reach  a 
proud  position  in  the  ranks  of  eminent  medical 
men.  He  is  to-day  a  physician  and  surgeon  whose 
skill  is  generally  recognized,  and  has  practiced 
most  successfully  for  forty  years. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  I'a.,  on 
the  19th  of  October,  1820.  His  father- 
Christopher  DeMorris,  was  a  Frenchman  by  birth 
and  education,  and  his  mother  was  a  native  of  .Scot- 
land. To  thein  were  born  eight  children,  viz: 
Samuel  D.,  Christopher,  Nancey,  John,  Martha, 
Sarah;  Margaret;  and  Huston  C,  the  subject  of 
our  sketcli,  who  is  the  only  one  of  the  children  liv- 
ing at  the  present  time.  As  before  stated  his  edu- 
cation was  not  very  exten.sive.  He  attended  a 
subscription  school  held  in  a  little  log  house,  and 
many  times  was  forced  to  walk  two  miles  when  the 
snow  was  fully  two  feet  dceji.  and  the  wintry  winils 
were  bleak  and  cold. 

Dr.  DeMorris  being  reared  on  a  farm  necessaril}- 
led  a  quiet  life,  and  had  an  abundance  of  time  to 
exercise  his  mental  vigor  in  thinking  of  serious 
subjects.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  began  to  read 
medicine  under  Dr.  McClelland  of  Philadelphia, 
and  through  a  period  of  three  or  four  3ears  con- 
tinued to  study  very  diligently.  Having  com- 
pleted the  course  ol  reading,  he  began  to  practice 
in  Clairfield.  Pa.,  and  at  a  later  date  in  Clarion,  the 
same  State. 

The  Doctor  was  first  unite<]  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Elizabeth  Hartley,  and  to  them  were  born  six 
children,  viz.:  Sarah,  ISLary,  Margaret.  Catha- 
rine, Jane,  and  Scott.  Catharine  and  Jane  died 
in  infanc}-.  The  second  marriage  of  the  Doctor 
was  solemnized  in  Pennsylvania  when  Miss  Su- 
sanna O.  Lowery,  daughter  of  Samuel  aiul  Susanna 
G.  (13uMais)  Loweiy  became  his  wife.  Her  par- 
ents were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  had  nine 
children,  viz:  Jane,  John,  .Margaret,  Alex,  David. 
Sarah,  Smith,  .Susanna  G.  and  William. 

Our  subject  in  the  year  18(10  moved  to  the  .State 
of  Illinois,  settling  first  at  Sniillilield,  where  he  en- 
joyed a  ver3'  extensive  and  lucrative  practice.  To 
illustrate  his  success  it  may  be  mentioned  that  out 
of  one  hundrcil  and  eighty-two  cases  of  fevei'  m  one 


POIMK'Air   AND   lUotiUArilU  AL  ALBUM. 


single  _ve;ir  lie  never  lost  one.  The  Doctor  re- 
moved to  .Miildle  Giove  in  September  1885,  and 
immediately  after  his  arrival  built  a  little  house. 
In  a  short  time  he  gained  great  popnlaritj-  which 
his  faithfulness  and  success  as  a  practitioner  has 
•  increased.  The  children  born  of  his  last  marriage 
are  Susanna  .)..  who  is  married  and  has  five  chil- 
dren and  Hugh,  who  died  when  he  was  tweuty-six 
months  old.  Dr.  DeMoiris  is  an  uncompromising 
Democrat  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  jiolit- 
ical  matters. 


if  AMES  HARVEY  CRAIG  BROWN,  a  pros- 
perous lumber  dealer  of  Farmington,  has 
been  engaged  in  this  business  here  for  the 
p,«ist  four  years  and  for  the  same  length  of 
time  has  operated  the  Iowa  Central  Elevator  at 
this  point.  He  is  a  native  of  this  county,  boru  in 
Astoria.  JIaroh  12,  1856.  and  a  son  of  the  well- 
known  honored  pioneer  Methodist  minister,  the 
Rev.  A.  F.  Brown.  His  mother  Martha  E.  (Craig) 
Brown,  was  born  in  Ohio,  was  well  educated  in 
its  schools  and  was  a  school  teacher. 

The  Rev.  Abraham  F.  Brown  was  bcrn  at  Louis- 
ville, Kj-..  of  which  his  parents  were  early  pioneers. 
Tliev  were  of  Welsh  descent  and  when  he  was 
quite  young  they  removed  to  Ohio,  afterwards  to 
In<liana,  and  in  1818  came  to  Illinois,  and  were 
among  the  ver^-  lirst  settlers  of  this  county,  locat- 
ing within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  present  site 
of  the  village  of  Astoria,  where  they  built  a  log 
cabin  and  lived  a  pioneer  life  among  the  Indians. 
In  Kentucky  he  had  to  go  a  distance  of  three  miles 
to  school.  In  Illinois  there  were  no  schools  when 
he  came  here  and  many  a  night  did  he  study  by 
torch  or  candle  light  till  one  or  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  his  Bible  being  his  principal  text  book. 
AVIien  a  young  man  he  was  appointed  commissioner 
to  Lay  out  the  first  roads  in  Fulton  and  Schuyler 
Counties. 

Mr.  Brown  was  naturally  of  a  religions  turn  of 
ndnd  and  was  converted  to  Methodism  in  183:1. 
He  was  licensed  .as  an  exhorter  August  25.  1K34. 
and  to  preach  March  26.  1838.     He  was  desired  to 


talif  a  position  as  a  stationary  minister,  but  ho 
[^referred  to  do  evangelical  woik.  He  was  very 
much  opposed  to  slaver^'  and  supported  the  Whig 
party.  He  w.as  organized  many  churches  and  was 
always  in  favor  of  education  and  i)rogress.  This 
consistent  and  devoted  Christian  passed  from  the 
scenes  of  his  useful  labors  in  1882,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six  years.  He  had  ever  done  what  he 
could  to  advance  the  kingdom  of  God  upon  earth 
and  the  world  had  been  made  better  by  his  living 
in  it. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Brown  w.is  twice  married;  his 
second  wife  the  mother  of  our  subject  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Rebecca  Craig,  who  came  from 
Scotland  to  America  ami  were  |)ioneers  of  Ohio. 
.She  came  to  Illinois  for  her  health  and  taught  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  .Slate  several  years  before 
her  marriage.  She  had  three  children,  James  H. 
C,  Cuinmings  F.,  and  Samuel  L.,  (wdio  died  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years.)  Cumraings  is  a  machinist, 
making  his  home  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  although  he 
travels  for  a  large  agricultural  house.  He  married 
Miss  Alice  Ham  and  has  two  children.  The  four 
children  living  of  Mr.  Brown's  first  marriage  are 
John,  who  resides  near  Vermont;  Rebecca,  wife  of 
Samuel  Elgin  ;  Angeline.wife  of  William  Lamperall ; 
Caroline,  wife  of  Israel  Baker,  all  of  whom  reside 
near  Astoria. 

James  Harvey  Craig  Brown  of  whom  we  write, 
was  reared  in  Astoria,  and  w.as  educated  in  its 
schools.  His  father,  like  the  most  of  the  Motliodis*: 
ministers  of  his  day,  devoted  so  much  of  his  time 
to  his  Christian  labors  that  he  did  not  aciumulate 
a  ver^'  large  property,  althouirh  he  was  in  comforta- 
b'e  circumstances  and  owned  a  good  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  and  on  that  old  homestead  our  subject  was 
trained  to  a  useful  life.  At  the  age  of  lwenty-on'> 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Louisa  A.  Hettrick,  a  na- 
tive of  .\storia.  To  them  have  come  two  children 
— Maude  E.  and  Pearl  T.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bronn 
have  a  beautiful  suburban  home  adjoining  the  city 
on  the  south.  Here  he  erected  a  handsome  residence 
and  has  twenty  acres  of  well  improved  land  around 
it. 

.Mrs.  Brown's  father,  William  Hettrick  was  an 
old  settler  and  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Astoria,  en- 
terintr  his  farm  on  section  21,  March  G,  1837.     He 


PORTRAIT  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


795 


w!is  a  native   of   Cumberland    County.   Pa.,    and 

December  lo,  1839,  wns  married  to  Klla  Ann  liraml, 
who  died  some  nine  j'ears  before  he  did.  ilis 
death  oeeurred  December  17,  1883,  at  the  .a-^e  of 
sixt)'-eight  years,  nine  months  and  eight  d.ays.  He 
came  to  this  State  from  Virginia  where  his  i)arents 
iiad  settled  wiien  lie  was  quite  young.  He  lived  in 
Edgar  County  two  years  and  thence  moved  to 
Uernadotte  and  there  worked  at  his  trade  of  a 
tailor  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  thtit  time  lie 
turned  his  attention  to  farming,  taking  up  the 
tract  of  Ciovernicnt  land  before  mentioned  in  that 
part  of  Asleiria  then  known  as  AVashington.  He 
lived  long  and  was  prospered,  and  died  honored 
and  respected  by  all  wlio  knew  him.  He  was  a 
very  consistent  Christian  and  a  life-long  member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  lived  on  a 
farm  near  Astoria  for  about  five  years,  then  came 
to  Farmington  in  1882  where  he  established  him- 
self in  the  grain  and  mill  business.  In  1887,  he 
bought  out  the  business  of  his  predecessor  and 
derives  a  satisfaetorj-  income  from  it.  Besides  his 
lumber  interests  he  is  conducting  a  good  grain 
business,  and  is  in  a  fair  w.ay  to  become  one  of  the 
wealthiest  men  of  the  town.  He  is  a  careful 
manager  and  good  financier,  and  stands  well  in  the 
business  world.  In  politics  he  uses  his  induence 
for  the  interests  of  the  Republican  |)art_y,  he  being 
quite  radical  in  his  political  views.  Religiously, 
he  is  a  Presbyterian  and  a  raemlier  of  the  church 
of  that  denomination. 


^  AMES  M.  HERBERT  is  one  of  tlie  wealthiest 
and  most  prosperous  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers  in  all  Cass  Township,  where  he  lias  a 
\Vg/'  large  farm  and  other  valuable  property. 
More  than  half  a  century  ago  he  came  to  this  county 
with  his  mother  and  step-father,  who  became  pio- 
neers of  the  county.  His  parents  were  jjoor  peoiile 
antl  as  a  boy  he  had  a  hard  struggle  with  |)overty 
and  tiie  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  and  was  very 
early  set  to  work  to  earn  his  own  bread  by  the 
svveat  of  his  brow.      He  bravelv  pei'scvcred  to  over- 


come every  obstacle  that  lay  in  his   pathwaj'  and 

linally  achieved  success  solel^y  by  the  exercise  of 
brawn  and  muscle,  and  it  may  well  be  his  pride 
that  he  is  a  self-made  man. 

Mr.  Herbert  was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio. 
.Tanuary  12,  182G.  His  father,  .lohn  Herbert,  was 
a  native  of  New  York  and  a  farmer,  and  died  in 
Oliio  in  IfS.'il,  while  yet  in  life's  prime,  leaving  a 
widow  and  three  cliildren — Albert,  now  deceased; 
our  subject;  and  Jane,  Mrs.  Abrara  B.aughman. 
The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject  was 
Becky  Long,  and  she  was  born  in  Delaware  and 
married  in  Ohio.  After  the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band slie  was  w'edded  to  .Tolin  Wiieeler  and  by  that 
Tuarriage  she  had  the  f(jllowing  children:  Eliza- 
beth, Mrs.  Stahl;  Samuel;  Rachael,  Mrs.  John  Wat- 
son. In  18.3,")  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wheeler  earner  to  Illi- 
nois witli  their  family  and  became  early  settlers  of 
Cass  Township,  where  they  died,  he  in  1847  and 
she  in  1878,  at  a  venerable  age.  He  was  a  valiant 
soldier  in  the  War  of  J  81  2. 

Our  subject  was  only  nine  years  old  when  he 
came  to  this  county  with  his  mother  and  step- 
father, and  he  well  remembers  the  wild  condition 
of  the  surrounding  eountiy.  There  are  now  more 
people  in  Cass  Township  than  there  were  in  the 
whole  county  then,  except  Canton  and  Lewistown, 
and  there  were  only  five  houses  between  liis  step- 
father's farm  and  I'.ernadotte,  and  but  six  houses 
between  it  and  Canton.  The  Indians  had  just  been 
removed  across  the  Mississlpin',  but  wild  animals 
were  very  plentiful.  The  farm  on  which  Mr. 
Wheeler  located  was  all  raw  land,  with  no  improve- 
ments, and  he  had  to  build  a  log  house  to  shelter 
his  family.  He  was  a  ver3-  poor  man,  and  six  and 
one-fourth  cents  was  all  the  cash  he  had  when  he 
arrived  in  the  country.  The  family  lived  on  corn 
bread,  huminy  and  such  game  .as  they  could  pro- 
cure. For  coffee  they  used  burnt  wheat  and  corn. 
Each  inmate  of  the  family  had  to  labor  hard  to 
contribute  his  or  her  quota  towards  its  support,  and 
by  industry  and  rigid  economy  managed  to  obtain 
a  living.  Their  straightened  circumstances  con- 
tinued during  the  life-of  the  step-father. 

Mr.  Herbert  had  but  little  schooling  as  there 
were  but  two  schools  in  the  townsliip.  which  were 
e(.)ndueted   on  the   subscri|)tion    plan,  and  when    his 


(96 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


family  could  afford  lo  send  him  lie  had  a  good  waj^s 
to  go.  At  fourteen  }-ears  of  age,  a  stout,  self-reli- 
ant, jH-actical  lad.  he  liegan  life  for  himself  liy 
working  out  on  a  farm  for  five  dollars  a  montli, 
continuing  thus  employed  three  years.  He  and  his 
brother  then  rented  land  together  in  Cass  Town- 
ship till  1848,  \vh"n  our  sul)jeet  went  to  live  with 
Alhert  Herbert.  I'cmaining  with  him  one  year.  Wo 
next  find  him  working  independently  on  a  small 
place  he  had  bought,  and  he  actively  continued  its 
improvement.  He  has  been  very  n)uch  pvos|)ered 
and  from  that  small  beginning  has  aecumulate<I 
much  valuable  property.  He  owns  three  hundred 
and  two  acres  of  land  and  h.as  deeded  sixty-eight 
acres  to  his  children  besides  this.  All  the  sub- 
stantial improvements  that  make  it  one  of  the  most 
desirable  fai  ms  in  the  locality  are  the  work  of  his 
own  hands.  In  1873  he  built  a  commodious  resi- 
dence at  a  cost  of  81,500  and  he  owns  besides  a 
house  and  lot,  valued  at  $1,500.  He  carries  on 
mixed  farming,  raising  grain  and  stock,  and  is  still 
active  in  looking  after  his  agricultural  interests,  but 
will  retire  eie  long  to  enjoy  his  handsome  compe- 
tence. For  tiie  last  ten  years  he  has  cleared  a 
thousand  dollars  a  year  from  liis  farm. 

He  has  seen  much  of  pioneer  life  and  aptly  de- 
scribes the  primitive  schoolhouses  in  which  the 
children  of  the  pioneers  were  educated.  The 
schoolhouses  were  rude  log  cabins,  with  not  a  nail 
used  in  their  construction,  a  weight  on  the  roof 
holding  down  the  boards.  A  log  was  taken  out  to 
admit  a  six  light  windol^■  and  a  series  of  sticks 
were  put  up  and  greased  paper  put  in  between  to 
serve  for  glass  when  the  glass  was  broken.  Slabs 
or  hewn  pui.cheons  were  used  for  seals,  and  the 
only  desk  was  a  slab  the  whole  length  of  the  build- 
ing. Some  cla|)boards  were  put  together  for  a 
door,  which  was  hung  with  wooden  hinges,  and  a 
rude  fireplace  was  constructed  of  sticks  and  mud. 
A  speller  and  the  English  reader  comprised  the 
whole    list  of  text  books  in  use. 

Ill  1847  Mr.  Herbert  and  his  brother  bought  a 
thresher,  which  they  operated  two  years  and  then 
sold.  With  his  brother  Joshua  he  soon  bought  an- 
other, which  tbey  used  a  year,  and  from  the  money 
thus  earned  and  the  sale  of  the  machine  our  subject 
got  a  good  start.     He   used   to  speculate   in  land. 


When  the  war  began  he  bought  a  tract  of  land  for 
$17  an  acre  and  sold  it  for  $40  an  .acre.  He  bought 
another  piece  for  $100,  put  in  $100  worth  of  im- 
provements and  sold  it  for  $600,  a  great  advance 
on  the  purchase  price.  The  rest  of  his  present 
Ijroperty  has  been  accumulated  bj-  downright  hard 
labor.  He  has  here  an  orchard  of  ten  acrts  all 
planted  by  his  own  hand,  that  is  one  among  the 
finest  in  the  vicinity. 

Mr.  Herbert  was  married  in  1850  to  Miss  Sarah, 
daughter  of  John  and  Jane  Orwig,  who  were  for- 
merly residents  of  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Cass  Town- 
ship in  1843.  Mrs.  Herbert  was  born  in  Tuscara- 
was County,  Ohio,  in  1832.  She  has  co-operated 
with  her  husband  in  his  labors  and  has  helped  him 
in  the  upbuilding  of  their  comfortable  home.  Thej' 
have  had  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living: 
Theodore,  of  this  township,  who  niariied  Nancy 
Van  Hauten.  and  has  four  children;  Nellie,  James, 
Frances.  INIargaret  (these  four  at  home) ;  Eliza,  wife 
of  George  Henderson  of  Cass  Township,  who  has 
two  childr-n. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herbert  are  active:  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  he  is  very  promi- 
nent in  its  work  as  Trustee  and  Class  Leader.  He  is 
identified  with  the  Sunday-school.  He  has  been  a 
School  Director  for  3'ears.  and  has  also  been  Path- 
master.  He  takes  a  great  interest  in  politics,  and 
affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party,  though  he  is 
strongly  in  symixithy  with  the  temperance  move- 
ment. 


■^;5^H0MAS  11.  TRAVERS  is  numbered  among 
the  gentlemen  of  English  birth  and  parent- 
age who  make  their  home  in  the  prosperous 
township  of  Fairview,  and  he  is  generally  conceded 
to  be  one  of  the  most  substantial  and  enterprising 
men  in  the  whole  community.  His  residence  is 
about  the  finest  in  this  section  of  the  country  and 
he  has  amassed  a  large  fortune  by  means  of  his 
natural  ability  and  energy.  He  is  at  this  writing 
the  owner  of  three  valuable  farms  and  also  much 
timber  land,  all  of  which  has  been  accumulated  by 
earnest  and  unceasing  labor  on  his  part. 

Our  subject  was   born  in   Dorsetshire,  England, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


797 


February  10,  1839,  being  the  son  of  Charles  and 
•lane  (Ilutchins)  Travers,  bolli  native-s  of  Doisot- 
sliiie.  England.  As  a  boy  in  his  native  country 
he  received  only  a  common-scliool  education,  his 
father  a  flasdresser  by  trade,  being  a  man  of  limited 
circumstances.  Coming  to  America  witii  his  father 
an<I  lirother,  they  starteil  from  their  home  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1850,  and  lie  immediately  began  the 
battle  of  life  in  real  earnest  and  under  exceedingly' 
adverse  circumstances.  In  the  course  of  eighteen 
months  they  had  enough  money  between  them  to 
send  for  the  rest  of  the  family,  who  joined  them  at 
New  Diggings,  Wis.  At  a  later  date  the  father 
purchased  thirty  acres  of  land  near  White  Oak 
Springs,  Wis.,  and  upon  it  sunk  a  shaft  and  for 
some  time  both  father  and  son  did  a  good  business 
in  lead  mining. 

In  1860  our  subject  in  compan3'  with  his  brother 
Robert  and  a  friend  started  with  four  horses  and  a 
wagon  across  the  [jlains  for  Pike's  Peak,  reaching 
that  place  after  a  long  and  tiresome  journey.  They 
remained  there  three  weeks  raining,  but  soon  pur- 
sued their  course  westward  to  the  gold  fields  in 
Nevada,  on  their  way  passing  through  Salt  Lake 
City,  where  they  stopped  a  few  days.  They  saw 
much  of  Mormondom  and  became  quite  well  ac- 
quainted with  some  of  the  jMormons.  Our  subject 
heard  Brigham  Young  preach,  and  is  of  the  opinion 
that  Mormonism  is  not  so  bad  as  usaallv  repre- 
sented. 

Arriving  in  Carson  Valley  the  Indians  were  so 
hostile  and  provisions  so  high  as  to  make  life  very 
uncertain.  The  company  therefore  hurried  on  to 
the  (ields  of  California.  Our  subject  says  he  could 
at  that  time  have  hought  stock  in  the  "Comstock"- 
at  §20.  which  in  a  few  weeks  sold  for  *7,.500.  At 
Carson  Citj'  they  sold  all  the  horses  but  one,  and 
packing  their  provisions  on  the  back  of  the  remain- 
ing horse,  proceeded  on  foot  to  Hot  St:)rings.  There 
they  sold  their  horse  and  took  the  stage  to  Horse- 
town,  Shasta  County,  Cal.,  and  at  once  engaged  in 
sluice  mining.  Later  they  engaged  in  quartz 
mining  at  Muletown. 

Our  subject  had  a  rich  experience  as  a  miner  on 
the  Pacific  Coast,  engaged  in  placer  mining,  build- 
ing a  mill,  and  alternately  losing  money  and  regain- 
ing his  foothold,      lie  was  on  the  wliolc  successful. 


but  lost  more  than  15.000  wlyle  in  that  State,  mainly 
through  misplaced  confidence.  About  thi.s  time 
the  coal  fields  of  Central  Illinois  were  attracting  a 
great  deal  of  attention,  and  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  persuaded  by  a  friend  to  come  to  Fulton 
County  for  the  purpose  of  opening  a  coal  bank. 
Being  a  practical  man  he  was  well  pleased  with  the 
outlook  and  at  once  wrote  to  his  son,  who  w.as  en- 
gaged in  the  gold  mines  of  California,  to  come  to 
Illinois  and  enter  the  coal  business.'  The  f.ather 
came  to  Fairview  October  5.  1865,  and  the  son  ar- 
rived on  the  23d  of  the  same  month.  They  were 
successful  and  their  mine  became  widely  known  as 
Travers'  Coal  Bank.  They  also  began  farming 
and  through  good  management  accumulated  good 
estates.  The  father  made  two  visits  to  England, 
remaining  there  on  his  last  visit  and  dying  in  1882 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  3-ears. 

Mr.  Travers  was  married  January  20,  1870.  to 
Miss  Sarah  Augusta  Turner,  daughter  of  Elisha 
and  Sarah  (Morse)  Turner.  Her  mother  was  a 
sister  of  Chief  Justice  Morse,  of  Ohio.  Mrs.  Tra- 
vers' birth  occurred  at  New  Diggings.  Wis.  Her 
father  died  in  1876  when  sevent3'-two  years  of  age; 
the  mother  died  in  1876  when  seventy-one  years 
of  age.  To  them  were  born  five  children,  viz: 
Mary,  Amy,  George,  Lewis  M.,  and  Sarah  A.,  the 
wife  of  our  subject. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Travers  set- 
tled upon  a  farm  with  our  subject's  father,  who  was 
his  partner  in  all  liusiness  matters.  To  our  subject 
and  his  wife  were  born  five  children,  viz:  Amy 
Jane,  Agnes  A;  Violet,  deceased;  Laurence  B.,  and 
Sylvan  M.  Mrs.  Travers  is  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed Church  and  is  a  mcml)er  with  her  husband 
of  the  Eastern  Star.  He  is  serving  his  third  term 
as  School  Trustee,  has  served  as  .School  Director  a 
great  man^'  years,  and  as  Iligliwaj-  Commissioner 
for  nine  years.  He  has  also  been  on  the  grand 
and  petit  jury.  In  politics  he  is  a  strong  Repub- 
lican, and  is  a  decidedly  public-spirited  man. 
Mr.  Travers  has  been  a  successful  man  in  various 
enterprises,  and  has  made  a  fortunate  venture  in 
the  manufacture  of  cider.  He  has  belonged  to  the 
Masonic  fraternitj-  for  over  twent}'  3'ears,  and  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  Lodge  No.  120,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
at  Fairvicw.      He   is  also  a  mcmlier  of   the  Modern 


IDS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


WooiliiRMi  luilge.  liuiiiy  TruuMuer  ill  both  organi- 
zations. He  donated  libei'all3-  to  the  building  of 
tlie  Fulton  County  Narrow  Gauge  Railroad,  and 
upon  its  completion  engaged  in  the  grain,  stock 
and  lumber  business,  forming  a  partnership  with 
L.  W.  Davis  and  P.  B.  Voorhees  under  the  firm 
name  of  T.  H.  Travers  &  Co.  They  bought  .and 
shipped  the  first  carload  of  hogs  and  cattle  shipped 
from  Fairview,  and  also  bought  the  first  carload 
of  lumber  forwarded  to  Fairview.  His  latest  Ten- 
ture  is  a  partnership  in  the  Fairview  Bank,  of 
which   lie  is  President. 

f^      / — ^7!X^ — V      ^^ 

^'        ADEN   KEELING,  deceased.     It  has  been 
'jl    but  a  few  years  since  this  honored   citizen 


and  prominent  business  man  of  Canton,  was 
borne  to  his  long  home.  Few  of  the  old 
residents  of  the  place  have  been  more  thoroughly 
identified  with  its  various  interests  than  he,  or 
would  be  mourned  with  greater  sincerity  when 
called  hence.  In  the  bereavement  which  befell  them 
his  family  had  the  general  and  heartv  sympathy  of 
the  community,  whose  members  met  in  large  num- 
bers to  pa3'  the  last  sad  tribute  to  the  deceased. 

Mr.  Keeling  was  born  in  Sangamon  County,  not 
far  from  .Springfield,  111.,  April  5,  1825.  He  was 
reared  on  a  fa-m  during  his  early  boyhood,  subse- 
quently becoming  a  resident  of  Springfield,  where 
his  father  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick. 
Our  subject  learned  the  business  thoroughly-,  .assist- 
ing in  the  yard  for  several  years.  In  1849,  when 
the  gold  fever  was  at  its  height,  he  went  to  the 
land  of  promise,  California,  and  engaged  in  gold 
mining  with  satisfactorj-  success  during  a  period  of 
two  years. 

Returning  to  the  Prairie  Slate,  Mr.  Keeling  took 
up  his  permanent  residence  in  Canton,  beginning 
the  manufacture  of  brick  which  he  carried  on  until 
his  death.  His  brick j'ard  was  located  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  city,  became  ihe  seat  of  a  ttuur- 
isliing  industry,  and  afforded  employment  for  quite 
a  number  of  men.  Mr.  Keeling  finally  amassed  a 
handsome  fortune  by  means  of  his  persistent  and 
well  directed  labors,  and    eventually    became  the 


owner  of  considerable  city  property  of  value.  He 
built  and  owned  a  number  of  dwellings  from  the 
rent  of  which  he  derived  a  considerable  income. 

Mr.  Keeling  was  a  man  of  more  than  or(iinar\-  in- 
telligence, weighed  well  the  matters  under  consid- 
eration, and  was  firm  in  his  opinions  after  having 
once  arrived  at  a  decision.  He  was  not,  however, 
bigoted  or  despotic,  but  was  open  to  conviction  of 
error,  and  willinglj'  granted  to  others  the  privilege 
of  forming  their  own  conclusions.  He  was  inter- 
ested in  all  the  movements  which  would  advance 
the  true  welfare  of  the  community,  or  build  up  the 
material  prosperity  of  this  section  of  a  great  com- 
monwealth. He  breathed  his  last  August,  8,  1884, 
after  a  long  illness.  His  political  support  was  given 
to  the  Republican  part}-. 

November  10,  18.52,  the  rites  of  wedlock  were 
solemnized  between  Mr.  Keeling  and  Miss  Cathe- 
rine Snell,  the  ceremony  taking  place  in  this  city. 
Mrs.  Keeling  w.as  born  in  Sangamon  Count}-,  III., 
being  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rachel  (Collins) 
Snell,  who  removed  thither  from  Ohio  at  an  early 
period  in  the  history  of  this  section.  During  the 
childhood  of  their  daughter,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snell  re- 
moved to  Lewistown,  this  county,  where  the  father 
died  ere  m:iny  years  had  passed.  His  widow  sub- 
sequently married  James  Sebree,  and  look  up  her 
residence  in  Canton,  where  the  daughter  grew  to 
womanhood.  Mrs.  Keeling  possesses  those  quali- 
ties which  are  embr.aced  in  the  word  "motherl}-," 
and  in  the  care  of  her  large  famil}'  has  manifested 
the  utmost  devotion  and  loving  wisdom.  Her  capa- 
bility as  a  housekeeper,  and  her  work  as  a  com- 
panion were  dulj^  appreciated  by  him  who  has 
preceded  her  to  the  silent  land. 

The  children  of  3Ir.  and  Mrs.  Keeling  are  named 
respectively:  .lennie  E..  Lilly  D.,  Charles  E.,  Ida 
M..  Lizzie  B.,  Effie  L.,  George  IL,  and  Leonard  H. 
The  first  mentioned  has  built  up  an  excellent  repu- 
tation as  a  florist,  having  the  love  for  plants  wiiich 
leads  her  to  stud}^  their  habits  and  cultivate  them 
with  great  success.  She  has  a  well-arranged  green 
house,  devotes  much  of  her  time  to  floriculture,  and 
has  a  good  trade  at  different  points  in  furnishing  dec- 
orations for  various  occasions  of  joy  or  mourning. 
Lovers  of  flowers  find  great  enjoyment  in  her  so- 
ciety,   as   she    is  not   only  well   versed   regarding 


M^^^t^x^  ^ .  jS^i^^A 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


801 


plants,  but  is  able  to  converse  pleasingly  with  ref- 
erence to  them.  She  resides  with  her  mother  on 
the  homestead,  where  Lizzie  B.,  George  II.,  and 
Leonard  H.  may  also  bo  found.  The  dwelling  is  a 
substantial  brick  structure,  built  a  number  of  years 
ago,  and  presenting  an  appearance  of  homelikeness 
and  comfort  which  all  modern  residences  do  not 
possess.  The  second  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keel- 
ing is  now  the  wife  of  Cliarles  Cla_yton;  Ida  married 
Louis  Oberhauscr,  of  Peoria;  KtKe  L.  is  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Eyster,  of  Canton.  The  son  Charles  E.  is 
engaged  in  brickmaking  at  his  father's  old  place. 
The  fatiier  of  our  subject  was  Lewis  Keeling,  who 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  accompanied  hi.s  par- 
ents to  Kentucky,  becoming  an  intimate  friend  of 
Daniel  Boone.  For  a  time  he  operated  a  mill  and 
distillery,  the  business,  however,  Iieing  conducted 
on  a  small  scale.  He  was  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Sangamon  County,  111.,  wliere  he 
died  in  1850.  His  wife,  Lydia,  daugiiler  of  Joseph 
Howey,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  October,  1800, 
and  likewise  went  to  Kentucky  with  her  parents. 
For  some  time  her  home  was  near  the  present  site  of 
Louisville.  Like  her  loved  companion,  she  breathed 
her  last  in  Sangamon  County,  111. 


^ff_,  ENRY  C.  BROCK.  The  philosopher,  Mill, 
has  said  that  the  "worth  of  a  Stale  in  the 
long  run,  is  the  worth  of  the  individuals 
composing  it."  Not  less  true  is  tiio  saying 
that  the  prosperity  of  a  country  depends  upon  the 
character  of  the  youth  of  that  land.  Fulton  County 
i-!  especially  fortunate  in  that  it  Las  within  its 
boundaries  manj'  young  men  of  worth,  enterprise 
and  honor,  and  in  this  class  the  gentleman  of 
whom  thi-  personal  sketch  is  written  holds  a  con- 
spicuous place.  "He,  in  conjunction  with  iiis  brothers 
Charles  and  Philip,  operates  the  old  homestead 
on  section  21,  Cass  Township,  a  view  of  which  ap- 
pears on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

Born  Maj-  19,  1868,  in  Cass  Township,  this 
county,  our  subject  has  passed  his  entire  life  thus 
far  within  its  limits.  His  education,  like  that  of 
most  farmers'  sons,  was   confined  to  an  attendance 


at  the  district  schools,  but  at  an  early  age  he  be- 
gan to  display  a  thirst  for  knowledge  and  was 
very  faithful  in  the  preparing  of  his  lessons. 
This  same  earnestness  of  purpose  characterizes  his 
whole  life,  and  he  merits  great  praise  for  the  good 
qualities  that  make  him  a  shining  example  for  the 
young  men  of  our  country  to  imitate.  It  may  truth- 
fully be  said  of  him  that  he  is  one  of  "nature's 
noblemen."  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church,  and  has  been  Class-Leader  and  Super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school,  and  is  at  present 
a  teacher.  Politically,  he  votes  the  Democratic 
ticket,  and  is  well  posted  upon  the  issues  of  the 
day. 

Perhaps  no  citizen  of  Cass  Township  occupied  a 
more  prominent  position  or  contributed  more  to 
its  development  than  Henry  Brock,  the  father  of 
our  subject.  He  was  born  in  Germany  June  18, 
1825,  and  was  there  reared  and  given  the  advan- 
tages of  an  excellent  education.  In  1837,  having 
decided  to  seek  a  home  in  Mie  New  World,  he 
crossed  the  Atlantic  and  after  an  uneventful  voy- 
age landed  at  Baltimore  in  the  month  of  May. 
Thence  he  proceeded  directly  to  Cass  Township, 
and  located  on  a  farm,  where  he  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  life.  Not  onl}'  was  he  a  successful 
agriculturist,  but  was  in  mauj'  ways  closely  identi- 
fied with  the  development  of  the  county  where 
he  resided.  A  man  of  great  business  tact,  bound- 
less energy  and  unflagging  perseverance,  he  was 
universally  esteemed,  and  his  children  are  justly 
proud  of  the  good  name  he  left  them. 

On  April  1,  1857,  Henry  Brock  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Caroline  Wilhelm,  wlio  was 
born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  June  12,  1838.  To  them 
were  born  six  children,  viz:  John  W.,  who  lives 
in  Lewistown;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Leander  Serven, 
of  Prairie  City,  and  the  mother  of  one  child; 
Amelia  is  the  wife  of  Allen  Waughtel,  of  Cass 
Township,  ami  they  haye  two  children;  Henry  C. 
our  subject;  Charles  and  Philip.  Mr.  Brock  was 
a  man  of  great  influence,  and  one  in  whom  great 
confidence  was  felt  throughout  the  community.  His 
interest  in  educational  matters  was  one  of  his  chief 
characteristics  and  for  three  years  he  acted  as 
School  Director.  He  also  served  as  Supervisor, 
representing  Cass  Townshi|)  on  the  County  Board. 


802 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIIIfAI.  ALBUM. 


Dining  liis  acLive  career  Henry  Brock  became 
the  owner  of  a  valuable  estate  conaprising  seven 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  the  best  farming  land 
in  llie  county.  Ninet3--seven  acres  are  located  in 
Harris  Townshii>.  eightj^  acres  in  Mound  Town- 
ship, and  the  remainder  in  Cass  Township.  Tlie 
entire  acreage  is  divided  into  six  farms,  and  is  in 
the  hands  of  John  W.,  administrator.  In  the  old 
homestead  an  aunt  presides,  the  father  and  mother 
having  passed  away,  tiie  former  August  25,  1889, 
and  the  latter  May  8,  1876.  The  three  youngest 
sons  continue  to  reside  under  the  home  roof  and 
carry  on  an  extensive  farming  business,  and  in  con- 
nection with  this,  are  stock-raisers  on  a  large  scale. 
Having  been  reared  to  farm  life,  they  are  well  pre- 
pared to  .attend  to  the  work  in  a  systematic  way, 
and  in  consequence  have  amassed  a  considerable 
fortune.  Indeed,  the  family  is  numbered  among  the 
most  influential  and  wealthy  in  the  county. 

The  attention  of  tlie  reader  is  invited  to  a  litho- 
graphic portrait,  presented  in  connection  with  this 
biographical  review,  of  Henr}'  C.  Brock,  whose  at- 
tainments and  enterprise  point  to  an  honorable  and 
influential  future. 


YRUS  H.  BISHOP,  the  subject  of  our  pres- 
ent sketch,  is  a  man  much  respected  in  busi- 
^^<''  ness  and  social  circles,  and  one  who  by  his 
strict  morality  and  integrit}-  of  purpose  has  fur- 
nished an  excellent  example  to  others,  and  has  at 
various  times  been  of  great  service  to  his  friends. 
His  father,  William  E.  Bishop,  was  a  native  of 
Maryland;  his  mother,  who  previous  to  her  mar- 
riage was  Miss  Catherine  Swearingeu,  was  born  in 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  married  in 
Adams  County.  Ohio,  and  continued  to  make  their 
home  there  until  183.5.  at  which  date  the}-  came  to 
Illinois,  settling  in  Putman  Township,' this  countj', 
after  one  winter  spent  in  Lewistowu  Township. 
They  lived  on  the  farm  which  the  subject  of  our 
sketch  now  owns. 

The  parents  wer<!  members  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church,  and  the  father  was  a   Cl.ass-Leader  for 


iwenly-lrto  years.  He  numbers  among  the  oldest 
settlers  in  this  township,  and  during  the  early  days 
of  his  life  here,  wolves  and  other  wild  animals  were 
plentiful.  The  farm  w.is  unimproved  land,  and  he 
,  built  a  round  log  cabin  with  slick  and  mud  ciiim- 
I  neys.  He  was  always  a  man  of  prominence  in 
this  locality,  and  by  means  of  his  energy  had  his 
farm  in  a  good  condition  when  he  died  in  Ano-ust, 
1865.  His  wife  died  in  1874.  To  them  were  born 
twelve  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  livino-. 
viz.:  Mary,  wife  of  James  Crawford;  Cyrus  H.  and 
Sarah,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Hilton. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Adams  County,  Ohio, 
October  7,  1827,  and  received  his  educational 
training  in  a  little  log  schoolhouse  in  this  township. 
His  childhood  and  early  j-outh  were  passed  at  the 
old  homestead,  and  in  1853  he  journeyed  West 
across  the  plains  with  an  ox-team,  and  spent  four 
months  and  thirteen  days  before  he  reached  Cali- 
fornia. Immediately  upon  his  arrival  in  that  State 
he  entered  one  of  the  gold  mines  and  worked  there 
most  successfully  for  over  two  years.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Illinois — to  his  father's  house — and  de- 
voted his  time  and  attention  to  the  welfare  of  his 
parents  until  death  claimed  them. 

Mr.  Bishop,  in  1856,  was  married  to  Miss  Anna 
Jenkins,  daughter  of  Thomas  Jenkins,  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  this  county  who  lived  in  Water- 
ford  Township.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  dead. 
Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Bishop  were  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz,:  William; 
Oscar,  who  married  Miss  Nancy  Frye,  lives  in 
Cuba  and  has  one  child;  Lincoln,  who  married 
Miss  Ollie  Shepley,  and  i-esides  in  Canton;  Cvrene, 
wife  of  Samuel  Bishop,  who  lives  in  Lewistown 
Township  and  has  three  children ;  and  Jasjier,  who 
married  Miss  Rosa  Jenkins,  and  lives  in  this  town- 
ship.    Mrs.  Bishop  tlied  in  1868. 

Our  subject  married  Mrs.  May  J.  FoxworUn  in 
April,  1870.  She  was  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Mahalia  (Pollard)  Strode,  natives  of  Ohio  and  Ken- 
tucky respective!}'.  Mrs.  Bishop's  parents  were 
married  in  Ohio  and  resided  there  for  a  time,  and 
afterward  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  the  father 
died  in  1842  and  the  mother  in  1850.  They  were 
the  parents  of  ten  children,  six  of  whom  are  livlns 
;    and  live  of  whom  make  their  home  in  this  county.  ' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


803 


Mrs.  Bishop  was  born  April  5,  1832,  in  Adams 
County.  Ohio,  and  is  a  lady  who  possesses  great 
mental  al)ility  and  is  popular  in  social  circles.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bishop  have  been  born  three  children, 
only  one  of  whom  is  now  living,  viz.:  Cyrus  H., 
Jr.,  wlio  was  born  March  1,  1874,  and  received  a 
good  common-school  education. 

Our  siiljject  and  his  wife  are  devout  and  faithful 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  he 
has  been  Leader  and  .Steward  of  same  a  number  of 
times,  and  is  at  the  present  writing  Trustee.  The}- 
also  manifest  gre.at  interest  in  Sunday-school  mat- 
ters. Mr.  Bishop  being  Superintendent  and  a 
teacher.  He  has  in  addition  to  these  offices  been 
S'chool  Director,  and  has  in  numerous  instances 
administered  to  the  public  welfare  of  this  commu- 
nity. A  Republican,  he  takes  great  interest  in 
political  matters.  Mr.  Bishop  owns  eighty  acres  of 
valuable  and  highly  cultivated  land,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  his  agricultural  pursuits  devotes  much 
attention  to  stock-raising  and  has  in  his  possession 
some  very  fine  Norman  and  English-siiire  horses. 
A  leader  in  business,  social  and  religious  circles, 
Mr.  Bishop  has  endeared  himself  to  the  hearts  of 
tiie  people,  not  only  in  this  township  l)ut  through- 
out the  county. 


=^^- 


ANIEL  L.  MILLER.  A  lifetime  of  earn- 
est endeavor  in  pursuing  the  various  oc- 
cupations in  which  be  has  been  engaged, 
especially  his  farming  enterprises,  coupled 
with  strict  integrity,  honesty  of  purpose  and  liber- 
ality, has  tended  to  place  Mr.  Miller  among  the 
highly  honored  and  successful  business  men  of 
Joshua  Township.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Dayton,  Ohio,  May  11,  1844,  to  John  F.  and  Su- 
sanna (Ilavermail)  Miller. 

Our  subject's  father  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
born  in  Washington  County,  near  Boonsboro,  Au- 
gust 1,  1813.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born 
in  the  same  State  and  county,  November  1,  1818, 
and  was  there  reared  and  married.  The  family  re- 
moved in  the  year  1846  to  this  county,  settling 
first  at  Farmington,  wliere  they  wintered  and  then 


Mr.  Miller  purchased  one  hundred  and  sevent}'- 
three  acres  of  land  on  section  25,  Joshua  Town- 
ship. Here  he  spent  his  remaining  years,  bus}^  in 
the  development  of  a  farm,  and  March  4,  1869, 
closed  a  useful  life,  leaving  a  loving  wife  and  five 
devoted  children  to  mourn  his  loss. 

After  his  father's  death  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  who  was  mostly  reared  and  educated  in  this 
county,  purchased  the  old  homestead  on  which  his 
boyhood  days  had  been  passed.  It  was  already 
.adorned  with  manj'  substantial  improvements,  in- 
cludinga  commodious  and  well-arranged  residence 
erected  by  the  father  in  1847,  and  other  buildings. 
•Since  the  farm  came  into  his  possession  Mr.  Miller 
has  erected  a  large  and  finely'  built  barn,  and  has 
all  the  modern  conveniences  for  carrying  on  agri- 
culture to  the  best  advantage.  His  homestead  is 
finely  located  about  six  miles  due  vvest  from  Can- 
ton and  is  one  of  the  most  desirable  places  of  resi- 
dence in  the  vicinity. 

Mr.  Miller's  mother  passed  awa}-  to  her  final 
resting  place  in  the  month  of  IMarch,  1886,  and  her 
death  was  that  of  a  i)ure  Christian  woman,  who  in 
life  had  trained  her  family  most  carefull}-  and  had 
been  exceedingly  kind  to  neighbors  and  friends. 

Mr.  Miller  was  married  October6,  1865,  to  Miss 
Mary  Hoffman,  their  wedding  being  solemnized 
in  this  township.  Mrs.  Miller  was  born  Decemlier 
6,  1843.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Virginia 
and  were  of  German  descent.  Of  this  marriage 
four  children  have  been  born  to  our  subject, 
namely:  Jennie,  Effle,  Hattie  and  Franklin.  The 
latter  has  t.aken  a  course  in  a  business  college  at 
Canton,  while  the  other  children  are  .attending  the 
local  district  schools. 

Our  subject  is  an  industrious,  hard-working 
farmer,  and  keeps  his  estate  well-cultivated.  Suc- 
cess can  be  gained  only  by  perseverance  and  untir- 
ing energ}',  and  Mr.  Miller  possessing  these  valua- 
ble qualities  in  a  marked  degree  has  amassed  a 
considerable  fortune.  He  is  very  much  inte:'ested 
in  stock-raising,  has  a  fine  stable  of  liorses  and  iiis 
sales,  wliich  take  place  every  year,  attract  much  at- 
tention and  are  largely  attended.  Mr.  Miller  is  a 
wide-awake  business  man  and  embraces  every  op- 
portunity for  advancing  his  own  interests  and  tliose 
of  the  cunnnunity  in  wluch  lie  makes  his  home.   He 


804 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


belongs  to  the  Democratic  paitj'  and  in  polities,  as 
on  all  other  subjects,  his  jiulirnient  is  good.  A 
man  of  social  culture,  well  educated  and  of  much 
wealth,  he  has  naturally  been  called  upon  to  fill 
responsible  positions.  He  has  been  School  Director 
in  District  No.  4  for  six  3ears;  was  Collector  of 
Joshua  Township  one  3'ear;  and  Road  Commis- 
sioner for  six  years;  and  is  at  the  present  writing  a 
School  Trustee.  He  has  a  number  of  warm  friends 
■who  recognize  him  as  a  leader  among  men,  and 
one  entirel3'  cajiable  of  fulfilling  smy  duty  imposed 
upon  him  in  a  most  highly-  satisfactory^  manner. 


dft  IfelLLIAM  CALDAVELL.  One  by  one  the 
\/\j//  pioneers  of  Farmington  and  vicinity  are 
W^  passing  awaj-  and  their  labors  and  struggles 
will  soon  be  a  matter  of  historj'.  It  is  well  to  pre- 
serve in  memory  a  brief  account  of  the  privations 
and  difficulties  under  which  the}-  labored  inlaying 
the  foundation  of  our  material,  civil  and  religious 
prosperit}'.  For  this  purpose  a  few  facts  regarding 
the  honored  gentleman  above  named  will  be-  pre- 
sented to  our  readers. 

The  subject  of  these  brief  paragraphs  was  of 
Scotch  and  Scotch-Irish  descent.  His  great- grand- 
parents were  John  and  Ann  (King)  Caldwell,  both 
of  pure  Scotch  blood.  His  graid parents  were  John 
and  Isabel  (Strain)  Caldwell  who  emigrated  to  this 
country  in  1792.  The}-  made  their  home  in  Car- 
lisle, Pa.,  where  Grandfather  Caldwell  died.  In 
1802  the  surviving  members  of  the  family  re- 
moved to  Mercer  Count}',  where  Samuel  Cald- 
well, father  of  our  subject,  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Donaldson,  who  was  of  Scotch-Irisli  descent.  On 
the  Caldwell  estate,  at  what  is  now  known  as  New 
Hamburg,  October  8.  1806.  William  Caldwell 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light.  His  bo\"hood  and 
youth  were  passed  at  his  native  place  which  he  left 
in  1828  to  learn  the  cabinet-maker's  trade  in  Pitts- 
burg. He  remained  in  the  Smoky  City  until  called 
home  by  the  death  of  his  father  in  1830. 

January  14,  of  the  same  3- ear,  Mr.  Caldwell  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  Lindse}'  and  established  his 
home  at  Leeches  Corners.     In   I806  he  came  to 


Chicago,  then  in  its  infanc3%  but  after  sojourning 
there  a  twelvemonth  returned  to  his  former  home. 
in  1841  he  came  to  Farmington  to  settle  the  estate 
of  Dr.  Joseph  Caldwell  and  the  following  year 
brought  hither  his  famil3-.  He  and  his  brother-in- 
law,  Thomas  Lindse3',  built  two  flatboats,  on  one 
of  which  the\-  erected  a  house  for  their  famil3',  and 
embarked  on  the  Erie  and  Pittsburg  Canal  for  the 
West.  The  water  was  ver3-  low,  progress  difficult, 
and  the}-  finall3'  determined  to  sell  their  flatboats 
and  complete  their  journe3'  on  a  steamer.  The3' 
sold  their  boats  at  Cincinnati,  continued  their  jour- 
ne}'  in  a  steamboat  to  Kingston,  then  removed  by- 
wagon  to  the  vicinity  of  Farmington. 

Our  subject  spent  the  winter  on  Mr.  White's  farm 
and  in  the  spring  took  up  a  half-section  of  Gov- 
ernment land  at  Uniontown.  There,  September  1, 
1849,  his  companion  died,  leaving  him  with  six 
children  to  care  for.  Of  these  Joseph  Rollins, 
now  living  in  Stewart,  Iowa,  is  the  only  sur- 
vivor. In  the  fall  of  1850  Mr.  Caldwell  took  his 
son  Samuel,  then  aged  sixteen,  and  his  two  daugh- 
ters aged  eight  and  six  years,  to  Pennsylvania, 
spending  the  winter  at  the  old  homestead.  March 
10,  1851,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rosina  Monoid 
and  immedialelv  started  b3-  boat  with  his  wife  and 
two  daughters,  his  son  having  been  apprenticed  to 
a  printer  at  Mercer,  for  his  home  at  L'niontown, 
III.  In  1855  Mr.  Caldwell  removed  to  Farming- 
ton  and  embarked  in  the  sale  of  general  merchan- 
dise with  H.  N.  Field,  being  afterward  associated 
with  a  Mr.  Day.  In  common  with  most  business 
men  of  the  time  Mr.  Caldwell  suffered  severel}'  in 
the  financial  crash  which  immediatel}-  preceded  the 
war  of  the  lleliellion. 

In  the  spring  of  1860,  in  compan3-  with  John 
Leeper,  and  his  son  Samuel,  Mr.  Caldwell  made  a 
trip  to  Pike's  Peak,  prospecting  for  gold,  but  re- 
turned in  the  autumn  of  the  same  3-ear.  For  a 
time  he  bought  grain  for  P.  P.  Chapman.  In  April, 
1862,  he  was  commissi<nied  Postmaster  of  Farm- 
ington. being  the  first  Republican  to  hold  office 
and  under  the  first  Republican  President.  He 
filled  the  position  with  honor  and  satisfaction  to 
all  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  centur3-,  when  his  suc- 
cessor was  appointed  b^-  Grover  Cleveland  in  1885. 
Being  at  that  time  sevent3'-niue  3-ears  of  age   Mr. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


805 


Caldwell  tliouglil  it  wise  to  retire  from  business, 
and  until  his  dealii,  July  29,  1890,  had  no  active 
occupation.  Wiien  called  from  time  to  eternity  he 
was  eiglity  three  years,  nine  months  and  twenty- 
one  daj's  old. 

Mr.  Caldwell  was  in  iiearlj'  sympathy  with  all 
movements  of  progress  and  reform  and  hore  liis 
full  share  in  developing  the  material  resources  of 
this  countr3\  He  was  a  man  of  unimi)eachable  in- 
tegrity and  kindness  of  lieart  and  purit}-  of  motive 
and  has  left  behind  him  the  record  of  a  long  and 
useful  life.  His  parents  were  Presbyterians  but  he 
was  for  a  number  of  years  a  member  of  the  Metli- 
;odist  Episcopal  Ciiurcli.  In  1851  lie,  with  llie 
present  Mrs.  Caldwell,  united  witli  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Farmington,  and  in  its  fellowship 
was  living  when  called  hence.  He  bad  ten  chil- 
dren, twenty  grandchildren  and  four  great-grand- 
children, and  also  reared  and  educated  William 
McCullough,  commonly  known  as  Will  Caldwell, 
of  Elmwood.  Besides  the  son  before  mentioned 
two  children  survive — Annie  Warden,  now  Mrs. 
T.  L.  Kenned}',  of  New  Brighton,  Pa.  and  Mary 
Isabella,  wife  of  F.  O.  Dewev,  <jf  Farmington. 


]AMES  M.  ONION.  Fulton  County  sent 
many  brave,  patriotic,  self  sacrificing  men  to 
the  front  during  the  Civil  War   in    those 

I  times  that  tested  a  man's  lo^-alty  and  devo- 
tion to  his  country.  Among  them  was  James  M. 
Onion  who  won  honor  as  a  soldier  and  rose  from 
the  ranks  to  an  important  ollicial  |)osition  in  his 
regiment.  He  is  now  quietly  pursuing  farming  in 
Pleasant  Township,  and  has  done  good  service  here 
in  the  aid  he  lias  given  his  fellow  agriculturists  in 
promoting  the  growth  of  this  part  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Onion  is  a  native-born  citizen  of  this  county, 
October  12,  1835.  being  the  date  of  his  birth.  His 
parents,  William  aid  Jane  (Hagan)  Onion,  natives 
respectively,  of  Harrison  County,  Ind.,  and  East- 
ern Tennessee  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  this 
part  of  Illinois.  The  paternal  .ancestors  of  our 
subject  were  of  English  extraction,  wiiile  his  ma- 
ternal ancestors  were  of  mingled  English  and  Irish 


blood.  J^is  father  emigrated  from  Indiana  to  Illi- 
nois in  the  fall  of  1834,  accompanied  thither  by  his 
wile  and  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  Woodland 
Township,  where  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land 
on  section'9,  from  the  Government,  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  on  section  IG,  pa}'ing  §1.25  [ler  acre  for 
the  whole  of  It.  Mr.  Onion's  dealii  in  18-12  re- 
moved a  useful  pioneer  and  a  good  citizen  from 
his  community.  His  widow  did  not  long  survive 
him  but  died  in  1848.  Tliey  were  the  parents  of 
foiu'  children  of  whom  two  survive,  James  M.  and 
Polly  A.,  the  latter  of  whom  lives  in  Colorado. 
The  f.ather  taught  the  first  school  in  Woodland 
Township  and  also  served  as  a  Constable.  Me  was 
a  firm  Democrat  in  politics  and  was  greatly  re- 
S|)ected  by  liis  fellow-citizens. 

Our  subject  passed  his  early  life  in  Woodland 
Township,  where  lie  gained  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  afterward  taught  school  for  a 
time.  Hh  early  acquired  a  good  knowledge  of. 
farming  an<l  has  made  it  his  life  work,  which  has 
only  been  interrupted  bj'  the  3'ears  that  he  devoted 
to  his  country's  cause  during  the  war.  He  made 
his  home  in  Woodland  Township  until  he  removed 
to  his  present  farm  on  section  26,  Pleasant  Town- 
ship in  1882.  Here  he  has  a  well-ordered  farm, 
comprising  eighty  acres  of  fertile  land,  which  is 
mostly'  under  cultivation  and  is  supplied  with  all 
necessary  improvements. 

Air.  Onion  was  in  the  prime  of  early  manhood 
when  the  war  broke  out.  He  had  watched  the 
course  of  events  that  led  up  to  it  with  intelligent 
interest  and  as  soon  as  possible  voluntered  to  de- 
fend the  Stars  and  Stripes,  enlisting  August  13, 
1861,  in  Company  H,  Third  Illinois  Cavalry,  which 
was  mustered  in  at  Camp  Butler  and  becamea  patt 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  Our  subject  first 
fought  under  Gen.  Fremont  and  then  served  nnder 
Gen.  Curtis  and  was  under  various  other  comman- 
ders during  the  j^ears  that  he  was  in  the  army.  He 
did  brave  service  in  the  battles  at  Pea  Ridge,  in  the 
engagements  at  Horner  Bluff  and  at  Arkansas 
Post,  and  was  in  manj'  minor  skirmishes.  He 
fought  in  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Louisiana,  Missis- 
sip[)i,  Tennessee  and'  Kentucky,  and  did  service 
up  and  down  the  Mississippi  River  from  Vicks- 
burg.     He  was  subsequently  sent  with  his  regiment 


806 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


on  an  expedition  against  tlie  Sioux  Indians  and 
was  finally'  honorably  discharged  from  tlie  army  at 
Ft.  Snelling,  Minn.,  October  10.  I8G0.  His  cool- 
ness and  courage  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  and  his 
promptness  in  executing  orders  early  attracted  the 
attention  of  his  superiors  and  from  being  Corporal 
of  his  company  he  was  promoted  through  the  vari- 
ous gr.ades  to  the  position  of  First  Lieutenant  and 
at  the  time  of  his  discharge  held  a  Captain's  com- 
mission. 

After  leaving  the  army  our  subject  returned  to 
Illinois  and  resumed  the  calling  that  he  had  aband- 
oned when  he  took  up  arms  in  defense  of  the  Union. 
Wliile  he  was  in  the  service  he  had  been  married, 
April  22,  1864.  to  Mrs.  Mary  H  Rounds,  widow  of 
Henry  Rounds,  of  Fulton  County,  and  daughter  of 
Col.  Taylor  Hughes,  of  the  same  county.  Her  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Maryland.  Eight  children 
have  been  born  to  our  subject  and  liis  wife,  namely  : 
Unctlie,  wife  of  F.  M.  McLaren;  William  T. ;  Dora 
E.,  wife  of  William  Horner;  Rosetta,  Logan  L., 
Ariel,  Iva,  and  Owen  O. 

Mr.  Onion  is  a  man  of  sensible  views  and  of 
sound  common  sense,  and  is  industrious  in  his 
habits.  He  possesses  many  good  personal  qualities 
and  is  justlj'  classed  among  our  best  citizens.  He 
is  identified  with  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  at  Ipava  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Republican  party,  of  which  be  is 
a  stalwart  champion. 


isa^  AMUEL  PORTER  has  made  farming  his 
life  pursuit,  and  in  the  prosecution  of  his 
calling  has  achieved  a  success  that  places 
him  among  the  leading  farmers  of  Pleasant 
Township,  where  he  has  a  valuable  well-managed 
farm  on  section  22.  He  is  a  native  of  Ireland  and 
was  born  September  28,  1840,  a  son  of  James  and 
Isabel  (Simmons)  Porter,  both  of  whom  were  born 
and  reared  on  the  Emerald  Isle. 

In  1849  the  family  came  to  America  to  cnjoj- 
the  many  advantages  offered  by  this  Government 
to  foreigners.  They  took  passage  at  Liverpool  on 
a  sailing  vessel,  and  landed  at  Philadelphia  after  a 
voyage  of  five  weeks.     From  that  point  they  pro- 


ceeded directlj'  to  Morgan  County.  Ohio,  where 
the  parents  lived  until  death.  To  them  were  born 
nine  children,  of  whom  the  following  are  living: 
Npncy,  wife  of  Jackson  Head,  of  Ohio;  John,  a  res- 
ident of  Ohio;  Margaret,  wife  of  Sidney  B.  Lutgen, 
of  Nemaha  County,  Neb.;  Mar^',  now  Mrs.  Porter; 
Ann,  wife  of  John  Bishop,  of  Ohio;  Sumuel  and 
Robert  who  live  in  Isabel  Township. 

Samuel  Porter  passed  the  years  intervening  be- 
tween childhood  and  manhood  in  Ohio,  where  he 
was  given  a  common  school  education.  At  an 
early  age  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming  and 
has  made  a  life-long  business  of  agricultural  pur- 
suits, devoting  to  them  all  the  energy  of  his  nature 
and  strength  of  his  judgment.  In  1869  he  took 
possession  of  his  present  farm  which  embraces  one 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  fine  farming  land, 
which  is  admirably  tilled  and  has  been  well-im- 
proved. Mr.  Porter  has  accumulated  this  valuable 
property,  solely  by  his  own  industry  and  ability, 
having  no  financial  assistance  from  an}'  one.  and  he 
may  be  termed  a  self-made  man  in  the  truest  sense 
of  the  phrase.  He  stands  high  in  the  esteem  of  his 
fellow-citizens,  as  is  shown  by  his  election  to  vari- 
ous offices  of  trust.  He  was  at  one  time  School 
Trustee  for  this  township,  and  has  also  served  it  as 
Clerk  and  Collector,  and  was  for  a  period  of  eight 
years  Assessor  of  the  'i'ownship.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  popular  in  social  circles  and  have  many 
warm  fi  lends. 

Our  subject  was  married  June  22.  1861,  to  Miss 
Mary  M.  Gilson,  who  was  born  in  Fulton  County 
November  25,  1843,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Melissa  Gilson,  natives  respectively  of  Vermont 
and  Pennsylvania.  The  Gilsons  moved  from  Ohio 
to  Fulton  County  in  the  early  days  of  its  settlement, 
and  were  numbered  among  the  pioneers  whose 
skillful  hands  in  a  few  years  changed  a  wilderness 
of  trees  and  undergrowth  into  one  of  the  most  de- 
sirable farming  localities  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 
The  father  died  here  and  the  mother  still  makes  her 
home  in  Pleasant  Township.  They  are  the  parents 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  six  are  living,  namely: 
Lantis,  wife  of  Henr^'  Lalicker,  of  Nebraska;  San- 
ford,  who  makes  his  home  in  Pleasant  Township; 
Mrs.  Porter;  Charles,  who  lives  in  Vermont  Town- 
ship; Isabel,  wife  of   Moses  lanson,  of  Kansas,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


807 


Josepliine,  wife  of  Charles  Babcoek,  of  Pleasant 
Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Porter's  inariiage  has 
been  blessed  with  eiglit  children,  of  whom  these 
six  are  living:  Addic;  Chloe,  wife  of  Harry  M. 
Strouse,  of  Pleasant  Township;  Riila,  Otis,  Elmer 
and  Guy. 

-^~i— '  :::r;z:sg?— ^-t**-j~-- 

F.  MERRITT.  This  gentleman  is  one  of 
the  leading  merchants  in  the  village  of 
Table  Grove,  carrying  a  full  line  of  gen- 
v^  ^eral  merchandise,  to  the  amount  of  $10,000. 
He  has  not  only  done  much  towards  advancing  the 
l)rosperit3'  of  the  village  by  embarking  in  this  bus- 
iness enterprise,  but  he  has  in  other  ways  been  in- 
strumental toward  the  same  end.  He  bought  and 
improved  the  southwest  corner  of  the  square  and 
has  bnilt  for  his  own  occupancy  a  fine  large  resi- 
dence on  Main  Street.  All  the  buildings  are  orna- 
ments to  the  village  and  add  decidedly  to  the  value 
of  the  property  near  them. 

Mr.  Merritt  is  connected  with  some  of  the  first 
families  of  the  county,  his  parents  being  \V.  J.  and 
!M:iry  D.  (Mershon)  Merritt,  and  his  maternal 
grandparents,  Henry  and  Hannah  (Dilworth)  Mer- 
shon. The  parents  met  in  the  IJuckeye  State  and 
after  the  Mershon  family  located  in  this  county 
Mr.  Merritt  came  hither  for  his  bride,  Disembark- 
ing from  the  river  boat  at  Liverpool,  he  came  on 
foot  across  the  country-  to  Vermont,  carrying  his 
trnnk — one  of  the  old-fashioned  hair-covered  kind 
— on  Ills  back.  His  marriage  was  the  first  solem- 
nized in  Vermont,  which  at  that  time  was  a  village 
of  two  houses.  The  spring  following  the  happy 
event  the  young  couple  returned  to  Belmont 
Countj',  Ohio,  where  they  made  their  home  until 
1849.  They  then  took  up  their  residence  in  this 
county  and  the  next  year  the  husband  went  to 
California,  remaining  on  the  coast  eighteen  months. 
He  then  made  a  permanent  settlement  five  miles 
west  of  Table  Grove.  He  and  his  wife  are  still 
hale  and  hearty,  although  but  three  of  their  six- 
teen children  are  living. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Belmont  County  Ohio, 
August  4,  1843,  but  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
State  since  early  childhood.     He   was   educated  in 


the  common  schools  and  after  his  marriage  tried 
farm  life  for  himself  on  the  homestead,  his  father 
having  left  the  farm  and  opened  a  slore  at  Bar- 
dolph.  After  a  year  of  farm  life  the  young  man 
went  into  business  with  his  father,  continuing  his 
mercantile  pursuits  two  years.  He  then  starte  1  a 
store  in  Industry,  but  .after  a  time  returned  to  Bar- 
dolph  and  engaged  in  the  milling  business,  having 
owned  a  mill  before  he  went  to  Industry.  He  has 
carried  on  a  stock  business  since  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  and  when  he  came  to  Table  Grove  he 
opened  a  butcher  shop  in  connection  therewith. 
In  1883  he  l)ought  out  a  mercantile  firm  and  re- 
sumed the  sale  of  merchandise,  for  wliieli  his  previ- 
ous experience  had  well  fitted  him. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Merritt  and  Miss  Jenny 
Smith  was  solemnized  October  18,  18G6.  Tiie 
bride  is  a  daughter  of  Levi  and  Nancy  (Steel) 
Smith,  who  are  numbered  among  the  early  settlers 
of  McDonough  County.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith  were  born  in  the  Empire  State,  she  belong- 
ing to  an  old  family  of  Syracuse.  Her  father  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Mohawk  War.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mer- 
ritt have  had  five  children,  one  of  wliom  died  in 
infancy.  The  living  are  Lena,  Nellie,  Harry  and 
Otis.  Lena  is  now  the  wife  of  Cliarles  Lou  Miller, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  this  county,  now  ably  assist- 
ing Mr.  Merritt  in  the  store;  Nellie  is  the  wife  of 
C.  L.  Bradfield,  who  belongs  to  an  old  family  of 
Bushnell  and  he  also  is  engaged  in  the  store. 

Mr.  Merritt,  politically  si)eaking,  is  of  Demo- 
cratic antecedents,  but  having  Ijecome  convinced 
that  the  liquor  question  is  of  paramount  importance, 
he  acts  with  and  works  for  the  Prohibition  party. 
He  and  his  wife  are  Methodists  in  religion. 


^ ■^"-^^-^- 


^ETER  PUMYEA,  of  French  and  Holland- 
Dutch  descent,  was  born  in  .Somerset 
County,  N.  J.,  in  1799,  and  married  Cath- 
erine Sarah  Stryker,  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Capt.  Stryker,  who  raised  the  first  Independent 
Companj'  of  Troopers  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey, 
of  which  he  was  chosen  Captain.  He  was  commis- 
sioned directly  by  Gen.  Washington  to  serve  in  the 


808 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Revolutionary  War.  and  although  justly  entitled  to 
a  pension  for  wounds  received  in  tlie  service, 
lool<ed  upon  it  as  a  disgrace  to  apply  for  one,  feel- 
ing that  he  had  only  done  what  every  patriot  should 
freely  do  for  his  countr\'. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Piimyea  included  the  follow- 
ing eight  children:  Simon  P.,  John  S.,  Nelson  De- 
Witt,  Luthor,  Theodore,  Sarah  Ellen,  Lydia  Ann 
and  Sarah  Ellen  (after  the  first  dierl).  Tiiinking 
the  West  would  offer  greater  advantages  for  his 
family,  Mr.  Pumyea  started  on  a  tour  oif  inspection 
in  company  with  a  friend.  Although  the  time  of 
their  visit  was  the  year  of  the  cholera  plague  (1835), 
yet  Illinois  lands  were  being  boomed  by  specula- 
tors and  prices  were  high,  considering  the  few  im- 
provements tlie  country  offered,  being  netted  over 
with  laid  out  lines  of  railroads,  and  none  com- 
pleted, but  a  large  debt  incurred.  Cliicago.  then  a 
little  village  and  Government  fort  called  Dearborn, 
witli  other  towns,  felt  the  effect  of  these  enterprises 
and  consequently  choice  lots  in  Cliicago  advanced 
to  $600  or  $700  each.  It  was  not  uncommon  to 
hear  groans  and  curses  from  the  various  visitors, 
who  would  pass  the  nigiits  on  the  floors  of  the 
taverns;  these  exclamations  were  called  forth  by 
chagrin  at  the  inabiiit}'  of  their  wallets  to  respond  to 
the  prices  of  property. 

Prior  to  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Pumyea  in  Fulton 
Count3',  Mrs.  Gould,  a  relative  of  his,  had  lost  a 
child  in  the  great  tornado  which  swept  over 
the  village  of  Canton  on  its  route  to  New  Bruns- 
wick and  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  Prior  to  this,  Richard 
Addis,  a  relative  who  had  been  in  the  country 
many  years,  succumbed  to  the  malaria  incident  to 
a  new  land,  died  and  was  buried  in  the  brush  or 
barrens  near  Canton.  This  district  was  afterward 
nstd  as  farming  land  and  is  now  a  part  of  the  cit3-. 
His  grave  to  many  is  unknown.  Notwithstanding 
obstacles  and  hardships,  Mr.  Pumyea  determined 
to  make  Fulton  County  his  permanent  home, 
being  convinced  that  Illinois,  in  advantages  offered 
the  farmer,  was  superior  to  tlie  partially  exhausted 
soil  of  the  East. 

Leaving  their  Eastern  home,  the  family  of  our 
subject  drove  through  on  the  National  Turnpike, 
I -lunging  into  sloughs  and  unworked  roads,  after 
six  weeks  of  arduous  travel  reached  F'ulton  County. 


They  passed  through  the  Grand  Prairie  (not  inap- 
propriately so  called)  near  Danville,  111.,  and 
Abram  Teathworth,  who  willi  his  wife  accompanied 
the  Pumyea  family,  exclaimed  upon  seeing  the 
vast  extent  of  prairie,  "Mr.  Pumyea,  Mr.  Pumyea! 
do  stop  here!  do  stop  herel  "  To  those  whose  ej'es 
had  for  weeks  wearied  of  the  timber  country,  the 
pr.Tirie,  which  reached  far  as  eye  could  scan,  was  a 
pleasant  sight.  However,  having  arranged  to  settle 
in  Fulton  County,  the}'  concluded  it  was  best 
to  proceed  thither. 

In  June,  1836,  a  settlement  was  made  on  sections 
34,  8  north  and  3.  on  the  Indian  trail,  (on  whicli 
land  as  a  guide,  was  a  large  elm  tree,  seen  many 
miles),  between  Farmington  and  EUisville.  The 
improvements  consisted  of  a  few  acres  fenced  and 
a  double  cabin,  purchased  of  Samuel  Dyer,  who 
occupied  it.  Afterward  this  cabin  was  enlarged, 
for  the  continued  influx  of  visitors  rendered  the 
additional  accommodations  necessary.  These  nu- 
merous speculators  and  immigrants  always  found 
Catherine  Pumyea  an  obliging  hostess,  never  tiring 
in  entertaining  visitors,  and  in  Peter  Pumyea  the^' 
found  a  genial  host,  kind-hearted  and  hospitable. 
Many  cherish  in  fond  recollection  the  memory  of 
those  pioneer  days,  and  the  warm-he.arted  Mr. 
Pumyea  and  his  estimable  wife  will  live  long  in  the 
hearts  of  their  grateful  fellow-men. 

In  1836-37,  Moses  Hall  and  Benjamin  Foster 
having  laid  out  a  forty-acre  tract  in  town  lots, 
Peter  Pumyea  and  Richard  Davis  conceived  the 
plan  of  adding  thereto  by  the  purchase  of  an 
addition,  which  they  laid  out  and  named  I'tica; 
but  finding  another  town  b}'  that  name,  they 
changed  it  to  Fairview.  The  first  schoolhouse  in 
the  towii  w.as  a  log  cabin  with  punclieon  floors,  and 
slab  seats,  without  backs.  The  teachers  were 
almost  always  efficient  instructors  and  disciplina- 
rians, and  used  ferules  and  long  switches  to  com- 
mand respect  and  obedience.  After  the  town  was 
started  every  effort  was  used  to  induce  meciianics 
and  merchants  to  locate  here;  lots  were  set  apart 
for  religious  sects,  and  the  Rev.  A.  D.  AVilson  was 
sent  .as  a  missionary.  He  arrived  here  October  3, 
1837,  and  on  the  16th  of  that  month  the  Dutch 
Reformed  Church  was  organized  with  eight  mem- 
bers,     Mr.    Wilson    volunteered     his    services    as 


.Jl^r 


2/  ' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


811 


pastor,  anil  imraediatel}'  after  liii<  arrival  the  con- 
gregation united  in  the  determination  to  erect  a 
church  edifice.  The  pastor  and  our  subject  were 
sent  East  and  returned  with  a  large  donation,  which 
they  had  solicited  in  small  amounts  from  their 
friends  in  New  Jersej'.  This  donation,  together 
witli  that  received  from  manj'  prominent  citizens 
in  Fulton  Country,  enabled  them  to  erect  a  large 
structure  on  the  beautiful  square  of  ground  donated 
by  Peter  Pumyea  for  that  purpose,  in  anticipation 
of  a  large  influx  of  emigration. 

It  is  through  the  efforts  of  Peter  Pumj-ea  and  a 
few  others  that  Fairview  owes  its  present  influential 
position  among  the  towns  of  Fulton  County.  Mr. 
Pumyea  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  his  man}'  acquaint- 
ances during  his  life,  and  at  his  death  was  sincerely 
mourned.  He  passed  from  the  scenes  of  earth 
January  22,  1851,  at  the  age  of  fifty  j'ears.  His 
estimable  wife  survived  him  many  years,  and  died 
February  5,  1884,  at  the  age  of  eightj'-four  years. 
F(jr  further  reference  to  the  family  history  see 
sketch  of  Theodore  Pumyea  on  another  page  of 
this  volume. 


ILLIAM  A.  HILL.  Genial  manners  and 
jii  strict  integrity  of  purpose  are  traits  of 
character  that  invariablj-  make  a  man  pop- 
ular throughout  the  community  in  which  lie  resides, 
and  certainly  such  has  proved  to  be  the  case  in  the 
history  of  Mr.  Hill,  who  is  numbered  among  the 
most  popular  citizens  of  Fulton  County.  His  judg- 
ment is  excellent  and  besides  his  oflicial  skill  he  pos- 
sesses a  large  amount  of  mechanical  genius,  building 
briilges,  barns,  etc.,  after  the  most  approved  style. 
His  poiiularit}-  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  has 
held  the  office  of  Commissioner  of  Highways  for 
the  past  twelve  years,  and  has  given  universal  sat- 
isfaction. He  is  a  successful  agriculturist  and  like 
many  men  who  have  risen  to  prominence  he  com- 
menced at  the  very  bottom  round  of  the  ladder  of 
fortune,  and  has  climbed  to  the  top  solely  by 
means  of  his  own  perseverance  and  industry. 

In     a    canvas     tent     in    Red     River     County, 
Tex.,  the  eyes  of  our   subject   first   opeued   to  the 


light,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  March  2(5,  18.36. 
His  father,  Thomas  Hill,  was  a  native  of  Tennes- 
see, where  he  was  reared  and  where  he  married 
Matilda  Swapshire,  also  a  native  of  Tennessee. 
T^ey  sojourned  for  a  number  of  j'ears  in  their  na- 
tive State,  whence,  in  183(),  they  removed  to  Texas 
and,  settling  in  Red  River  County,  engaged  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits.  Thoy  became  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  as  follows:  Ariminta,  Catherine, 
Marinda,  Thomas,  Cynthia,  Julia.  Abner  K.,  Wil- 
liam A.,  Martha  J.,  George  R.  and  Mary.  All 
grev/  to  maturity  and  at  present  nine  are  living. 

Thomas  Hill  in  his  political  sympathies,  was  a 
strong  Union  man,  and  when  he  married,  his  wife 
inherited,  with  the  rest  of  her  estate,  a  number  of 
slaves,  whom  he  immediatelj''  set  free  He  served 
as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  as  a  partial 
compensation  for  his  services,  was  given  a  land 
warrant  for  some  unbroken  prairie  in  Illinois.  Ac- 
cordingly he  removed  to  this  State  in  1847,  and 
after  sojourning  in  Mercer  County  for  a  number  of 
years,  located  in  Iowa.  Being  in  poor  circum- 
stances and  ill-health,  he  did  not  meet  with  success, 
and  was  finally  given  a  home  b}'  our  subject,  who 
Uuilt  a  house  for  him  on  his  own  farm.  There  the 
father  died  in  1880  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
six  years,  and  the  mother  passed  away  in  Cherry- 
vale,  Kan.,  having  attained  her  eighty-third  year. 
The  earliest  recollections  of  our  subject  are  of 
the  Lone  Star  State,  where  he  attended  school  and 
passed  the  first  ten  years  of  his  life.  He  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  while  yet  a  boy 
helped  to  break  the  sod  of  the  prairie  land  of  Illi- 
nois and  drove  a  five-yoke  team  of  oxen  at  a  break- 
ing plow.  In  185.i  lie  moved  to  Fulton  County, 
and  commenced  life  for  himself,  for  his  father,  be- 
ing poor,  was  unable  to  give  him  aid  financially. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  in  1857,  with  Miss  Mar- 
tha, daughter  of  E.  M.  and  Elizabeth  Hill,  of 
Farmington  Township,  this  countj-.  Mr.  and  Mrs, 
Hill  were  natives  of  Tennessee  and  removed  to 
Illinois  in  1834,  He  is  still  living  on  the  farm 
where  he  first  settled  in  P'ulton  County  and  has 
reached  the  .advanced  age  of  seventy-six  j'ears. 
Mrs.  Hill  died  May  21,  1890. 

After  their  marriage  our  subject  and  his  wife  lo- 
cated    iu    Mercer   Count\-.  this    State,  whence,   in 


812 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


1859,  they  removed  to  this  county.  Their  union 
has  been  blessed  witli  two  children — Emma,  the 
wife  of  E.  E.  Davis,  of  Fartnington,  and  Judson.at 
Iiome  with  iiis  parents.  ]Mrs.  Hill  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Church  and  is  a  most  estimable 
woman,  possessing  those  qualities  of  heart  :ind 
mind  which  have  won  for  her  countless  friends. 
Mr.  Hill  has  been  so  successful  in  his  efforts  that  ho 
is  now  tiie  owner  of  a  valuable  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  .acres,  besides  six  houses  and 
lots  in  the  village  of  Norris  and  two  houses  and 
lots  in  Farmington. 

Prominent  in  the  political  history  of  his  county, 
Mr.  Hill  has  not  onlj'  served  as  Commissioner  of 
Highw.ays,  as  above  stated,  but  lias  in  other  ways 
represented  the  people,  whose  interests  are  upper- 
most in  his  mind.  He  is  a  strong  Republican,  and 
believes  in  protection  of  our  industries.  At  dif- 
ferent times  of  his  life  he  has  served  as  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  and,  sociall}-,  is  a  member  of  Farming- 
ton  Masonic  Lodge,  No.  192.  For  the  past  five 
years  he  has  been  devoting  his  attention  principalh'' 
to  the  business  of  a  contractor.  His  portrait  wliicli 
is  presented  in  connection  with  this  biographical 
review,  represents  one  of  Fulton  County's  promi- 
nent citizens,  whose  life  proves  the  truth  of  the 
adage,  "wiiere  tliere  is  a  will  there's  a  w.ay." 

— s «.^-ii|> v-*- 


|y^  W.  RAFFERTY,  whose  sketch  now  in- 
vites attention  from  tiie  reader,  is  a  self- 
-  made  man  in  the  most  comprehensive 
meaning  of  that  term,  and  one  who  by 
dint  of  natural  ability  and  perseverance  has  raised 
himself  from  the  bottom  to  the  top  round  of  the 
ladder  of  success.  His  early  opportunities  were 
poor  indeed;  but  as  is  daily  proven,  ever3-thing  is 
possible  to  one  who  possesses  strength  of  character 
and  push,  and  these  Mr.  Rafferty  certainl3'  has 
in  a  marked  degree.  As  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Savill  &  Rafferty  he  ranks  among  the  prominent 
business  men  of  Canton,  and  being  both  popular 
and  a  good  worker,  is  rapidly  accumu'ating  a 
fortune. 

Mr.    Rafferty    is    the    son    of   Owen   and    Sarah 


(Kahaler)  Raffertj',  his  Jjirth  occurring  at  Canton 
October  19,  1859.  Both  of  his  parents  were  natives 
of  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  there  [lassed  their  lives 
until  the  year  1818,  at  which  time  they  left  Ireland 
to  find  a  new  home  in  the  United  States.  Their 
first  stopping  place  in  this  countrj'  was  on  Copperas 
Creek,  but  in  a  short  time  they  came  to  Canton, 
and  through  the  remainder  of  their  lives  resided 
here.  The  motiier  died  May  30.  1888,  having  .at- 
tained her  sixty-fifth  year;  the  father  died  Januarj- 
21,  1869,  being  at  the  time  fifty-four  years  old.  To 
then  were  born  six  children,  viz:  Owen,  a  resident 
of  Canton;  T.  C,  commercial  traveler  for  .Savill  & 
Rafferty's  cigar  store;  Katie  L. ;  j\L  W. ;  Maggie  C. 
and  John  F..  also  commercial  traveler  for  his 
brother's  store. 

Our  subject  had  very  few  advantages  in  his 
3'outh,  as  is  too  often  the  case  with  people  in  poor 
financial  circumstances.  He  received  only  a  com- 
mon-school education,  but  such  is  the  excellence  of 
schools  in  America,  that  rich  and  poor  alike  may 
master  the  essential  amount  of  learning  for  a  busi- 
ness career  at  a  small  cost.  After  attaining  his 
seventeenth  year,  our  subject  began  to  learn  the 
cigar-maker's  trade,  working  for  Dean  ifc  Arm- 
strong up  to  'Slay  8,  1883,  when  he  commenced 
business  for  himself.  At  this  dale  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Stephen  D.  Savill  and  opened  a 
cigar  store  in  Canton,  the  firm  name  being  Savill  ifc 
Rafferl}-.  The^'  succeeded  right  from  the  start,  and 
have  added  to  their  business  with  each  succeeding 
year,  until  at  the  present  writing  the}'  stand  very 
liigh  in  commercial  circles,  having  one  of  the 
largest  establisliments  in  the  city.  Mr.  Rafferty 
has  charge  of  the  clerical  work  and  Mr.  Savill 
manages  the  manufactorj-.  Thej'  employ  forty 
cigar-makers,  and  have  several  men  on  the  road. 
Last  year  the}-  manufactured  1,300,000  cigars,  and 
the  prospects  for  this  j-ear  promise  even  a  greater 
number.  Haviug  mastered  everj'  thing  connected 
with  his  business,  from  the  lowest  position  up  to 
the  proprietorship,  Mr.  Rafferty  is  well  prepared  to 
m.ike  it  an  immense  success. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  w.is  married  at  Canton 
September  15,  1885,  to  Miss  Josephine  E.  Seery,  a 
native  of  Fulton  Countj',  and  a  daughter  of  M.  and 
Bridget    (Byrnes)    Seery.     This    union    has^  been 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


813 


blessed  by  one  child — Harry,  born  July  1,  1890. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rafferty  are  faithful  members  of 
the  Catholic  Church  and  interested  in  religious 
matters.  They  own  one  of  llie  finest  residences  in 
Canton,  on  the  corner  of  West  Elm  and  Tliird 
Streets. 

Mr.  Rafferty  is  a  strictly  moral  man — one  of  the 
few  who  can  say  tliey  never  tasted  intoxicating 
liquors,  and  although  from  his  youth  a  manu- 
facturer of  cigars,  lie  is  not  a  smoker.  He  is  held 
in  high  esteem  by  the  citizens  of  this  community, 
both  for  his  present  success  and  for  his  energy  in 
so  nobl3"  conquering  the  obstacles  that  stood  be- 
tween him  and  wealth. 


'i^m^ 


*i^-  ■ 


LBERT  M.  WORTMAN,  M.  D.     This  gen- 
tleman is  a  retired  |)hysician  and  the  owner 
of  the  Vermont  Stock   Farm  which  is  well 
(S^  known  to  breeders  and  lovers  cf  horses.  As 

a  horseman  the  reputation  of  Dr.  Wortman  has  ex- 
tended over  a  large  territory,  and  those  who  have 
made  his  acquaintance  during  the  i)ast  few  years 
know  him  best  for  this  and  his  fine  social  qualities. 
Wliile  he  was  engaged  in  tlie  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession he  met  with  remarkable  success,  as  is  evi- 
denced l)y  the  fact  that  he  was  able  to  retire  with 
a  fortune  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-five  3-ears.  His 
professional  labors  were  principally  carried  on  in 
one  of  the  gre.at  commercial  centers  of  the  country. 
Before  entering  upon  the  life  of  Dr.  Wortman  it 
will  not  1)6  amiss  to  noie  a  few  facts  regarding  his 
ancestors.  His  grandfather,  John  Wortman,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  and  took  his  place  among 
the  pioneers  of  Muskingum  County,  Oliio.  He 
established  a  carding-mill,  operating  it  for  some 
years.  He  possessed  the  peculiar  qualifications 
which  fitted  him  for  pioneer  life,  and  after  his  lo- 
cality in  Ohio  became  quite  well  settled,  lie  removed 
farther  west.  He  settled  near  Ottawa.  111.,  in  a 
region  which  was  then  but  sparsely  settled,  but 
after  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  War  he,  with 
man}-  other  families,  returned  to  the  Buckeye  State. 
Ho  lived  in  various  parts  of  that  commonwealth 
but   spent    his    last    years  at  Monroeville,  Huron 


County.  There  his  faithful  companion  also  breathed 
her  last.  She  h.ad  borne  the  maiden  name  of  Re- 
becca Simpkins  and  was  of  Scotch  ancestr}'. 

The  father  of  our  subject.  Dr.  William  S.  Wort 
man,  was  born  iu  Ohio  near  Zanesville.  At  the 
early  age  of  thirteen  years  he  began  to  earn  his 
own  living.  He  succeeded  in  obtaining  education 
sufficient  to  teach  a  country  school  and,  carefully 
hoarding  the  money  thus  earned,  he  further  pro- 
moted his  knowledge  until  he  was  graduated  frt)m 
the  medical  department  of  the  AVestern  Reserve 
College  at  Cleveland.  He  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Sandusky  City,  but  in  1862  he  re- 
moved to  Missouri,  locating  at  St.  Louis.  There 
he  secured  a  large  practice  and  won  a  high  reputa- 
tion for  his  theoretical  knowledge  and  professional 
skill.  His  death  took  place  in  that  cit}- June  10, 
1884.  His  wife,  formerly  Lueretia  S.  Metcalf,  was 
born  in  Attica,  Seneca  County.  Ohio.  Her  father, 
George  Metcalf,  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits and  farming  there.  To  Dr.  Wortman  and 
his  estimable  wife  seven  children  were  born,  five 
of  whom  were  reared  to  manhood  and  womanhood. 
These  are  our  subject,  Mary  Belle.  Ella  ilay,  Car- 
rie M.  and  Myrtle  J.  The  last  mentioned  has  made 
her  home  with  her  brother  since  the  death  of  her 
mother,  which  took  place  July  11,  1888.  Miss 
Myrtle  is  a  lovely  girl  with  a  sweet,  unselfish  dis- 
position which  endears  her  to  all  about  her. 

The  birth  of  Albert  M.  Wortman  took  place  in 
Shelby,  Richland  County,  Ohio,  October  19,  1852, 
and  he  was  ten  j'eafs  old  when  his  parents  removed 
to  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  had  previously  attended  the 
Mayflovver  School  in  Cleveland  a)id  at  his  new  home 
continued  his  studies  iu  the  city  schools  for  a  short 
time.  He  then  entered  the  College  of  the  Chris- 
tian Brothers  and  by  reason  of  his  aptness  in  com- 
prehending and  assimilating  facts  was  graduated  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years.  He  at  once  began  the 
study  of  medicine,  his  tutors  being  his  father  and 
Drs.  S.  T.  Newman  and  V.  O.  Drake.  After  having 
read  with  them  a  sulHcient  lengtli  of  time  he  at- 
tended medical  lectures  at  the  St.  Louis  Medical 
College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1873. 

The  young  phj'siciau  was  at  once  chosen  assist- 
ant in  the  St.  Louis  City  Hospital  and  after  faith- 
fully discharging  the  diiiies,  which  proved  a  great 


8U 


PORTRAIT  A>"D  BlOCxKAPHlCAL  ALBUM. 


benefit  to  himself  as  well  as  to  the  inmates  of  the 
institution,  for  a  twelvemonth,  he  left  the  city.  He 
established  himself  in  Vermont,  111.,  but  after  prac- 
ticing lliere  a  j-ear  and  a  half  removed  to  Balti- 
more, Md  ,  that  lie  might  have  a  wider  field  for  his 
labors.  In  that  city  he  conducted  a  successful 
practice  until  1887,  when  he  determined  to  retire 
from  professional  work.  He  came  to  Vermont, 
which  had  been  the  home  of  his  wife  during  her 
maidenliood  and  wheie  her  nearest  relatives  were 
still  living.  The  following  year  he  bought  a  half- 
interest  in  a  farm  adjoining  thetown  and  in  1889 
purchased  tlie  remaining  interest  and  also  tlie  Ver- 
mont Stock  Farm. 

The  same  year  Dr.  Wortman  purchased  eleven 
Kentucky-bred  horses.  Ray  Boyd  standing  at  the 
head  of  the  herd.  This  fine  animal  is  a  lialf-brother 
to  Maud  S..  whose  time  of  2:08f  is  the  fastest  on 
record.  His  dam  is  a  half-sister  to  Goldsmith  Maid, 
whose  lime  is  2:14  and  who  has  been  the  greatest 
campaigner  the  world  has  ever  known.  Ra3' Bo3'd 
is  by  a  son  of  Hambletonian  acd  is  inbred  to  the 
sire  of  Hambletonian's  dam.  Raj-  Boyd's  dam  is 
by  a  son  of  Hambletonian  and  is  inbred  to  the  sire 
of  Hambletonian's  dam.  Ray  Boyd's  sire  is  by 
Hambletonian  and  is  inbred  to  the  sire  of  Ham- 
bletonian's (lam.  It  is  stated  on  good  author- 
ity tltat  Ray  Boyd  possesses  more  of  the  blood 
—  Messenger  and  Bellfounder  —  that  produced 
the  great  Hambletonian  10  than  any  other  horse 
living,  with  the  possible  exception  of  Egbert.  The 
Doctor  also  has  fiftj'  standard  and  non-standard 
breeding  mares. 

The  fine  horse  farm  of  Dr.  A.  M.  Wortman  joins 
Verraoni,  on  the  northeast  and  extends  to  the  ■•(i" 
Lake.  The  farm  !))•  nature  and  outlay  of  the  Doc- 
tor's money  is  one  of  the  best  fitted  and  equipped 
in  the  State  for  tlie  puriiose.  It  consists  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  rolling  land  set  in  pas- 
ture, divided  into  seventeen  pasture  fields,  or 
paddocks,  by  neat  and  substantial  plank  fences,  all 
connected  by  gates.  Kach  field  is  supplied  with 
plenty  of  pure  water,  the  majority  b}'  springs  that 
never  fail,  one  of  which  flows  a  stream  continuallj- 
an  inch  in  diameter,  as  clear  as  crj'stal.  The  build- 
ings are  ;ill  substantial  structures  on  brick  founda- 
tions.    The  tenant  house  is  very  handsome,  equal 


to  many  in  town.  The  raiin  barn  built  on  a  nat- 
ural eminence  is  52x92.  The  lower  floor  is  divided 
by  a  driveway  the  entire  length  of  tlie  building,  on 
each  side  of  which  are  large  box  stalls,  fitted  with 
all  the  modern  conveniences,  including  harness 
closets,  salt  boxes  and  folding  mangers,  the  latter 
connected  with  the  loft  above  by  trap  doors, 
through  which  the  horses  are  fed  ha}-.  The  sides  of 
the  stalls  next  the  drive-waj-  are  boarded  ui)  four 
feet  and  that  surmounted  by  two  feet  of  iron  lattice 
woik;  this  insures  plent}-  of  light  and  air.  The 
upper  storj-  is  fitted  w-ith  a  storage  room  for  grain 
connected  with  the  lower  floor  by  shutes  to  lower 
the  feed,  and  besides  will  hold  one  hundred  tons  of 
haj'.  Thestalls  in  this  building  are  used  exclusively 
for  brood  mares.  The  stallion  stable.a  few  rods  south 
is  20x32  divided  into  two  stalls,  both  with  tno  out- 
side doors,  the  one  opening  outward  being  of  plank 
and  the  one  opening  inward  of  heavy  lattice  work; 
when  the  former  are  open  and  the  latter  are  closed 
the  air  and  light  pass  through.  The  door  on  the 
east  opens  into  a  padilock  .52x80  thai  is  boarded  up 
eight  feet,  in  which  the  horses  can  be  turned  loose 
for  exercise.  Each  stall  is  lined  and  fitted  similar 
to  the  ones  in  the  main  stable  excepting  the  nian- 
ger,  the  stallions  being  fed  from  the  ground. 
South  of  this  is  another  barn  14x90,  haj-  barracks 
and  granaries.  Altogether  the  farm  is  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  county,  and  with  its  fine  horses  at- 
tracts wide-spread  attention. 

Realizing  that  it  was  not  good  for  man  to  live 
alone.  Dr.  Wortman  wooed  a  young  l.ady  connected 
with  the  best  families  of  the  countj-  and  personallj^ 
well  fitted  to  be  his  companion.  This  was  Miss 
Laura  E.,  daughter  of  Col.  Thomas  .1.  and  Abigail 
(Dilworth)  Kinuej\  She  was  born  at  Browning, 
received  a  good  education  and  the  careful  home 
training  which  qualified  her  for  the  duties  she  owes 
to  society  and  the  home  circle.  The  marriage  rites 
between  Dr.  Wortman  and  Miss  Kinney  were  sol- 
emnized  at  the  bride's  home,  November  26.  1874. 

Dr.  Wortman  belongs  to  the  Royal  Arcanum 
and  Knights  of  Honor.  He  is  jolly  and  good-na- 
tured, ever  ready  to  enter  into  the  sports  of  the 
societ}'^  which  he  frequents,  yet  b\-  no  means  spend- 
ing his  entire  time  in  lecreation.  The  oversight  of 
his  stock  farm   occupies  considerable  of  his  time 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


815 


and  calls  forth  his  tact  and  business  foresight.  A 
fine  library  and  the  prominent  magazines  and  jour- 
nals of  the  ila}-  afford  him  food  for  thought  and 
keep  up  his  knowledge  of  and  an  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  the  world.  He  is  a  skillful  performer 
upon  the  piano,  has  written  brilliant  compositions 
for  that  instrument  and  given  appropriate  setting 
to  man^'  songs. 


^j^^  AMUEL  CAMPBELL,  an  honored  veteran 
^^^  of  the  late  war.  is  classed  among  the  in- 
l|Ly_J))  telligent,  capable,  enterprising  farmers  of 
Lewistown  Township,  who  have  contrib- 
uted so  largely  to  raise  it  to  its  present  high  position 
as  a  great  agricultural  center.  His  farm  is  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  place,  and  here  he  has  a  handsome 
residence  and  one  of  the  coziest  of  homes. 

Mr.  Campbell  is  of  Kentucky  birth.  He  was  born 
July  21,  1830,  two  and  one-half  miles  from  Ver- 
sailles, in  Woodford  County.  Samuel  Campljell 
was  the  name  of  his  father,  and  he  was  a  Virginian, 
born  in  1717  near  the  Natural  Bridge.  His  father, 
whose  name  was  George  Campbell,  is  supposed  to 
have  been  born  in  the  same  State,  coming  of  an 
old  Scotch  family.  He  removed  from  there  to 
Kentucky  in  I79G  ami  was  a  pioneer  of  Woodford 
County.  He  was  well  educated  for  those  days  and 
taught  school.  For  inanj'  years  he  was  afflicted 
Willi  rheumatism  and  was  unable  to  perform  ati}' 
manual  labor.  He  bought  a  tract  of  land  near 
^'t■rsailIes,  and  there  his  declining  years  were  spent. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Nancy  McClure, 
and  she  was  also  a  native  of  Virginia.  Besides  his 
homestead  he  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Boone 
County,  on  which  some  of  his  children  settled. 

Samuel  Campbell,  Sr.,  was  nineteen  years  old 
when  his  father  moved  to  Kentucky.  Two  years 
later  he  returned  to  Virginia  to  settle  some  of  his 
father's  business,  making  the  entire  journe}'  to  and 
fro  on  horseback.  He  adopted  the  calling  of  a 
farmer,  to  which  he  had  been  lired,  continued  to 
live  with  his  parents  until  their  death,  and  occu- 
pied the  old  homestead  until  183G.  In  that  year 
he  too  became  a  pioneer,  starting   for  Illinois  with 


teams  and  taking  with  him  his  wife  and  ten  chil- 
dren, leaving  the  old  iiDine  September  29,  and  ar- 
riving in  Fulton  C<junty,  this  State,  October  29. 
He  at  once  bought  a  tract  of  land  including  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  13,  Lewistown  Town- 
ship. There  was  a  house  on  it,  partly  of  logs  and 
the  rest  of  it  frame,  a  log  barn  also  stood  on  the 
place,  and  eighty-five  acres  of  the  land  was  under 
cultivation.  He  paid  §2,600  for  the  farm,  and  im- 
mediately entered  upon  its  further  improvement. 
Fulton  CoiuUv  was  then  ver}-  thinly  inhabited, 
and  this  portion  of  it  was  mostl}'  well-wooded  and 
deer,  wild  turkeys  r.nd  other  kinds  of  game  roamed 
throughout  the  forest.  There  were  no  railways  and 
Liverpool,  then  quite  a  flourishing  town  on  the  Illi- 
nois River,  was  the  principal  market.  Hero  Mr. 
Campbell  performed  much  useful  pioneer  labor 
and  zealously  aided  in  developing  the  country 
until  his  untimely  death  April  12,  1852. 

Prior  to  her  marriage  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Phoebe  Kiikham,  and  she  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  1792.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Michael 
Kirkham,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  a  descendant  of 
Scotch  ancestry.  He  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  Kentucky,  removing  thither  during  the  Revo- 
lutionarj'  War.  For  some  years  after  he  settled  in 
that  State  the  Indians  were  hostile  and  committed 
man}'  murders.  He  and  his  few  neighbors  gath- 
ered together  and  built  a  fort,  in  which  they  staid 
at  the  approach  of  the  red  men,  and  at  times  they 
were  nearly  starved,  as  they  were  afraid  to  venture 
forth  for  game  that  was  plentiful.  At  one  time 
when  Mr.  Kirkham  vvas  out  with  the  other  men  in  a 
campaign  against  the  savages,  his  wife  walked  to  the 
farm,  three  miles  distant  from  the  fort,  every  day 
to  attend  to  the  crops.  The  harvests  were  often 
bountiful,  and  one  year  corn  was  large  enough  to 
grate,  six  weeks  from  the  time  of  planting.  He 
and  his  wife  both  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  in  Woodford  County.  Ky.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Nancy  Campbell,  and  she  was  of  mingled 
Scotch  and  English  blood  and  was  born  near  the 
State  line  of  Pennsylvania  and  \'irginia.  She  and 
her  husband  both  died  at  the  home  of  the  parents 
of  our  subject  in  Fulton  County,  on  their  old 
homestead,  and  were  buried  in  the  family  ceme- 
tery.    The  mother  of  our  subject  survived  her  hus- 


816 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


band  manj'  j'ears,  and  her  death  finally  occurred 
February  3,  1S75.  The  names  of  the  ten  children 
whom  she  reared  to  maturity  are:  Mary  H.,  Naucy. 
Sarah,  George  M.,  Caroline  R.,  Michael  K.,  Robert, 
Prudence.  Samuel  and  .John  B. 

Our  subject  was  educated  in  the  pioneer  schools 
of  tiiis  county,  which  were  conducted  in  log  houses, 
provided  with  home-made  furniture,  and  a  log  was 
taken  out  to  admit  the  light,  and  in  the  aperture 
greased  paper  was  inserted  instead  of  glass.  He 
resided  on  the  home  farm  until  August,  1862.  In 
that  month  he  entered  upon  the  life  of  a  soldier, 
enlisting  in  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Third 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  in  at  Peoria 
October  2.  In  the  following  November  he  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Tennessee.  At  the  battle 
of  Holly  Springs  he  was  captui-ed  by  the  enemy, 
but  immediately  paroled.  He  then  obtained  a 
li'ave  of  absence  and  remained  at  home  until  spring, 
when  he  went  into  the  parole  camp  at  St.  Louis, 
and  in  June  of  that  year  he  joined  his  regiment  at 
Yazoo  River.  He  and  his  comrades  were  employed 
there  in  keeping  Johnston  s  forces  at  bay.  After 
the  fall  of  Yicksburg  they  went  to  Mississippi  and 
were  active  in  the  battle  of  Jackson.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell was  taken  sick  soon  after  that  event  and  re- 
ceived a  furlough  of  three  months,  which  he  spent 
lit  iiome.  He  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Scottsboro, 
Ala.,  and  in  the  month  of  May,  1864,  he  and  his 
fellow  soldiers  were  dispatched  to  Chattanooga  to 
accompany  Sherman  on  his  remarkable  campaign  to 
Atlanta  and  the  sea.  The  brave  boys  did  excel- 
lent service  in  tlie  siege  and  capture  of  that  cit}-, 
and  in  the  various  engagements  that  took  place 
between  the  Union  forces  and  the  enemy,  and 
marched  with  their  leader's  victorious  troops  to 
the  sea,  and  thence  through  the  Carolinas  and  on 
by  the  way  of  Richmond  to  Washington.  Mr. 
Campbell  was  in  the  Capitol  Cit}-  at  the  time  of 
the  Grand  Review,  but  on  .account  of  sickness  was 
unable  to  tr.ke  part  in  it.  He  was  afterward  sent 
with  his  regiment  to  Louisville,  K}'.,  and  was  there 
mustered  out  of  the  service,  and  received  his  final 
discharge  papers  at  Chicago,  in  the  month  of  July, 
1865. 

After  the  exciting  experiences  of  life  on  the 
battlefield  Mr.  Campbell  returned  home  and  quietly 


resumed  his  calling  on  the  old  homestead  which  he 
now  owns  and  occupies.  He  has  greatl3'  increased 
the  value  thereof  and  improved  it  by  erecting  a 
substantial  and  well-appointed  set  of  buildings,  in- 
cluding a  fine  brick  house  built  in  the  modern  style 
of  architecture.  To  the  lady  who  presides  over  his 
pleasant  home,  and  renders  it  an  abode  of  comfort, 
our  subject  was  married  March  12,  1867.  As  a 
girl  her  name  was  Emma  llanna,  and  she  was  born 
in  Illinois,  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  John  C.  and 
Martha  (Winchester)  Hanna.  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Camp- 
bell have  h.ad  nine  children — Eva  L.,  Prudence  O., 
Pluebe  Martha,  Warren  L..  Sarah  C,  Adela.  Bertha, 
Ralph  W.  and  Roy.  Bertlia,  the  second  child, 
died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years;  Ralph,  the  fourth 
child,  died  at  the  age  of  five  j'ears;  Roj-  died  in 
infancy. 

The  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  were 
both  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
he  and  bis  wife,  who  are  devout  Christians,  ad- 
here strictly  to  that  faiili  and  are  connected  with 
the  church  of  tiiat  denomination  in  Lewistown 
Township.  Our  subject  also  inherited  his  politi- 
cal beliefs  from  his  father,  seemingl^^  as  the  latter 
was  a  Whig,  to  vvliich  party  the  son  belonged 
until  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party,  when 
he  fell  into  its  ranks  and  has  since  been  one  of 
its  sturdiest  supporters  both  in  times  of  peace  and 
in  times  of  war. 


eYRUS  I.  ALCOTT.  This  name  will  be  rec- 
ognized by  the  majority  of  our  readers  as 
that  of  a  man  who  is  extensively  interested 
in  raising  fine  stock,  particularly  Shropshire  sheep. 
To  him  is  due  the  credit  of  having  introduced  those 
animals  into  this  county — an  enterprise  which  has 
proved  very  profitable,  not  only  to  himself  but  to 
other  agriculturalists.  He  generall}-  keejis  on  hand 
about  one  thousand  head  of  the  fleecy  animals,  and 
likewise  a  number  of  ver\-  valuable  horses  and 
cattle. 

"Mv.   Alcott  is    fortunate  in  tracing  his  descent 
from  ancestors   noted  for   their  strength  of   body. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


817 


mind  and  purpose,  who  lived  to  very  advanced 
years.  His  great-grand fntlier  Alcott  was  a  Welsli- 
man,  and  ids  great-grandniotlier,  Scoteli.  In  tlie 
family  of  this  couple  was  a  son,  Israel,  born  on  the 
coast  of  New  Jersey,  who  located  in  Ross  County, 
Ohio,  about  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century. 
He  figured  in  tlie  frontier  labors  and  also  in  the 
War  of  1812.  He  came  to  this  State  at  an  early 
day,  and  died  here  when  eighty-live  years  of  age, 
while  his  widow  reached  the  age  of  ninety  years. 

Following  Israel  Alcott  in  the  direct  line  of 
descent  was  his  son  Henry,  who  was  born  in  Ross 
County,  Ohio,  but  went  to  Indiana  with  his  parents 
when  he  was  eigliteen  years  old.  In  that  State  he 
married  Martha  Foster,  who  was  born  in  Franklin 
County,  Ohio,  but  went  to  Indiana  in  her  girlhood. 
She  was  of  English  descent,  tlie  first  home  of  the 
Fosters  in  America  having  Ijeen  on  the  banks  of  the 
Potomac.  Her  mother  belonged  to  the  Pratiier 
family,  a  branch  of  which  is  well-known  at  Spring- 
field, this  State,  and  her  grandmother  belonged  to 
the  family  which  produced  Gen.  Howe,  of  the  Eng- 
lish army. 

The  life  of  Henry  Alcott  was  an  extraordinary 
one  in  respect  to  his  Qnancial  success.  He  began 
ids  personal  career  with  no  capital  but  that  provided 
by  nature — a  good  mind,  a  good  body  and  good 
health.  He  had  earned  about  $500  when,  ambitious 
to  make  his  mark  in  the  world,  he  left  the  Hoosier 
State  for  a  country-  farther  west.  With  a  horse  and 
wagon  and  three  yoke  of  oxen,  he  and  his  wife 
drove  to  Central  Illinois,  where  their  capital  was 
invested  in  land.  A  tract  of  eighty  acres  was 
bought,  upon  which  settlement  was  made  in  1836. 
So  well  did  Mr.  Alcott  act  his  part  in  life  that  he 
became  the  owner  of  an  extensive  tract  of  land,  con- 
sisting of  more  than  one  thousand  acres,  together 
with  Hocks  and  herds,  and  personal  property  of  con- 
siderable value.  One  of  his  peculiarities  was  that 
of  going  straight  to  the  point  in  a  liargain,  neither 
changing  his  own  price  nor  attempting  to  make 
otliers  change  theirs.  He  passed  away  June  5, 1888, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  eight  months  and 
four  days.  His  faithful  companion  had  preceded 
him  to  the  silent  land,  dying  in  1877  at  the  age  of 
sixtj'-flve  years.  Of  the  children  born  to  them  two 
grew  to  maturity,  Mar3'  C.  and  Cyrus  I.    The  birth 


of  Cyrus  I.  Alcott  took  pl.ice  M.irch  20,  1844,  on 
the  homestead  he  now  oixnates.  He  was  married  to 
Josephine  Fisher  November  18,  1880,  and  unto 
them  three  sons  were  born:  John  Henry  born  Oc- 
tober 31,  1881,  died  April  13,  1890,  aged  eight 
years,  5  months  and  twelve  days;  Leonard  Curtus, 
born  December  18,  1883;  and  Guy  Fisher,  born 
November  3,  1885. 


EWIS  F.  RANDOLPH  is  possessed  of  those 
advanced  ideas  and  progressive  principles 
/l^-^Vs  regarding  agriculture  which  invariably  lead 
to  success  when  attended  by  the  strict  integrity 
and  will  power  that  characterize  him,  and  these 
have  placed  him  amongst  the  principal  farmers  of 
Joshua  Township. 

Our  subject  was  born  at  Utica,  Ind.,  July  4,  1835. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  F.  and  Nancy  (Rawalt)  Ran- 
dolph. His  father  was  born  January'  1,  1796,  in 
Yates  County,  N.  Y.,  and  his  motiier  was  born 
February  1,  1804.  Of  the  eight  children  born  to 
the  parents  of  our  subject  all  are  at  the  present 
time  residents  of  Fulton  County.  The  father  was 
an  intellectual  and  highly  cultured  man,  and  after 
completing  his  education  taught  school  in  his  na- 
tive State  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  old.  He 
was  married  in  1820  in  LTtica,  Ind.,  and  engaged  in 
a  mercantile  business  there  for  several  years,  carry- 
ing on  in  connection  with  it  the  manufacture  of 
school  supplies  such  as  globes,  maps  and  charts, 
which  he  sold  extensively  in  Indiana  and  Kentucky, 
deriving  from  that  source  a  fine  income.  Although 
he  was  so  prosperous  in  that  State  he  does  not  seem 
to  have  liked  it  for  a  permanent  residence  as  in 
September,  1835,  after  living  there  fifteen  years,  he 
came  to  Fulton  County,  and  became  associated 
with  -its  pioneers.  Immediately  after  his  arrival 
here  he  purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land  on  section  13,  Joshua  Township,  and  a  like 
amount  on  section  18,  Canton  Township.  He  be- 
came one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers  in  the  county,  and  in  time  accumulated  a 
large  amount  of  property.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  owned    twelve  liundi'i'd   acres  of  land  and 


818 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  among  the  leading  stock  dealers  of  tliis  section, 
as  lie  made  a  specialty  of  raising  liogs  and  good 
cattle,  from  the  sale  of  whicli  he  liad  derived  large 
sums  of  money.  He  Ijuilt  the  first  gristmill  in 
the  towiishi|)  where  he  resided,  and  for  seven  years 
was  actively  engaged  in  milling. 

Mr.  Ran<loli)h  was  a  man  of  many  original  and 
progressive  ideas  and  of  marked  enei-gy  and  de- 
cision of  character.  He  believed  in  the  theory 
that  has  been  advanced  from  time  to  time  by  some 
of  the  great  thinkers  of  this  and  other  countries, 
that  a  eomniimity  of  interest  in  any  undertaking 
was  for  the  highest  good  of  all  concerneti  and  was 
more  likely  to  make  such  an  enterprise  successful. 
He  therefore  organized  an  association  consisting  of 
fifteen  members  with  their  families,  on  the  Fourier 
plan,  and  in  1845  he  deeded  a  tract  of  land  to  the 
association,  with  the  stipulated  condition  that  at 
tlie  disintegration  of  the  society  the  land  should 
revert  to  his  wife  and  heirs-at-law.  The  shares  of 
the  association  were  placed  at  $50  each,  and  every 
member  was  permitted  to  have  as  many  shares  as 
he  wished.  The  societ}',  like  many  anotlier  of  its 
kind,  was  short  lived,  as  it  was  found  not  to  be  a 
practical  undertaking.  Mr.  Randolph  had  been 
elected  President  of  the  association  and  lield  that 
position  during  its  existence. 

Mr.  Randolph  possessed  much  mechanical  skill 
and  could  turn  his  hand  to  anything.  He  was  a 
good  carpenter,  and  he  built  the  first  schoolhouse 
ever  erected  in  the  township  of  Joshua.  He  took 
much  interest  in  educational  matters  and  otherwise 
contributed  to  advance  education.  He  was  also 
prominent  in  public  life  and  in  social  and  religious 
circles.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  County 
Commissioners  for  several  years,  and  in  that  capac- 
ity was  potent  in  advancing  the  interests  of  the 
county.  Ho  and  iiis  brother-in-law  organized  the 
first  Swedenborgian  Church  that  was  established 
in  Canton,  and  lie  erected  the  house  of  worship 
with  his  own  hands  in  1836.  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  that  church  and  he  was  active  in  its 
every  good  work  until  the  time  of  his  death,  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1845.  His  widow  died  in  1864,  and  both 
are  buried  in  the  old  homestead  cemetery. 

After  the  death  of  the  father  of  our  subject  his 
mother   was   left  wilh  the  care   of  eight   children. 


and  nobly  did  she  perform  the  task  of  rearing  them 
to  good  and  useful  lives.  It  was  only  by  her  keen 
business  tact  and  su|)erior  management  that  the 
(property  left  b}-  her  husband  was  secured  to  the 
family.  She  was  compelled  to  have  her  title  made 
good  to  the  laud  he  had  convoyed  to  the  associa- 
tion of  which  we  have  made  mention,  and  it  was 
only  by  legal  proceedings  in  court  that  the  title 
was  restored  to  her.  She  managed  to  procure  a 
good  farm  for  each  of  her  children  and  in  other 
ways  conti'ibuted  to  thc'r  ijrosperitj-.  Our  subject 
continued  to  live  with  his  mother  until  the  time  of 
her  death.  When  he  began  his  career  as  a  farmer 
on  his  own  account  he  bought  two  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  of  land  on  section  13,  where  he  now  re- 
sides and  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Canton 
Township  on  section  16.  Since  that  tiiiie  he  has 
made  other  additions  to  his  real  estate,  and  at  pres- 
ent owns  over  five  hundred  acres  of  land,  worth 
8100  an  acre,  and  he  is  also  the  proprietor  of  some 
twentv-four  lots  of  valuable  realtj'  in  Chicago, which 
has  increased  in  value  and  has  greatly  added  to  his 
wealth,  so  that  he  is  now  one  of  the  richest  men  in 
Joshua  Township.  His  farm  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
this  part  of  the  county,  is  supplied  with  substantial 
and  well  ordered  buildings  and  is  replete  in  all  its 
appointments.  It  is  finely  adapted  to  stock-raising 
purposes,  in  which  branch  of  industry  our  subject 
is  much  interested,  lleimportetl  the  first  Norman 
draft  horses  that  were  ever  owned  in  this  county, 
and  on  his  farm  will  be  found  the  best  blooded 
horses  in  this  part  of  the  State.  He  also  raises  a 
number  of  cattle  and  hogs,  of  which  he  sells  a  car- 
load each  every  year,  besides  having  a  sale  of 
his  horses  which  bring  him  in  a  large  sum  of 
money. 

Mr.  Randolph  and  Miss  Eliza1)eth  Andrews  were 
united  in  marriage  in  Canton,  January  28,  1864. 
]\Irs.  Randolph  was  born  February  12,  1842.  Her 
parents  were  pioneer  settlers  of  Fulton  County, 
coming  here  in  1820.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randolph  are 
jjeople  whose  many  pleasant  personal  attributes  at- 
tract to  them  many  friends  and  they  are  prominent 
in  the  society  of  the  county.  Their  home  is  in  one 
of  the  many  substantial,  comfortable  dwellings  of 
this  locafity,  and  is  the  ceat  of  true  iiospitality. 
The  pleasant  home  circle  is  completed  by  the  three 


,>-*<> 


/Sa^z^  Me-^S^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


821 


children,  which  have  blessed  their  wedded  lile,  and 
of  whom  tlie  following  is  the  record;  Mnry,  born 
September  30,  1871;  Jeptha,  June  7,  1877;  and 
Lewis,  October  26,  1879.  Mary  is  a  student  at  the 
Normal  Scliool  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  and  will  soon 
complete  her  education  in  tliat  institution. 

Mr.  Randolph  has  been  a  vei'y  important  factor 
in  advancing  the  stock-raising  interests  of  this 
county  as  well  as  in  promoting  its  advancement  in 
other  directions,  and  he  holds  a  prominent  position 
among  tlie  leading  members  of  his  class  in  this 
portion  of  Illinois.  He  is  a  man  of  broad  mind 
and  enlightened  views,  of  forcible  character  and 
of  fine  business  talents.  Ho  is  warm-hearted  and 
generous  and  uses  his  wealth  for  the  good  of  Jiis 
communit}'.  He  has  decided  opinions  cf  his  own 
especially  in  regard  to  politics,  anil  lie  advocates 
that  good  and  responsible  men  be  elected  to  office 
regardless  of  their  political  affiliations.  He  main- 
tains very  warmly  that  the  old  Green l)ack  party, 
with  which  he  was  formerly  connected,  sliould  never 
have  been  retired.  He  gives  hi;j  support  to  tlie 
Republican  party.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
the  P.atrons  of  Hu.sbandry  during  the  existence  of 
that  oroai.ization. 


^f^,  ANIPX  HELLER.  On  the  opposite  page  is 
I  ])]  presented  a  portrait  of  this  gentleman,  who 
(^f^  is  the  second  oldest  settler  now  living  in 
Putman  Township,  and  one  of  the  most 
higlilj-  respected  citizeriS  thereof.  He  has  resided 
here  Bft3'-five  j'ears  continuonsi}',  in  which  time  he 
has  accumulated  a  considerable  amount  of  property 
and  conducted  a  thriving  business.  He  is  the 
eldest  child  of  .lohn  and  Blandenah  (Van  Auken) 
Heller,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  .Jersey, 
respectively.  After  their  marriage  they  lived  in 
New  Jersey  for  a  time  and  later  removed  to  Ptnii- 
sylvania.  In  1813  they  settled  in  Wayne  County, 
Ohio,  where  tliey  sojourned  for  ten  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time,  disposed  of  their  prop- 
erty-, and  located  in  Richland  Countj*,  near  Ash- 
land, where  they  remained  until  1835.  In  that  year 
tliej-  came  to  Illinois  stopping  on  the  w.aj'  at    Da}-- 


ton  and  reaching  Fulton  C(junly  in  1835.  They 
made  a  short  stop  in  Fairvicw  Township,  then  came 
to  Cass  Township,  and  later  to  Putman  Township, 
where  they  finally  located  upon  the  farm  which  is 
now  the  home  of  their  son. 

Tbe  country  was  at  that  time  very  thinly  settled, 
indeed,  the  onl^-  settlers  were  IMessrs.  Tottcn, 
Baughman,  Cameron,  Thomas  Walters  and  Laswell. 
The  father  purchased  a  farm  upon  which  was  a 
small  log  cabin,  and  of  this  the  family  took  im- 
mediate possession.  At  that  time  there  were  six 
children,  and  the  family  being  in  very  limited  cir- 
cumstances,  the  father  was  compelled  to  work  early 
and  late  to  gain  money  for  their  sustenance.  He 
had  been  a  tanner  early  in  life,  but  did  not  follow 
that  trade  after  coming  to  this  place.  Our  subject 
was  born  February  28,  1811,  in  Northampton 
County,  Pa.,  and  was  two  years  old  when  the  fam- 
ily moved  to  Oliio,  tlion  an  uncultivated  tract  of 
land,  inhabited  by  thousands  of  Indians.  He  was 
about  twelve  j'ears  old  when  the  family  removed 
to  Richland  County,  and  received  his  educational 
training  in  the  subscription  scliools  of  Ohio,  where 
the  schoolhouse  was  an  old  log  cabin. 

Later  our  subject  learned  the  business  of  a  tan- 
ner, and  worked  at  this  trade  for  $8  per  month. 
Reaching  his  twenty-first  year,  he  started  out  in  life 
for  himself,  and  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  and 
also  to  devote  much  time  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  vvas  married  in  1833  to  Miss  Mary  Black,  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio  and  an  orphan,  whose  father  was 
killed  in  the  War  of  1812.  After  his  marriage  our 
subject  worked  as  before  stated  at  the  tannery 
business  until  he  came  to  Illinois.  In  this  State  he 
lived  one  winter  on  the  Laswell  farm,'  where  he 
worked  very  hard,  and  the  next  winter  hewed  tim- 
ber and  secured  enougii  lumber  to  build  a  house 
and  a  tannery.  Once  thoroughly  settled,  he  pur- 
sued his  trade  most  successfull}'  for  twenty-two 
years,  and  in  the  meantime  purchased  fifty  acres  of 
land  south  of  Cuba,  for  which  he  paid  $2  per  acre. 
He  eventually  bought  his  fatliei''s  estate,  and  moved 
to  this  place. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was,  however,  not 
without  misfortunes  and  during  the  late  wnr  some 
of  his  political  enemies  burned  liis  house,  because 
of  his  strong  Abolition  si-ntiments.    He  rebuilt  the 


822 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


house  as  it  now  stands  at  ;i  fust  of  S)5,000,  but  his 
liroperty  was  not  insured  and  the  loss  was  heavy. 
AVheii  eouiinencing  life  hirasolf,  he  was  virtually 
without  money.  His  fust  tax  was  twelve  and  a  half 
cents,  his  pre;sent  one  being  over  $500,  figures 
which  give  some  idea  of  the  success  which  he  has 
gained.  True,  his  effo'ts  have  been  unceasing,  and 
he  has  for  weeks  at  a  time  worked  day  and  night, 
but  now  is  the  possessor  of  a  considerable  fortune, 
and  while  he  has  given  to  his  children  over  twelve 
hundred  acres  of  land,  he  still  retains  for  himself 
two  liiuidred  and  fifteen  acres,  but  makes  his  home 
with   his  sou  Frank. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heller  became  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living,  namely: 
John,  who  married  Miss  Hannah  Jackson,  lives  in 
DeWitt  County  and  the}'  have  tluee  children; 
Daniel  H.,  who  married  Addie  Melhenej',  lives  in 
Piatt  County,  and  is  the  father  of  four  children; 
Frank  married  Sarah  Hast}',  a  daughter  of  Am- 
brose and  Mary  (Berr}')  Hastj',  and  lives  on  the 
home  farm,  with  his  wife  and  four  children;  Mary 
Jane  is  the  wife  of  William  Phillips,  of  Cuba,  and 
thej'  have  three  children,  Mrs.  Heller  died  May  3, 
1875.  Mr.  Heller  is  actively  interested  in  politics, 
and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Jackson,  was  afterward  a 
Whig,  and  is  at  the  present  time  a  member  of  the 
Republican  part}*.  He  is  a  thoroughly  moral  man, 
an  advocate  of  temperance,  and  for  more  than  forty- 
years  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Protes- 
tant Church,  and  has  .served  as  Trustee.  He  is  at 
present  (1-890)  seventy-nine  years  of  age  and  is 
looked  upon  as  a  most  valuable  citizen  by  the  resi- 
dents of  this  township.  He  was  connected  with 
the  underground  railway  and  served  as  Trustee 
and  Supervisor  of  Putraan  Township. 


I 


A.  HOWAT  is  a  business  man  of  high 
\  pjj!    standing  in  Canton,  being  the  proprietor  of 

a  large  meat  market  and  carrying  on  an 
additional  business  in  stock  dealing.  He  at  all 
limes  considers  the  interest  of  his  patrons,  thereby- 
laying  a  foundation  for  still  further  business,  and 
still  greater  success  in   the  line  wliicli  he  pursues 


cannot  but  be  his  just  reward.  Although  it  Is  but 
a  few  years  since  he  began  his  present  enterprise, 
he  already  ranks  among  the  prominent  and  influen- 
tial business  men  of  the  place. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  and  Grace 
(Raymond)  Howat.  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
in  Scotland  and  soon  after  his  arrival  in  the  United 
States  settled  in  Peoria,  III.  He  was  a  well-known 
architect,  who  built  the  first  distillery-  in  Peoria 
and  a  large  number  of  tHie  residences  and  business 
houses  of  that  city.  He  died  when  our  subject 
was  scarcely  more  than  an  infant,  about  1864. 
The  mother  was  born  in  London,  Ergland,  about 
1833,  and  brought  to  America  during  her  infanc}-, 
her  parents  locating  on  a  farm  near  Peoria  and 
later  making  their  home  in  the  city.  After  the 
death  of  Mr.  Howat  she  married  John  G.  Hornslein, 
of  Canton,  one  of  the  pioneer  brick  nianufacturers 
and  distillers  of  this  city.  Our  subject  is  one  of 
seven  children  born  to  his  parents,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  His  eldest  brother,  Charles,  is 
engaged  with  his  stepfather  in  the  manufacture  of 
brick.  Richard  is  operating  a  stock  ranch  in  Kan- 
sas; James  lives  in  Peoria  and  is  a  i.onductor  on 
the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw  Railroad  ;  John  is  a 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  in  Kansas;  W.  A.,  the 
youngest,  is  the  gentleman  whose  life  history  claims 
our  attention. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in 
Peoria,  December  17,  1860.  He  was  cared  for  by 
his  mother  during  the  j'ears  that  intervened  be- 
tween the  death  of  his  father  and  his  mother's 
second  marriage,  which  occurred  when  he  was 
twelve  years  old.  For  a  long  time  he  worked  in  a 
distillery  owned  by  his  stepfather,  but  in  1883  he 
went  to  Atlantic,  Iowa,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
crockery  business  with  a  partner.  A  jear  later  he 
returned  to  this  State  and  for  twelve  months  ran  a 
flouring-mill  in  Yates  City,  after  which  he  engaged 
in  the  sale  of  meat  in  Canton.  He  has  continued 
this  business,  which  has  increased  with  wonderful 
rapidit}-  and  has  justified  him  in  opening  a  second 
market.  In  connection  with  the  meat  markets  and 
stock-buj'ing,  Mr.  Howat  operates  a  stock  farm  in 
Canton  Township,  a  mile  west  of  the  cit}'. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  October 
3,  1888,  to  Miss  Ida  M.  Slocum,  the  ceremony  tak- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


823 


ing  place  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  parents, 
Leonard  and  Eliza  (Lear\')  Slociini,  one  mile  west 
of  Canton.  The  bride  was  born  iiere  and  is  well 
known  in  this  vicinity,  where  she  has  made  many 
friends.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howat  reside  at  No.  102 
Northwest  Second  Street,  where  they  pass  life 
most  happily  toofether,  surrounded  by  all  of  its 
comforts,  and  blest  by  the  infantile  graces  of  a  son, 
Walter  L.,  whose  birth  occurred  M.iy  13,  1890. 
Mr.  Howat  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
He  is  an  intelligent  and  well-educated  young  man 
ana  one  well  calculated  to  win  the  esteem  of  all 
whom  he  euf-'ounters  in  business  or  social  circles. 

ETER  BL'LL.  The  history  of  a  county  or 
)jj  township  depending  for  interest  to  the 
general  reader  upon  the  lives  of  the  men 
who  have  settled  there,  and  by  means  of 
their  induslr}'  and  ability  won  success  both  for 
themselves  and  tlie  community,  a  history  of  Putnam 
Township  would  be  in  no  measure  complete  with- 
out a  sketch  of  Peter  Bull.  He  is  numbered  amongj 
the  early  pioneers,  and  distinctl}'  recalls  the  red 
man  who  once  roamed  at  will  through  this  place, 
before  the  advance  of  civilized  settlers  drove  him 
towards  the  setting  sun. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  William  and  Lavinia 
(Bryant)  Bull,  natives  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio  re- 
spectively, and  was  born  on  Septemlier  19,  1827,  in 
Pike  Count},  Oliio.  His  grandfather  was  an 
P^nglisbman.  His  parents  were  married  in  the  na- 
tive stale  of  the  mother,  and  resided  there  until 
the  year  1829,  at  which  time  they  moved  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Cass  Township,  this  county.  However, 
after  one  winter  they  came  to  Putman  Township, 
and  purchased  a  portion  of  section  16  and  built  a 
small  log  house.  The}'  were  in  leduced  circum- 
stances, but  the  father  was  an  industrious,  hard- 
working man,  and  each  year  made  man}- 
improvements  on  his  estate.  During  the  Black 
Hawk  War  he  was  selected  to  remain  at  home  in 
order  to  look  after  the  est.ates  in  the  neighborhood 
while  so  many  of  tlie  men  were  fighting. 

Mr.  Bull's  mother  died    in   1835.     To    her  had 


been  born  nine  (■hildren,  of  whom  our  subject  is 
the  only  one  now  living.  The  father  married  Miss 
Betsy  Connor,  but  she  also  died,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  are  at  present  alive,  viz:  Mary, 
wife  of  l^avid  Maxwell,  who  was  killed  in  the 
army;  and  William,  who  makes  his  home  in  Kansas. 
Tiie  father  passed  away  from  earthly  scenes  in 
1857. 

Mr.  Bull  received  an  education  in  a  common  log 
schoolhouse  that  was  the  first  ever  built  in  this 
Township,  and  his  teacher,  R.  Putman,  w.is  the  first 
white  settler.  Completing  his  schooling-,  our  sub- 
ject commenced  to  support  himself  when  only 
eighteen  years  of  age,  by  working  on  farms.  In 
compensation  for  his  labor  he  received  only  $10 
(ler  month  until  he  had  reached  his  twenty-first 
birthday. 

On  .June  4,  1848,  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Hufford, 
daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (Vest)  Hufford. 
Mrs.  Bull's  father  was  a  n.ativo  of  Pennsylvania 
and  her  mother  of  the  Blue  Grass  State.  Their 
marri.ige  occurred  in  Indiana,  and  in  that  State 
they  continued  to  reside  uj)  to  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1833.  After  thut  sad  event,  the  widow 
and  her  family  moved  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Buck- 
heart  Township,  this  county,  and  afterward  moving 
to  Canton  Township.  She  died  in  1858.  To  them 
had  been  born  seven  children,  five  of  wliom  are 
now-  living.  Mrs.  Bull's  birth  occurred  in  Imliana 
on  January  19,  1827,  but  she  w-as  educated  in  Ful- 
ton County. 

Mr.  Bull  soon  after  his  marriage  rented  a  farm 
about  three  miles  from  Canton,  vvliere  he  lived  for 
two  years.  He  then  v/orkod  his  father's  farm  for  a 
year,  after  which  he  returned  to  the  first  place,  and 
later  moved  to  another  farm  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
Canton,  and  continued  to  rent  there  for  nine  years. 
At  a  later  date  he  worked  on  his  father's  pLace,  an:l 
then  bought  his  present  estate,  which  at  lliat  time 
contained  twenty-six  acres  of  cultivated  land  and 
a  log  house.  At  the  present  vvriting  he  is  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  all 
in  a  body,  and  which  has  been  iraproveil  by  his 
own  exertions. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bull  were  the  |)arents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  are  living,  viz:  Ilenr}',  who 
married    Pha'be    Wilson,    has  seven   children,  and 


824 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


lives  at  Breeds  Station;  Eliza,  wife  of  C.  N.  Mason, 
who  resides  at  Canton,  and  has  tliree  children; 
George,  who  married  Elizabeth  Mason,  lives  in 
Putman  Township,  and  has  six  children;  William, 
who  married  Hannah  .1.  Kidfl,  has  six  children,  and 
lives  on  his  father's  farm;  Mary  Mariuda,  wife  of 
Arthur  Varnel.  who  lives  near  iSIarietta,  111.,  and 
has  seven  children;  Sarah;  Albert,  who  married 
Rose  Ackerson.  and  lives  iu  Cass  Township. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  has  been  Pathmaster, 
and  has  alw.ays  taken  an  interest  in  politics,  being 
first  a  Whig  and  now  a  Republican.  He  was  a 
strong  Abolitionist,  and  voted  for  John  P.  Hale. 
He  and  his  vrife  have  been  connected  for  a  long 
time  with  the  United  Brethren  Church. 


'-•'I'^'l'^'^ 


FRANCIS  M.  HARRISON.  Among  those 
men  who  have  commenced  at  the  bottom 
round  of  the  ladder  of  fortune  and  by  dint 
of  natural  ability  and  perseverance  have  worked 
their  way  to  the  top,  we  find  Francis  M.  Harri- 
son. To  such  men  the  country  is  indebted  for  the 
excellent  example  set  the  youth  of  tlie  land,  as 
well  as  the  good  results  they  have  aocomplisbed  in 
the  communities  where  they  have  resided.  He 
owns  and  occupies  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  all  of  which  he  1  as  improved 
highly,  placing  upon  it  one  of  the  handsomest 
dwelling-houses  in  Liverpool  Township,  and  sup- 
plying it  with  a  com|ilcte  line  of  barns  and  other 
outbuildings. 

Mr.  Harrison's  birth  occurred  in  Lewis  County, 
Ky.,  on  the  9tli  of  August,  1828,  he  Iieing  the  son  of 
James  and  Sarah  (Lee)  Harrison,  both  natives  of 
the  beautiful  Blue  Grass  State.  His  grandfather, 
Thomas  Harrison,  was  born  near  F'airfax  Court- 
house, Va.,  and  became  the  owner  of  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  on  which  he  carried  on  ex- 
tensive agricultural  operations.  lie  removed  to 
Fleming  County,  Ky.,  when  deer  and  bears  were 
still  numerous  there,  and  some  3-ears  later  took 
up  his  residence  in  Lewis  County,  where  he  died 
when  about  ninety  years  of  age.  He  was  a  vol- 
unteer in  the  War  of   1812.     In  Fleming  County-, 


in  1799.  the  fatlier  of  our  subject  was  born,  and 
having  accompanied  his  parents  to  Lewis  County, 
he  grew  to  manhood  and  married  there.  He  car- 
ried on  a  farm  in  that  county  until  1855,  then 
came  to  the  Prairie  State  and  purchased  forty  acres 
in  Lewistown  Township,  this  county,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  daj's.  He  died  at  the 
age  of  sixtj-  years,  looking  forward  to  a  l)lessed 
immortality,  having  long  been  a  conscientious 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Democrat.  His  wife  was  born  in  the  county 
in  which  their  wedding  took  place  and  lived  to 
see  more  than  seventj-  years.  She  was  a  member 
of  the  Southern  Methodist  Church.  The  parental 
family  consists  of  Francis  M.,  William,  Barton  L., 
Mrs.  Ruth  Toncraj',  Mrs.  Louisa  Walker  and  Mrs. 
Mary  Cleary. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Barton  Lee.  a  native  of  Maryland  and  a  cousin  of 
CTcneral  Lee,  the  famous  commander  of  the  South- 
ern forces  during  the  late  Civil  War.  He  emi- 
grated to  Kentucky  in  a  very  eai-lj^  day  and  used 
to  go  fifty  miles  on  horseback  to  buj'  salt,  swimming 
the  Big  and  Little  Kanawha  Rivers  with  a  two  and 
one-half  bushel  sack.  He  died  in  the  Blue  Grass 
State  when  seventy  years  of  age. 

Our  subject  passed  his  youth  on  a  farm  in  his 
native  State  and  attended  the  log  schoolhouse  of 
that  period,  studying  chiefly  in  the  winter  season, 
and  assisting  in  farm  labor  during  the  summer 
months.  At  the  age  of  twent}'  years  he  began 
doing  for  himself,  coming  to  this  county  in  Octo- 
ber, 1848,  by  way  of  the  Ohio,  ^Mississippi  and  Illi- 
nois Rivers  steamers.  His  father  came  with  him 
for  a  short  visit,  and  what  he  saw  at  that  time  and 
afterward  heai-d  from  his  son  determined  him  to 
take  up  his  ultimate  residence  in  this  section. 

Young  Harrison  worked  out  for  five  or  six 
3-ears,  receiving  in  compensation  for  his  services 
113  per  month.  He  bought  a  tax  title  to  eighty 
acres  of  his  present  estate  and  later  on  secured  a 
deed.  The  place  was  covered  with  heav3'  timber, 
had  no  improvements,  and  rleer  and  wild  turkeys 
aboundc'l  upon  and  around  it.  The  owner  built  a 
small  frame  house  in  the  woods,  and  began  the 
process  of  clearing,  finally  seeing  the  entire  acre- 
age in  excellent  condition,  and   succeeding  so  well 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


825 


in  his  worlrlly  affairs  that  in  1875  he  bought 
eighty  acres  across  the  road  from  his  home,  which 
gives  him  a  sutHcient  amount  of  land  for  all  needs. 
His  modern   dwelling  was  put  up  in   listio. 

Mr.  Harrison  was  married  March  4,  1852,  to 
Miss  Margaret  Walker,  who  was  hum  in  Kentucky, 
but  came  to  this  county  with  her  [.arents  at  an 
early  age.  The  union  has  been  blest  by  the  birth 
of  six  children,  three  of  whom  grew  to  maturity, 
namely:  .lolin  W..  Belle  D..  now  Mrs.  Kelso,  and 
.Sidney   W. 

Mr.  Harrison  is  a  member  of  tlic  Democratic 
party.  He  has  held  the  oHices  of  Road  Commis- 
sioner and  Tax  Collector,  and  enjoys  all  the  esteem 
comman<led  bj'  men  of  strict  integrity  and  suite- 
rior  strength  of  character.  Ks])ecially  is  he  re- 
.<pected  for  liaving  so  nobly  fought  the  battle  of 
life,  gaining  for  himself  prominence  without  other 
assistance  than  liis  ability  and  willingness  to  work, 
and  his  excellent  judgment. 

<i\  ff/  C.  TORRANCE,  dealer  in  agricultural 
\/\l  implements  in  Canton,  is  generally  con- 
W^  ceded  to  be  a  number  one  business  man, 
and  is  held  in  the  highest  possible  regard  both  in 
his  immediate  circle  of  friends  and  by  all  with 
whom  he  is  .associated  in  business.  He  has  climbed 
diversified  paths  toward  success,  but  by  his  persis- 
tent efforts  and  unstinted  energy  has  reached  the 
goal.  While  advancing  his  own  interests  he  has 
not  forgotten  those  of  the  city  in  which  he  lives, 
but  has  done  much  for  Canton  in  aiding  progressive 
pul)lic  enterprises.  Such  is  his  faitli  in  the  future 
of  Ihe  place  that  he  has  invested  all  his  money 
here. 

Mr.  Torrance  w.as  born  in  Westmoreland  County, 
Pa.,  January  20,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  G. 
and  Kate  Ann  (Cline)  Torrance,  natives  of  the 
Keystone  State.  Indeed,  the  family  may  be  said 
to  belong  entirely  to  that  State,  the  grandparents 
liaving  lived  and  died  tliere.  The  jjarents,  with 
their  family,  removed  to  Biiminghani,  Iowa,  in  the 
fall  of  1851,  and  they  continue  to  reside  there. 
The   father  was  born   in   1819  and  the  mother  in 


1821,  and  they  are  therefore  growing  old.  To 
them  have  been  born  seven  children — F.  G.,  resid- 
ing in  Birmingham;  Mar^-,  deceased  ;  W.  C. ;  Mar- 
garet J.,  wife  of  W.  A.  Johnson,  of  Norton  Count}', 
Kan.;  Martha  M.,  wife  of  Robert  Thompson,  of 
Topeka,  Ka7i. ;  Sarah  H.,  now  Mrs.  John  Frye,  of 
Fairfield,  Iowa;  and  Hugh,  deceased.  The  father 
is  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade. 

Our  subject  lived  at  home  until  he  attained  his 
seventeenth  year,  at  that  time  enlisting  from  Keo- 
kuk. Iowa,  in  Company  I,  Forty-fifth  Iowa  In- 
fantry, as  a  private  soldier.  He  has  an  interesting 
war  record,  as  have  many  of  his  kinsmen.  So  great 
was  his  enthusiasm  that  when  an  older  brother  en- 
listed he  tried  hard  to  get  permission  to  serve  also, 
although  then  but  fourteen  years  (jld.  He  followed 
the  troops  as  far  as  possible,  but  was  forced  to  con- 
tent himself  with  peaceful  occupations  a  few  years 
longer  until  he  could  gain  strength  and  stature 
sufficient  to  entitle  him  to  a  place  among  enlisted 
men.  He  did  garrison  duty  in  various  cities,  among 
them  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  he  was  when  Gen. 
Forrest  made  his  raid,  and  where  he  saw  the  fam- 
ous cavalr\'man.  He  lost  his  hearing  while  in  the 
service,  and  after  his  discharge  was  in  the  hospital 
for  some  time  before  returning  home. 

The  brother  enlisted  in  the  First  Iowa  Cavalry, 
in  a  company  commanded  by  his  uncle,  William 
Torrance,  who  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican 
War  when  but  a  boy.  He  was  promoted  to  the 
Colonelc}'  of  the  Thirtieth  Iowa  Infantry,  and  met 
his  death  at  the  head  of  his  regiment.  He  was  a 
teacher  of  good  repute,  and  the  Torrance  School  in 
Keokuk  is  named  in  his  honor.  A  cousin  of  our 
subject,  D.  K.  Callioun,  was  in  the  Nineteenth  Iowa 
Infantry,  and  having  been  taken  prisoner,  was 
confined  in  Libby  Prison  eleven  months.  Among 
those  who  enlisted  from  his  section  he  is  the  only 
one  who  survives. 

After  his  discharge  Mr.  Torrance  learned  the 
trade  of  a  blacksmith  in  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  remaining 
there  two  j'ears  and  then  working  at  other  towns 
in  the  Slate  until  1871),  when  he  came  to  Illinois, 
making  his  first  home  in  Hancock  County.  Eight 
years  later  we  find  him  in  Canton  o|)ening  a  shop, 
which  he  carried  on  successfully  until  1886,  at 
which  time  be  moved  out  to  Civer  and  engaged  in 


826 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


a  general  merchandise  business,  discharging  the 
duties  of  Postmaster  also.  Later  he  bought  grain 
extensively,  but  in  1887  returned  to  Canton  and 
resumed  his  trade.  In  October,  1889,  he  entered 
into  a  partnership  with  his  father-in-law  for  the 
building  of  what  is  known  as  the  Blackab}-  and 
Torrance  Block,  one  of  the  handsomest  in  the  cit}'. 
In  this  building'  he  has  for  some  time  been  engaged 
in  the  sale  of  agricultural  implements,  giving  much 
attention,  however,  to  the  blacksmitli  shop  that 
he  still  owns  and  manages. 

Believing  the  words  of  Holy  U'rit^ — "It  is  not 
good  for  a  man  to  live  alone" — Mr.  Torrance  won 
for  his  wife  a  ladj-  belonging  to  one  of  the  first 
families  of  the  county,  and  one  who  in  her  own 
person  combines  many  graces  of  true  womanhood. 
She  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Angeline  Blackaby, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  I.  Blackaby  and  his 
wife,  Julia  (Sanders)  Blackaby.  and  was  born  in  this 
county.  The  marriage  rites  were  solemnized  in 
Lcwistown  on  April  G,  1879.  The  home  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Torrance  is  supplied  witli  the  material 
comforts  of  life  and  is  the  center  of  domestic  and 
social  pleasures. 


^f  B.  LEAMAN,  Attorney-at-Law,  and  real- 
Sg/^'  I    estate    dealer,  at    Canton.     It  cannot  be 

7,1  A  denied  that  a  man  who  lives  according  to 
'^j  the  highest  princi|)les  of  what  he  conceives 

to  be  right  will  receive  most  sincere  esteem  from 
his  fellows.  As  time  passes  on,  and  the  world 
grows  more  and  more  progressive  it  is  a  distinctly 
recognized  fact  tliat  true  merit  attended  liy  energy 
cannot  fail  to  bring  aljout  a  good  result. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  first  saw  the  light  of 
day  near  Oxford,  Oliio.  November  24,  1834,  he 
being  the  son  of  Robert  and  Julia  A.  (Barr)  Lea- 
man.  He  passed  his  youth  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  where 
he  attended  school,  and  after  taking  an  academic 
course  graduated  with  honors.  For  a  time  he 
taught  school  in  that  city,  and  afterw.ards  studied 
law.  Realizing  the  necessity  for  a  vast  amount  of 
knowledge  to  successfully  carry  out  his  cliosen 
profession,  he  labored  faithfully  in  mastering  legal 


technicalities,  and  in  1856  was  admitted  to  praittice 
at  the  bar  in  Dayton.  From  the  start  his  success 
was  great,  and  he  continued  to  practice  in  that  city 
until  he  became  connected  with  military  service. 
He  raised  several  companies  and  expected  to  go 
with  them,  hut  was  only  in  service  about  eighteen 
months. 

Mr.  Leaman  after  returning  to  Dayton  was  solic- 
ited to  take  charge  of  the  schools  in  that  city  and 
for  a  jieriod  of  seven  or  eight  years  served  as 
Principal  for  the  Fourth  District,  a  position  that 
he  resigned  in  1867,  in  order  to  act  as  agent  for 
the  Appletons  in  Indiana.  In  1869  he  came  to 
Canton  to  take  charge  of  the  Canton  schools,  hav- 
ing been  appointed  Superintendent,  but  in  1877  he 
gave  up  teaching  and  devoted  his  entire  attention 
to  the  law,  practicing  alone  until  January,  1890, 
and  then  forming  a  [jartnership  with  Hardy  Masters. 
The  firm  name  is  Masters  &  Leaman,  the  senior 
member  being  a  resident  of  Lewistown  and  one  of 
the  oldest  attorneys  in  this  county.  The  firm  does 
a  general  law  business. 

Mr.  liCaman  was  married  at  Dayton,  in  1866.  to 
Miss  Eliza  J.  Moody,  a  native  of  that  city,  and 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Eleanor  Moody.  He  was 
called  upon  to  mouin  her  loss  in  August.  1872,  at 
which  date  she  breathed  her  last  at  her  old  home 
leaving  two  children,  Harry  and  Samuel  C,  lioth 
of  whom  are  engaged  in  a  mercantile  business  at 
Canton.  Mr.  Leaman  was  again  married,  ihe  lady 
of  his  choice  being  this  time  Miss  Julia  Beeson. 
also  a  native  of  Ohio.  The  marriage  took  place  in 
Canton,  and  she  dieil  August  1886.  leaving  two 
children,  and  a  devoted  husband  to  mourn  her  loss. 
The  children,  Robert  E.,  and  Bessie,  now  reside 
with  a  sister  of  our  subject  in  Dayton,  Ohio.  In 
June,  1888.  Mr.  Leaman  married  MissLida  llaynes, 
daughter  of  Amos  and  Sarah  Haynes. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  in  1798  and  was  married  there  about  the  year 
1824.  He  had  been  a  merchant  in  his  early  davs 
and  also  devoted  considerable  time  to  agriculture, 
but  during  the  later  years  of  his  life  he  was  a 
contractor.  He  built  most  of  the  stone  bridge 
work  of  Dayton.  Ohio,  and  also  canals  and  jniblic 
buildings  in  different  States.  He  had  removed  to 
Ohio   in  1832,  locating  at  Oxford,   afterward   be- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


827 


coming  a  resident  of  Piqua  and  finally  settling  in 
Dayton,  where  both  lie  and  his  wife  died.  To 
tijeni  were  born  nine  cliildren,  sis  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Susan  is  now  the  wife 
of  Dr.  L.  Hubbard,  of  Dayton,  Oliio;  Angeline  is 
the  wife  of  R.  L.  McKinney,  of  Dayton;  .lames  B_ 
is  a  merchant  of  San  Jose,  Cal. ;  Samuel  B.  is  de. 
ceased;  Franklin  B.  resides  in  Sau  .Jose,  Cal.;  A.  15. 
is  the  subject  of  this  biographical  notice;  Francis 
Asbury  is  dece.ased ;  Robert  F..  who  was  a  member 
of  llie  firm  of  Van  Antwerp,  Bragg  &  Co.,  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio  died  December  13,  1887;  Arthur  T.,  is 
a  notary  public  ".nd  real-estate  dealer  in  Canton. 
Robert  and  Arthur  were  soldiers  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty-second  Ohio  Infantry  during  the 
late  wai-. 

Our  subject  has  taken  an  active  part  in  politics 
until  quite  recently,  but  his  health  not  admitting 
of  too  great  exertion,  he  now  gives  his  attention 
exclusively  to  his  business.  His  sympathies  are 
with  the. Republican  party  and  he  is  very  popular 
in  political  circles.  He  has  served  as  Supervisor 
of  Canton  Township  and  was  not  aware  tliat  his 
name  was  being  agitated  until  the  nomination  was 
mad 3.  lie  has  never  sought  place  nor  position,  but 
when  called  upon  to  serve  his  fellow-men,  did  so 
faithfully  and  well.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  and  is  now  serving  as  Master  of 
the  Lodge  at  Canton.  He  became  a  Knight  Temp- 
lar in  Dayton,  Ohio,  but  now  belongs  to  the  Com- 
maudery  in  Havana,  this  county.  He  has  been 
connected  with  the-Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men. He  is  a  man  greatly  honored  by  all  who 
know  him  and  many  true  friends  greet  him  in  his 
"oings  and  comings  about  tiie  streets  of  the  city. 


-^^ 


ILLIAM  .1.  DYCKES,  a  well-known  lawyer 
of  Lewistown  was  born  in  Bernadotte, 
\^^/  this  county,  August  4,  1845.  His  father, 
the  Hon.  Joseph  Dyckes,  was  born  in  Baltimore, 
Md.,  January  5,  181;5.  When  he  was  quite  young 
his  parents  moved  to  Pennsylvania,  and  there  he 
learned. the  trade  of  a  carjienter  and  worked  at  it 
until  1837.   In  that  3-ear  he  became  a  pioneer  of  this 


county,  locating  at  Bernadotte,  where  he  followed 
his  calling  a  short  time.  He  bought  a  home  there 
and  also  purchased  wild  prairie  land  near  the  vil- 
lage. He  resided  in  Bernadotte  till  he  was  elected 
Sheriff  of  the  county  in  184(5,  when  he  moved  to 
Lewistown  and  spent  eight  years  there.  Afler 
that  he  lived  on  his  farm  near  Bernadotte  ami  en- 
gaged in  its  cultivation  the  ensuing  seven  3-ears. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  was  elected  County 
Clerk  and  again  took  up  his  residence  at  Lewistown, 
where  he  lived  till  his  death.  He  was  very  promi- 
nent in  the  public  and  political  life  of  the  county 
and  held  many  important  oliiees  besides  those  men- 
tioned. He  represented  Lewistown,  as  a  member 
of  the  county  Board  of  Supervisors.  He  was  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  and  in  1866  was  elected  as  a  Rep- 
resentative to  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  a 
stanch  upholder  of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  married  March  14, 
1840,  to  Lucinda  Andrus,  who  was  born  in  Water- 
town,  Jefferson  County.  N.  Y.,  November  -.^1,  1821. 
Her  parents,  Reuben  and  Olive  ( Wood'.vortli)  An- 
drus, were  natives  respeclivel}'  of  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts.  Her  father  was  one  of  the  first  settlors 
of  AVatertown,  where  he  cleared  a  farm.  He  after- 
ward lived  for  a  while  in  Lockport,  Niagara  County, 
and  from  there  came  to  Fulton  County,  in  1837. 
He  bought  three  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Bernadotte 
Township  and  was  one  of  the  worthy  pioneers  of 
this  part  of  tiie  State.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dyckes  were 
leading  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  Bernadotte. 

Our  subject  received  his  earl}-  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  his  birthplace  and  latei  in  the 
city  schools  of  Lewistown.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
he  entered  Wesle^'an  College  at  Bloomington,  and 
was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  June,  1868. 
Heat  once  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  of- 
fice of  S.  Corning  .ludd.  and  was  admited  to  the 
bar  in  the  fall  of  1869.  He  formed  a  partnership 
with  Mr.  Judd  which  continued  till  the  removal 
of  the  latter  to  Chicago.  Our  subject  then  prac- 
ticed alone  for  some  time  till  he  entered  into  a 
partnership  with  A.  M.  Barnett.  His  present  part- 
ner is  H.  W.  Masters  and  they  carry  on  a  good 
law    business   under    the  firm  name   of  Masters  & 


828 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Dyekes.  Our  subject  is  very  prominent  in  social 
and  political  circles.  He  is  President  of  the 
Young  Men's  Cliristian  Association  and  bas  always 
been  an  active  worker  in  tlie  Sundaj-school.  His 
political  afflliations  are  with  the  Democratic  partj'. 
He  is  well-known  in  business  circles  and  is  Secre- 
tary of  the  Lewistowu  Building  and  Loan  Associa- 
tion. 

Mr.  Dyekes  was  married  December  30,  1869,  to 
Julia  A.  Eickelberger.  Two  children  have  been 
born  of  this  marriage,  Jennie  and  Lawrence.  Mrs. 
Dyekes  is  a  native  of  Lewistown  and  a  daughter 
of  Martin  and  Isabella  G.  Eickelberger.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dyekes  are  members  in  high  standing  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


yT.  t'lSHER.  The  commercial  world  is  so 
crowded  with  bread-winners,  anxious  and 
ready  to  accumulate  the  almight}-  dollar, 
that  to  achieve  marked  success  a  man  must  possess 
not  capital  only  but  shrewd  judgment  and  tact. 
^Vhile  a  professional  life  ma\'  require  more  book- 
learning  it  does  not  call  for  more  mental  labor  than 
does  the  successful  management,  of  an  extensive  mer- 
cantile establishment.  The  force  of  this  statement 
is  fully  appreciated  b}^  such  men  as  Mr.  Fisher,  who 
day  after  day  roust  plan  and  buy  to  suit  the  capri- 
cious taste  of  customers.  His  enterprising  charac- 
ter and  business  tact,  together  with  honest  dealing, 
have  brouglit  him  the  good-will  of  his  large  circle 
of  acquaintances  and  have  given  him  an  established 
reputation  as  a  prominent  business  man  in  Canton. 
As  a  furniture  dealer  he  is  widely  and  favorably 
known  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  direct  the 
attention  of  the  reader  to  a  view  of  his  warehouse 
and  storerooms,  found  in  connection  with  this 
sketch. 

The  energy  and  pusli  which  characterize  the 
people  of  New  Jersey  have  been  inherited  by  Mr. 
Eislicr,  who  was  born  in  that  State,  in  Warren 
Count3%  September  5,  1841.  His  ancestors  were 
one  and  all  highly  respected  in  the  communiiios 
where  they  resided.  His  great-grandfather.  Jacob 
Fisher,  was  perhaps  the  founder  of  the  family  in 


America.  Grandfather  Wilson  Fisher  was  born  in 
New  Jerse3-,  which  was  the  native  State  of  Marcus 
Fisher,  the  father  of  our  subject.  The  latter  was 
born  in  Huntingdon  County  in  1818.  and  after 
reaching  j'ears  of  maturity  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mima  Tillman,  in  Wairen  County,  the  same 
State.  He  was  b3'  occupation  a  cabinet-maker  and 
carpenter,  ami  followed  the  latter  trade  until  1860. 
He  had  prior  to  that  time,  in  1857.  removed  with 
his  family  to  Fulton  County.  111.,  and  settled  in 
Canton. 

In  1860  Marcus  Fisher  started  a  small  cabinet 
shop  and  thus  he  gained  experience  as  a  cabinet 
manufacturer,  and  in  the  meantime  he  was  also 
employed  in  carpentering.  His  brother  Wilson  re- 
mained with  and  aided  their  father  until  1862, 
when  he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Third 
Illinois  Infantry  and  served  three  3'ears  with  credit 
to  himself.  Returning  home  at  the  close  of  the 
war  he  entered  into  a  partnership  with  the  father, 
enlarged  and  continued  the  business  and  worked 
prosperously  until  1872,  when  the  father  died  in 
Canton,  aged  fift3--three  3'ears.  The  mother  is  still 
living  (1890)  at  the  age  of  sevent3--one  3'oars  and 
makes  her  home  with  her  son,  our  subject,  in  Can- 
ton. She  was  of  Holland  extraction  and  was  born 
in  Warren  County.  N.  J.,  to  JosepB  and  Catherine 
(Simmons)  Tillman. 

The  parental  family  inciuded  only  two  children, 
our  subject  and  his  brother  Wilson,  who  is  about 
i   one  and  one-half  3'ears  3'ounger  than  he.     At  the 
I   death  of  the  father,  our  subject  returned  to  Can- 
ton and  entered  into  partnership  with  his  brother. 
In  1876  the3-  erected  a  wooden  building  on  the  site 
I   of  their   present  structure.     The    former  was  de- 
1   stroyed  by  fire  in  1880  and  the  same  year  the  part- 
ners erected   the   present  commodious  and  elegant 
block,  which  is  now  occupied  by  our  subject.     He 
purchased   his  brother's  interest  in  the  business  in 
Deccmher,1887,  and  is  now  conducting  it  alone.  His 
'   knowledge  of  his  business  is  thorough,  and  having 
devoted  almost  his  entire  life  to  this  trade  he  is  a 
[    proficient  and  practical  cabinet  maker.     At  the  age 
of  thirteen  he  was  learning  thetrade  in  his  father's 
shop  in  Cantou   and   until  the  death  of  the  latter 
was  eniplo3-ed  in  different  cities  and  various  parts 
of  the  county.  ^ 


J■^-><iriB:WaS5a^■a«Silte^^^~i^^-.■.S'<^ii«SM^ 


5tore  =  rooivi&warehou5e  OF  Fisher Bro's, Co r.Elivi&VanBuren5t.C/\nton,1ll 


%.Taiaaeasa«.■fctei<>.^aaaaaa3saaaa^^ 


"Fairvieyy  Fruit-Farm":  Residence  OF  L.  M.Turner, Sec.21.FairviewTp.  Fulton  Co.  III. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


831 


As  an  undertaker  Mr.  Fisher  is  very  popular, 
being  well  posted  in  the  duties  connected  tliere- 
with  and  Iiaving  a  team  and  hearse  that  would  do 
credit  to  a  much  larger  cit}'.  As  a  furniture  dealer 
he  carries  a  very  large  stock  and  is  by  far  the  lead- 
ing man  in  tliis  line  in  Fulton  County.  The  growth 
of  his  business  has  been  phenomenal.  His  enter- 
prise is  illustrated  by  the  fact  that  the  loss  sustained 
by  fire  caused  a  delay  of  about  ninety  days  only. 
In  that  time  the  present  building  was  erected  and 
the  business  re-established.  As  a  man  he  is  genial 
and  courteous,  and  by  his  straightforward  honesty 
has  won  the  confidence  of  the  people.  In  187,t 
and  1877  he  was  a  member  of  tlie  City  Council, 
^ocialljf,  he  is  a  member  of  tlie  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Canton,  also  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  being  prom- 
inent in  both  organizations.  He  was  first  married 
in  1862  at  Canton,  to  Olive  Arnold  who  bore  him 
one  son,  Elmer,  now  in  business  with  his  father. 
The  wife  and  mother  passed  aw.ny  from  the  busy 
scenes  of  earth  and  our  subject  was  again  married 
in  December,  1888,  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Small,  an  estim- 
able lady  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
They  are  prominent  in  social  circles  and  under 
their  hospitable  roof  their  many  friends  are  accus- 
tomed to  pass  many  happy  hours. 


kEWIS  M.  TURNER.  This  gentleman  is 
pursuing  a  successful  career  as  an  agricul- 
turist, operating  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres  on  section  21,  Fairview  Township.  One  of 
the  most  noticeable  features  of  the  estate  is  the  at- 
tention paid  to  horticulture,  in  which  Mr.  Turner 
is  building  up  a  fine  reputation.  At  present  he 
has  an  acre  each  of  strawberries,  raspberries  and 
blackberries  under  cultivation.  In  1889  he  erected 
a  fine  barn  with  a  slate  roof,  which  is  a  model  of 
rural  architecture.  The  residence  is  a  commodious 
one  and  is  represented  by  a  view  on  another  page, 
together  with  the  other  prominent  buildings. 

Elisha  W.  Turner,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
boru   iu  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  and   taken   to 


Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  when  seven  years  old.  He 
married  a  lady  of  that  county,  Miss  Sarah  Morse, 
and  in  1840  the  young  couple  located  in  Hancock 
County,  III.  After  a  sojourn  of  three  years  they 
removed  to  Galena,  remaining  there  until  1865. 
During  that  time  Mr.  Turner  was  engaged  in  lead- 
mining  and  farming  in  the  township  of  Shullsburg, 
La  Fayette  County,  Wis.  He  had  previously  been 
occupied  in  the  latter  pursuit  alone.  In  186-5  he 
purchased  the  estate  now  owned  b^'  our  subject 
and  removed  thereto.  His  good  wife  bore  him  five 
children,  namely:  Mary,  wife  of  .James  Patten,  a 
farmer  in  Fairview  Township;  Amy,  widow  of 
Enoch  Keithly, whose  home  is  at  Lewistown ;  George, 
a  grocer  in  Galena,  Kan. ;  the  subject  of  this  no- 
tice; Sarah  A.,  wife  of  Thomas  Travers,  whose 
history  is  given  on  another  page  in  this  Album. 
The  father  died  in  1879  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years,  and  the  mother  in  1880  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three.  (Grandfather  Turner,  who  was  born  in  the 
Empire  State  and  bore  the  given  name  of  George, 
was  a  saddler. 

The  suliject  of  this  brief  biograijhical  notice  was 
born  at  New  Diggings,  Wis.,  February  25,  1849, 
and  was  a  youth  of  sixteen  years  when  he  came  to 
this  county.  He  had  attended  the  country  schools 
of  Shullsburg  Township  and  after  coming  here 
continued  his  studies  in  Fairview.  His  t.aste  led 
him  to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  and  he  finally 
became  much  interested  in  fruit-growing.  He  is  a 
man  of  more  than  average  intelligence,  clever  and 
quick  witted  by  nature  and  having  his  faculties 
well  developed  by  study,  observation  and  inter- 
course with  mankind.  His  character  is  one  of  ster- 
ling worth,  and  he  finds  many  friends  among  those 
of  his  own  class  and  in  the  circles  of  the  neighbor- 
ing towns.  His  political  adherence  is  given  to  the 
Republican  party. 

Mr.  Turner  established  his  own  home  in  1878, 
when  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary 
Houser.  This  lady  was  born  in  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa, 
was  well  educated  and  trained  in  useful  domestic 
knowledge  and  habits.  She  is  a  twin  sister  of  Mrs. 
Martha  Soldwell,  of  Yates  City  and  they  are  the 
oldest  in  a  family  of  five  girls.  Their  father,  Will- 
iam Houser,  a  blacksmith  iu  Yates  City,  was  born 
in  Ohio.     Her   mother,  Sarah  (Marchant)  Houser, 


832 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


was  a  (laugliler  of  .Tool  Marclisnt.  the  first  perma- 
nent settler  in  Farniington.  Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Turner 
are  the  parents  of  three  children:  Sarah  Naomi, 
Frederick  I),  and  Blanche,  whose  bright  faces  and 
charming  wajs  add  to  the  joys  of  their  home. 


(^^T  BNER  PIPER.      There  are  few  places  the 
(@yL I:    size  of  Canton  that  claim  more  successful 

///  1  business  men.  or  where  there  is  a  greater 
<^J  amouut  of  competition    in   every   line  of 

trade.  Perhaps  because  of  its  desirable  location, 
but  more  likely  because  of  the  progressive  spirit  of 
its  citizens,  it  has  ahv.ays  enjoyed  a  good  reputa- 
tion and  is  a  favorite  place  of  residence  with  in- 
fluential and  active  business  men.  Mere  we  find  a 
large  number  of  professional  men  whose  skill  is 
beyond  dispute,  and  also  many  merchants  whose 
shrewd  judgment  and  energy  have  brought  about 
flattering  results.  Prominent  among  the  latter 
class  is  Abner  Piper,  who  deals  in  boots  and  shoes. 

The  Piper  family  came  originally  from  .Scot- 
land and  have  inherited  much  of  the  strengtli  of 
character  and  love  of  the  beautiful  that  character- 
izes the  natives  of  "the  land  of  thistles  and  oat- 
meal." The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Abel 
Piper,  son  of  Noah  Piper,  whose  father  and  brother 
were  the  founders  of  the  family  in  America.  Abel 
Piper  was  a  Lieutenant  of  Minute  Men  during  tlie 
Revolutionary  War,  and  being  for  a  time  an  inn- 
keeper, his  tavern  was  naturally  the  gathering  place 
of  the  old  soldiers,  who  met  to  fight  their  battles 
over  again.  The  grandson  recollects  a  score  of  the 
old  Continentals,  who.  during  his  childhood,  vis- 
ited the  home  of  his  ancestors. 

Artemus  Piper,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Phillipston,  Mass.,  in  the  year  1783,  the 
pl.ace  of  his  birth  being  known  at  that  time  as 
Gerry.  He  was  a  sailor  by  profession  and  a  teacher 
of  navigation.  He  was  in  command  of  a  revenue 
cutter  during  the  War  of  1812  and  was  an  eye- 
witness to  the  fight  between  the  'Box"  an(J  "En- 
terprise." He  married  IMarj-  Hammond,  daughter 
of  Paul  and  Anna  (Davis)  Hammond,  who  was  a 
native  of  F.-dmoutli.  ^lass.     Her  father  was  a  sailor 


and  commanded  a  craft  during  the  War  of  1812. 
Both  parents  died  in  the  East.  Tlieir  family  con- 
sisted of  six  children,  named  respectively:  Julia 
Ann,  Artemus  D..  Amlirose  H.,  Phebe  Rose,  Ab- 
ner, and  Betsy  Catherine'.  The  only  ones  surviving 
at  this  writing  are  our  subject  and  Ambrose  who 
lives  in  Ackworth,  N.  H. 

Abner  Piper  was  born  in  Pliilli|)ston,  Worcester 
County,  Mass..  April  1,  1817.  He  passed  his  youth 
on  his  father's  farm  and  learned  the  shoemaker's 
trade,  dividing  his  time  for  several  years  betneen 
work  in  the  hayfleld  and  amid  the  grain,  and  his 
trade.  .Since  reaching  his  nineteenth  year  ho  has 
devoted  his  time  to  the  shoe  business  exclusively. 
Upon  leaving  home  ho  first  went  to  Templeton, 
where  he  remained  until  1838,  being  cutter  in  one 
of  the  largest  shoe  factories  of  the  State.  He  then 
came  to  Galena,  111.,  to  visit  a  brother  in-law,  and 
for  a  few  months  was  interested  in  a  mercantile 
establishment,  but  soon  located  in  Canton.  Thence 
be  went  to  Ohio,  then  returned  to  his  native  State, 
where  he  worked  in  a  shoe  manufactory  until  1865, 
when  he  removed  with  his  familj'  to  Canton.  Each 
year  he  made  a  trip  East  to  act  as  foreman  in  the 
raanufactoiy  with  which  h(!  was  so  long  connected, 
but  the  trips  [)roving  too  tiresome  he  found  it  nec- 
essary to  return  to  the  old  home. 

Mr.  Piper  resided  in  the  Bay  State  from  1870 
to  1876.  when  he  again  removed  to  Canton,  this 
time  permanently.  He  established  a  boot  and  shoe 
business  which  has  proved  a  prosperous  enterprise, 
and  in  the  conduct  of  which  he  has  won  the  es- 
teem and  confidence  of  the  entire  community.  He 
is  :i  skilled  workman,  an  excellent  judge  of  the 
materials  used  in  his  business  and  a  dealer  whose 
word  can   be  relied  upon  at  all  times. 

At  the  bride's  home  in  Sydney.  Me.,  in  J847, 
Mr.  Piper  was  married  to  Jliss  Belsj',  daughter  of 
Paul  and  Catherine  (Mason)  Hammond.  Her  an- 
cestry is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  country,  her  people 
coming  originally  from  Concord,  Mass.  To  this 
marriage  have  been  born  three  children — Warren 
H..  Carlos  A.  and  Vernon  A.  The  eldest  son  mar- 
ried Sarah  C.  Sraalley,  and  has  five  children— Ab- 
ner C,  Harry  R.,  Betsy  M..  Bertie  and  i\Iary.  The 
eldest  of  these  children — grandchildren  of  our  sub- 
ject— is  a  book-keeper  in  the  Commercial  National 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


833 


Bank,  of  Cincinnati.  Ohio.  He  married  Miss  Mamie 
McLaughlin  and  has  one  chihl — Bessie  V.  All 
three  of  the  sons  of  our  subject  reside  in  Canton 
and  are  following  in  their  futiier's  footsteps  .as 
men  of  good   repute  and  business  energy. 

Mr.  l'i|)er  has  had  many  prominent  kinsmen  in 
the  East  connected  with  the  army  and  navy  and 
with  the  political  affairs  of  the  nation.  His  ances- 
tors in  bolii  lines  having  lived  in  America  from 
the  early  Colonial  times,  the  family  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  history  of  the  Republic  from  its 
birth.  He.  himself,  is  fully  entitled  to  the  friend- 
shi))  and  esteem  accorded  him.  The  only  social 
order  with  which  he  is  identilied  is  that  of  the 
Odd  Fellows,  his  membership  being  in  Olive  Branch 
Lodge,  No.  15,  at  Canton. 


^1 


S^ 


bEMUEL  W.  POTTS,  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  Liverpool  Township,  is  well  known  in 
political  and  Grand  Army  circles  and  it 
gives  us  pleasure  to  represent  in  this  Biograph- 
ical Album  one  who  fought  so  long  and  well  for 
the  preservation  of  this  Union.  He  is  a  native  of 
Clarke  Countj',  Va.,  where  his  birth  occurred 
October  27,  1832.  He  is  a  son  of  Amos  F.  and 
Elizabeth  S.  (Dolson)  Potts,  natives  respectively 
of  Loudoun  Count3%  A'a.,  and  Licking  Count}'^ 
Ohio.  His  ancestors,  both  on  the  paternal  and 
maternal  side,  were  men  of  sterling  worth,  who 
were  prominently  identified  with  the  public  affairs 
of  the  community  where  they  resided.  His  great- 
grandfather Potts  was  a  native  of  Wales,  who 
came  to  this  countr}-  and  settled  in  Virginia  before 
the  Revolution. 

Isaiah  Potts,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  spent  his  entire  life  in  Loudoun  Count}-, 
Va.,  where  the  most  of  his  years  were  passed  at  his 
trade  as  a  blacksmith.  He  was  a  Quaker  in  relig- 
ion, an  old  line  Whig  in  politics,  and  was  bitterly 
opposed  to  slavery.  He  married  Elizabeth  Brown, 
a  natiye  of  Virginia.  His  career  was  brought  to 
an  untimely  close  by  his  death  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
nine  years. 

The  father  of   our   subject   was    engaged    as    a 


blacksmith  until  he  was  nineteen  years  old  and 
then  he  began  life  as  a  farmer.  While  yet  in  early 
manhood  he  removeil  to  Ohio,  and  in  the  town  of 
Zanesville  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Dolson,  April 
25,  1828.  She  was  born  February  13,  1810,  and 
died  in  1882  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  j'ears.  She 
was  one  of  the  representative  pioneer  mothers  of 
this  county  who  bore  the  many  hardships  incidental 
to  life  in  a  newly  settled  country'  with  that  bravery 
and  uncomplaining  self-sacrifice  characteristic  of 
her  sex.  Thomas  A.  Dolson,  her  father,  was  of 
English  descent  and  his  early  years  w-ere  passed  in 
the  State  of  New  York  wliere  he  was  engaged  as  a 
distiller.  He  fought  in  the  Revolutionary  AVar, 
and  he  was  among  the  early  pioneers  of  Ohio, 
settling  in  Perry  County,  where  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing for  a  time.  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years.  His  father  was  a  native  of  England  and 
was  a  British  Captain  in  the  Revolutionary  War 
Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Potts, 
nameh':  John  W.,  Lemuel  W.,  Huldah  A.,  Thomas 
I.,  George  W.,  WMlliam  H.,  Mary  J.,  Sarah  E., 
Martha  .7.  and  Erailj'  A. 

In  December,  1829,  the  father  of  our  subject  set 
out  with  his  little  family  from  his  home  in  Ohio, 
for  what  was  then  the  Far  West,  and  made  the 
journey  across  the  wild  intervening  country  with 
one  horse  and  a  sled,  finallj'  arriving  in  .lanuary, 
1830,  in  Clark  County,  III.,  then  on  the  Western 
frontier.  Mr.  Potts  purchased  forty  acres  of  land 
on  which  he  erected  a  log  cabin  and  then  proceeded 
to  develop  a  farm.  Two  years  later  he  sold  that 
place  and  returned  to  Perrj'  Count}',  Ohio,  where 
he  lived  a  year  and  a  half  prior  to  coming  again  to 
make  a  permanent  settlement  in  Illinois.  This 
time  he  arrived  October  31,  1835,  and  located  in 
Fulton  Count}',  purchasing  eighty  acres  of  land  on 
section  29,  Liverpool  Township,  which  in  due  time 
he  improved  into  a  fine  farm  to  which  he  added 
more  land  as  opportunity  offered,  till  at  the  time 
of  his  death  he  owned  five  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land.  When  he  came  here  the  countr}'  was 
in  a  very  wild  condition;  the  woods  were  full  of 
deer  and  other  vvild  game;  Indians  were  seen  on 
every  side,  while  there  were  but  few  wdilte  settlers 
throughout  the  county.  He  and  his  family  h.ad  to 
endure  many   hardships  and   privations  and    they 


«34 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


were  iften  in  ;i  state  of  alarm  concerning  tlioir  ab- 
original nciglibors  who  at  one  time  e.iuseri  lliem  to 
flee  from  tlieir  home.  When  the^-  finally  ventuicd 
to  return  to  their  lonely  cabin  thej'  found  all  their 
household  goods  piled  in  the  middle  of  the  floor, 
and  a  few  Indians  there  who  said  -Bad  Indians 
gone;  the}'  were  going  to  burn  tlie  liouse,  but  good 
Indians  wouldn't  let  tlieni." 

Notwitlistanding  his  advanced  age  wlien  the  war 
broke  out,  the  father  of  our  subject  offered  his 
services  to  his  country  and  did  much  valuable 
work  in  helping  to  suppress  the  rebellion.  He  was 
at  onetime  Assistant  Provost  Marshal  and  during 
a  greater  part  of  the  war  was  at  the  front  and  took 
part  in  various  engagements.  He  was  made  Quar- 
termaster of  the  same  regiment  of  which  his  son  of 
whom  we  write  was  a  member.  His  services  as  a 
pioneer  of  this  county  will  never  be  forgotten.  He 
died  greatly  lamented  December  17,  1866,  and  his 
memory  is  still  clierished  in  the  hearts  of  those  who 
knew  him. 

Lemuel  W.  Potts  of  this  biographical  sketch,  was 
reared  on  his  father's  homestead  amid  the  pioneer 
scenes  of  this  his  native  county.  He  attended 
school  in  a  jirimitive  log  schoolhouse  that  was 
furiiished  witli  slab  benches  and  had  a  large  open 
fireplace  for  heating  purposes.  His  youth  was  em- 
ployed in  working  in  the  clearings  and  on  the  farm. 
Ho  was  in  the  flush  and  vigor  of  earl}-  manhood 
when  the  war  broke  out.  and  he  was  among  the 
first  to  spring  to  arms  at  the  call  for  troops,  enlist- 
ing A]iril  29,  186!,  in  Company  H,  Seventeenth 
Illinois  Infantr}',  lie  being  the  first  man  to  enlist  in 
Liverpool  Township.  He  was  sv.orn  into  the 
service  May  12,  1861,  and  was  mustered  in  May  25. 
In  one  of  the  early  engagements  in  which  he  took 
part  at  the  battle  of  Frcderiekstown.  Mo.,  he  was 
badly  wounded  in  the  head  by  a  shell  and  was  sent 
home  to  recuperate.  He  rejoined  his  regiment  at 
Ft.  Henry  in  I'ebruary.  1862,  in  season  to  witness 
its  surrender.  He  was  one  of  the  number  who 
made  tlie  second  charge  on  the  enemy's  w-orks  at 
Ft.  Donelson,  carrying  them  at  the  point  of  the  bay- 
onet, and  he  was  in  the  front  a  great  deal  of  the 
time  at  the  liattle  of  Shiloli,  where  he  was  wounded 
In  the  light  lig  by  a  musket  ball.  His  gallant  and 
dariiii;  act  in  which  he  set  fire   to  a   forty   barrel 


powder  magazine  which  had  been  arranged  to  blow 
up  Ft.  Hill,  will  ever  be  remembeied  by  the  fellow 
soldiers  of  his  regiment.  He  bore  a  biave  part 
both  in  the  siege  and  battle  of  Corinth  and  he 
faced  the  eneraj-  again  at  Champion  Hills.  He 
fought  with  unflinching  bravery  at  Vicksburg  and 
at  the  battle  of  Clinton,  Miss..  July  6,  1864,  when 
he  was  wounded  in  the  right  arm.  His  conduct  at 
the  battle  of  Shiloh  gained  him  the  commission  of 
a  Sergeant.  He  was  present  at  the  engagements  at 
Spanish  Fort  and  Ft.  Blakesley,  where  he  did  good 
work.  He  served  with  his  first  company  three 
years,  was  with  Company  H.  Eighth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, one  year,  eleven  months  and  twenty-three 
days  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  aim\-  May  14, 
1866.  As  a  partial  payment  for  what  he  did  and 
suffered  in  the  cause  of  the  Union  be  now  receives 
from  the  Government  a  persion  of  $8  a  month.  He 
is  highly  respected  in  army  circles  for  his  braver}- 
and  fidelity  to  his  country  during  those  trying 
times  in  the  great  Civil  War. 

After  he  left  the  army  Mr.  Potts  resumed  farm- 
ing and  he  and  his  brother  subsequently  bought 
the  old  homestead  on  which  they  were  reared.  Our 
subject  has  since  bought  his  brother's  interest  in  it 
and  is  now  the  sole  owner.  It  is  a  fine,  well-or- 
dered farm,  under  excellent  tillage  and  replete 
with  substantial  improvements.  To  the  lady  who 
presides  over  his  pleasant  home  here  Mv.  Potts  was 
united  in  marriage.  December  4,  1874.  Mrs.  Potts 
was  formerly  .lennie  Wallworth  and  was  born  in 
St.  Lawrence  County,  N.  V.  She  is  a  woman  of 
high  character  and  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  The  first  marriage  of  our  sub- 
ject, which  took  place  April  4,  1872.  was  to  Martha 
E.  Patterson,  and  to  them  one  child  was  born. 
Mrs.  Potts  was  an  estimal)le  lady  ami  her  death 
was  mourned  bj'  many  friends.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Potts  have  no  children  by  this  marriage  but  in  the 
kindness  of  their  hearts  have  taken  Stork  T.  Pan- 
cake to  rear. 

Mr.  Potts  is  a  valued  citizen  of  his  township  and 
is  popular  among  his  associates  and  numerous 
friends.  He  is  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Republi- 
can party  in  this  vicinity,  and  has  been  a  memlicr 
of  the  Reiniljlican  Central  Committee  and  also 
a  delegate   to   various    political   conventions.     He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


835 


is  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  this  township,  to  which 

posilion  he  was  (.'Iccted  l\y  forty-seven  majority, 
although  the  Democrats  usually  carry  the  township 
by  a  majority  of  sixty-eiglit  votes. 


1 


(EREMIAH  F.  WILLCOXEN.  From  the 
early  history  of  Fulton  Count}'  the  name  of 
Willcoxen  has  been  associated  with  its  rise 
'Mj  and  progress.  The  father  of  our  oubjecl  was 
one  of  its  most  prominent  and  well-known  pioneers, 
who  was  for  many  years  very  active  in  developing 
its  agricultural  resources  and  was  a  prime  factor  in 
promoting  its  growth  and  1-tying  the  solid 'founda- 
tion of  its  present  prosperity.  His  son,  of  whom 
we  write  is  distinguished  not  only  as  being  one  of 
the  native-born  citizens  of  tin's  county  liut  for  the 
part  he  has  taken  in  its  advancement  to  the  front 
as  one  of  the  richest  and  best  improved  farming 
regions  in  the  State.  He  is  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Liverpool  Township,  whicli  is  the  place  of 
his  birth,  and  here  he  is  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising  though  not  to  so  large  an  extent  as 
formerly.  He  is  one  of  the  largest  land  holders  in 
the  county  and  is  a  man  of  wealth  and  influence  in 
his  community,  who  is  widely  known  and  iionored. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  the  pioneer  home  of  his 
parents  in  Liverpool  Township,  February  17,  1833. 
He  is  a  son  of  Capt.  Elijah  Willcoxen,  an  early  set- 
tler of  this  county,  wlio  was  a  volunteer  in  the 
War  of  1812  and  served  throughout  the  Black 
Hawk  War,  first  as  Lieutenant  and  then  as  Ca|itain. 
He  was  born  in  Rowan  County,  N.  C,  .Inly  24,  I  789. 
His  ancestors  for  many  generations  back  were  fa- 
mous people,  and  were  held  in  high  esteem  wlu-re 
they  resided  as  will  be  seen  by  referring  to  the 
sketch  of  George  W.  Ray,  where  the  history  of 
Mrs.  Raj',  (who  was,  in  her  maiden  days.  Miss  Anna 
Willcoxen)  and  her  family  is  given  in  full. 

Samuel  Willcoxen,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  native  of  Norlh  Carolina,  and  was  probal)lv 
born  in  Rowan  County.  He  was  a  son  of  John 
AVillcoxen,  who  was  either  born  in  Wales  or  came 
of  Welsh  parentage.  He  was  a  farmer  of  North 
Carolina  and  was  also  said    to  possess  great  genius 


as  a  mechanic,  and  was  a  man  of  strong  character. 
He  married  Rachael  Hoonc,  sister  of  Daniel  Boone, 
the  noted  Kentucky  pioneer.  She  possessed  a  re- 
markable mind  and  had  a  keen  sense  of  justice  and 
appreciation,  and  indeed  was  in  every  respect  an 
illustrious  woman.  She  reared  a  large  [family  of 
children  in  North  Carolina  and  in  her  old  age  lived 
with  her  grandson  Jesse  Willcoxen,  in  Estill  County 
Ky.,  where  she  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  farmer.  He 
moved  from  his  early  home  in  North  Carolina  to 
Boonesboro,  Ky.,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  that  section  of  the  State.  He  was  a  broad-minded, 
large-hearted  man  of  deep  religious  convictions 
and  was  an  influence  for  great  good  among  his 
fellow  pioneers.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Regular 
Baptist  Church  and  he  had  two  sons  who  were 
Baptist  preachers.  He  died  in  182.5  at  the  age  of 
sixty  years.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was 
Anna  Jordon,  wiio  is  supposed  to  have  been  a 
native  of  Rowan  County,  N.  C.  She  was  a  strict 
adherent  of  the  Bai)tist  faith  and  noted  for  her 
goodness  of  heart.  Her  last  years  were  passed  in 
this  count}',  on  the  homestead  where  our  subject 
now  lives,  she  having  come  iiither  with  her  son 
Elijah  in  1830.  She  had  attained  the  venerable 
age  of  eighty-four  years  at  the  time  of  her  death. 
She  was  the  mother  of  ten  children,  six  sons  and 
four  daughters,  namely:  Squire,  Samuel,  Elijah, 
Isaiah,  Alfred,  Jesse.  Sai'ah,  Francis,  Mary,  and 
Debbie. 

The  fattier  of  our  snbject  moved  from  Rowan 
County,  N.  C,  to  Estill  County,  Ky.,  in  1815. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  tiiat  region, 
whicli  was  a  somewhat  mountainous  country  and 
w.as  then  full  of  wild  game,  which  he  was  very 
fond  of  hunting.  On  several  occasions  he  had 
hogs  killed  by  the  bears.  He  owned  a  f.-iriii  there, 
which  it  is  thought  he  innst  have  taken  up  as  patent 
land.  In  October,  1830,  he  came  to  Fulton  County, 
making  the  trip  with  horse  and  ox-teams  and  bring- 
ing with  him  six  milch  cows  and  a  fine  stallion 
called  Cultivator.  The  family  spent  their  first 
winter  here  in  a  little  log  cabin,  on  the  banks  of 
Little  Sister  Creek  in  what  is  now  Liverpool 
Township,  the  place  being  owned  by  John  Ferris. 
The  following  s[iring  Mr.  Willcoxen  purchased  a 


836 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


quarter  section  of  Govenimeut  land  on  section  5, 
this  townsliip,  on  which  he  erected  a  commodious 
two-story  and  a  half  liewed  log'  house.  His  land 
was  all  heavily  timbered,  and  the  country  round 
about  was  infested  with  deer  and  wild  turkeys  be- 
sides much  other  game,  and  as  he  was  an  expert 
hunter  he  often  supplied  the  family  larder  with 
clioice  venison  and  turkej-.  He  soon  cleared  his 
land,  and  as  he  was  a  hard  worker  and  a  good  man- 
ager he  was  greatly  prospered.  He  bought  other 
laud  from  time  to  time  until  he  owned  many  hun- 
dreil  acres.  He  gave  each  of  his  boys  one  hundred 
and  sixly  acres  of  land  and  still  had  a  large  estate 
left  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  ability,  of  an  enlightened  mind,  and  was 
known  for  his  great  generosity  and  benevolence. 
He  came  to  be  considered  a  sort  of  a  patriarch  b}' 
the  psople  among  whom  so  man^'  years  of  his  life 
were  passed  and  he  was  venerated  and  beloved  by 
all.  Religiously  he  was  a  pillar  of  the  Regular 
Baptist  Church,  and  politically  he  was  a  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party.  He  was  prominent  in 
public  life,  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  a  great 
many  years  and  served  in  ncarl}-  all  the  offices  of 
'  his  township.  He  ilied  Jul}-  3,  1860,  and  his  fun- 
eral was  attended  by  his  twelve  children.  His  pos- 
terity numbered  one  hundred  and   fourteen. 

Tiie  maiden  name  of  the  motlier  of  our  subject 
was  Ciiarlotte  Calloway,  and  she  was  born  in  Ashe 
County,  N.  C,  April  2.  1792.  She  died  June  18, 
1874,  at  which  time  the  fifth  generation  of  her  pos- 
terity, numbering  two  hundred  and  four  in  all,  had 
appeared  upon  the  scene.  .She  was  a  kind,  motherly 
woman  and  reared  iier  children  in  the  i)aths  of 
honesty  and  virtue.  She  w.as  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Baptist  Ciuirch  for  sixty  j'ears  of  her  life. 
Her  father  was  (!ol.  Elijah  Calloway,  who  was  a 
distinguished  citizen  of  North  Carolina,  and  for 
many  years  an  honored  member  of  the  Legislature 
of  that  State.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the 
children  born  to  the  parents  of  our  subject:  Zerilda, 
Jessie  B.,  Nancy  M.,  Elijah  C,  Andrew  J.,  Mary 
E.  (Mrs.  Cope),  Isaiah  M.,  Elizabeth  C,  Anna  A. 
(Mrs.  Raj'),  Marshall  N.,  James  C.  Charlotte,  Jere- 
miah F.  and  America. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  review  was 
reared  to  manhood  on  the  farm  where  lie  now  lives. 


In  his  boyhood  days  he  attended  the  pioneer  log 
schoolhouses  of  that  period  that  were  furnished 
with  slab  benches,  heated  by  a  fire  in  a  large  open 
fire-place,  and  a  slab  fastened  on  the  wall  under 
the  windows  served  as  a  writing  desk.  The  first 
school  he  attended  was  held  in  the  old  log  Baptist 
Church,  two  miles  northeast  of  his  home.  The 
teaching  was  not  much  after  the  fashion  of  the 
present  day,  and  the  scholars  studied  out  loud. 
The  teacher  was  paid  by  subscription  and  boarded 
a  week  about  with  the  parents  of  the  pupils.  When 
our  subject  was  a  boj'  the  wild  sparsely  settled 
country  round  about  was  inhabited  by  deer,  tur- 
keys, wolves,  lynx,  and  wild  cats.  The  old  deer 
trail  ran  just  south  of  the  house  and  he  remembers 
seeing  deer  come  about  the  farmyard  in  the  even- 
ing when  he  milked  the  cows.  Our  subject  helped 
clear  the  farm  which  was  heavily  timbered,  and  at 
the  death  of  his  father  took  charge  of  the  estate. 
The  quarter  section  on  which  the  old  home  is  situ- 
.<ited  was  willed  to  him  and  at  the  sale  of  the  prop- 
ertj'  he  purchased  two  more  quarter  sections  of  his 
father's  land  adjoining  and  he  has  added  to  this 
until  he  has  now  twenty-seven  hundred  acres  of 
choice  farming  land.  He  has  prospered  abundantly 
and  besides  his  realty  has  other  valuable  property', 
including  a  fourth  interest  in  the  Lewistown  Bank. 
He  farms  some  but  not  as  extensively  of  late  years 
as  he  used  to.  lie  raises  a  number  of  horses, 
cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  and  finds  in  them  a  profit- 
able source  of  income.  ]Mr.  Willcoxeu  has  a  beau- 
tiful home  on  the  old  homestead  in  the  large  frame 
house  erected  by  his  father,  which  is  surrounded 
b}'  a  well-kept  lawn,  covered  with  large  shade 
trees,  making  it  one  of  the  most  attractive  places 
for  many  miles  around. 

Our  subject  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
marriage  which  took  place  February  21,  18G7,  was 
to  Miss  Lorinda  R3'ner.  She  was  a  native  of  Pre- 
ble Countj-,  Ohio,  and  she  died  March  19,  1884, 
leaving  these  three  children:  Mary  A.,  Frank  B. 
and  Charlie  L.,  all  of  whom  are  still  at  home.  Mr. 
Willcoxen  was  wedded  to  his  present  wife,  formerly 
Miss  Mary  C.  Hendrickson,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
January  19,  1890. 

Mr.  Willcoxen  is  endowed  with  ability  and  busi- 
ness tact  of  a  high  order,  and   possesses  in  a  large 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


837 


degree  other  traits  thnt  liave  made  his  life  more 
than  ordiuaril_v  successfuL  He  is  an  example  of 
the  fact  that  nobility  of  life,  liberality  of  thought, 
and  generosity-  of  heart  are  handed  down  from  gen- 
eration to  generation  in  many  families,  in  which 
these  traits  have  been  characleristic  for  long  years. 
He  has  not  only  contributed  to  the  material  welfare 
of  his  native  county,  but  he  has  been  influential  in 
its  public  life.  He  represented  his  township,  as  a 
member  of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  sev- 
eral terms,  and  has  held  other  offices  of  trust.  In 
November,  18(52,  he  w.as  elected  Sheriff  of  Fulton 
County  and  served  one  term.  That  w.as  at  a  criti- 
cal time  when  the  rebellion  was  under  full  headw.ay 
yet  he  dischaiged  the  duties  of  his  office  with  firm- 
ness and  justice,  and  received  great  credit  from  all 
parties  for  his  course  while  in  that  trying  position. 
Mr.  Willcoxen  seems  to  have  inherited  his  political 
views,  as  he  is,  like  his  forefathers,  a  sound  Demo- 
crat. 


ri7  LEWELLYN  PARRY,  an  honored  pioneer 
I  (f^  of  this  county  and  a  retired  farmer  living  in 
jILJi^  Astoria,  was  born  in  Harrison  County, 
Ohio,  April  15,  1813.  Caleb  Parry,  his  father, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  while  his  father  was  of 
Welsh  birth.  He  came  to  this  country  with  two 
brothers  in  Colonial  times  and  settled  in  ^'irginia, 
where  he  followed  farming  and  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  one  of  seven 
children.  He  remained  under  tlie  parental  roof 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  and  then  went  on 
foot  to  Harrison  County,  C)hio,  of  which  he  be- 
came one  of  the  first  settlers.  He  worked  about 
by  the  day  and  month  until  1815,  when  he  bought 
a  tract  of  timber  land  in  Dorman  Township,  and 
built  a  log  cabin  in  the  wilderness  where  deer, 
bears,  panthers  and  wild  turkeys  were  plentiful. 
There  were  no  railwa\s  or  canals  for  manj'  years, 
and  Wheeling,  forty  miles  distant,  was  the  nearest 
market  for  his  wheat,  for  which  he  received  forty 
cenls  a  bushel,  and  for  his  pork,  for  which    he  was 


paid  ><1.50  a  hundred  pounds.  In  1835  Mr.  Parry 
lef  this  pioneer  home  in  Ohio  to  build  up  another 
in  Illinois.  He  staid  for  a  while  in  Menard  County, 
and  then  coming  to  Fulton  County  entered  a  tract 
of  Government  land  in  Astoria  Township,  on  which 
he  settled  in  1836.  He  built  a  log  house  to  shelter 
his  familj',  and  cleared  quite  a  tract  of  his  land, 
on  which  he  resided  until  his  death  at  the  age  of 
eight3'-four  j'ears.  Rebecci  Eagle  was  the  maiden 
name  of  his  wife.  She  was  born  in  Virginia,  and 
died  there  on  the  home  farm  at  the  venerable  age 
of  ninety-three  .years.  Of  her  ten  children  seven 
are  now  living. 

When  our  subject  was  two  years  old  his  parents 
removed  from  his  birthplace  to  Tuscarawas 
County,  in  the  same  State,  and  there  he  grew  to 
manhood.  As  soon  as  large  enough  he  commenced 
to  assist  his  father  on  the  farm,  and  .at  the  age  of 
nineteen  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  carpenter, 
which  he  followed  in  Ohio  until  1835,  when  ho 
accompanied  his  parents  to  this  State.  There  were 
thirty-two  in  the  party,  and  the  removal  was  made 
overland,  the  people  cooking  and  camping  by  the 
wayside  at  night.  At  that  time  Fulton  County  was 
a  wilderness  and  there  were  but  few  permanent 
settlers  within  its  borders,  there  being  more  squat- 
ters holding  claims  which  the}'  were  glad  to  sell. 
They  were  generally  living  in  rude  log  cabins  with- 
out any  floor,  chimney  or  windows.  The  men 
were  mostly  dressed  in  deerskin  clothing  and  wore 
coonskin  caps.  Wilil  game  was  very  plentiful, 
and  could  be  killed  from  the  door  of  the  cabin. 

Mr.  Parry  was  married  October  18,  1838,  to 
Maria  Crawford,  who  was  born  near  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Alexander  Crawford. 
The  young  couple  began  their  wedded  life  on  a 
tract  of  timber  land  on  section  1,  Astoria  Town- 
ship, where  our  subject  built  a  good  hewed  log 
house,  with  rived  shingles  for  the  roof,  a  puncheon 
floor,  and  a  chimney  of  mud  and  sticks  built  on 
the  outside  of  the  house.  All  the  cooking  was 
done  before  the  Hre  in  the  fireplace,  and  Mrs.  Parry 
used  to  spin  and  weave  and  make  all  the  cloth  for 
the  family.  By  dint  of  hard  labor  our  subject 
cleaved  away  tiie  heav}'  timber  from  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land,  on  which  he  resided  until 
1882.      He    then   rented    his    wcli-itnproved    farm. 


838 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  came  to  Astoria,  where  he  has  since  lived  in 
honorable  retirement,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  a  well- 
spent  life. 

Tlie  good  wife  of  our  sultject  was  spared  to  him 
more  than  fifty  years,  but  their  pleasant  wedded 
life  was  at  length  brought  to  a  close  by  her  death, 
IMarch  27,  1889.  The  following  Ave  children 
blessed  their  union — Mary  J.,  Rebecca,  Sarah, 
Ellen  and  Violet. 

Mr.  Parry  has  for  many  years  been  a  conscien- 
tious and  upright  Christian,  as  he  was  converted  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  years,  and  has  since  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  a  per- 
iod of  more  than  half  a  century.  He  has  served 
his  church  faithfully  as  Class-Leader  twenty-two 
years,  and  has  worked  in  the  Sunday-school  and 
in  the  protracted  meetings. 


■^OHN  H.  HELLER  was  born  December  1 
1815,  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  a  few 
'  miles  from  Ashland,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Belinda  Heller.  His  father  was  of  Ger- 
man descent,  and  was  born  Nov.  21,  1786.  and  his 
mother,  who  previous  to  her  marriage  was  Belinda 
Van  Augha,  of  New  Jersey,  was  a  descendant  of 
an  old  and  aristocratic  German  family.  Their 
mariage  took  place  in  Pennsylvania,  where  they 
resided  for  a  number  of  years,  afterward  moving 
to  Ohio  and  locating  in  Richland  Count}-.  In 
1835  the}'  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Putman 
Township,  this  county,  where  they  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  partially  improved, 
and  where  they  made  a  permanent  home.  The 
father  died  November  30,  1863,  and  the  mother 
also  died  in  the  same  month  and  3'ear.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whpni  those  now 
living  are:  Daniel,  John  H.,  Peter,  Simon,  William 
Harrison  and  Eliza  (Mrs.  Samuel  Wells.) 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  prominent  and 
influential  man,  and  accumulated  a  large  amount 
of  property  during  his  lifetime.  He  was  at_one 
time  a  tanner,  indeed,  was  engaged  in  business  in 
a  tannery,  still  house,  brick  yard  and  farm  at  one 
and  the  same  time.     Politically,  he  was  a  Demo- 


crat, and  religiously,  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Our  suliject  received  a  com- 
mon-school education  in  a  district  school  of  Ohio, 
and  while  in  tliat  State  learned  the  business  of  a 
tanner  under  the  direction  of  his  father.  After 
coming  to  Illinois,  he  and  his  brother  Daniel  started 
a  tannery  at  Cnl)a,  and  for  a  number  of  years  con- 
tinued to  run  it  most  successfully.  At  a  later  date 
he  devoted  his  attention  to  farming,  and  was  after- 
ward interested  in  a  shoe  store  and  harness  shop 
in  Cuba  for  a  number  of  years.  He  then  accepted 
a  clerkship  in  the  store  of  Dugald  Sterrat.  and 
later  entered  into  a  partnership  with  John  L.  Keller 
in  a  grocery  business,  the  firm  name  being  Keller  & 
Heller.  But  at  the  end  of  three  years  Mr.  Heller 
retired  from  business,  settling  upon  his  present 
estate. 

Our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Hannah  Baugli- 
man,  daughter  of  Jacob  Baughman,  on  Januar}'  30, 
1839.  Their  union  was  blessed  with  five  children, 
viz:  Elizabetli,  wife  of  Isaac  Hedrick,  of  Putman 
Township;  James  M.,  deceased;  Daniel  W.,  who 
mairied  Miss  Marj'  Scott,  and  lives  in  Putman 
Township;  Eli,  who  died  in  earl}'  infancy;  and 
Cyrus,  who  married  Miss  Sherwood,  and  lives  in 
Arkansas. 

Mrs.  Heller  died  February  12. 1882,  and  on  Sep- 
tember 14,  1886,  he  married  j\Irs.  Mary  A.  Holmes, 
daughter  of  Garrett  and  Mary  (Ackerson)  Acker- 
son.  Mr.  Ackerson  resideifin  Ohio  for  a  number 
of  years  after  his  marriage,  and  removing  to  Illi- 
nois in  1828,  settled  in  Sangamon  County.  The 
following  year  he  moved  to  Fulton  County,  locat- 
ing in  Lewistowu  Township,  where  he  made  his 
permanent  home.  At  that  time  the  country  was 
very  wild,  and  the  Indians  frequently  visited  their 
house.  Mr.  Ackerson  was  a  prominent  man  and 
hold  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  several 
years,  and  was  also  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  Mrs.  Ackerson  died  many  years  ago,  but 
Mr.  Ackerson  survived  until  recently.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  two 
are  living  at  the  present  time,  viz:  Mrs.  Heller, 
and  Mrs.  J.  Cadwallader,  who  lives  near  Ipava. 

Mrs.  Heller  was  born  in  Ohio  May  17,  1819, 
and  received  her  education  in  the  common  schools 
of    that    State.     Previous    to    her    marriage    with 


i^e^^nc^^^^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


sn 


Mr.  Heller  she  bad  been  married  three  times,  her 
last  husband  being  William  Holmes.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  but  attends  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church  with  her  husband, 
and  thej'  are  liberal  supporters  of  all  religious  mat- 
ters. Mr.  Heller  was  Assessor  of  Putman  Town- 
ship for  several  years,  Justice  of  the  Peace  four 
years  and  also  served  as  Collector  and  is  now  a 
School  Director.  At  present  he  is  agent  for  tlie 
Rockford  A'  Glens  Falls  Insurance  Company. 

Mr.  Heller  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in 
politics,  beii'g  a  Democrat  at  one  time,  but  now  a 
Prohibitionist.  A  strictly  moral  man  himself,  he 
advocates  temperance,  and  has  done  much  for  this 
cause  in  the  community  in  which  he  resides.  Al- 
though seventy-five  years  of  age,  he  continues 
his  interest  in  business  matters,  and  possesses  much 
influence  in  mercantile,  religious  and  social  circles. 
He  owns  a  beautiful  house  that  is  surrounded  by 
large,  well-kept  gardens,  and  is  besides  the  owner  of 
a  valuable  and  highly  cultivated  farm.  He  is  a 
man  of  vast  experience  and  his  honorable  career 
has  won  for  liim  many  friends. 


-^1 


kL 


PT 


ELIJAH  D.   SPI 
on  in  her  circ 
'  grows  rapid  Iv 


<il^)LIJAH  D.  SPENCER.  As  the  world  moves 
cled  orb  and  Mother  Earth 
pidly  older,  the  spirit  of  progress 
seems  more  and  more  to  assert  itself,  and  every 
day  we  see  wonderful  exhibitions  of  the  indomita- 
ble courage  and  energy  that  master  all  adverse  cir- 
cumstances. The  pathway  of  a  [loor  boy,  deprived 
in  cliildhood  of  his  natural  protectors,  must  neces- 
sarily be  beset  on  all  sides  with  obstacles,  yet  how 
often  these  boys  gain  both  popularity  and  wealth 
in  after  life.  It  would  seem  that  adversity  de- 
velops greater  tact  and  enterprise  than  can  be 
known  to  those  surrounded  by  comforts.  Thus  tlie 
self-made  man  is  in  most  cases  the  successful  man. 
He  of  whom  we  write  comes  of  substantial  an- 
cestry, and  traces  his  lineage  back  to  John  and  Icy 
(Snow)  Spencer,  whose  son  David,  was  born  March 
19,  1768  and  died  August  29,  1823.  On  June  1, 
1793,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Grove, 
the  daughter  of  John  and    Elizabeth    Grove.     She 


was  born  February  23,  1772,  and  died  June  11, 
1845.  Their  children  were  named  respectively: 
John,  Elijah,  James  D.,  Reuben,  David  and  Eliza- 
beth. While  in  his  early  manhood,  David  Spencer, 
Jr.  in  1833  removed  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Peoria 
County,  and  afterward  purchasing  a  farm  in  Orion 
Township,  Fulton  County,  where  he  located. 

In  Canton,  111.,  on  April  9,  1835,  the  ceremony 
was  performed  which  transformed  Miss  Elizabeth 
A.  Grim,  of  that  city,  into  Mrs.  David  Spencer. 
Mrs.  Spencer  was  the  daughter  of  Phillip  and  Mary 
(Seldomridge)  Grim,  natives  of  Virginia,  whence 
they  removed  at  an  early  day  to  Illinois.  The 
other  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grim  were  Jacob, 
John,  Mary,  Phillip,  Margaret,  Catherine,  David, 
Sarah,  William,  Susanna  and  Lavinia.  Immedi- 
ately after  their  marriage  David  Spencer  and  his 
wife  settled  on  his  farm  in  Orion  Township  and  in 
the  duties  accompanying  rural  life,  as  well  as  in 
the  following  of  his  trad^  of  a  cooper,  Mr.  Spencer 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days.  His  family  was 
increased  by  the  birth  of  seven  children,  who  bore 
the  following  names :  Mary  Elizabeth,  Elijah  Doug- 
las. Louisa  Jane,  David  Benton,  Melissa  Matilda, 
Sarah  C,  and  Hannah  W.  The  father  died  when 
forty-five  j'ears  old;  the  mother  survived  uniil 
1862,  and  passed  hence  when  in  her  forty-Hflh 
year. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  this  sketch  is  written 
was  born  Oil  June  17,  1837,  to  David  and  Eliza- 
beth Spencer,  and  was,  when  only  nine  years  of  age 
deprived  of  his  father  by  death.  His  education 
was  limited;  in  fact,  during  his  entire  life  he  spent 
less  than  twelve  months  in  school,  and  this  was 
scattered  through  several  years.  He  may,  there- 
fore, appropriately  be  called  a  self-made  man.  At 
the  age  of  eleven,  he  hired  out  on  a  farm,  receiv- 
ing in  compensation  for  his  services  only  $5  per 
month,  and  this  was  devoted  to  the  support  of  his 
mother.  After  continuing  to  work  upon  a  farm 
until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  he  began  life 
for  himself  by  renting  land  in  Salem  Township, 
Union  Countj'. 

Through  the  exercise  of  industry  and  business 
management,  Mr.  Spencer  worked  his  way  upward 
and  is  now  the  owner  of  a  farm  on  sections  1 1  and 
12,  Farmington  Township.     This  estate  is  free    of 


842 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


encumbrance,  and  is  embellished  with  a  comraodi- 
ous  residence  and  such  outbuildings  as  are  required 
on  a  modern  farm.  The  land  is  mostly-  devoted  to 
cereals,  and  is  under  excellent  cultivation,  amply 
rewarding  tlie  toil  of  the  farmer  by  bountiful  har- 
vests of  golden  grain. 

When  he  was  prepared  to  establisli  a  home  of  Ins 
own.  our  subject  was  married,  November  y.  1861, 
to  Miss  Mary  C,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Eliza 
beth  (Brown)  Marchant,  the  former  belonging  to 
that  family  who  first  settled  in  tlie  section  of  coun- 
try known  .as  Marchant  Settlement  (now  Farming- 
ton  Township.)  He  was  born  in  Berkley  Count3', 
Va.,  while  his  wife  was  a  native  of  Tennessee.  Mrs. 
Spencer's  paternal  grandfather,  Abraham  Marchant 
died  in  Ohio,  leaving  a  wife  and  four  children,  who 
afterward  located  in  Illinois. 

Among  the  pioneers  of  Fulton  County,  Abraham 
Marchant.  jr..  is  numbered  and  his  experience  as  a 
frontiersman  was  exciting  and  extensive.  In  a 
little  lug  hut.  the  best  the  times  aflforded,  he  enter- 
tained liundreds  of  people  who  came  looking  for 
land.  Such  was  the  popularity  of  this  [rioneer  and 
so  many  did  he  assist  in  their  prospecting  tours, 
that  tlie  place  was  named  in  his  honor,  Marchant 
Settlement.  He  passed  from  earth,  after  an  honor- 
able and  useful  career,  June  4.  1889.  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety  years  and  seven  months. 

The  family  of  Abraham  Marchant  included  the 
following  children  :  Hebecca.  who  died  when  an 
inf.inl:  David  D.,  who  died  April  1,  1884,  at  the 
age  of  sixty -three  j-ears:  Daniel,  Edward  and  Isaac 
are  deceased;  Sarah,  who  was  tlie  wife  of  Joseph 
Fink,  died  in  Farmington.  leaving  three  children, 
John,  Martha  and  Alice,  all  of  whom  are  married; 
Matilda,  Edwin,  George,  Francis,  Mary  C.  (Mrs. 
Spencer.)  and  Fannie  are  still  living.  Matilda  is 
the  wife  of  A.  G.  Pinegor  of  Farmlngton,  and  has 
eight  children.  Fannie  married  Thomas  Cay  wood, 
of  Chicago,  and  they  have  five  children. 

Mrs.  .Spencer  was  born  at  the  old  homestead 
September  22,  1842,  and  attended  the  High  School 
in  what  is  now  Farmington.  Of  her  union  with  our 
subject  three  children  have  been  born:  Frank  B., 
married  Miss  Sarah  A.  Moran,  of  Middle  Grove. 
He  is  book-keeper  in  the  city  flouring  mills  at  Can- 
ton and  was  graduated  from  the    Commercial    Col- 


lege at  Canton;  Minnie  J.  and  Elmer  D.  remain  at 
home.  Mrs.  Spencer  is  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  her  social  culture 
and  kindness  of  heart  win  for  her  many  warm  and 
lasting  friends. 

Upon  political  issues  Mr.  Spencer  is  in  sympathy 
with  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
national  elections  votes  that  ticket,  but  in  local 
affairs  votes  for  the  one  he  considers  best  fitted  for 
the  office  desired.  He  has  attained  success  slowly 
but  surely,  and  fully  merits  the  confidence  accorded 
him  throughout  the  community  in  which  he  re- 
sides. In  connection  with  this  sketch,  his  portrait 
is  presented  on  another  page. 


C-*-p ^ 


^  OEL  B.  PATTERSON.  For  many  years  Mr. 
Patterson  has  enjo3-ed  a  reputation  not  only 
as  a  substantial  and  progressive  farmer,  but 
also  as  an  intelligent  anil  thoroughly  posted 
man  in  all  public  affairs.  He  has  had  a  v.ast  amount 
of  experience,  and  his  most  trivial  business  trans- 
actions are  characterized  bj'  good  judgment  and 
strict  integrity.  He  is  a  prominent  citizen  and  one 
who  has  been  of  much  benefit  to  the  community 
in  which  he  resides.  A  son  of  James  and  Dolly 
(Herri.'ll)  Patterson,  natives  of  South  Carolina  and 
Kentucky  respect! vel3',  lie  was  born  in  Spencer 
Couut\-,  Ky..  July  24.  1827,  and  was  ten  }"ears  of 
age  when  his  father  came  to  Fulton  County.  He 
received  a  good  education  in  the  district  school,  and 
attained  to  a  stalwart  manhood.  When  twenty  years 
old  he  commenced  a  business  career  for  himself 
without  any  financial  assistance  whatever,  working 
on  a  farm  and  receiving  the  small  sum  of  ^10  per 
month  in  compensation  for  his  services. 

Mr.  Patterson  was  married  in  1848  to  Celia  M. 
Weeks,  the  daughter  of  George  M.  Weeks,  of  Far- 
mers Township,  and  formerl}'  from  the  Blue  Grass 
State.  After  his  marriage  our  subject  rented  a 
farm  for  one  season  and  then  went  to  Texa.*.  set- 
tling on  a  farm  in  Colon  County,  and  in  the  midst 
of  a  wild  and  thinly  settled  liicality.  He  remained 
there  four  years,  and  on  the  journey  back  to  Illinois 
the  beloved  companion  of  his  life,  died  of  cholera, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


843 


in  April,  1852.  To  them  had  been  born  one  child, 
but  it  (lied  in  early  infancy.  After  settling  his 
Texas  farm  Mr.  Patterson  went  to  California, 
crossing  the  plains  with  an  ox-team,  a  trip  whicii 
required  six  months  time  before  reaching  San  Fran- 
cisco. He  worked  in  the  gold  mines  for  three 
years  very  successfully,  and  after  farming  in  that 
State  for  a  brief  period  returned  home  in  1856, 
and  [lurehased  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives. 
At  that  time  it  was  wild  unbroken  land,  and  both 
energy  and  skill  have  been  required  to  bring  it  to 
its  present  state  of  cultivation. 

Our  subject  volunteered  in  the  late  war,  August 
14,  18(J2,  and  was  Sergeant  in  Company  I,  One 
Hundred  and  Third  Illinois  Regiment.  This  reg- 
iment was  organized  at  Peoria,  and  marched  to 
Jackson,  Tenn.,  with  La  Grange  for  headquarters. 
They  took  part  in  a  number  of  scouting  expedi- 
tions, and  in  1863  went  to  Vicksburg,  remaining 
there  through  the  siege  conducted  by  Gen.  Grant. 
After  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  they  were  in  the  battle 
of  Mission  Ridge,  under  Gen.  John  A.  Logan,  then 
close  to  Kuoxville,  Tenn.  They  wintered  near 
Waterford  about  twenty  miles  south  of  Muntsville, 
Ala.,  and  in  the  spring  of  1864  were  in  the  battles  of 
Buzzard  Roost,  Resaca,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Stone 
River,  and  then  on  to  Atlanta.  At  the  latter 
named  place  Mr.  Patterson  was  wounded  by  a 
minie  ball  passing  through  his  left  thigh  between 
the  bone  and  main  arter^'.  At  ^Mission  Ridge  he 
received  a  wound  in  the  back  part  of  his  head  from 
a  piece  of  shell,  which  disabled  him  for  further 
service;  he  was  sent  to  a  hospital  near  Marietta,  for 
two  months,  thence  home  on  furlough,  and  linall3' 
discharged  April  5,  1865.  Owmg  to  his  wounds 
be  was  compelled  to  use  crutches  for  nearly  a  year. 
He  now  receives  a  pension,  as  a  partial  compensa- 
tion for  injuries  sustained  in  the  service. 

Mr.  Patterson,  on  December  21,  1865,  married 
Miss  Lodema  Zollerman.  daughter  of  Peter  and  Lu- 
cinda  Zollerman.  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased 
and  whose  family  comprised  eight  childien,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patter- 
son no  children  were  born.  After  their  marriage 
thej'  settleil  on  the  Patterson  farm,  then  removed 
to  Abingdon,  Knox  County.  After  sojourning 
thc're  until  1884.  they  returned  to   Fulton  County, 


which  has  since  been  their  home.  Our  subject  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  New  Light  Christian 
Church,  anil  he  is  an  active  Re|)ublican.  He  has 
been  .School  Director  for  a  number  of  years,  also 
served  as  Road  Commissioner  and  Assessor.  He 
was  also  Trustee  of  the  Smithfield  Village  Board, 
and  at  the  present  writing  (1890)  is  Treasurer  of 
same.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
Post,  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Order. 


!)HEODORE  PUMYEA.  In  giving  the  his- 
f^^^.  tor}-  Of  this  county,  as  told  in  the  lives  of 
'  _s<;'  its  citizens,  mention  should  certainly  be 
made  of  the  gentleman  above  named,  who  came 
here  in  early  childhood,  and  has  done  much  to  aid 
in  the  section  of  the  country  in  which  he  has  lived. 
He  is  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  in  Fairview, 
also  shipping  poultry  and  managing  his  affairs  so 
energetically  that  he  can  scarcel_v  be  competed  with. 
He  is  now  also  engaged  in  the  coal  business  and 
has  devoted  much  time  to  the  [jursuit  of  agricul- 
ture. For  a  few  years  he  was  at  London  Mills  on 
Spoon  River  in  the  saw  and  grist  mill  business. 

Mr.  Puni3ea  is  the  youngest  son  of  Peter  Pum- 
yea,  one  of  the  most  active  pioneers  of  this  count}-, 
and  one  of  the  founders  of  Fairview.  Ho  not  only 
laid  out  the  place  in  connection  with  Moses  Hall 
and  Richard  Davis,  luit  generously  assisted  in  build- 
ing it  up,  donating  grounds  for  religious  ijurposes 
and  worthy  secular  movements.  His  donations  ag- 
gregated many  hundreds  of  dollars.  Peter  Purayea 
was  born  in  Somerset  County,  N.  J.,  and  there 
married  Catherine  Sarah  Stryker,  an  estimable  lady 
of  that  county.  He  there  engaged  in  tilling  the 
soil  and  acquired  a  competency.  In  1836  he  and 
his  family,  accom|)anied  by  that  of  Abram  Teath- 
worth,  late  of  EUisville,  started  from  their  Eastern 
home  in  w-agons  to  establish  themselves  in  the 
l\Iississipi)i  ^'alley. 

The  party  crossed  Peimsylvania,  Ohio,  Indiana, 
experiencing  all  the  hardships  of  overland  journey, 
lint  also  enjoying  some  of  its  pleasures.  They 
would  sometimes  get  "  stucic,"  when  it  would  Ije- 
come    necessary  to  use    double   teams  to  get   the 


844 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


wagons  out  of  the  mire.  Tlie  journey  was  Ijegun 
in  tlie  month  of  M.ay  and  the  vicinity  of  Fairview 
reached  in  .Tune.  Mr.  Purayea  hought  a  quarter 
section  of  land  of  Samuel  Dyer.  The  imi)rove- 
ment  was  a  double  lo»  cabin,  whicii,  after  a  lapse 
of  sixty  years,  is  yet  standing  as  an  old  landmark. 
He  acquired  other  property,  eventually  becoming 
the  owner  of  fifteen  or  sixteen  hunilred  acres.  At 
that  eaily  date  the  taxes  on  the  whole  tract  were 
no  higher  than  for  many  years  they  have  been  on 
one  quarter  section  with  about  the  same  improve- 
ments. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pumyea  had  eight  children,  namely, 
Simon  Peter,  who  married  Ester  Van  Nostrand,  an 
estimable  lady,  and  the}'  had  eight  children ;  both 
died  in  California.  John,  who  married  Miss  Wil- 
son, is  a  farmer  in  Fairview;  DeWitt  P.  married 
Rebecca  Davis,  and  died  in  Fairview  October  13, 
1890;  Luther,  who  recently  died  in  Fairview,  leav- 
ing three  children;  Theodore,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Sarah  E.,  born 
in  New  Jerse}',  died  of  scarlet  fever  in  1838;  Sarah 
E.,  born  in  Illinois,  married  Seymour  Decker,  and 
they  both  died,  leaving  four  children ;  L3-dia  A., 
who  married  John  P'ields,  lives  in  Fairview,  and 
has  two  children  living.  The  father  died  at  the 
age  of  fifty  years,  but  the  mother  survived  until 
eighty-four  3'ears  old. 

The  Pumyea  family  is  of  French  and  Dutch  ex- 
traction, the  first  settlement  by  those  of  that  name 
having  been  made  in  New  Jersey  prior  to  the  Rev- 
olution. The  maternal, ancestors  of  our  subject 
are  of  equally'  good  blood,  his  great-grandfather 
Stryker  having  been  well  and  favcirably  known 
among  the  Colonial  soldiers  during  the  War  of  In- 
dependence. He  was  commissioned  directly  by 
Gen.  Washington  to  raise  an  independent  compan)' 
of  troopers  (now  called  cavalry)  and  served  val- 
iantly as  Captain  of  the  same. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  November 
27,  1830,  and  vvas  therefore  in  his  sixth  year  when 
he  became  a  resident  of  the  Prairie  State.  He  at- 
tended school  in  the  first  schoolhonse  in  Fairview, 
the  structure  being  of  logs,  designed  and  furnished 
according  to  the  primitive  fashion.  Mr.  Pumyea 
saj's  the  school  was.  at  different  times,  under  charge 
of  excellent  teachers,  and  although  the  curriculum 


was  not  so  extended  as  in  some  of  the  higher  schools 
in  larger  places,  still  the  most  thorough  instruction 
was  given.  Only  the  most  competent  teachers  ap- 
plied, for  others  were  unable  to  pass  the  rigid  ex- 
aminations of  that  da}'.  r)ur  subject  attended  the 
first  celebration  in  the  village  and  vividly  recalls 
the  excitement  attending  the  first  log  cabin  cam- 
paign of  1840.  whose  rallying  cries  still  echo  in 
political  history.  Fairview  at  an  tarly  d.ay  ex- 
celled many  other  towns  for  business,  having  two 
or  three  pork-packing,  rendering  and  slaughtering 
houses,  wool-carding  factories,  foundry,  and  many 
large  mercantile  houses,  grain-buying  being  car- 
ried on  exlensivel}'. 

During  the  early  life  of  our  subject,  the  families 
in  the  vicinity  depended  altogether  on  the  Spoon 
River  for  milling  after  they  came  to  use  water- 
power,  which  succeeded  the  Fairview  ox-tread 
wheel  mill,  managed  and  operated  by  "Bice"  Sn}'- 
dam  for  grists  and  Vanderbilt  Van  Doren  for  wool 
carding,  etc.  Game  of  various  kinds  was  abun- 
dant, and  the  father,  who  was  a  crack  shot  brought 
down  man}'  a  deer,  squirrel,  turkey,  fox,  wildcat, 
wolf,  etc. 

On  October  11,  1872,  Mr.  Pumyea  and  Miss 
Elizabeth  Alcott  were  united  in  marriage  in  Fair- 
view.  Mrs.  Purayea  is  a  native  of  the  Hoosier 
State,  and  the  daughter  of  Israel  and  IMary  (Coons) 
Alcott,  natives  of  New  Jersey  and  Virginia  respect- 
ively. This  couple  were  married  in  Ohio  and  re- 
moved to  Illinois  in  184-t,  locating  in  Joshua 
Township,  this  county.  Of  their  family  the  only 
members  now  living  are  Elizabeth,  Rachael  and 
Mary  A.  Two  sons,  Henry  and  Josiah,  and  two 
daughters  are  deceased. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pumyea  have  had  three  chihlren. 
but  one  of  whom  is  living,  Mary  Beatrice,  who  is 
possessed  of  superior  talents  and  accomplishments. 
Mrs.  Pumyea  is  a  lady  whose  Christian  character, 
efficiency  in  domestic  affairs  and  devotion  to  the 
interests  of  her  family  make  her  inttuenee  felt  and 
her  life  admired.  Mr.  Pumyea  has  served  as  Town 
Clerk  and  for  aiiout  twenty  years  has  had  the  ap- 
|)ointment  of  Notary  Public.  He  finds  sufficient 
occupation  for  his  time  and  talents  in  pushing  his 
own  affairs  and  is  quite  content  with  the  ordinary 
duties   of  citizenship.     Politically   he  is  a  belierer 


J.  W.   LINEBAUGH. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


847 


in  the  piiiiciplos  of  the  Democratic  part}',  and  is  in 
favor  of  tariff  for  revenue,  not  prohibitory  nor  for 
protection,  and  opposed  to  the  unjust  principle  of 
taxing-  one's  interest  to  support  anotlier's.  Mrs. 
Puni_vea  is  identified  with  tlie  Methoilist  Episcopal 
Ciiurcli. 

From  long  observation  of  the  workings  of  secret 
S')cieties  Mr.  Pumj'ea  feels  that  thej*  are  injurious 
and  therefore  stands  aloof  from  them  and  discour- 
ages their  organization.  His  decided  stand  has  in- 
curred for  him  the  displeasure  of  many,  but  acting 
fi'om  conscientious  motives  only,  he  pursues  the 
even  tenor  of  his  way  and  looks  outside  for  sup- 
pOJi't  in  his  mercantile  pursuits.  Standing  aloof 
from  nil  petty  annoyances  and  thievish  depredations 
even  to  the  taking  of  an  apple,  melon  or  anything 
from  ground,  tree  or  elsewhere,  without  permission, 
he  naturally  assumes  an  uncompromising  attitude 
and  is  very  bitter  toward  liars  and  prevai  icators, 
swearing  them  ou  affidavits  very  reluctantly. 


mHN  W.  LINEBAUGH.  The  life  of  this 
gentleman,  whose  portrait  appears  on  the 
opijosite  page,  may  well  be  taken  as  an  ex- 
ample by  the  youth  of  our  country,  who 
are  aspiring  to  positions  of  honor  in  life,  and  ca- 
reers that  will  benefit  both  themselves  and  the 
human  race  in  general.  By  his  justice  and  strict 
integrity  of  purpose  he  has  won  for  himself  a  high 
place  in  the  esteem  of  all  wlio  know  him,  and  hav- 
ing made  honesty  his  watchword  merits  the  respect 
in  wliich  he  is  held.  He  is  numbered  among  the 
largest  landowners  in  Kerton  Township,  Fulton 
County,  owning  twelve  hundred  acres  of  land,  the 
most  of  which  is  located  in  Kerton  Township. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  consider  the  lineage  of 
the  gentleman  of  whom  tliis  biographical  sketch  is 
written,  as  well  as  the  early  surroundings  of  his 
life.  The  parents,  James  and  Susan  (Wise)  Line- 
baugh,  natives,  respectively,  of  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia, were  united  in  marriage  in  Rockingham 
County,  Va.,  and  there  our  subject  was  born  April 
7,1820.  The  father  left  Maryland  at  the  age  of 
twenty-four  years,  and* removing  to  Virginia,  en- 


gaged in  farming  and  also  in  the  teaming  and 
freight  business.  After  his  marriage  he  operated  a 
farm  belonging  to  his  fatlier-in-law  until  1827, 
when  he  removed  to  Coshocton,  Ohio,  buying  sev'- 
enty-six  acres  of  land  and  afterward  buying  fifty 
acres  more  and  spending  the  remainder  of  his  life 
there.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-tliree  years, 
while  the  wife  passed  awaj'  when  sixt\*three  years 
old. 

In  early  childhood  our  subject  was  brought  by 
his  parents  to  Ohio,  where  he  continued  to  live 
under  the  parental  roof  until  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  He  then  hired  to  wealth3'  farmers  and  stock- 
dealers,  being  trusted  with  large  sums  of  money  in 
the  feeding,  buying  and  selling  of  cattle.  He  was 
considered  one  of  the  best  judges  of  cattle  and  hogs 
in  the  surrounding  countr}',  and  frequently,  when 
there  were  no  railroads,  drove  his  stock  to  Ft. 
Cumberland,  Md.,  where  he  shipped  them  to  Balti- 
more. For  fourteen  years  he  continued  in  this 
business  and  after  his  mari'iage  started  independ- 
ently for  himself.  He  dates  his  first  arrival  in 
Fulton  County  from  the  year  1857,  and  from  that 
time  until  1890  he  was  a  continuous  resident  of 
Kerton  Township. 

On  another  page  of  this  volume  will  be  found 
the  ancestral  history  of  Miss  Rebecca  Butler,  with 
whom  Mr.  Linebaugh  was  united  in  marriage 
June  25,  1857,  and  who  since  then  has  been  his 
faithful  and  devoted  wife.  They  have  had  four 
children — P'rancis  M.,  Cynthia  C.  (deceased),  John 
N.  and  James  L.  T'he  sons  are  all  married  and  live 
in  homes  of  their  own.  Mrs.  Linebaugh  owned 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  section 
20,  Kerton  Township,  and  liere  she  and  her  hus- 
banil  lived  in  a  small  log  cabin.  Mr.  Linebaugh 
worked  assiduously  and  untiringly  u[)on  the  farm, 
clearing  the  land  of  the  heavy  timber  and  getting 
the  soil  under  cultivation.  He  also  bought,  fed 
and  sold  cattle  and  hogs  and  was  prospered  greatly, 
handling  thousands  of  dollars  and  at  ditTerent  times 
having  five  hundred  and  thousand  dollar  bills  in 
his  possession. 

From  time  to  time  the  money  which  JNIr.  Line- 
baugh earned  b3'  hard  labor  he  invested  judi- 
ciously in  land  until  he  is  the  one  of  the  large 
landowners  now  living  in  the  township,     Coutin- 


848 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ued  and  excessive  work  has  injured  liis  liealtb,  and 
he  has  therefore  retired  from  the  more  active  duties 
of  life.  He  recenll}'  bouglit  a  house  and  two  lots 
in  Summum.  Woodlaud  Townshi)),  where  he  is  now 
residing.  After  a  life  of  usefulness  and  industry 
he  is  now  spending  his  declining  years  surrounded 
113-  all  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of 
existence.  Politically,  he  votes  the  Democratic 
ticket,  but  hai;  not  taken  an  active  part  in  politics. 
By  his  unceasing  application  to  business  lie  has  se- 
cured a  competency  and  his  unwavering  honest}' 
and  true  nobility  of  character  have  won  for  him 
the  high  regard  of  his  fellow-men. 


=1^ 


^EV.  EPHRAIM  W.  IRONS.  A  great  work 
^4^  is  being  done  iu  this  county  b}'  the  var- 
ies \\\  ious  ministers  of  the  Gospel  who  labor 
^^^bere,  but  a  j-et  grandt?r  record  is  that  of 
the  pioneers  in  the  Gospel  work,  who  labored  ar- 
duously in  establishing  churches,  riding  long  dis- 
tances between  services,  and  often  being  obliged  to 
perform  severe  manual  labor  to  supplj-  their  fam- 
ilies with  the  necessaries  of  life.  The  record  of 
the  Rev.  E.  W.  Irons  is  that  of  an  untiring,  faithful, 
and  conscientious  worker,  who  has  followed  closely 
in  the  footsteps  of  his  divine  Master  and  has  gone 
about  doing  good.  A  careful  perusal  of  this  simple 
record  of  a  life  well  spent  will  afford  lessons  of 
zeal  and  Christian  devotion  worthy  of  the  emula- 
tion of  all  believers. 

Rev.  Mr.  Irons  was  born  near  Parma,  Monroe 
County,  N.  Y.,  February  4,  1826,  and  lived  in  the 
village  until  ten  years  old.  The  schools  wore  very 
good  and  he  obtained  a  fine  start  in  education.  In 
the  fall  of  1836  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father, 
crossing  the  lake  to  Cleveland,  sailing  on  the  canal 
to  Portsmouth,  and  on  the  rivers  to  Peoria.  The 
father  was  twenty-five  cents  behind  when  he  reached 
that  town.  He  came  to  Ellisville,  located  on  a  farm 
in  the  vicinilv.and  the  little  lad  immediately  began 
to  assist  in  building  up  the  fortunes  of  the  family. 
He  drove  oxen,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve  or  thirteen 
years  was  able  to  manage  four  yoke  in  breaking 
prairie  at  $7  per  mouth.     He  also  worked  at  the 


carpenter's  trade  with  his  father,  and  had  no  school 
privileges  for  several  \-ears.  Fortunately  his  father 
was  an  educated  man  and  at  the  fireside  the  mem- 
bers of  the  family  were  taught  by  him  during  the 
few  hours  that  could  be  spared  from  the  work  of 
supplying    the  wants  of  the  family. 

Our  subject  remained  at  home  until  he  was  of 
age,  then  found  employment  elsewhere  for  a  year. 
His  father  was  taken  sick  and  he  returned  to  the 
homestead  to  take  his  place  at  the  head  of  affairs 
there.  After  the  recovery  of  the  parent  he  again 
set  out  for  himself,  renting  a  farm  in  Fairview 
Township,  and  in  1852  began  farming  in  Young 
Hickory  Township.  Two  rears  before  he  had  joined 
the  New  Light  Christian  Church  and  spent  all  his 
spare  time  in  preparing  himself  for  the  ministr}'. 
In  1857  he  joined  the  Conference  and  since  that 
time  has  missed  but  two  of  its  annual  sessions.  On 
one  occasion  the  river  was  so  high  that  he  could 
not  cross  and  on  the  other  he  was  too  ill  to  leave 
home.  He  and  the  Rev.  John  R.  Jones  are  all  who 
are  left  of  the  original  members  of  that  bod}'. 
When  licensed  to  preach,  Mr.  Irons  received  ap- 
pointments at  Coal  Creek  and  Bushnell  where  he 
officiated  two  years.  He  then  went  to  D^'ers  Grove 
and  Pleasant  Valley  for  seven  years,  then  added 
the  Yates  Cit}'  Church  to  his  charge.  In  the  last- 
named  city  lie  organized  the  congregation  and 
fin.-ill}'  had  charge  of  it  alone  five  years. 

The  Franklin  Church  in  Deerfield  Township  was 
organized  b}'  Mr.  Irons,  an  edifice  built,  and 
there  he  labored  for  eleven  years.  F'or  tiiree  3'ears 
following  he  was  pastor  of  the  Smithfield  charge, 
then  labored  at  Pleasant  Ridge  two  3'ears,  returning 
to  Smithfield  for  a  twelvemonth.  His  next  field 
of  labor  was  Mason  City,  where  he  remained  two 
3ears  and  then  assumed  the  pastorate  of  the  Olive 
Church  at  Avon.  After  four  years  there  he  took 
up  the  work  at  Mt.  Zion,  Knox  Countv,  remained 
there  two  3'ears,  then  spent  three  3'ears  in  charge  of 
the  Harvard  congregation.  In  1885  he  organized 
the  Marietta  Church,  built  a  house  of  worship  and 
reorganizing  the  society  at  Faj'ette,  built  a  church 
there  also.  About  the  same  time  he  organized  a 
congregation  in  Delunda,  Knox  County. 

During  much  of  this  time  Mr.  Irons  preached 
to  from  two  to  three  congregations,  having    pas- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


849 


toral  care  over  each,  but  making  what  might  he 
called  liis  headquarters  with  the  one  specially 
noted.  He  has  organized  nine  societies,  built  five 
iiouses  of  warship,  and  has  been  the  means  of  add- 
ing fourteen  hundred  members  to  the  cluirch.  It 
is  doubtful  if  any  man  living  is  al)le  to  present  as 
perfect  a  record  of  the  faithful  keeping  of  appoint- 
ments. Not  only  in  his  attendance  at  Conference, 
but  at  his  various  services,  the  showing  is  remark- 
able. During  eleven  years  of  ministerial  labor  at 
Franklin  he  missed  but  two  appointments.  When 
we  consider  that  he  has  alwa^'s  followed  farming, 
h.as  reclaimed  raw  land  from  its  primitive  condi- 
tion and  made  a  good  home,  this  fact  is  the  more 
astonishing.  In  18C7,  he  bought  sixty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 22,  "i'oung  Hickor}'  Township,  which  is  wat- 
ered by  everlasting  springs  and  very  productive. 
Clearing,  grubbing  and  preparing  the  soil  for  crops, 
he  set  out  orchards  and  groves,  made  the  various 
improvements  which  make  the  place  valuable  and 
homelike,  and  laboring  very  hard  in  so  doing. 

The  Kev.  Mr.  Irons  displayed  excellent  judgment 
in  his  choice  of  a  life  companion  and  fortunately  se- 
cured a  wife  whose  prudence  and  wisdom  in  the 
management  of  home  affairs  has  been  a  valuable 
aid.  Sympathizing  fully  in  his  ardent  desire  to 
convert  sinners,  she  relieves  him  as  much  as  pos- 
sible of  hom«i  cares  and  has  been  largely  instrumen- 
tal in  training  their  children  in  the  walks  of  use- 
fulness. She  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Caroline 
Rist,  being  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Rist  of 
whom  mention  is  made  in  the  sketch  of  Mr. 
Schafer.  She  was  born  near  Connellsville,  Fayette 
County,  Pa.,  April  16,  18.30,  and  lived  there  until 
eight  years  old.  She  then  became  a  resident  of 
the  Prairie  State  and  grew  to  womanhood  in  this 
vicinity.  She  enjoyed  but  limited  school  privileges 
but  gained  much  domestic  knowledge  and  devel- 
oped the  graces  of  character  which  win  the  lasting 
regard  of  her  acquaintances. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irons  was  solemn- 
ized in  Young  Hickory  Township  January  IC, 
1851.  They  are  the  parents  of  eleven  cliildren  and 
have  an  adopted  daughter,  Daisy.  The  oldest  child, 
George  W.,  is  a  Christian  minister  at  Burnadotte; 
William  H.  is  in  the  agricultural  business  at  Ellis- 
ville;  Jacob  is  farming  in   Taylor  County,  Iowa; 


IMillard  is  a  Christian  minister  at  Sharpsburg,  Iowa; 
Mary  J.  was  killed  in  1879.  when  nineteen  years 
old.  by  being  thrown  from  a  horse  which  broke 
through  a  bridge;  Lewis  Milton  is  a  carpenter  in 
London  Mills;  John  E.  is  in  the  agricultural  bus- 
iness at  EUisville;  Albert  E.  is  a  fai-mcr  in  Young 
Hickory  Township;  Jackson  D.  still  resides  with 
his  parents;  Ella  is  the  wife  of  John  Hibbard  of 
the  same  townshii);  and  Charles  died  when  three 
j'cars  old. 

Our  subject  was  President  of  the  Conference 
four  years  and  Vice  President  eight  years  and  is 
always  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee.  His 
time  and  money  have  ever  been  devoted  to  the  in- 
terests of  Christianity,  his  life  proving  that  he  con- 
siders the  salvation  of  the  world  paramount  to 
every  consideration  of  personal  ease  an<l  comfort. 
For  3'ears  he  has  been  serving  as  School  Director. 
His  vote  is  given  to  Democratic  candidates  and  Jie 
has  been  a  delegate  to  various  conventions. 

Our  subject  is  a  grandson  of  Daniel  and  Maria 
(Atkinson)  Irons,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Connecticut  and  the  latter  in  Ireland.  Grandfather 
Irons  was  a  Colonial  soldier  under  Washington  dur- 
ing the  war  for  independence.  He  was  a  shoemaker 
by  trade  and  an  early  settler  of  Orleans  County,  N. 
Y.,  where  be  followed  his  occupation  until  death. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  Eseck  Irons,  a  na- 
tive of  Orleans  County,  N.  Y.,  and  a  carpenter  by 
trade.  He  became  a  contractor  and  builder  in  his 
own  State.  After  coming  west  he  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  Union  Township,  this  county,  and 
built  thereon  the  first  frame  house  in  the  township. 
He  improved  and  carried  on  his  farm  and  also 
worked  at  his  trade,  finally  becoming  quite  well-to- 
do  and  owning  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land.  This  property  he  sold,  removing  to  Clinton 
County,  Iowa,  in  1876  and  there  remained  with  a 
son  until  his  death  in  1883.  His  first  religious  fel- 
lowship was  with  the  Baptist  Church,  but  he  after- 
ward joined  that  in  which  his  son  labors.  His  first 
j  wife  was  Lydia  Randall,  who  bore  him  but  one 
child,  our  subject.  His  second  marriage  resulted  in 
the  birth  of  eight  children,  as  follows:  Stephen  E., 
a  resident  of  Clinton  County,  Iowa;  Mrs.  Ludia 
J.  Watkins,  of  Knox  County;  Jesse,  of  London 
Mills,  this  county;  Mrs.  Mary  A,  Snyder,of  Preston, 


850 


PORTRAIT  AND  BTOGRArillCAL  ALBUM. 


Iowa;  Daniel,  of  Haddora,  Kan. ;  AVilliam,  of  Ne- 
braska; Mis.  Augusta  Klein,  of  London  Mills;  Mrs. 
Amanda  Randall,  who  died; in  Abingdon.  Jesse, 
Daniel  and  William  enlisted  in  18G1  in  the  Fort\-- 
third  Illinois  Infantry  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war. 

The  nialernal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Jo- 
seph Randall,  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  who  took 
to  the  sea  when  a  boj-.  became  a  Captain  and  was 
in  command  of  a  vessel  for  fort)'  years,  lie  sailed 
on  every  sea  [and  visited  nearly  every  port  then 
known  to  the  commercial  world.  He  finally  located 
in  Monroe  County,  N.  Y..  and  turned  his  attention 
to  farming.  In  the  spring  of  1838  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Union 
Township,  this  county,  and  lived  there  until  death. 
His  father  had  also  been  a  sailor  ami  spent  his  en- 
tire life  on  the  high  seas.  Tlie  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  and  spent 
her  entire  life  in  her  native  -State. 


^= 


':^&=^-- 


AVID  FAILING,  deceased,  was  a  well- 
known  and  honored  member  of  the  farm- 
ing community  of  Joshua  Township,  with 
whose  interests  he  was  closely  identitied 
from  jiioneer  times  until  his  death  removed  a  val- 
ued citizen,  and  one  who  had  done  much  to  pro- 
mote its  upbuilding.  He  was  born  in  Jefferson 
County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  20th  of  January,  1810.-  He 
received  his  education  in  his  native  State,  and  eai  ly 
began  his  life  work  as  a  practical  wide-awake  far- 
mer. A  most  momentous  step,  which  had  an  im- 
portant be.aring  on  his  after  life  and  contributed  to 
its  success  was  his  marriage,  Octoher  23,  1845,  to 
Betsey  Wheeler,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Poll)-  (Mil- 
ler) Wheeler,  who  were  natives  of  Jefferson  Count)', 
N.  Y.  Her  ancestors  on  both  the  maternal  and  pa- 
ternal side  originated  in  (Germany. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Blrs.  Failing  lived  in  New 
York  about  eighteen  years  and  in  March.  1864,  set 
their  faces  Westward  with  the  intention  of  building 
up  a  new  home  on  the  soil  of  the  Prairie  (State. 
They  took  up  their  abode  in  Joshua  Township,  and 
as  they  were  blessed  with  some  means.  Mr.  Failing 


began  life  here  on  a  farm  he  purchased,  where  his 
widow  now  resides.  He  was  ambitious  to  acquire 
wealth,  aiid  with  the  determination  of  a  true  pio- 
neer heart,  set  to  work  in  earnest  to  lay  the  founda- 
tion of  a  snug  little  fortune.  He  accomplished  all 
that  he  tried  to  do  by  close  economy,  hard  work, 
and  the  exercise  of  forethought  and  rare  judgment 
in  all  that  he  did. 

June  5,  1 8G4.  our  subject  bought  two  hundred 
and  sixty-seven  acres  of  land  on  section  22,  Joshua 
Township,  which  ronained  in  his  possession  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  placed  on  it  many  fliie 
improvements,  put  the  land  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  and  made  it  one  of  the  most  produc- 
tive farms  in  all  the  neighborhood.  Death  closed 
his  career  in  1878.  The  [jeople  of  Joshua  then  lost 
a  fine  rtjpresentative.  His  character  is  spoken  of 
in  the  highest  terms  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was 
known  as  a  man  of  decision  of  character,  who  was 
alv.-ays  true  to  his  word,  fulfilling  his  engagements 
with  the  utmost  promptness,  and  no  man  can  say 
that  he  ever  failed  to  keep  his  promises.  These 
traits  caused  his  fellow-citizens  to  place  reliance  in 
him.  He  was  kind  and  accommodating  to  his  neigh- 
bors, and  all  who  had  relations  with  him,  and  was 
accorded  the  respect  due  such  an  upright  man  and 
citizen.  During  his  life  he  took  a  great  interest  in 
school  matters,  and  served  as  School  Director  sev- 
eral years.  He  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  four 
years. 

The  wife  of  our  subject  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  her  native  .State,  and  remained  in 
the  home  of  her  j^arents  until  her  maniage.  Since 
the  death  of  her  husband,  she  has  had  the  cares  and 
responsibilities  of  life  incidental  to  the  management 
of  a  farm,  and  to  the  rearing  of  a  large  family  of 
ehihlrcn.  She  has  been  equal  to  the  position,  and 
has  performed  her  duties  nobly.  She  is  much  in- 
terested in  church  work,  and  for  some  twelve  years 
has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church. 

Following  is  the  record  of  the  children  who 
blessed  the  wedded  life  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Failing: 
Peter  J.,  vvas  born  August  6,  1846;  William  IL, 
March  3,  1848;  N.  D.,  July  28,  1849;  Phcebe  E., 
October  12,  1851  ;  Sylvester  E.,  December  1.  1852; 
Is.aac  E..  August  5,1855;  Jlen/.aW..  Decembiu-  10, 


cJ^ 


^)^i-e() 


(S-i:rrc(^^LXJut,^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


853 


1857;  Myron  J.,  May  19,  1860;  Adell,  July  15, 
1864.  Tliey  arc  all  living,  anil  have  been  given 
excellent  educations  in  the  district  sdiools  of  this 
co\inty.  Mrs.  Failing  has  been  blessed  with  good 
health  in  life,  and  has  imparted  strong  constitutions 
to  her  family. 


^^ii^St 


■/^\  OSES  BORDNER.  This  county  is  cer- 
tainl.y  one  of  Ibc  most  attractive  portions 
of  the  State,  if  not  of  the  entire  Mississipiii 
Valley.  It  is  the  home  of  many  agricnltu- 
rists'whose  conifortal)le  dwellings,  fine  barns  anrl 
other  outbuildings,  gardens,  orchards  and  groves 
stamp  tlieni  as  among  the  most  intelligent,  enter- 
prising and  thrifty  of  their  class.  A  prominent 
iilace  among  those  who  have  succeeded  pre-emi- 
nently in  their  life  work  belongs  to  the  gentleman 
above  named,  whose  beautiful  liome  is  in  Lewis- 
town  Township. 

The  birthplace  of  Mr.  Bordner  was  Dauphin 
County,  Pa.,  and  his  natal  day  July  27,  182.3.  His 
father.  Peter  Bordner,  was  born  in  Bucks  County, 
and  his  grandfather,  who  also  bore  the  name  of 
Peter,  is  believed  to  have  been  a  native  of  the 
same  State.  It  is  known  that  he  was  a  pioneer  of 
I)aui)hin  County  in  which  he  spent  his  last  years, 
liis  occupation  being  that  of  a  farmer.  Tlie  father 
of  our  subject  followed  the  trade  of  a  carpenter 
and  joiner  in  his  native  St.ate  until  about  1825, 
when  he  became  a  pioneer  settler  in  Licking 
County,  Ohio,  to  which  he  removed  with  teams  in 
accordance  with  the  customs  of  the  day.  He  bought 
timber  land,  erected  thereon  a  rude  log  house  and 
established  his  home  with  such  comforts  as  his  lim- 
ited means  would  allow.  He  had  a  wife  and  five 
children  depending  u|)on  him,  and  for  their  sup- 
port industriously  labored  at  his  trade  and  other 
kinds  of  work.  He  lived  an  honored  life  until 
September  11,  1881,  reaching  the  extreme  age  of 
ninety-nine  years,  his  widow  still  surviving  and 
being  now  in  her  one  hundred  and  first  year. 

The  marriage  of  Peter  Bordner  took  place  in 
1810,  to  Miss  Christiana  Losh,  a  native  of  Dauphin 
County,    Pa.,  whose   father,  Stephen   Losh,  is  be- 


lieved to  have  been  a  native  of  the  same  State.  He 
died  in  Dauphin  Count}'.  His  wife,  formerly 
Margaret  Whitmore,  passed  aw.ay  in  Perry  Count}', 
Ohio.  Mrs.  Christiana  Bordner  now  makes  her 
home  with  her  children,  in  each  of  whose  dwellings 
she  is  received  as  a  most  honored  guest  and  feels 
perfectly  at  home.  In  October,  1889,  a  party  was 
given  at  the  home  of  our  subject  in  honor  of 
her  one  hundredth  birtb.day,  and  upwards  of  two 
hundred  friends  and  relatives  gathered.  She  was 
one  of  the  most  lively  of  the  number  jircsent,  en- 
joying the  occasion  to  the  fullest  extent.  At  that 
time  her  descendants,  living  and  dead,  numbered 
as  follows:  Thirteen  children,  ninety-nine  grand- 
children, two  hundred  and  seventeen  great-grand- 
children and  twenty-four  great-great-grandchil- 
dren. Her  sons  and  daughters  were  christened 
Jonathan,  Kathenne,  Angeline,  -Moses,  Lavina, 
George  W.,  Margaret,  Peter,  Fanny,  Temperance. 
Alfred  and  Christiana,  one  other  having  died  in 
infancy. 

Our  subject  w.as  quite  young  when  his  parents 
removed  to  Ohio,  in  which  State  they  remained 
until  184G.  He  attended  the  pioneer  schools  which 
weie  held  in  the  log  iiouse  whose  only  window 
was  of  greased  paper  pasted  over  an  opening  wh<?re 
a  log  had  been  cut  out,  and  wliose  furnishing  was 
of  the  most  primitive  description,  including  slab 
benches  and  a  writing  desk  formed  of  a  board  laid 
upon  pins  inserted  in  the  side-wall.  He  assisted 
his  father  upon  the  farm  to  which  his  parent  de- 
voted a  portion  of  his  time,  until  he  was  twenty- 
four  years  old  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  Buying 
two  hundred  acres  of  timber  land  in  Lewistown 
Township,  this  county,  he  labored  hard  to  obtain 
money  with  which  to  make  his  payments.  Twelve 
acres  had  been  cleared  and  a  log  cabin  built.  On  the 
clearing  he  sowed  wheat,  which  he  disposed  of  at 
Liverpool  at  eighty  cents  per  bushel,  thus  securing 
the  wherewithal  to  pay  his  indebtedness.  He  has 
since  been  a  resident  of  the  township, where  he  owns 
eight  himdred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  all  in  one 
body.  A  few  years  after  his  settlement  here  his 
parents  located  in  Liverpool  Township,  but  after 
a  time  removed  to  that  in  which  their  son  resides. 
Mr.  Bordner  has  been  twice  married,  his  first 
alliance   having  been    contra<'ted   in    1^47,  au<l   his 


854 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


companion  on  tlie  interesting  occasion  was  Miss 
Maria,  Bearce.  This  lady  was  a  native  of  the 
Prairie  State,  and  a  daughter  of  Eli  H.  Bearce,  of 
whom  further  notice  is  found  in  the  biograph3'  of 
Orsen  Bearce,  on  another  page  in  this  Album.  She 
passed  awa}-  in  1864,  leaving  five  eliildren — Lewis, 
Charles,  Mary,  George  and  Temperance.  The  pres- 
ent wife  of  Mr.  Bordner  bore  the  maiden  nanie  of 
Elvira  Ewers.  She  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  a  daughter 
of  Jonathan  and  Sarah  A.  (  Duckworth)  Ewers.  This 
marriage  has  resulted  in  the  hirlii  of  the  following 
children  now  living:  Madeline,  Louisa,  Elizabeth, 
Charlotte,  Marvin  II.,  Shannon,  Jennie,  Jonathan 
and  Clifton. 

The  energy  and  prudence  exhibited  by  Mr. 
Bordner  in  the  accumulation  of  property  makes 
him  one  of  the  best  examples  of  the  self-maiie  man 
to  lie  met  with  in  this  vicinitj'.  The  reliable  man- 
ner in  which  he  has  ever  performed  the  duties 
devolving  upon  him  as  a  citizen  of  a  great  com- 
monwealth, a  memlier  of  society,  and  a  professor 
of  religion,  has  won  for  him  the  esteem  of  all  who 
know  him.  His  wife  and  family  are  accorded  their 
due  measure  of  regard  likewise.  Mr.  Bordner  is  a 
Democrat  in  politics  and  a  Presbj'terian  in  religion. 
In  addition  to  the  conduct  of  his  personal  affairs 
he  finds  time  to  discharge  the  duties  of  Assessor 
and  School  Director  in  which  offices  he  has  served 
many  years. 

A  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Bordner  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


WILLIAM    DICKSON. 


The     first 


maxim  among  philosophers  is,  that  merit 
onlj'  makes  distinction.  Judged  by  this 
^^^rule,  no  citizen  of  this  count3'  has  a  better 
claim  to  the  respect  of  mankind  than  the  gentleman 
above  named.  He  has  done  much  for  the  good 
of  the  county — materially,  morally  and  relig- 
iously— and  his  life  furnishes  an  example  worthy 
the  emulation  of  the  rising  generation.  With  but 
tlie  rudiments  of  an  education  iu  his  bo}'hood,  he 
has  liy  solf-cffort  become  a  man  of  broad  intelli- 
gence;   iK-ginuing  life  witli  no  cash  caintal.  he  has 


acquired  riches:  and  from  a  position  of  no  influence 
he  has  become  a  power  in  the  section  in  which  he 
lives  and  labors. 

Alexander  Dickson,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Southern  Indiana  and  in  that  State 
married  Mary  Mussett,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Soon 
after  their  marriage  this  couple  settled  in  Ken- 
tucky, across  the  river  from  Cairo,  III.,  but  after 
remaining  there  about  a  ye.ar  crossed  into  Illinois 
where  the  husband  soon  died.  The  widow  subse- 
quently married  Joseph  Cozad,  who,  in  18:33.  came 
to  this  county  and  in  1834  brought  his  family 
hither.  The  journey  was  made  with  a  two-horse 
team,  household  effects,  and  some  stock  a  part  of 
which  died  on  the  way,  being  brought  with  the 
family.  A  settlement  was  made  in  Lewistown 
Township  in  what  is  known  as  the  Bordner  neigh- 
borhood. The  country  was  new,  sparsely  settled 
and  almost  entirely  covered  with  dense  forests 
wherein  deer,  wolves,  turke3-s  and  wild  hogs 
abounded.  A  few  Indians  still  roamed  over  the 
wilderness  and  the  ruins  of  their  camps  were  everv- 
where  to  be  seen.  The  settlers  hunted  much  and 
farmed  little. 

The  stepfather  of  our  subject  was  a  renter  and 
shifted  about  for  twenty  years,  finally  buying  land 
and  settling  on  section  I,  Waterford  Townsliip. 
There  he  and  his  wife  died,  the  latter  in  her  eighty- 
ninth  year.  Our  subject  was  the  only  child  of  his 
mother  by  her  first  marriage,  but  she  bore  her  sec- 
ond husband  five  children.  Nothing  definitely  is 
known  concerning  the  Dickson  famil}^  prior  to  the 
father  of  our  subject,  save  that  some  of  its  mem- 
bers represented  Indiana  in  lioth  houses  of  Con- 
gress in  an  early  da\-. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Kentucky,  opposite 
Cairo,  111.,  April  17,  182t),  and  accompanied  his 
mother  to  this  county  where  he  attended  the  pio- 
neer schools,  worked  in  the  clearings  and  on  the 
farm.  The  schools  held  here  at  that  time  were 
conducted  bj"  subscription  and  as  his  family  was 
poor  he  could  attend  hut  little.  The  temple  of 
learning  in  which  he  studied  was  a  log  house  with 
paper  windows,  a  wooden  door  hung  on  wooden 
hinges,  having  a  wooden  latch  with  the  latch-string 
hung  outside.  The  furnishing  of  the  building  was 
equally  primitive  and  nothing"  higher  than  the  Sec- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


855 


oncl  Reader  was  taught  when  he  attended.  The  lad 
worked  at  home  until  he  was  nineteen  3'ears  ohl, 
when  he  began  farniing  on  shares,  dividing  liis 
portion — a  half — eacli  year  witli  the  family.  He 
continued  this  two  years,  then,  having  attained  his 
majority,  began  life  for  liimself. 

Mr.  Dickson  was  a  renter  for  several  years,  but 
finally  bouglit  a  soldier's  claim  on  one  hundred  and 
.sixty  acres,  entered  it  at  Qiiincy  and  lived  thereon 
six  years.  He  then  sold  the  property,  which  he 
had  improved,  and  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixt}-  acres  in  Mason  County  on  which  he  resided 
two  years.  At  the  ex|)iration  of  that  time  he  sold 
and  returned  to  this  county,  where  he  bought,  im- 
proved and  sold  various  farms,  making  money  in 
the  transactions.  He  finall3-  purchased  a  quarter 
of  section  12,  Waterford  Township,  and  erected 
thereon  a  commodious  frame  house,  containing 
twelve  rooms,  at  a  cost  of  §3,000.  In  tiiat  pleasant 
mansion  he  resided  until  1883,  when  he  moved 
ujjon  his  i^resont  farm  on  section  3,  where  in  1887 
he  erected  a  new  dwelling.  It  is  a  large,  frame 
edifice  of  pleasing  architectural  ilesign,  anil  in  its 
interior  arrangements  and  furnishing  will  eoin[>are 
favorably  witli  many  a  city  home.  Mr.  Dickson 
lias  bought  land  from  lime  to  time  as  his  means 
would  perunl  until  now  he  owns  over  twelve 
hundred  acres,  more  than  half  of  which  is  under 
cultivation  and  six  hundred  acres  on  sections  6  and 
8,  are  pasture  land. 

Mr.  Dickson  has  been  twice  married,  his  first 
marriage  rites  having  been  celebrated  December 
23,  1848.  His  bride  was  Miss  Nancy  J.  Arnett,  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  who  shared  his  joys  and  sor- 
rows until  called  hence.  .She  left  four  children — 
John  W.,  Charles  M.,  David  I).,  and  Anna  A.,  now 
Mrs.  Fitch.  Mrs.  Dickson  had  accompanied  her 
parents — Cleanthes  and  Margaret  (Deane)  Arnett 
— to  this  county  in  the  spring  of  1837.  their  home 
being  made  in  Liverpool  Township. 

The  second  marriage  of  our  subject  was  solem- 
nized January  19,  1873,  bis  companion  being  Jliss 
Mary  A.  Asldiy,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson  County, 
March  22,  1849.  Her  father  A.  J.  Ashby,  was 
born  in  North  Carolina  and  came  to  this  county 
when  the  red  men  were  still  numerous  here.  Mr. 
Ashby  is  a  car|>enter,  farmer  and  local  preacher  in 


the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Ills  wife,  Char- 
lotte (Dudley)  Ashby,  was  born  in  \'irginia  and 
died  in  this  county  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  The 
present  union  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dickson  has  resulted 
in  the  birth  of  six  children,  viz:  Minnie,  Francis, 
(deceased),  Margie,  William,  Thomas  an<l  Henry. 

Politically,  Mr.  Dickson  was  first  a  Whig  and 
cast  his  virgin  ballot  for  Henry  Clay.  He  was  a 
Greenbacker  for  a  time  but  is  now  a  Republican. 
lie  has  held  various  township  olHces  and  aided  in 
divers  enter|)rises  which  would  result  beneficially 
to  the  community.  He  has  been  a  local  preacher 
in  the  Methodist  Church  for  the  i)ast  thirty-five 
3-ears.  He  was  converted  in  18.5G,  when  thirty- 
three  years  old,  and  at  once  became  i>ossessed  with 
tlie  idea  that  he  should  preach  the  Gospel.  Three 
months  afterward  he  was  licensed  to  exhort  b3' 
Milton  Haynej',  then  Elder  in  this  district.  Mr. 
Dickson  first  preached  at  Mt.  Pleasant  Church,  east 
of  Lewistown,  and  has  held  a  dozen  or  more  re- 
vival meetings  there  at  which  hundreds  have  been 
added  to  the  church.  He  has  also  held  revival 
meetings  at  Maple's  Mill,  in  Liverpool  Township, 
with  marked  success,  as  well,  as  in  various  other 
parts  of  the  county.  He  now  preaches  at  the  Wat- 
erford and  Mt.  Pleasant  churches. 


— ^mBlpiM        '^'~ 


■■«8^#^ 


M-s- 


MOS  B.  THOMAS.  Beyond  a  doubt  Lhe 
warp  and  woof  of  life  is  made  up  of  strands 
of  good  and  evil  fortune,  here  dark,  there 
light,  but  in  the  eyes  of  Christian  faith  it 
is  a  gladsome  whole.  Such  indeed  it  has  proven  to 
Amos  B.  Thomas  and  his  most  worth3'  wife,  who 
on  Thanksgiving,  in  1888,  having  been  permitted 
to  walk  hand  in  hand  to  the  niilestone  that  marks 
a  golden  wedding,  celebrated  that  liapp}'  event  in 
a  highly  fitting  way  at  their  beautiful  residence  at 
Farmington. 

Our  subject  settled  in  Farmington  as  far  back  as 
1837,  having  experienced  all  the  hardships  of  the 
pioneer  days.  His  birth  occurred  March  3,  1812, 
at  Mt.  Desert  Island,  Me.,  he  being  the  son  of 
Abraham  and  Jane  (Beriy)  Thomas,  natives  of  the 


856 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Fine  Tiee  Slate.  The  father  was  a  seafaring  man 
in  his  early  days,  and  was  for  awhile  captain  in  the 
coasting  trade,  but  finally  loeated  on  a  farm  ;U 
Eden,  Me.,  where  he  paid  the  highest  taxes  in  the 
township.  During  the  War  of  1812  he  was  Captain 
of  Militia  and  acted  in  defense  of  the  American 
vessels  in  the  adjacent  harbors.  He  was  a  Represen- 
tative when  Maine  was  a  district  of  Massachusetts. 
He  died  in  18.38,  having  attained  his  fifty-third 
year,  and  his  wife  lived  to  be  seventy-five  years  of 
ao-e.  They  were  the  parents  of  four  children — 
Amos  B.,  Matihla.  Isaac  H.  and  Bloomfield. 

The  original  progenitor  of  the  Thomas  family  in 
America  was  John  Thomas,  Jr.,  who  came  from 
Wales  in  16G7  and  settled  at  Providence,  R.  I.  In 
tiacing  the  direct  line  of  descent  we  find  a  John 
Thomas  in  the  two  succeeding  generations  and  then 
a  ^'icholas  Thomas,  who  w^as  the  grandfather  of 
our  svibject.  Nicholas  Thomas  w.as  born  in  Nova 
Scotia  and  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War  under 
Col.  John  Allen.  He  was  captured  by  the  British 
and  placed  in  prison  at  Halifax,  whence  he  made 
his  escape  by  means  of  a  sort  of  saw  made  from  an 
old  knife.  He  was  very  active  in  religions  work, 
for  years  held  the  office  of  Deacon  in  the  Bap- 
tist Church  and  was  to  some  extent  engaged  in 
ministerial  work.  The  Thomas  family  was  quite 
prominent  in  England.  The  wife  of  our  subject 
has  a  beautiful  painting  on  brass  that  displays  the 
Tliomas  coat-of-arms,  beneath  which  is  inscribed 
"Tliomas,  Seal  Clerk  of  the  Exchecquer  to  Queen 
Elizabeth.  Granted  t)th  of  July,  1.599." 

'  The  education  of  our  subject  was  somewhat  lim- 
ited, owing  to  the  times  in  which  he  lived,  but  he 
added  to  the  knowledge  obtained  in  school  by  per- 
sistent study  and  reading  and  a  keen  observation 
of  what  was  going  on  around  him.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  was  a()()rentice(l  to  a  house  and  ship 
joiner  and  after  learning  the  trade,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  went  to  Savannah,  Ga.  There  lie 
worked  at  his  trade  and  finished  up  many  a  state- 
room and  cabin  in  mahogany.  He  reiuained  in  the 
South  a  year,  during  which  time  the  Seminole  War 
took  place  and  he  was  drafted  into  the  armj',  serv- 
ing several  months.  Returning  to  his  native  State 
Mr.  Thomas  engaged  at  his  trade  in  Ellsworlh.bul  in 
1837    came  to   Illinois,  during   his  journey   hither 


taking  his  first  railroad  ride,  from  Boston  to  Wor- 
cester. He  had  an  offer  of  a  soldier's  claim  for 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  that  lay  in  Farming- 
ton  Township,  this  county,  and  came  west  to  look 
it  up.  He,  however,  did  not  decide  to  buy  it,  but 
worked  energetie:dly  at  his  trade  and  after  a  time 
bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  wiiich  he 
gradually  improved.  Several  of  the  early  stores 
and  residences  of  Furmington  were  the  work  of  his 
hands  and  so  too  was  the  old  Presbyterian  Church, 
now  torn  down,  and  thai  occupied  by  the  Congre- 
gationalists. 

Owing  to  tlie  fact  of  his  being  a  strong  and  ac- 
tive Abolitionist,  Mr.  Thomas  had  tuuch  to  en- 
counter that  was  far  from  pleasant  at  the  hands  of 
his  political  enemies.  But  possessing  that  strength 
of  cliaracter  that  believes  in  right  at  whatever  cost, 
he  nobly  stood  his  ground,  botli  in  this  and  in  the 
matter  of  strict  temperance.  He  assisted  hundreds 
of  slaves  to  make  their  escape  and  in  every  way 
performed  what  he  conceived  to  be  a  Christian's 
duly,  although  subjecting  himself  to  a  heavy  pen- 
alty. But  such  was  the  purity  of  his  own  life  and 
his  kindness  of  heart  that  all  were  forced  to  respect 
iiim  and  agree  that  he  acted  only  from  moral  con- 
victions. In  1840  he  voted  for  James  G.  Birney, 
the  first  liberty  candidate,  later  cast  a  ballot  for 
John  G*.  Fremont  and  in  more  recent  years  has 
helped  to  elect  Lincoln,  Grant,  Hays,  Garfield  and 
Harrison. 

Our  subject,  seeing  a  career  before  him,  thought 
best  to  share  it  with  a  loving  helpmate,  and  this  he 
found  in  the  schoolmistress  of  Farmington — ;\Iiss 
Mary  Hart — whom  he  married  on  Thanksgiving 
day,  1838.  Their  marriage  ceremony  was  one  of 
the  social  events  of  this  neighborhood,  and  was  at- 
tended by  many  of  the  prosperous  people  in  the 
country  around.  Tlie  ceremony  was  performed 
by  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Porter,  Farniington's  first 
t)astor.  and  also  Chicago's  first  pastor,  his  wife  be- 
ing the  first  teacher  in  that  city — in  those  days  only 
a  military  trailing  post.  Miss  Hart  had  attended 
the  district  schools  in  her  Eastern  home  and  the 
academies  at  Goshen  and  Westfield,  Conn,  and  had 
taught  in  that  State  for  a  time  before  her  parents 
came  West.  She  was  twenty-tw^o  years  old  when 
the    removal   took   place   and    in   Farmington  she 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


857 


taught  a  private  sclioul  and  also  |iii(ir  to  her  mar- 
riage was  a  teacher  in  Schuyler  County,  llor  early 
life  here  presented  a  great  contrast  to  tliat  of  lier 
earlier  years,  the  little  log  house  and  all  the  sur- 
roundings being  vastl\'  different  from  the  roomy 
dwelling  and  more  advanced  civilization  which  she 
had  left.  She  and  her  brothers  and  sisters  made 
the  best  of  their  surroundings,  however,  and  did 
not  allow  the  change  in  their  circumstances  to  in- 
terfere with  their  happiness. 

The  parents  of  Mrs.  Thomas  were  Ilenr}'  and 
Ann  Elizabeth  (Street)  Hart,  natives  of  Connecti- 
cut and  Nova  Scotia  respectively.  The  father  was 
an  agriculturist  and  later  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  clocks.  He  visited  this  section  in  1834  and 
bought  a  half  section  of  land  u|)on  which  lie  built 
a  12xH  house  in  which  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
1835.  The  family  came  from  Akron,  Ohio,  in 
wagons,  sending  their  goods  round  by  the  water 
route.  Although  there  were  but  eight  houses  be- 
tween them  and  Peoria  and  wolves  howled  around 
the  door  at  night,  they  looked  forward  with  bright 
hopes  to  the  future  and  lived  to  see  a  great  change 
in  the  country.  The  family  was  twelve  in  number, 
bearing  the  names  of  Elizabeth  L.,  William,  Mary, 
Catherine,  Minerva,  Margaret,  Luther,  Henry  II., 
Calvin,  Rachel  Louise,  Edward  and  David  E. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  lived 
in  Farniington  fifteen  years  and  then  moved  onto 
the  farm.  Mr.  Thomas  was  engaged  in  contract- 
ing and  building,  keeping  a  number  of  men  in  his 
employ,  and  consequently  his  household  was  very 
large,  in  the  spring  of  1888  he  retired  to  Earm- 
ington,  taking  possession  of  the  most  elegant  res- 
idence in  the  place,  where  he  and  his  faithful  wife 
are  enjoy ing  all  that  heart  can  wish  of  material  com- 
fort and  friendly  regard.  They  have  been  the  hapjiy 
l)arents  of  three  children,  viz:  Elizabeth  J.,  Hen- 
rietta Helen  and  Frederick,  deceased.  Elizabeth  is 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Henry  McCall.  has  one  child,  and 
lives  in  Farmington;  her  daughter,  Harriet,  mar- 
ried T"^lmer  Stetson,  and  lives  in  .Sioux  City,  Iowa, 
and  has  one  child — Guy.  Henrietta  Helen  is  the 
wife  of  Henry    B.  Greenleaf,  of  Farmington. 

Mr.  Thomas  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church  and  has  been  a  Deacon  for  a  great  manj' 
years.     Prior  to  the  organization  of  the. society'  in 


Farmington  he  belonged  to  the  Old  Presbyterian 
Church  and  held  the  office  of  Elder.  He  has  done 
much  to  advance  the  interests  of  Farmington  and 
has  accomplished  more  good  than  a  biographical 
sketch,  however  lengthy,  could  possibly  recount. 
He  contributed  liberally  to  the  Chicago,  Burling- 
ton (t  Quincy  Railroad  and  also  to  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral. He  is  one  of  the  few  men  who  have  never 
used  tobacco  or  intoxicants,  or  sued  or  been  sued. 
Both  himself  and  wife  are  very  much  beloved  in 
this  community  where  so  many  useful  years  have 
been  spent  by  them. 


ON.  W.  H.  HEMENOVER.  This  name  will 
be  recognized  as  that  of  a  resident  of  Can- 
ton, who  has  been  identified  with  various 
interests  of  the  county  for  thirty  years. 
He  was  born  in  Byron,  Sussex  County,  N.  J.,  on 
Independence  Da}",  1822.  He  is  of  German  descent 
in  the  paternal  line,  bis  grandfather.  Anthony  H. 
Hemenover,  having  emigrated  from  Moravia,  Ger- 
many to  America  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  George  Hemenover, 
who  married  Phebe  Angeline  Allen,  a  descendant 
of  the  noted  Ethan  Allen  of  Revolutionary  fame. 
The  father  was  a  merchant  in  Byron  for  many 
years  and  the  son  was  given  every  opportunity' 
that  the  town  afforded  to  acquire  knowledge. 

At  a  ver}^  early  period  in  his  life  our  subject 
manifested  an  interest  in  political  affairs  and  at  the 
age  of  twelve  years  gained  the  sobriquet  of  the 
boy  politiciun.  He  had  scarcely  passed  that  age 
ere  he  began  to  make  speeches  in  favor  of  Democ- 
racy. During  his  teens  he  learned  the  printer's 
tra<le  in  the  office  of  the  Sussex  County  Herald  and 
became  foreman.  He  was  subsequently  editor  dur- 
ing a  period  of  three  3'ears,  after  which  he  became 
proprietor  of  the  Warren  County  Journal,  pub- 
lished at  Belvidere.  His  sturdy  character  and  inter- 
est in  the  progress  of  the  community  led  to  his 
election  to  the  Mayoralty  and  he  occupied  the 
Mayor's  chair  two  terms.  He  next  served  as  .State 
Printer  one  term,  after  which  he  became  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  Hudson  County  Z>ewoc/'a<,  the  lead- 


858 


PORTRAIT  A^•D  lilOGRAPIIICAL  ALBUM. 


ing  Democratic  sheet  in  Southern  New  Jersey  and 
the  first  paper  in  the  United  Slates  to  suggest  the 
name  of  James  Buciianan  for  tlie  Presidency' — 
which  act  was  personally  recognized  by  an  invita- 
tion from  the  President  to  meet  himself  and  niece 
at  the  White  House. 

The  Democrat  was  published  at  Hoboken  and  af- 
ter living  there  for  a  time  Mr.  Ilemenover  was 
elected  Police  Magistrate,  and  later  represented  the 
district  in  the  State  Legislature.  Again  he  was 
appointed  State  Printer,  and  then,  in  1858,  came 
West  and  reported  the  speeches  of  Lincoln  and 
Dougl.is.  This  section  of  the  Mississippi  Yalley 
attractcd  him  b}^  its  promise,  and  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  McDonough  County-,  settling  on  a 
farm  not  far  from  Prairie  City.  In  1860  he 
changed  his  residence  to  this  county,  where  he  has 
been  varionsly  engaged  in  farming,  coal  mining, 
the  sale  of  merchandise  and  the  keeping  of  an  hotel. 
He  is  now  proprietor  and  landlord  of  the  New 
Canton  House.  He  was  a  prime  mover  in  securing 
the  prompt  completion  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  ( Juincy  Railroad  through  this  section. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Hemenover  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Julia  D.  Barton,  is  a  native  of  Stockholm, 
N.  J.,  and  was  joined  in  wedlock  to  our  subject 
August  54,  1845.  She  is  of  Irish  ancestry,  but  her 
father,  Andrew  1).  Barton,  was  a  native  of  the 
same  Slate  as  lierself. 


"YRUS  LIBBY  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of 
this  county  now  living  within,  its  limits. 
i(f'He  came  here  as  early  as  1834,  and  as  a 
hard-working,  shrewd  pioneer  farmer  has  aided  in 
developing  the  agricultural  resources  of  this  sec- 
tion. He  owns  a  desirable  farm  in  Joshua  Town- 
ship and  is  in  comfortable  circumstances. 

Mr.  Libby  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  Delaware. 
Ilis  birthplace  was  near  Milford,  in  Susses  County. 
In  1820  he  made  his  wa}'  from  his  native  place  to 
Ohio,  making  the  long  journey,  which  l.a\-  pailly 
through  a  sparsely  settled  country  and  over  moun- 
tains, all  the  way  fiom  Milford  on  foot,  carrying 
all  his  worldly   goods  in  a  small  bundle.     Foot- 


sore and  weary,  he  arrived  in  Ashland  County-, 
and  looked  about  for  work,  found  a  situation  on  a 
farm.  He  continued  to  live  in  the  Bucke3'e  State 
until  1834,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  par- 
ents. He  well  remembers  the  terrible  storm  of 
1835,  which  swept  over  Canton  and  left  in  its  track 
nothing  but  desolation  and  ruin.  He  fortunately 
escai)ed  uninjured.  I'ntii  he  was  t»vent\--one  years 
of  age  he  remained  at  home,  and  then  commenced 
life  on  his  own  responsdiility.  During  the  first 
year  he  worked  for  Robert  Shields,  earning  81.25 
per  week,  and  of  this  mone}'  he  received  onl}'  840 
in  cash  and  the  remainder  in  clothes.  In  1844  he 
operated  the  JIcBroom  farm  on  shares,  and  by  wise 
economy  and  shrewd  management,  was  enabled  to 
invest  money  in  land. 

Mr.  Libbj-  came  to  this  county  with  the  inten- 
tion of  remaining  here  because  be  shrewdly  con- 
sidered that  the  cheai)  land,  rich  soil,  and  olher  fine 
advantages  of  this  part  of  the  country  would  ena- 
ble him  sooner  to  become  independent  and  acquire 
a  competence.  When  he  came  here  he  was  poor 
in  pocket,  but  was  well  endowed  with  good  capacit}' 
for  labor  and  with  other  excellent  traits  of  charac- 
ter that  are  necessary  to  success.  In  those  d.ays  of 
pioneer  toil  he  worked  to  a  good  purpose,  and  in 
1853  was  enabled  to  buy  his  present  farm.  He  has 
pl.aced  himself  in  a  position  of  comparative  wealth 
and  is  one  of  the  solid  men  of  the  township.  He 
has  here  a  ne.it  and  substantial  dwelling,  with 
pleasant  surroundings,  of  which  the  most  attractive 
feature  is  the  giant  cottonwood  tree  directly  in 
front  of  the  residence. 

In  1869  5Ir.  Libby  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  (Boswell)  Henderson,  the  widow  of 
Daniel  Henderson,  and  thej'  being  mutually  |)leased 
with  each  other,  decided  to  unite  their  lives  and 
were  married  that  year.  Mrs.  Libby  has  two 
children  by  her  first  marriage,  David  and  Elva 
Henderson,  both  married  and  residing  in  this 
county.  For  further  information  in  regar(i  to  the 
parent.al  history  of  Mrs.  Libby  see  sketch  of  her 
father,  on  another  page  of  this  work.  Her  parents 
were  natives  respectively  of  Virginia  and  Ohio. 
She  is  a  lady  of  refinement  and  culture,  and  one 
who  stands  high  in  the  esteem  of  all  who  know  her. 
To  Jlr.  and  Mrs,  Libb}-  four   children  have  been 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


859 


born — Lucy,  Ida,  Mitchel  and  John,  and  to  them 

the  parents  have  given  the  advantages  of  good  ed- 
ucations, and  they  are  calculated  in  every  way  to 
fill  [jrorninent  positions  in  social  and  business  cir- 
cles. They  have  a  happy  home  and  their  pleasant 
circle  has  never  been  broken   by  death. 

Jlr.  Lihhy  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat  and 
cast  his  first  vote  for  JIarlin  ^'an  Buren.  He  has 
long  been  known  as  an  honorable,  hard-workin^ 
farmer,  who  possesses  good  qualities  as  a  man  and 
is  loval  and  true  as  a  citizen. 


^- 


<S^LI  B.  STEVENSON,  whose  sketch  now 
|l^  claims  attention,  is  one  of  those  conipanion- 
/l' — -^  able  and  agreeable  men  whom  it  is  a  pleas- 
ure to  know,  and  who  in  all  instances  rank  high  in 
the  estimation  of  the  community  in  which  they  re- 
side. During  the  late  war  he  received  terrihle  per- 
secution at  the  hands  of  his  political  foes,  but  owing 
to  liis  bravery  he  managed  to  escape  from  dis.as- 
trous  effects. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  John  and  Cath- 
erine (Bl.ack)  Stevenson,  natives  of  Maryland  and 
N'irginia  respectivel3'.  The\'  were  married  in  tlie 
Buckeye  State  and  m.ade  their  home  there  until 
1838,  when  they  came  to  Illinois,  settling  on  the 
farm  in  this  county,  now  occupied  b}'  the  son  of 
whom  we  write.  It  was  at  that  time  raw  land.  It 
was  cleared  and  pLaced  under  quite  good  imijrove- 
ment  before  the  death  of  the  father  of  our  subject, 
although  the  family  dwelling  for  a  number  of  years 
was  a  log  house.  In  those  dajs  a  well-built  struc- 
ture of  this  kind  was  looked  upon  as  a  home  of 
comfort  and  undoubtedly  afforded  as  pleasant  a 
shelter  as  dwellings  of  more  modern  construction. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  E|)iscopal  Church  for  half  a  century  and 
the  father  held  the  positions  of  Trustee,  Class- 
Leader,  Steward  and  Sunday-school  Superintendent 
at  various  times.  Politically,  he  was  an  ohl-line 
Whig  and  later  a  Republican.  He  was  a  strong 
.advocate  of  temperance  and  much  interested  in  the 
progress  of  education  and  other  civilizing  influ- 
ences.    He  served  as  School  Director  many  years. 


He  died   in  1873  and   his  wife  a  year   later.     They 

were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  six  o!'  whom 
are  now  living, and  Mr.  Stevenson  had  four  children 
by  a  former  marriage. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Highland  County,  Ohio, 
July  20,  1833.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois when  only  five  years  old,  and  received  his 
educational  training  at  the  subscription  schools 
here.  His  first  schoolhoiisc  was  a  log  cabin  with 
greased  paper  windows,  without  any  floor,  and 
planks  fixed  on  ))ins  to  serve  as  desks.  He  passed 
his  childhood  and  early  youth  on  the  home  farm, 
except  during  fourteen  months,  and  has  at  all  times 
and  in  various  w.aj's  assisted  his  father.  He  com- 
menced a  business  career  for  himself  at  the  age  of 
twenty -three. 

Mr.  Stevenson  married  Miss  Ellen  Waldron, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Celinda  (Lord)  Waldron, 
both  natives  of  New  York.  The  marriage  took 
place  on  the  30th  of  October,  1857.  Mrs.  Steven- 
son's parents  at  one  time  made  their  home  in  New 
York,  and  aftervvards  in  Illinois,  the  father  dying 
in  1850  and  the  mother  in  18G1.  To  them  were 
born  eight  children  of  whom  Mrs.  Stevenson  is 
the  only  survivor.  She  was  born  August  18,  1810, 
in  Warren  County,  III.,  and  received  a  common- 
school  education,  mostly  during  the  winter  months, 
and  going  two  miles  to  school. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevenson 
settled  in  Levvistown  Township  and  remained  thei-e 
until  1858,  at  which  time  they  returned  to  I'utman 
Township  and  have  since  continued  to  make  it  their 
home.  To  them  have  been  born  no  children,  but 
with  the  usual  kindness  that  characterizes  them 
both,  they  have  reared  and  educated  a  number  of 
children,  who  were  deprived  by  death  and  other 
sad  cii'cumstances  of  their  natural  protectors. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  has  one  hundred  and 
one  acres  of  valuable  land,  eighty  acres  of  which 
are  under  the  plow  and  ,all  improved,  he  having 
cleared  twenty-five  acres  of  it  himself.  In  1873 
he  built  a  barn  which  cose  8750,  in  addition  to  his 
personal  labor.  His  residence  was  built  in  1877, 
at  a  cost  of  $1,250.  It  is  a  two-stor}'  frame 
house,  16x28  feet,  with  an  L  14x24  feet,  and  a 
basement  of  the  same  size.  They  have  a  valuable 
orchard  which  they  planted  and  attended  to  them- 


860 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


selves.  Mr.  Stevenson  in  connection  witli  faiming 
is  interested  in  stoclv-raising,  owning  a  number  of 
Short-horns,  Norman  horses,  and  Poland-China 
hogs. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Steven- 
son has  been  Steward.  Trustee  and  Class  Leader. 
Fi-om  an  early  period  in  his  life  he  has  been  inter- 
ested in  religious  matters  and  united  himself  to 
the  church  in  the  year  1857.  He  attends  services 
at  Wright's  churcli,  whicli  is  uu<ler  the  charge  of 
Rev.  AA'.  R.  Wiley,  of  Lewistown  Township.  Both 
himself  and  wife  are  greatly  interested  in  Sund.a}'- 
school  work,  he  being  Superintendent  of  same  and 
by  their  faithfulness  and  large  influence  they  are 
enabled  to  benefit  all  religious  causes.  Mr.  Steven- 
son is  serving  his  thirtieth  year  .as  School  Director, 
and  has  served  five;  successive  terms  as  Townsliip 
Assessor,  being  elected  each  time  Ijy  a  large  major- 
ity in  a  section  where  there  is  usually  a  Democratic 
majoritjr.  He  is  an  active  politician  and  a  strong 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  having  cast  his 
first  vote  for  Gen.  John  C.  Fremont.  He  has  at 
various  times  been  a  delegate  to  the  county  con- 
ventions, and  this  year  to  the  State  Republican 
Convention  at  Springfield.  He  is  an  advocate  of 
temperance,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Union  League. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  picture  greater  esteem,  a 
more  sincere  friendship  than  is  accorded  to  both 
Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Stevenson  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  this  township.  In  social  circles  they 
are  ornaments,  and  everywhere  gladly  received, 
while  to  the  poor  and  unfortunate  the3'  are,  indeed, 
••ministering  angels." 


WILLIAM  HENRY  TUCKER  h.ns  one  of  the 
best  managed  and  best  api>ointed  farms  in 
^  „  all  Farmington  Township,  and  hejs  classed 
among  the  most  progressive  and  intelligent  citizens 
in  the  community.  Lcvon  Tucker,  the  father  of 
our  subject  was  born  in  Hamilton  County.  Ohio. 
He  was  there  married  to  Catherine  Lake,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  that  State.  They  came  to  Illinois 
in    1846    and  located  in  Fairview    Township,  and 


thence  removed  to  F'armington  Townshi|),  of 
which  they  were  pioneers.  Our  subject's  p,alernal 
grandfather  married  Ann  Thompson.  They  were 
natives  of  Maryland. 

The  father  of  our  subject  died  in  1874  at  the  age 
of  sixty-two  j'ears,  and  his  mother  died  in  1888  at 
the  age  of  sixty -seven  years.  Thcv  had  five  chil- 
dren— William  Henry,  James  Madison,  George  W., 
Hannah  A.  and  Charles  M.  James  lives  in  Farm- 
ingtou;  George  W.  in  Canton  Township;  Hannah 
resides  on  the  old  Tucker  homestead  ;  and  Charles 
M.  is  a  resident  of  Farmingtou  Township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  1842  in 
Fairview  Township.  His  early  educational  advan- 
tages were  such  !is  were  afforded  in  those  pioneer 
times.  He  attended  school  in  the  first  schoolhouse 
that  was  built  in  the  district  and  he  also  spent  a 
winter  at  the  Canton  High  School.  He  h,is  further 
increased  his  education  bj-  observation  and  read- 
ing, and  is  to-day  a  well  informed  man.  When  it 
came  the  time  for  him  to  decide  upon  his  life 
work,  he  chose  the  calling  of  a  farmer  as  best 
adapted  to  his  tastes  and  ability;  and  the  appear- 
ance of  his  neat,  well-ordered  farm,  with  its  sub- 
stantial buildings,  .and  its  sixty  acres  of  well-tilled 
soil,  finely  located  on  section  32,  sliows  that  he 
chose  wisely  and  well.  He  has  fine  herds  of  horses 
and  cattle  as  he  devotes  much  attention  to  stock- 
raising. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  has  been  a  happy 
one  and  he  and  his  famil3'  are  very  pleasantly  situ- 
ated. Their  home  is  certainly  the  tj-pical  Ameri- 
can home,  attainable  only  under  our  admirable 
system  of  protection  to  American  industries,  for 
it  abounds  with  all  modern  conveniences,  necessa- 
ries and  man}-  of  the  luxuries  of  life  and  is  the  seat 
of  intelligence,  refinement  and  culture.  Mrs.  Tucker 
prior  lo  her  marriage  was  Miss  Sarah  Vaughan,  and 
she  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Rhoda  (Marriott) 
Vaughan.  Her  father  was  l)orn  in  Hamilton 
Count}-,  Ohio,  and  her  mother  in  Clermont  Count}-, 
that  State.  They  were  there  married  and  her  father 
who  was  a  farmer  carried  on  his  operations  in 
Hamilton  County,  several  years  after  marriage.  He 
died  in  1851.  when  nearly  forty-six  years  old.  His 
second  wife.  Mrs.  Tucker's  mother,  died  December 
9,  1880,  at  the  age   of   seventy  years.     They  had 


Ss&:; 


Q^^^'a/  3^n;!^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  A^^BUM. 


865 


three  children,  Harriet  E.,  Sarah  A.,  and  Charles 
H.,  the  latter  dying  at  the  age  of  six  jears.  The  fa 
ther  had  five  children  by  his  first  marriage;  Francis, 
George  C,  William  M..  Margaret  P.,  and  Julia  A. 
Harriet  E.,  is  the  wife  of  John  Emory,  of  Canton. 
Mrs.  Tucker  was  born  in  Hamilton  County,  Oliio, 
and  name  with  her  mother  to  Fulton  County  in  1855 
and  settled  in  Farmiiigton  Township.  She  is  a  lady 
of  exceptional  worth  and  presides  over  her  home 
with  grace.  Her  marriage  with  our  subject  has 
been  blessed  to  them  by  three  children  :  John  L., 
a  young  man  of  fine  intellect,  well-trained;  Hattio, 
and  (jrace.  The  daughters  are  fine  musicians  and 
are  well  educated. 

Mr.  Tucker  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln. He  has  served  for  twelve  years  as  School 
Director.  lie  has  never  identified  himself  with  any 
church,  but  is  a  man  of  liigh  principles,  and  tries 
to  live  according  to  the  Golden  Rule. 


'=^r^ 


^m- 

^'=^"> 


HI  LIP  BROCK,  the  proprietor  of  a  fine 
farm  on  section  28,  Cass  Township,  is  one 
of  the  most  prosperous  men  in  this  local- 
ity. He  is  an  extensive  landowner,  having 
real  estate  not  only  in  tliis  county,  but  in  McLean 
and  McDonoLigh  Counties.  His  parents,  Philip 
and  Elizabeth  (Gabal)  Brock,  were  jiioneers  of  this 
county,  and  he  may  be  so  regarded  also,  as  he  has 
contributed  his  quota  toward  the  development  (jf 
its  agricultural  interests. 

Our  subject  is  of  German  origin,  his  family 
originating  in  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  where  he 
was  born  in  1820.  They  came  from  there  to  this 
country  in  1838,  and  landing  at  Ballimore,  Mil., 
made  their  way  to  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  whence  they 
embarked  on  a  boat  and  floated  down  the  Ohio  to 
Cincinnati.  After  remaining  in  that  city  a  week 
they  resumed  the  voyage  to  St.  Louis,  whence  they 
proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  the  Spoon  River,  and 
from  there  came  by  wagon  to  Harris  Township, 
which  is  now  a  part  of  Cass  Township.  The  fa- 
ther of  our  subject  bought  a  claim  to  a  quarter- 
section  of  timber  and  hilly  land,  of  which  a  small 
part  was  improved.  There  the  family  took  up  their 


abode  and  remained  several  years.  On  September 
13,  1839!  they  were  bereaved  by  the  death  of  the 
father,  who  was  a  kind  husband  and  father,  and  an 
honest,  sober-minded,  good-hearted  man.  The 
mother  survived  him  until,  1863,  when  she  too 
passed  away.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren who  grew  to  maturity;  our  subject;  Conrad 
and  Henry  now  deceased;  Elizabeth  and  John. 

He  of  whom  these  lines  are  written  received  good 
schooling  in  the  Fatherland.  He  was  eighteen 
j-ears  old  when  the  family  came  to  America,  and 
here  he  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  Be- 
fore coming  to  America  he  had  herded  sheep  for 
his  father,  and  here  he  greatly  assisted  him  in  his 
labors,  and  after  the  father  died  superintended  the 
afifairs  of  the  farm,  remaining  upon  it  until  the 
year  1847.  Having  taken  unto  himself  a  wife  he 
then  moved  from  the  old  homestead  to  the  farm 
which  he  now  occupies.  This  comprises  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  finely  tilled  land,  supplied 
with  good  improvements  of  a  neat  and  substantial 
order.  He  has  besides  this  estate  twenty  acres  of 
land  in  Bernadotte  Township,  eighty  acres  in  Mc- 
Donough  County,  and  eighty  acres  in  McLean 
County,  comprising  a  fine  property  of  four  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres.  Mr.  Brock  has  practically 
retired  from  farming,  and  rents  his  farm,  though 
he  still  deals  in  stock,  cattle,  horses,  hogs  and 
sheep.  When  he  and  his  wife  came  here  they  were 
poor,  and  all  that  they  have  has  been  procured  by 
their  joint  labor,  for  Mrs.  Brock  is  as  hard  a  worker 
as  Mr.  Brock,  and  both  have  been  wisely  frugal  and 
economical  while  accumulating  the  competence 
which  will  enable  them  to  enjoj'  their  declining 
yea'rs  more  at  leisure.  They  may  well  be  proud  of 
what  they  have  accomplished. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brock  were  married  in  June,  1865. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Maria  Fridley,  and  she  is  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Hester  (Buck)  Fridley,  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  there  married, 
and  in  1834  came  to  Illinois,  and  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Cass  Township,  locating  on  the 
place  now  occupied  by  Ogden  Gra^^  The  sur- 
rounding country  was  then  very  sparsely  settled, 
and  their  house  was  in  a  lonel}'  situation,  being  the 
only  one  between  Cuba  (now  a  thriving  town,  then 
but  a  small  hamlet)  and    Ellisville.     Mr.    Fridley, 


8«6 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


who  was  by  occupation  a  was^onniaker  and  farmer, 
served  as  a  patriotic  soldier  in  tiie  War  of  1812. 
and  died  in  1845.  His  widow  married  again  and 
survived  until  1890.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children  who  grew  to  maturity,  named  Elizabeth, 
Mrs.  Si nnett,  now  deceased;  Henry.  Jesse;  Maria, 
Mrs.  Brock;  Louisa,  Mrs.  Gray;  and  James.  Mrs. 
Brock  is  a  native  of  Cass  Township,  and  was  born 
September  10,  1838.  She  attended  the  typical 
pioneer  school  taught  in  a  log  cabin,  and  has  wit- 
nessed almost  tlie  entire  development  of  this  region. 
In  connection  witli  this  sketch,  we  present  totlie 
reader  portraits  of  Mr.  Brock  and  his  wife.  They 
are  people  of  true,  honest  and  kindly  hearts,  alw.ays 
trying  to  do  what  they  can  to  help  others  in  dis- 
tress or  want,  and  are  greatly  respected  in  this  com- 
munil}^  where  they  are  well  known.  He  has  been  a 
prominent  Granger,  and  was  at  one  time  Treasurer 
of  the  Grange,  and  has  served  his  township  as 
Pathmaster.  Politically,  lie  was  a  Democrat  until 
fifteen  years  ago,  when  he  identified  himself  with 
the  Greenback  party  for  a  time,  and  has  since  been 
independent. 


|a^iKE 


UGFSTUSS.WATSOIs.  No  name  is  justly 
entitled  to  a  higher  place  in  the  liistor3'  of 
Cass  Township  than  the  one  which  heads 
<^j  this  sketcii.for  it  is  borne  by  a  man  who  has 

most  honorably  discharged  every  obligation  in  life 
with  such  fidelity  that  he  has  not  an  enemy  in  the 
world.  Mr.  AVatson  has  made  his  home  here  since 
1836,  and  is  connected  both  through  his  family 
and  by  his  marriage  with  the  most  prominent  peo- 
ple in  this  county. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  James  C.  Watson, 
a  native  of  Maryland  who  was  born  in  1791.  and 
came  to  Illinois  in  the  j-ear  1836.  with  his  family. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  being  in 
Hull's  Army,  and  was  afterwards  under  Gen.  Lewis 
Cass,  and  suggested  the  name  of  tliis  townsliip  when 
it  was  organized.  His  ancestors  came  originally 
from  Ireland,  and  he  possessed  all  the  wit  and  bril- 
liancy of  speech  natural  to  the  children  of  the  Em- 
erald Isle.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Wood,  a  na- 


tive of  Old  Virginia.  Her  father  was  an  English- 
man, and  her  mother  of  German  birth.  Both  of 
their  lives  extended  over  an  unusually  long  perio<i 
of  time,  the  mother  dying  in  1864  at  an  advanced 
old  age,  and  the  father  in  1883,  after  having  at- 
tained his  ninety-third  year. 

Our  subject's  parents  re.ached  this  place  in  a  cold 
wet  season,  being  thus  compelled  (o  occupy  tlie 
first  house  that  was  empty.  As  chance  would  have 
it  they  found  one  on  the  farm  where  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  now  resides.  The  farm  contained  eighty 
acres  at  that  time,  and  there  the  family  lived  most 
peacefully  and  happily  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
at  a  later  date  built  a  large  frame  residence.  The 
family  had  previously  lived  on  Wabash  River, 
Warren  County,  Ind.,  and  the  father  mounting  a 
horse  rode  here  bringing  with  him  some  mon:;;-. 
and  left  a  sufficient  amount  to  enter  a  section  of 
land,  but  the  man  to  whom  he  had  entrusted  this 
charge  neglected  to  make  the  purchase,  and  his 
carelessness"  was  a  source  of  great  discomfort. 

Mr.  Watson's  parents  were  blessed  with  ten  chil- 
dren, three  boys  and  seven  girls,  of  whom  those 
living  are:  Melinda,  Mrs.  William  Cameron;  John 
D.,  who  lives  in  Oregon  ;  Augustus  S.,  our  subject; 
Mary,  wife  of  Weslej'  Sterling;  and  Elizabeth,  who 
married  E.  Henderson  and  lives  in  Nebraska. 

Our  subject's  birth  occurred  in  Warren  County, 
Ind.,  June  7  1825,  and  like  that  of  many  of  the 
farmers'  sons  of  that  date  his  education  was  some- 
what limited,  but  even  at  an  early  age  he  evinced 
an  aptitude  for  learning,  and  laid  the  foundation  for 
a  consistent  and  successful  business  career.  He  re- 
mained with  his  father  assisting  on  the  home  farm 
up  to  the  time  of  his  m.arriage  in  1846.  to  Miss 
Mary  Jane  Cameron,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Clar- 
issa (Herald)  Cameron.  He  numbered  among  tlie 
pioneer  settlers  of  this  place,  and  came  originally 
from  South  Carolina.  The  mother  died  in  1870 
and  the  father  in  1880.  They  were  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Watson  was  the 
second  in  number. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  the  parer.ts  of  ten 
children,  viz:  W.  R.,  one  of  the  most  eminent  and 
highly  respected  physicians  in  this  place;  Thomas 
II;  Phoebe  Jane  (Mrs.  Curfman);  Martin;  John  F. ; 
Martlia  M.,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Heath;  Sarah  C.  (Mrs. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


867 


Reynolds);  Mary;  Charles  O.  and  James  C.  The 
eldest  son,  W.  R.,  is  a  i^raduate  of  the  Keokuk 
Iowa  Medical  College,  and  has  an  extensive  and 
lucrative  practice.  The  other  ciiildreu  all  received 
good  educations. 

Mr.  and  JMrs.  AVatson  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Churcli,  of  which  he  has  been  Trustee 
and  Steward.  They  are  both  active  in  Sunday- 
school  work.  Mr.  Watson  served  as  Supervisor  of 
his  township  during  a  period  of  three  years,  yield- 
ing to  the  plainly-expressed  wish  of  the  people,  al- 
though it  was  contrary  to  his  inclinations.  lie  is 
a  member  of  the  Democratic  party  and  has  alwaj's 
taken  an  active  interest  in  politics.  His  worldly 
possessions  include  two  hundred  and  sevent_v  acres 
of  valuable  laud,  upon  which  is  a  fine  residence, 
togetlier  with  twenty  head  of  horses,  seventy  head 
of  cattle  and  a  hundred  of  hogs.  The  farm  is  now 
managed  by  the  sons,  the  father  having  partially 
retired  from  the  cares  of  life,  as  his  health  is  but 
moderate.  His  good  wife  also  suffers  to  some  ex- 
tent from  the  infirmities  incidental  upon  advancing 
years. 

"^1— — «^p-^~ 1^> 


^^r/UGUSTUS  EMORY.  When  contemplat- 
^£J  ing  the  present  condition  of  the  vast  Mis- 
i !)  sissippi  Valley  and  noting  the  wonderful 
development  of  its  resources  and  growth 
of  its  civilization,  due  credit  should  always  l)e 
given  to  those  who  stood  in  the  vanguard  and  bore 
manj'  privations  which  we  of  the  present  genera- 
tion find  it  hard  to  realize.  Among  the  men  now 
living  in  Canton  Township  who  are  numbered 
among  that  grand  class,  the  old  settlers  of  Fulton 
County,  is  Augustus  Fmory,  whose  career  we  pur- 
pose to  sketch  in  outline.  The  details  of  his  life- 
work,  of  his  struggles  and  successes,  his  hardships 
and  his  comforts,  must  be  left  to  the  imagination  of 
the  reader. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Emory  were  Stephen  and 
Poll3-  (Ingalls)  Emory,  natives  of  New  Hampshire, 
and  who  died  in  Rindge,  that  State.  The  natal  day 
of  our  subject  was  September  27,  1813,  and  his 
birthplace  Rindge,  N.  II.  He  grew  to  msnbood 
upon  his  father's  farm,  accjuiriugsuch  an  education 


as  was  possible  in  the  schools  of  the  period  and 
gaining  a  practical  knowledge  of  agriculture  while 
assisting  his  father.  After'he  reached  his  majority 
he  still  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  his  birthplace 
until  1838  when  he  turned  his  footsteps  vvestward, 
arriving  in  tliis  county  on  the  3rd  of  June.  For 
about  a  year  he  lived  with  the  late  Samuel  Brown, 
then  entered  the  employ  of  Abel  II.  Wliite,  for 
whom  he  peddled  tinware  and  dry-goods  through 
the  county  for  a  period  of  three  years. 

We  next  find  Mr.  Emor.y  peddling  clocks  in  Ohio 
for  Abner  D.  Bond,  but  a  year  later  returning  to 
the  vicinit3'  of  Canton.  Soon  afterward,  in  com- 
pany with  Abel  II.  White,  he  went  to  Ohio  for  the 
the  purpose  of  purchasing  sheep.  They  bought 
thirteen  hundred  head  which  they  drove  from 
Greene  County'  hither,  dividing  the  flock  after 
their  arrival.  Soon  after,  Mr.  Emory  sold  one-half 
of  his  flock  to  J.  A.  Maynard  with  whom  he  was 
engaged  in  the  sheep  business  for  three  years.  The 
venture  proved  a  successful  one  and  after  the  con- 
nection between  the  two  gentlemen  was  dissolved, 
Mr.  Emory  continued  in  the  business  alone  for  a 
number  of  years.  In  18SG  lia  finally  abandomi'd 
it,  selling  off  his  entire  flock. 

In  1847  Mr.  Elmory  purchased  one  Imndred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  20,  which  he  operated 
in  connection  with  his  other  business.  He  built  a 
good  house,  made  other  valuable  improvements 
and  after  he  sold  his  sheep,  gave  his  attention 
wholly  to  farming.  He  has  now  disposed  of  all  liis 
land  but  forty-seven  and  one-half  acres,  where  he 
and  his  estimable  wife  iiave  a  comfortable  and  at- 
tractive home.  They  are  |)assing  quietly  down 
the  hill  of  time,  blest  by  the  respect  of  their  ac- 
cpiaintances  and  the  deep  affection  of  their  only 
child,  Herbert,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  Parlin  & 
Orendorff  in  Canton.  Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Emory  are 
liberal  in  tlieir  religious  views  and  the  former  votes 
the  Republcan  ticket.  Had  he  been  more  distrust- 
ful he  would  have  been  in  still  better  finances,  as 
he  has  lost  considerable  nionej'  by  (lis|)laying  con- 
fidence in  others.  His  enjoyment  is  perhaps  as 
great  as  it  would  have  been  in  other  circumstances, 
as  the  pleasures  of  companioi!5hip  are  lessened  by 
our  distrust  of  human-kind. 

The  wife  cif  Mr.  Emory  was  known  in  her  maiden- 


868 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


hood  as  Miss  Permelia  Ellis.  She  was  born  in  this 
township.  March  4.  1832,  and  married  here,  Novem- 
her  1,  1865.  Her  parents  were  Isaac  and  Nancy 
(Jennings)  Ellis,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the 
Southern  States.  Mrs.  Enior3'  liad  previously  been 
jnarrie<i  to  James  Woodworth,  by  wliom  slie  liad 
one  son,  Milton  C,  who  is  married  and  lives  in 
Winchester,  Scott  County,  III. 


•^•i^?— *- 


■^f' ACOB  R.  WHITMORE  is  one  of  tlie  leading 
builders  and  contractors  of  Canton,  and  is 
an  active  wide-awake  man  of  business.  He 
((^/^  is  a  native  of  this  county  and  a  son  of  one 
of  its  old  settlers.  He  was  born  September  2,  1845, 
in  Canton  Township.  His  father,  Jeremiah  Whit- 
more,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  the 
son  of  Peter  Wiiitmore,  who  was  of  German  de- 
scent. The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Hannah 
Mock  in  her  maiden  days,  and  she  was  a  native  of 
Bedford  County,  Pa.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Henrj-  Mock,  who  was  of  German  antecedents.  She 
grew  to  maturity  in  her  native  State  and  was  tliere 
married. 

In  1845  Jeremiah  Whitmore,  brought  his  family 
to  Fulton  County,  and  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pio- 
neers who  had  preceded  him.  He  establislied 
himself  in  Canton  Township  where  he  carried  on 
farming  in  connection  with  his  trade  of  a  carpen- 
ter. He  subsequently  removed  to  Canton  where 
he  passed  a  number  of  years,  and  then  went  to  Nor- 
ris,  this  county,  where  he  died  in  June,  1888, 
rounding  out  life  at  a  ripe  old  age.  His  wife  bad 
preceded  him  in  death  b\-  several  3ears.  Tlie^' 
had  seven  children,  named  as  follows:  Rebecca, 
Margaret,  Mary.  Martlia  E.,  J.acob  R..  James  C. 
and  Joseph  A.,  all  of  the  sons  residing  in  this 
county. 

Jacob  R.  passed  his  youth  on  a  farm,  .attending 
school  in  the  winters.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
commenced  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  car|jenter,  and 
acquired  a  thorough  knowledge    of  all  parts  of  the 


business.  He  remained  with  his  parents  until  he 
was  twcnt3'-two  years  old  when  he  started  in 
business  for  himself  as  a  contractor  and  builder. 
He  devoted  the  most  of  his  time  to  his  work,  ex- 
cepting winters,  wlien  he  was  employed  by  Mr. 
Parlin  in  his  plow  shop  at  intervals  for  twenty 
years.  For  the  past  four  years  he  has  been  wholly 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building.  He  built 
the  first  brick  block  ever  put  up  in  Canton,  owned 
b3'  Blackaby  &  Torrance.  This  is  a  three-story 
building  and  is  now  occupied  as  a  cigar  factory. 
He  has  erected  several  stores,  dwellings  and  other 
buildings  in  Canton,  and  is  doing  a  good  business. 

Mr.  Wiiitmore  was  married  Januarj'  1,  1865,  to 
Miss  Ange  Hemenover,  of  Canton.  She  is  the  sec- 
ond daughter  of  William  H.  and  Julia  Hemenover, 
and  she  was  horn  in  New  Jersey.  She  came  to  Can- 
ton with  her  parents  in  1860.  Bj*  her  marriage  with 
our  subject  three  children  have  been  born,  Harry 
J.,  Alice  and  Edwin  M. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitmore's  pleasant  residence  on 
Lewistown  Street,  at  No.  115,  is  the  center  of 
abounding  hospitality.  He  is  quite  prominent  so- 
cialh'  as  a  member  of  the  following  orders:  Morn- 
ing Star  Lodge,  No.  734,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Canton, 
Chapter,  No.  164;  Olive  Branch  No.  15. 1.  O.  O.  F.; 
and  of  Eastern  Star. 


Ij    C.  MOORE,  a  prominent  and    well  to-do 
farmer  of  Canton  Township,    residing  on 
14)    section  32,  was  born  in  Somerset   Countj', 
,^  N.  J.,  April  10,  1821.     His    father,  Abra- 

ham H.  Moore,  is  thought  to  have  been  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  and  he  w.as  there  married  to  Grace 
Van  Dorn  a  native  of  that  State.  In  1839  they  re- 
moved to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Butler  County, 
whence  lliey  came  in  1850  to  Fulton  Count\',  and 
cast  in  their  lot  with  the  pioneers  near  Prairie  Cit^'. 
They  spent  their  last  j'ears  at  Bushnell,  111.  The}^ 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children  of  whom  our  sub- 
ject was  the  fourth. 

Our  subject  remained  with  his  parents  until  he 
w.as  twenty-five  years  old,  when  he  married  and 
established  a  home  of  his  own,  taking  as    his   wife 


'^0^  *' 
*'.. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


871 


Jane  Williamson,  to  whom  he  was  wedded  in  Butlrr 
County,  Ohio.  Her  parents  were  John  and  Chris- 
tiana (Brener)  Williamson,  natives  respectively  of 
Kentucky  .ind  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Moore  was 
born  in  Butler  Counl3-,  August  16,  1822,  and  theic 
she  and  our  subject  began  their  wedded  life,  on  a 
farm.  Mr.  Jloore  was  actively  engaged  in  culti- 
vating the  soil  there  for  some  years  and  also  in 
raising  stock.  He  was  especially  interesteil  in 
breeding  Poland-China  hogs  and  introducing  them 
in  that  section  of  the  country. 

In  the  fall  of  1854  our  subji^ct  came  to  Illinois 
and  settled  in  Buckhoart  Township,  where  he  lived 
ten  3'ears.  He  next  took  up  his  residence  in  Can- 
ton, and  remained  there  three  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1868  he  settled  on  section  32,  Canton  Township, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  He  is  still  interested  in 
raising  Poland-China  hogs  and  also  in  raising 
French  coach  horses  and  the  Percherons  and  is 
conducting  an  extensive  stock  business.  He  owns 
a  valuable,  well-equipped  farm  of  four  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  choice  land  in  Canton  and  Buck- 
heart  Townships,  and  is  one  of  the  most  skillful 
farmers  in  this  vicinity. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  are  the  parents  of  these 
three  children:  Maggie,  the  wife  of  Mathias  Boker; 
John  W^.,  a  farmer  in  Buckheart  Township;  and 
Charles  A.,  also  a  farmer  in  that  place.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Moore  are  valued  memliers  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian Church  and  are  people  of  high  social  standing 
in  their  community.  He  has  tilled  the  offices  of 
Deacon  and  Trustee  of  the  church  and  is  prominent 
in  religious  circles. 


-^^E 


LLEN  H.  IIARROD.  On  the  opposite  page 
is  presented  a.  lithographic  portrait  of  this 
gentleman,  who  is  a  well-known  and  hon- 
ored citizen  of  Union  Township,  with 
whose  agricultural  interestT  he  has  been  identified 
since  pioneer  days.  He  has  faithfully  performed  his 
share  of  the  work  necessary  for  llie  development 
of  Fulton  County,  and  its  material  and  social  ad- 
vancement, and  has  done  good  service  in  various 
civic  capacities. 


The  blood  of  good  old  Revolutionary  stock  flows 
in  the  veins  of  our  subject.  He  comes  of  a 
family  from  which  sprang  the  noted  Col.  James 
Harrod,  one  of  the  founders  of  Harrodsburg,  Ky., 
that  gentleman  being  his  great-uncle.  Our  sub- 
ject i.s  also  an  own  cousin  of  John  C.  New,  ^Minis- 
ter  Plenipotentiary  to  London  and  ex-Treasurer  of 
the  United  States.  Among  his  must  valued  pos- 
sessions is  a  powder-horn  made  by  his  father  in 
1806.  The  sterling  traits  of  generations  of  patri- 
otic and  enterprising  ancestors  have  been  inherited 
by  our  subject,  and  together  with  his  individual 
characteristics  of  enterprise  and  business  sagacity, 
have  ai<led  him  in  attaining  a  competency. 

He  of  whom  this  biographical  review  is  written, 
was  born  in  Scott  County,  Ind.,  January  4,  1831, 
to  William  and  Elizabeth  (New)  Hairod,  who  were 
early  settlers  of  the  Hoosier  State.  To  the  father 
belonged  the  distinction  of  having  been  the  first 
white  male  child  born  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  his 
birth  occurred  May  22,  177i).  He  was  reared  in 
the  wilds  of  Kentucky,  becoming  a  great  hunter, 
and  in  his  youth  used  to  go  to  the  Blue  Lick  Moun- 
tains, and  wander  over  them  for  months  in  |)ursuit 
of  panthers,  bears  and  deer.  About  1817-'18  he 
emigrated  to  Scott  County,  Ind.,  where  he  gave 
his  attention  to  farming  until  his  death,  January 
28,  1835. 

The  premature  death  of  her  husband  left  the 
mother  of  our  subject  with  the  care  of  ten  chil- 
dren, the  youngest  of  whom  was  only  four  years  of 
age.  She  nobly  shouldered  the  burden  of  their 
support,  and  worked  hard  to  rear  and  educate  them, 
which  she  did  in  a  very  able  manner.  She  lived  to 
the  ripe  old  age  of  eiglity-nine  years,  dying  July 
4.  1875,  and  leaving  behind  her  a  memory  that  is 
revered  by  her  children.  She  came  of  a  sterling 
ancestry'.  Her  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  New, 
and  she  was  born  near  Guilford  Court  House,  North 
Carolina,  December  6,  1786.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Jetliro  New,  one  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, who  was  with  Washington  at  Valley  Forge. 
He  was  one  of  the  guards  that  had  charge  of  Maj. 
Andre  after  his  capture,  and  witnessed  the  execu- 
tion of  that  unfortunate  officer.  With  a  company 
of  three  hundred  he  emigrated  to  Kentucky  when 
his  daughter  Elizabeth   was  only    twelve  years  old, 


872 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


and  our  subject  has  often  heard  his  mother  speak 
of  the  hardships  and  privations  endured  on  that 
long  journey  tlirough  the  forests  and  over  the 
mountains.  All  the  household  goods  were  carried 
on  pack  horses,  as  there  were  no  wagon  roads 
through  the  wilderness,  and  the  little  part}'  was 
compelled  to  follow  Indian  trails  through  the  moun- 
tainous regions. 

The  pioneer  instincts  inherited  from  his  ancestors 
imiielled  our  subject  to  seek  to  build  up  a  home  in 
a  still  more  newly-settled  country  than  that  in 
which  he  had  been  reared,  and  in  1848  he  came 
to  tills  county  and  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  early 
settlers,  and  teaching  school  for  a  few  winters. 
Years  of  industry,  thrift  and  good  manage- 
ment, have  placed  in  his  possession  a  substan- 
tial, well-developed  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty  acres,  pleasantly  located  on  section  5,  Union 
Township,  and  here  he  has  a  comfortable  home. 
August  14,  18G2,  he  threw  asiile  his  work  to  re- 
spond to  his  country's  call  for  more  soldiers  tocarr}- 
on  the  terrible  war  that  was  then  being  waged  be- 
tween the  North  and  the  South,  and  enlisted  in 
Company  I,  Seventy-second  Illinois  Infantry, 
which  was  commanded  by  Col.  Fred.  K.  Starring, 
of  Chicngo.  His  enlistment  was  for  three  years 
or  until  the  war  ended.  His  regiment  was  sent  to 
Cairo,  and  thence  to  Paducali,  Ky.,  and  from  there 
to  Columbus,  in  the  same  Slate.  While  there  Mr. 
Harrod  was  taken  sick,  and  was  sent  to  the  regiment 
hospital,  thence  to  the  jiost  hospital  at  Columbus, 
Ky.,  and  from  there  to  Mound  City,  where  he  re- 
mained two  months,  being  then  discharged  for  gen- 
eral disability.  He  was  a  good  soldier,  and  now 
deservedly  has  a  pension  of  610  a  month  as  part 
recompense  for  his  sufferings    while   in  the  armj'. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Harrod  returned  to  his  family 
in  Fulton  County,  and  has  ever  since  remained 
here  attending  to  his  farming  interests,  and  to  tiie 
duties  of  the  various  local  ollices  that  he  has  held 
or  is  holding.  He  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  twenty  years,  and  continues  to  fdl  that  office; 
and  is  at  present  Notary  Public.  He  h:is  been 
School  Director,  Treasurer  and  Road  Commissioner. 
Religiously,  he  is  connected  with  the  Christian 
Ciuirch,  at  St.  Augustine,  .as  one  of  its  prominent 
members,  and  as  Elder  of  the  Church,  which  posi-   j 


tion  be  has  held  since  1870.  He  is  a  member  of 
Freeborn  Post,  No.  144,  G.  A.  R.  In  politics  he  is 
an  adherent  of  the  Republican  party. 

In  1850,  Mr.  Harrod  wks  married  to  Ailc}',  the 
eldest  daughter  of  James  Cox,  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  Fulton  County.  She  was  born  in  Canton,  De- 
cember 7,  1830,  and  possessed  those  noble  Christian 
graces  that  so  beautif}-  life,  and  her  death  August 
28,  1875,  was  the  occasion  of  much  mourning. 
She  left  five  children,  of  whom  the  following  is 
the  record:  Elizabeth  E..  born  January  2,  1851, 
married  W.  E.  Brown,  of  St.  Augustine;  Lawson 
B.,  born  January  20,  1853,  who  h.as  been  in  the 
employ  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Rail- 
road for  the  last  eight  or  nine  j-ears  but  at  the  pres- 
ent at  the  old  homestead  ;  Nathan  AV.,  born  January 
27,  1856,  married  Clara  Johnson,  and  lives  atRusli- 
ville;  Hallock  V.,  born  December  15,  1861,  married 
Lucy  Jennings,  and  lives  at  St.  Augustine;  Sharon 
L.,  born  February  1,  1871,  is  engaged  asamerchant 
at  St.  Augustine.  Lawson  B.,  Hallock  Y.  and  Sha- 
ron L.  are  partners  in  the  mercantile  business. 

Mr.  Harrod  was  married  to  his  present  wife  in 
1876.  Her  maiden  name  was  Eliza  J.  Babbitt,  and 
she  was  born  March  28.  1847.  Three  children  have 
been  born  to  her  and  our  subject,  namely:  Sllva 
N.,  born  September  10,  1877;  Flstie  A.,  May  22, 
1880;  Lee  F.,  April  13,  1882. 


<<?«tf-«<tf5<5— 


«>S^5»<^!»t^ 


^[_^0N.  JOHN  A.  LEEPER.  A  glance  at  the 
genealogy  of  this  family  will  show  that  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  ancestors  have 
been  extensive  real-estate  owners  and  promi- 
nent men.  The  father  of  our  subject,  William  Lecper 
and  his  mother,  Elleanor  (Lake)  Leeper,  were  both 
descendants  of  wealthy  and  intelligent  families,  the 
father  being  a  native  of  Hamilton  County,  Ohio, 
and  the  mother  of  Cincinnati.  The  Lake  family 
came  originally  from  Holland  and  possessed  those 
sturdy  traits  of  character  characteristic  of  the  na- 
tives of  that  country.  The}'  are  des''endants  of  An- 
neke  Jans  whose  vast  estates  in  the  State  of  New 
York  have  been  for  so  long  in  litigation. 

We  first  find  the  Leeper  family  in   Pennsylvania 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


873 


in  the  old  Colonial  days.  Our  subject's  grandfather 
on  the  paternal  side  was  numbered  among  the  early 
pioneers  of  Oliio  and  in  thai  State  the  father  passed 
his  youth.  Going  to  Cincinnati  to  engage  in  busi- 
ness lie  met  and  married  Elle.mor  Lalte.  To  them 
were  born  ten  cliildren,  of  whom  John  A.  is  the 
eldest  and  the  others  are  named  as  follows:  Isaac 
N.,  Harriet,  Emcline,  Gilbert,  Oliver,  Charles, 
Henry.  Frank  and  Nettie.  The  family  removed 
to  Illinois  in  1840,  making  the  tri})  in  a  prairie 
schooner  and  settling  in  Fairview.  As  the  years 
rolled  by  the  father  continued  to  add  to  his  lintmcial 
resources  and  was  at  the  time  of  his  death  a  wealthy 
man.  The  mother  departed  this  life  at  tlie  home 
of  her  daughter.  Mrs.  Slack,  in  this  township  in 
her  sevenly-sevcMilh  year. 

Onr  subject  was  born  December  3,  1831,  and 
spent  a  happy  childhood  in  the  old  homestead  in 
Cincinnati.  His  early  recollections  are  closely  allied 
with  scenes  along  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  River,  a 
stream  that  charms  the  eye  and  lives  long  in  the 
memory  of  those  to  whom  it  has  once  been  familiar. 
At  an  early  age  he  commenced  attending  school, 
and  from  the  start  evinced  a  real  fondness  for 
books.  After  coming  to  Fulton  County  he  contin- 
ued his  studies  wiih  great  perseverance,  thus  laying 
tlie  foundation  for  the  political  prominence  he 
gained  in  after  life.  When  twenty-one  years  of  age 
lie  entered  Mt.  Morris  Seminary  where  his  class- 
mates and  colleagues  included  such  men  as  Senator 
CuUom,  Gen.  Smith  D.  Atkins  and  Col.B.  F.  Sheets. 
Senator  Cullom  was  his  roommate  and  intimate 
friend  at  the  seminary  and  it  was  through  him  that 
our  subject  met  the  Senator's  sister,  who  at  a  later 
date  became  his  wife. 

Mr.  Leejjer,  being  the  eldest  child,  was  called 
upon  to  assist  his  father  in  the  management  of  their 
large  estate  and  in  this  w.ay  became  interested  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  Such  was  his  success  in 
farming  that  he  has  continued  to  follow  this  as  a 
vocation.  To-day  he  is  universall}'  conceded  to 
rank  among  the  most  progressive  and  energetic 
agriculturists  of  this  township.  His  estate  comprises 
four  hundred  and  twenty-three  acres  of  valuable 
land,  and  he  carries  on  farming  in  a  thoroughly 
advanced  way,  embracing  all  new  methods  of  im- 
proving his  place. 


When  in  his  twenty-fourth  year  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  was  married  to  Miss  Linnie  Cullom, 
daughter  of  Richard  N.  Cullom  and  sister  of  Sena- 
tor Shelby  M.  Cullom.  Her  father  was  born  near 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  her  mother,  Elizabeth  (Cof- 
fee) Cullom.  was  a  initive  of  North  Carolina.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cullom  were  married  in  Lewiston.  Ky., 
and  their  uni(^)n  was  blessed  with  eleven  children' 
the  first  seven  being  born  in  Kentucky,  the  otiiers  in 
Illinois,  viz:  Eliza  .lane,  Polly,  Nancy.  Louis, 
Perry,  Shelby  M.  and  James  N.  (twins);  the  lat- 
ter died  in  infancy;  Julia,  Emeline,  Linnie  and 
Henry  Cla^-.  Our  subject  after  his  marriage  took 
up  the  duties  associated  with  farm  life.  Of  his 
marriage  have  been  born  four  children,  viz:  Lora 
E.,  who  married  ISIiss  Clara  Morton  and  lives 
on  the  homestead;  Addie  A.,  and  Ada  A.  de- 
ceased; and  Clara  E.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Simon  G. 
Bear,  of  Farmington. 

Mr.  Leeper  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  the 
fall  of  1876  and  served  in  that  important  position 
with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  the  people 
He  has  a  clear  concei)tion  of  the  duties  of  the 
American  legislator  and  sought  ever  to  maintain 
the  honor  and  integrity  of  that  sovereign  body. 
True  to  his  party  and  constituency  he  never 
swerved  from  the  path  of  duty  and  never  indulged 
in  needless  discussion  on  the  introduction  of  bills 
merely  for  the  sake  of  gaining  notoriety.  To  every 
question  that  came  up  he  gave  his  earnest  and  careful 
consideration  and  frankly  took  the  side  that  his 
judgment  told  him  was  conducive  to  the  welfare  of 
the  people.  Perhaps  no  man  in  this  countj' is  more 
thoroughly  or  favorablj-  known  than  he,  as  a  man 
of  indisputable  character,  reliability  and  worth. 

The  home  of  Mr.  Leeper  is  a  model  of  conven- 
ience and  comfort  and  the  entire  premises  give  an 
air  of  prosperity  that  his  industry  and  intelligence 
merits.  The  fact  of  his  being  a  stanch  Republican 
is  so  thoroughly  known  that  any  mention  of  his 
political  party  preferences  in  this  work  would  be 
useless.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for  John  C.  Fre- 
mont and  has  attended  every  Republican  caucus 
and  supported  every  Republican  ticket,  whether 
National.  State,  county  or  township  since  that  time. 
Hp  is  undoubtedly  the  most  prominent  politician 
in  the  township  and  is  a  man  of  considerable  learn- 


874 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


ing,  well-informed  on  bnsinoss  li)[)ics  and  literary 
questions.  He  was  chosen  rlelcigate  to  the  .Senatorial 
Convention  held  at  Canton  July  15,  1890,  and  was 
Supervisor  of  Farmington  Township  previous  to 
his  electiori  as  Representative.  Ho  has  been  chosen 
executor  of  many  estates  and  has  been  appointed 
administrator  for  many  others. 

<jf]  ESSE  L.  RUBLE.  A  goodly  number  of  the 
residents  of  Canton  have  succeeded  so  well 
in  their  endeavors  to  gain  a  competence  that 
they  are  enabled  to  spend  their  declining- 
years  unharnssed  by  anxious  thoughts  regarding 
their  future  supi)ort.  but  can  enjoy  the  fruits  of 
their  industry  and  the  recreations  suited  to  their 
tastes  and  circumstances.  Among  this  number  is 
the  gentleman  aboi^e  named,  who  for  more  than 
half  a  centur3'  was  engaged  in  business  in  this  place 
as  a  blacksmith,  but  who  has  now  retired. 

Mr.  Ruble  is  of  German  descent  in  both  lines, 
his  grandfathers,  George  Ruble  and  Michael  Grove, 
having  been  of  German  parentage.  His  paternal 
ancestor  was  an  earlj'  settler  in  West  Virginia, 
where  his  son  Aaron  was  for  many  years  a  trader 
and  farmer.  He  married  Elizabeth  Grove,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania.  This  couple  became  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters, 
only  three  of  whom  are  now  living.  The  father 
died  in  West  ^'irgillia  and  the  u5oHicr,  after  the 
close  of  the  war,  removed  to  Central  Illinois,  mak- 
ing her  home  in  Canton  during  the  remainder  of 
her  life. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Wood  County,  W.  \'a.. 
in  the  vicinity  of  Parkersburg,  September  IS,  181  4. 
After  learning  his  trade  he  worked  as  a  journey- 
man and  at  odd  times  was  occupied  in  (lat-boating 
on  the  river.  In  1842  he  came  to  Canton,  and  opened 
a  blackstnith  shop.  He  did  general  blacksmithing 
and  hoiso-shoeing  until  May,  1890,  when  he  retired 
to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  industry  and  the  rest  to 
which  his  long  labors  entitled  him. 

Mr.  Ifuble  was  fortunate  in  his  choice  of  a  life 
companion,  winning  for  his  wife  j\Iiss  Jemima, 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Marv  Garino,    who   at  that 


time  were  living  in  Canton.  Mrs.  Ruble  was  born 
in  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  and  possessed  many  of 
the  qualities  which  fitted  her  for  the  duties  of  wife- 
hood and  motherhood.  Her  marriage  took  place  in 
1848,  and  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  cliildren, 
a  son  and  daughter.  Mary  C.  is  now  housekeeper 
for  her  father,  her  mother  having  died  March  26, 
1890,  in  the  sixty-eighth  year  of  her  age.  John  B. 
died  in  1886  when  thirty-four  j^ears  old;  he  had 
been  for  some  years  engaged  in  the  drug  business. 
Mrs.  Ruble  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church  and  carefully  instilled  good  prin- 
ciples into  the  minds  of  her  children. 

Mr.  Ruble  is  identified  with  Lodge  No.  15.  I.  O. 
O.  F.  His  first  Presidential  ballot  was  cast  for 
James  K.  Polk  and  his  last  for  Grover  Cleveland. 
Although  seventy -six  years  old,  he  is  still  hale  and 
hearty,  and  expects  to  again  be  able  to  east  a  Dem- 
ocratic ballot.  He  is  comfortably  located  on  the 
corner  of  Twelfth  and  Union  Streets  and  enjoys 
the  esteem  of  many  acquaintances. 

ATHIAS  B.  SWEGLE.  It  is  not  ease  but 
effort  that  makes  the  noblest  men.  There 
is,  perhaps,  no  station  in  life  where  difli  ■ 
cultics  do  not  have  to  be  encountered  and 
obstacles  overcome,  and  not  until  these  obstacles  are 
overcome  is  the  nobilitj-  of  the  character  proved.  The 
native-born  citizens  of  Fulton  Count}-,  who  have 
now  reached  the  prime  of  life  had,  in  youth,  many 
obstacles  to  vanquish,  for  the  land  was  uncultivated 
and  the  surrounding  country  bleak  and  inhospita- 
ble. With  every  passing  year  the  standard  of 
civilization  has  been  raised,  and  through  the  efforts 
of  the  sturdy  pioneers  the  county  has  attained 
a  proud  positiou  among  others  in  the  State  of 
Illinois. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  August  31. 
1842,  in  Fairview  Township,  Fulton  County,  III. 
His  parents,  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Thorp)  Swegle, 
were  natives  of  New  Jersey-,  the  former  learning 
the  charcoal  trade,  and  being  a  farmer  in  his  native 
Stale.  The  paternal  grandfather  was  born  in 
(iermanv  and  the  maternal  relatives  also  came  from 


# 


-^        "V 


-^.- 


Residence  OF  M.B.Swegle,Sec.16.FairviewTp.FultonCo.Ill 


Residence  or  S.  P.  Addis,5ec.5. Banner Tp. Fulton  Co. III. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


877 


the  Fatherland.  The  father  removed  from  New 
Jersey  to  Pennsylvania,  where,  for  four  years,  he 
followed  his  trade  and  whence,  in  1834,  he  removed 
to  Illinois,  locating  in  Fulton  County.  After  living 
for  a  time  with  a  brother,  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  fine  farming  land  in  Fairview  Townshijx  He  and 
his  wife  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  namely: 
Isaac  D.,  Mary  A.,  John  W.,  Hester  R.,  Sarah  A.. 
Mathias  B.  and  Jacob  O. 

He  of  whom  we  write  was  reared  to  man's  estate 
in  Fulton  County,  attending  the  district  schools 
and  learning  the  many  duties  belonging  to  farm 
life.  When  ready  to  establish  home  ties  of  his  own, 
he  was  married  January  1,  1873,  to  Miss  Mary  C. 
Gunnett,  daughter  of  George  and  Isabella  (Mc- 
Farland  )  Gunnett.  natives  res|)ectively  of  Alloghen}' 
County,  and  Pittsburg,  Pa.  Mr.  Gunnett  and  his 
wife  were  united  in  marriage  in  Fulton  County,  and 
afterward  located  in  Fairview  Township,  where  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  eighty-one  and  one-half  acres 
and  followed  his  trade  of  a  carpenter.  He  died  in 
1867  at  the  early  .age  of  forty-five  years;  his  wife 
survived  him  and  is  still  living  in  Fairview  at  the 
age  of  sixt}--six  years.  The  record  of  their  seven 
children  is  as  follows:  Samuel  M.,  Mary  C,  Sarah 
J.,  Andrew  J.,  Mary  C.  (Mrs.  Swegle)  who  was  born 
in  Fairview  Township;  George  and  Joseph. 

After  their  marriage  our  subject  and  his  estima- 
ble wife  settled  on  the  Swegle  homestead,  where 
they  have  continued  to  reside  up  to  the  present.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Round  Top  Grange,  which  was 
organized  in  1863  and  afterward  revised.  He  also 
belongs  to  the  Fairview  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  lodge.  No. 
350,  and  has  served  as  Worshipful  Master  for  three 
terms.  He  is  identified  with  the  Eastern  Star,  No. 
99,  .and  to  this  his  wife  also  belongs.  In  fact,  she 
was  instrumental  in  its  organization  and  has  been 
its  Worthy  Matron  since  its  organization  in  No- 
vember, 1886,  until  the  present  time,  1890.  In  his 
political  convictions  Mr.  Swegle  is  a  Democrat  and 
is  much  interested  in  both  local  and  national 
politics.  He  and  his  wife  enjoy  the  distinction  of 
being  the  first  couple  married  in  Fairview  Townsliip, 
who  were  natives  thereof. 

Not  only  is  Mr.  Swegle  interested  in  farming, 
but  he  has  also  devoted  special  attention  to  stock- 
raising,  and  is  at  this  time,  1890,  the  owner  of  some 


valuable  stock,  making  a  specialty  of  the  breeding 
of  Durham  cattle  and  Percheron  horses.  He  comes 
of  a  pioneer  famil}',  his  uncle,  Mathias  Swegle,  be- 
ing the  first  settler  in  this  township  and  one  of  the 
first  in  Fulton  C<iunty,  having  come  here  in  1829. 
He  figured  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  served  as 
the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  here.  By  trade  he  was 
a  blacksmith  and  was  a  very  popular  and  fine  look- 
ing gentleman. 

The  pleasant  residence  in  which  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swegle  entertain  their  many  friends,  is  represented 
bj'  a  view  on  another  page. 


— S^I*f->- 


^j  IMON  P.  ADDIS.  Many  of  the  native- 
born  citizens  of  this  county  have  adopted 
an  agricultural  career,  and  are  accomplish- 
ing their  purpose  of  securing  good  homes 
wherein  all  the  comforts  of  our  advanced  civiliza- 
tion may  be  enjoyed.  Among  this  number  is  the 
gentleman  above  named,  whose  estate  on  section 
5,  Banner  Township,  consists  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  acres,  on  which  stand  the  various 
outbuildings  thought  necessary  by  a  progressive 
farmer,  together  with  a  beautiful  modern  residence 
erected  in  1889  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  The  soil  is 
naturally  fertile  and  every  effort  is  made  to  in- 
crease its  productiveness  by  a  proper  rotation  of 
crops  and  the  wise  use  of  drainage  or  fertilization, 
as  seems  advisable.  The  commodious  residence 
and  pleasant  surroundings  are  represented  by  a 
view  on  another  page. 

Our  subject  is  the  fifth  in  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren born  to  Aaron  and  Jane  (Snydam)  Addis,  of 
Banner  Township.  The  father  is  now  deceased, 
but  the  mother  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  He  of  whom  we  write  was  born  in 
Buckheart  Township,  February  18,  1843,  and  passed 
his  youth  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmers'  sons.  He 
worked  on  the  home  farm  until  August,  1862, 
when  he  was  able  to  accomplish  his  desire  to  enter 
the  armies  of  his  country  and  devote  the  strength 
of  his  right  arm  to  the  preservation  of  the  Union. 
Responding  to  the  call  for  three  hundred  thousand 
troops,  he  enlisted  in  Compau}-  K.One  IIun<lr('dand 


878 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


Tbird  Illinois  Infantry,  under  the  command  of 
Col.  Dic-kerraan.  and  was  mustered  into  service  at 
Peoria. 

The  regiment  was  attached  to  the  Fifteenth 
Army  Corps,  commanded  Ijy  the  gallant  .Tohn  A. 
Logan,  and  formed  a  part  of  tlie  Army  of  the 
Tennessee.  It  participated  in  all  the  battles  of  that 
department,  but  young  Addis  was  detailed  for  pro- 
vost duty, and  was  absent  from  his  regiment  much 
of  the  lime.  He  has  preserved  all  his  orders,  which 
prove  interesting  reading  to  a  student  of  the 
Civil  War,  but  his  modesty  prevents  him  from 
publishing  them  in  this  life  record.  For  three 
years  he  acted  well  his  part  as  a  loyal,  valiant  man, 
faithful  to  the  trust  reposed  in  him  and  watchful 
over  the  territory  in  wiiich  he  had  jurisdiction. 
He  received  an  honorable  discharge  at  Chicago 
July  o.  1865,  having  been  mustered  out  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  after  participating  in  the  Orand  Review 
dt  Washington.  He  had  never  missed  a  roll-call 
or  taken  a  dose  of  medicine  while  in  the  service. 

On  his  return  to  his  home  in  August.  1865,  Mr. 
Addis  engaged  in  farming  on  rented  land,  and  on 
November  1,  1866,  was  happily  married  to  Miss 
(Jeorcianna  .Sheaff,  of  Westmoreland  County,  Pa. 
This  lady  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Margaret 
.Sheaff,  and  under  their  care  and  training  grew  to 
womanhood  with  much  useful  knowledge  and 
many  virtues  of  heart.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Addis  bought  the  beautiful  farm  he  now  occupies, 
where  he  has  continued  to  give  his  attention  to  the 
calling  of  a  farmer,  wooing  from  the  soil  abundant 
croi>s  and  surrounding  himself  with  the  best  of 
rural  belongings. 

Mr.  and  Mr.  Addis  have  had  nine  children,  of 
whom  the  following  survive:  Delia,  wife  of  Leroj' 
C.  Ballard,  living  in  Buckheart  Township;  Web- 
ster, aged  fourteen;  Grace,  aged  twelve;  Russell, 
aged  nine,  and  G rover,  aged  four,  who  add  to  the 
charm  of  the  fireside. 

Mr.  Addis  is  an  active  Democrat  of  the  Stephen 
A.  Douglas  school,  and  takes  a  part  in  the  councils 
of  the  party  at  conventions,  etc.  He  is  at  present 
Supervisor  of  Banner  Township  and  formerly  held 
the  position  of  Highway  Commissioner  more  th.an 
fifleen  years,  and  was  School  Director  fourteen 
years    continuously.      He    is   Master   of    Banner 


Grange.  Xo.  1643,  P.  of  II.,  and  was  the  repre- 
sentative to  the  .Slate  Grange.  He  also  belongs  to 
Olive  Brancii  Lodge,  I.  0.  O.  F..  at  Canton.  His 
reputation  is  well  established  as  a  man  of  honor, 
reliability  and  true  worth,  and  he  is  respected  in 
due  proportion. 


,<^  AMUEL  EDWARDS.     It  is  always  a  pleas- 
^^^^    ure  to  see    persevering    industry    crowned 
<Mj_Jfj   with   success  and   to   find  those  of  middle 
age  able  to    retire  from    the  toils    of  life 
and  spend  their  declining  years  in  comfort  and  re- 
pose.    A  goodly  number   of    the  citizens   of  this 
county  have  met  with  such  success  in  their  worldly 
affairs  that   they    have    no    fears    for  the    future. 
Among  this  number  is  Samuel  Edwards,  the  largest 
landowner  in    EUisville  Township  and    one  of  its 
most  prosperous  citizens.     He  is  a  general  favorite, 
having  many  fine  qualities  of  character,    and   his 
friends  will   be   pleased   to  read  this  record  of  his 
life. 

The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Jesse  Ed- 
wards whose  liirth  took  place  in  .Alaryiaml  on  the 
south  branch  of  the  Potomac  River.  When  seven- 
teen 3'ears  old  he  joined  the  "Old  Continentals" 
serving  through  the  Revolution.  He  then  settled 
in  Kentucky  where  he  combined  the  occupations  of 
farming  and  hunting.  During  the  early  settlement 
of  Ohio  he  located  in  Adams  County,  buying  land 
which  he  improved  and  made  his  home  for  some 
years.  He  was  of  large  physique  and  strong  con- 
stitution and  lived  to  be  one  hundred  and  four 
years  old.  His  death  took  pLice  in  Scioto  County. 
He  was  an  old-line  Whig  and  an  active  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  a  Squire 
for  3'^ears. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Kentucky 
and  likewise  bore  the  name  of  Jesse.  He  was 
reared  in  Ohio  and  upon  reaching  manhood  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Adams  County.  After  having 
improved  a  tract  of  land  there  he  sold  it  and  pur- 
chased five  miles  distant,  across  the  line  in  Scioto 
Count}'.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He   was    identified    with  the   Methodist  Episcopal 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


879 


Church.  His  death  occui'red  when  he  was  forty 
years  old.  His  widow,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Sarah  Prater,  survived  him,  dying  in  1870.  Slie 
w.as  horn  in  Adams  County,  Oliio,  and  died  .at  the 
home  of  a  sister  in  that  State.  Her  father,  Maj. 
John  Prater,  a  native  of  Maryland,  was  an  early 
settler  in  Adams  County,  Indi.ans  stilllingering  in 
that  vicinity  when  he  located  and  wild  game  w.as 
abundant.  Bears  would  come  close  to  the  house 
and  carry  off  |>igs,  making  it  necessary  for  the 
members  of  the  family  to  be  very  watchful.  Maj. 
Prater  received  his  commission  during  the  War  of 
1812;  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 

The  parental  family  included  nine  sons  and 
daugiiters,  he  of  whom  we  write  being  the  fourth 
in  order  of  birth.  The  third  child,  John,  died  when 
seventeen  years  old  and  the  fifth,  William,  in  West- 
ern Missouri.  The  latter  was  in  the  Civil  War 
about  a  year  and  his  brother  Allen  served  two 
years.  Those  of  the  family  now  living  are  Mrs. 
Matilda  White  in  Effingham  County;  Mrs.  Cather- 
ine Moore  in  Ohio;  our  subject;  Mrs.  Celia  Ann 
Coffman  in  Rice  County,  Kan.;  Mrs.  Mary  Thomp- 
son in  Ohio;  Allen  in  EUisville  Township;  and  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Newman  in  Oregon. 

The  natal  (Lay  of  our  subject  was  November  25, 
1821,  and  his  birthplace  the  farm  ne.ar  West  Union, 
Adams  County,  Ohio.  He  was  reared  in  Scioto 
County  from  the  age  of  seven  years  and  in  his  boy- 
hood attended  subscription  and  free  schools  in  the 
old  fashioned  logschoolhouse  with  its  greased  paper 
windows  and  home-made  furniture.  His  principal 
text-book  was  Webster's  Elementary  Spelling  Book, 
with  which  he  became  so  familiar  that  he  can  even 
yet  recite  many  of  the  lists  of  words  which  he 
studied  again  and  again.  He  was  early  set  to  work 
oil  the  farm  which  lie  helped  to  improve  and  of 
which  he  took  chai-ge  when  quite  young.  The 
father  died  when  our  subject  was  ten  years  old, 
and  his  older  brother  being  a  cripple,  his  own  share 
of  the  home  duties  was  greater  than  would  other- 
wise have  been  the  case. 

When  twenty- one  years  old  Mr.  Edwards  began 
farming  for  himself,  renting  the  homestead  until 
his  marriage,  which  took  place  about  four  years 
later.  He  remained  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 
old  home  until   li^oO,   when   he   bought  land   near 


Rockville  on  the  Ohio  River.  The  land  was  im- 
proved and  Mr.  Edwards  operated  it  until  the 
spring  of  1855  when,  wishing  for  more  land,  he 
sold  and  came  to  the  newer  State  of  Illinois.  His 
journe\'  was  performed  on  a  Iioat  to  Liverpool, 
thence  by  w.agon  to  EUisville,  which  he  made  his 
home  until  1859.  He  rented  land  and  continued 
his  farm  pursuits  and  after  a  time  bought  a  place 
in  town.  Avon  was  the  most  convenient  market 
at  that  time  and  "stump-tail"  money  was  in  use. 
The  farmers  received  fourteen  cents  per  bushel  for 
their  corn. 

In  1859  Mr.  P^dwards  bought  eighty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 18,  EUisville  Township,  and  locating  there 
improved  the  land,  grubbing  out  stumps  and  other- 
wise preparing  the  soil  for  cultivation.  In  1864 
he  sold  that  farm  and  bought  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  on  sections  19  and  20,  which  was  valued 
at  $3,000  and  for  which  he  went  in  debt.  To  this 
acreage  he  has  since  added,  his  real  estate  in  the 
township  now  amounting  to  about  four  hundred 
aercs.  It  is  valuable  bottom  land,  bordering  on 
Spoon  River,  on  which  there  has  never  been  a  fail- 
ure of  crops.  It  is  all  improved  with  two  complete 
sets  of  farm  buddings.  Mr.  Edwards  raises  grain 
and  hogs,  has  some  eighteen  head  of  good  draft 
horses  on  the  farm,  and  feeds  cattle  and  swine  ciuite 
extensively.  In  1886  ho  gave  up  farm  work  and 
now  rents  his  estate,  furnishing  stock,  etc.,  and  re- 
ceiving a  share  of  the  proceeds.  Besides  this  large 
estate  !\Ir.  Edwards  owns  other  property,  all  of 
which  has  been  secured  through  his  own  efforts,  as 
he  started  in  life  at  the   bottom  of  the  ladder. 

Mr.  Edwards  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
union  was  solemnized  March  3,  1846,  his  bride 
being  Miss  Sarah  Dodds.  This  good  woman  was 
a  daughter  of  John  B.  and  Anna  (Tucker)  Dodds, 
of  whom  an  account  is  given  in  the  sketch  of  John 
W.  Dodds  on  another  page  in  this  Aliu'ji.  Mrs. 
Sarah  Edwards  was  born  in  the  Buckeye  State  and 
died  in  this  count}'  in  1877.  She  was  the  mother 
of  six  children  of  whom  we  note  the  following:  J. 
Q.,  owns  and  operates  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  in  Howard  County.  Neb.;  A.  G.,  a  gradu- 
ate of  Hedding  College,  at  Abingdon,  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business  at 
Omaha,  Neb.;  Winfield  S.,  a  graduate  of  the  com- 


880 


PORTRAIT  A>D  lilOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


mercial  college  at  Quincy  and  a  student  of  He<l- 
ding  College,  studied  law  with  Thomas  Boyd,  of 
Lcwistown  and  is  now  practicing  his  profession 
there  and  discharging  the  duties  of  County  Judge; 
INIartlia  died  when  sixteen  years  old;  William,  after 
having  taught  school  for  a  time,  is  now  engai;ed  in 
the  real  estate  and  insurance  business  with  his 
brother,  A.  G.;  Mary  was  formerly  a  school  teacher 
but  is  now  the  wife  of  Andrew  Sullivan,  a  barber 
in  EllisviUe. 

The  second  marriage  of  our  suliject  was  cele- 
brated in  Chester  Township,  Knox  County,  Janu- 
ary 10,  1878.  The  lady  who  then  became  his  wife 
was  Mrs.  Lydia  Webster,  nee  Glad  man.  She  was 
born  at  Gray  Shot.  Muskingum  County,  Ohio, 
February  23,  1839.  She  came  to  Illinois  with  her 
parents  in  her  infancj',  and  in  1854  the  famil3'  re- 
moved to  Iowa,  where  she  remained  until  1859, 
then  returned  to  this  county.  On  February  12, 
1861,  she  married  Martin  Webster.  That  gentle- 
man was  born  in  Chautauqua,  N.  Y.,  came  to  this 
county  with  the  pioneer  settlers  and  after  his  mar- 
riage bought  a  farm  on  section  8  and  established 
his  home  there.  This  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
furty  acres  of  improved  land  is  still  owned  by  Mrs. 
Edwards.  Mr.  Webster  was  Justice  of  the  Peace 
and  gave  his  political  support  to  the  Democratic 
parly. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Lydia  Edwards  was  W.  B. 
Giadman,  a  native  of  Gray  Shot,  Ohio,  and  her 
grandfather,  Thomas  Giadman,  a  Revolutionary 
soldier  and  early  settler  on  the  Muskingum  River. 
The  former  followed  farming  in  his  native  State 
until  1839,  when  he  came  West  with  his  family, 
settling  near  Middle  Grove,  this  county.  He 
bought  a  tract  of  raw  land  which  he  reclaimed,  re- 
siding upon  it  until  1854.  when  he  removed  to 
Henry  County,  Iowa.  There  he  embarked  in  hotel- 
keeping,  but  died  in  the  spring  of  1855.  His  wife, 
formerly  Catherine  Drum,  was  born  in  Virginia 
and  w.as  four  j'ears  old  wlion  her  parents  removed 
to  Ohio  with  pack  horses.  After  the  death  of 
Mr.  Giadman  she  bought  property  in  New  London, 
Iowa,  continuing  to  make  her  home  theie  and  finall3- 
marrying  Thomas  H.  Bristow,  a  wagon  and  car- 
riage-maker. She  breathed  her  last  in  1877.  She 
belonged    to    the    Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 


which   her  first  husband  had   been  a  Cl.ass-Leader. 

The  living  biothers  and  sisters  of  Mrs.  Edwards 
are  Thomas,  who  now  lives  in  Hopkins,  Mo.;  John 
W.,  in  Kansas;  William  H..  in  Mercer  Count}-,  this 
State;  Mary  C,  widow  of  Piiillip  .Smith  who  was 
five  years  in  the  army;  .Milton  H.,  who  lives  in 
Hopkins.  Mo. ;  and  Mahlon,  who  resides  in  New 
London.  Iowa.  The  deceased  are  Asburj-,  whose 
death  occurred  in  Iowa,  and  Alzina,  who  died  when 
a  yea.T  old.  Four  of  the  fraternal  band  were  in 
the  Union  -Arm}-.  Thomas  served  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Third  Illinois  Infantry  from  August,  1862. 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  John  W.  enlisted  in 
the  Sixteenth  Illinois  Infantry  in  1861  and  Asbury 
in  the  Seventeenth  Illinois  Infantry,  both  veteran- 
izing. William  H.  entered  the  Twenty-fifth  Iowa 
Infantr}'  when  but  eighteen  years  old;  and  escaped 
unhurt,  although  he  participated  in  twenty-six  hard- 
fought  battles. 

The  children  of  Mr.  Edwards  and  his  present 
wife  are  Frankie,  now  deceased;  W.  B.,  an  attor- 
nej"  at  Ft.  Scott.  Kan., who  studieil  in  Heilding  and 
Abingdon  Colleges;  Hattie,  who  married  L.  G.  New, 
a  carpenter  at  St.  Joe,  Mo.;  Ceha.  who  is  at  home; 
Estella,  who  died  when  four  months  old;  M.  Asa,  a 
farmer  in  Union  Township:  and  Lois,  who  married 
H.  Mitchell,  likewise  a  farmer  in  Union  Township. 

Mr.  Edwards  has  been  Pathmaster  for  years,  was 
Commissioner  of  Highways  ten  years  and  has  also 
served  as  School  Director.  He  is  a  Republican 
and  one  of  the  first  men  who  voted  the  Aliolilinn 
ticket.  Mrs.  Edwards  is  a  consistent  member  of 
the  L'nited  Brethren  Church. 


J.  MILLARD.  The  law  firm  of  Huiford  i 
lli#^  Millard  stands  ver^-  high  in  the  estimation 
of  the  people  of  Canton,  as  the  young  men 
who  compose  it  are  persons  of  strict  integ- 
rity and  high  honor,  and  are  al  o  well  versed  in 
jurisprudence.  The  junior  member  of  the  firm 
was  intended  for  the  ministry,  but  early  in  life 
showed  that  his  tastes  led  him  in  a  different  direc- 
tion. In  boyhood  he  took  advantage  of  every  op- 
portunity to  listen  to  the  pleas  of  the  local  lawyers 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


883 


nnd  would  rehearse  theui"  in  the  privac3^  ol'  his 
home.  .Sucli  indications  of  a  predilection  for  tiie 
law  were  not  to  be  withstood,  and  after  acquiiing 
a  literary  education  he  followed  the  bent  of  his 
mind  in  professional  studies. 

Mr.  Millard  is  of  French  ancestry  in  the  paternal 
line.  His  grandfather  came  from  Rhode  Island  to 
this  State  at  a  ver^'  earl3'  period  in  the  history-  of 
this  section,  and  made  a  settlement  in  Cuba.  There, 
George  Millard,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
and  followed  in  his  father's  footsteps  as  a  tiller  of 
the  soil.  He  married  Margaret  .Smith,  who  was 
born  in  Ohio,  but  accompanied  her  parents,  Jlr. 
and  Mrs.  William  Smith,  to  this  State  in  her 
infancy.  She  is  still  living,  but  her  companion 
laid  aside  the  cares  of  earth  in  1879.  The  parents 
reared  si.x  children,  of  whom  those  surviving  at 
this  writ  ng  are  Mrs.  Sarah  Ann  Shaw,  Henry, 
Reuben,  George  and  our  subject. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  was  born  at 
Cuba,  April  14,  1867.  He  gained  a  preliminary 
education  in  the  district  school,  followed  it  by  two 
years  study  in  the  High  School  of  Cuba,  this  in 
turn  being  supplemented  by  a  two  years'  course 
at  Shattuck  College,  in  Quiney.  He  took  the  first 
year  of  his  law  course  in  the  Gem  City,  but  was 
graduated  from  the  law  department  of  the  Michi- 
gan State  University  at  Ann  Arbor  in  1890.  Re- 
turning to  this  county,  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  M.  F.  HufTord.  His  business  is.  of  course, 
in  its  infancy,  but  judging  from  the  qualities  of 
his  mind  and  the  energy  of  his  i  ature  the  friends 
of  Mr.  Millard  [iredict  a  brilliant  ami  ustful  future 
for  him.  He  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  belonging  to  the 
Gem  City  Lodge,  in  Qnincy. 


» -^"-^-^- 


\T^)NOS  TARTER.  Tlie  portrait  on  the  oppo- 
fe)  site  page  represents  a  farmer  and  horticul- 
llLi^l  turistof  Farmers  Township,  who  is  probably 
as  widely  known  as  any  resident  therein.  He 
raises  much  fruit  of  excellent  quality,  shipping  ex- 
tensively, has  also  a  good  nursery  and  is  nc)tl)ebind 
his  neighbors  in  the  quality  and  quantity  of  his 
farm  crops.     He  has  been  useful  to  his  fellow-men 


in  various  ways  and  commands  a  high  measure  of 
their  esteem. 

Going  back  in  the  ancestral  line  a  few  genera- 
tions,'we  find  Peter  Taiter.  a  German,  who  emi- 
grated to  Virginia,  there  rearing  a  family,  among 
whom  was  a  son,  Peter.  This  son  became  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier  and  at  the  battle  of  Cowpens  had 
an  eye  shot  out,  and  also  had  the  fingers  of  his  left 
hand  severed  while  holding  his  gun  aloft  to  avert 
a  sabre  stroke.  He  vvas  one  of  ten  Revolutionary 
soldiers  who  lived  to  be  one  hundred  and  ten  3ears 
of  age.  For  thirty  yejrs  before'[his"death  he  was 
totally  blinil.  He  had  a  son,  also  named"  Peter, 
who  preached  the"  age  of  one  hundred  and  eight 
years.  Another  member  of  the  famil}-  was  Fred- 
erick, the  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  for  some 
time  a  resident  of  Pulaski  County,  Ky.  Thence 
with  his  wife  and  one  child  he  removed  to  Indiana, 
where  his  second  child,  Peter  S.,  now  an  attorney 
of  this  county,  was  born.  Some  time  afterward 
they  removed  to  Illinois,  which  was  then  considered 
the  Far  West,  their  arrival  in  this  county  being  in 
1828. 

Here  a  daughter,  Lydia,  was  born  in  1830.  and 
January,  183'2,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  opened 
his  e^'es  to  the  light.  At  the  time  of  his  birth  his 
father  was  absent  participating  !in  the  Black  Hawk 
War,  during  which  he  served  under  Gen.  Stillman. 
The  first  home  of  the  family^was  in  a  rented  cabin 
on  section  IG,  Farmers  Township,  where  they  spent 
the  winter,  after  which  they  "'squatted"  on  a  tract 
of  land  on  section  2,  where  the  father  established 
ills  right  to  a  quarter  section.  When  the  land  came 
into  raaiket  he  purchased  it,  being  obliged  to  go 
to  Quiney  to  file  his  claim,  as  there  was  no  land- 
oflice  nearer.  He  made  his  journey  in  a  carriage 
belonging  to  "Six.  Brand,  the  vehicle  having  half 
springs  and  being  covered  with  muslin  which  was 
painted  with  oil  and  lampblack. 

The  land  of  Mr.  Tarter  bordered  on  Spoon 
River,  and  with  the  excei)tion  of  the  woods  on  the 
bottoms,  was  mostly  prairie.  The  appearance  of 
the  country  has  materially  changed  since  that  time, 
there  now  being  much  more  woodland  than  then. 
Mr.  Tarter  made  shoes  for  his  own  family  and  for 
many  others  in  the  neighborhood,  his;[first  efforts 
in  that  line  having  been  for  wedding  parties.     The 


«84 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


son  of  whom  we  write  says  that  he  wore  none  until 
old  enough  to  help  raise  the  cattle  and  pull  the  tan- 
bark  which  secured  to  them  the  leather.  The  first 
school  he  attended  was  taught  by  an  old  Virginian 
named  Thornton,  in  a  little  log  building  on  section 
12.  The  chief  ability  of  the  master  lay  in  drinking 
whisk}-,  which  was  at  tiiat  time  used  b}'  every  fam- 
il3".  The  master  would  sit  on  a  split-bottom  chair 
while  the  little  urchins  stood  before  him  to  answer 
questions,  with  the  expectation  of  having  the  big 
white  hickor}-  cucigel  come  down  over  their  heads 
and  shoulders  if  an  error  was  maile. 

Mr.  Tarier's  family  was  fortunate  in  having 
good  instruction  at  home,  the  motlier  being  a  ladj' 
of  culture  who  taught  them  much  more  than  they 
learned  at  school  during  their  early  years.  They 
were  in  the  habit  of  having  spelling  schools  at 
home  and  otherwise  had  knowledge  made  interest- 
ing to  them.  Their  attendance  at  the  subscription 
school  was  generall}'  about  three  mouths  in  the 
winter.  The}'  were  supplied  with  homespun  cloth- 
ing through  the  efforts  of  their  devoted  mother, 
who,  like  many  another  pioneer  woman,  bore  a 
large  share  in  the  burdens  with  which  life  on  the 
frontier  abounded.  This  estimable  lady  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Christiana  Whiteley,  being  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Whitele}-,  of  Kentucky,  who 
became  a  large  manufacturer  in  Ohio,  witli  the  his- 
tory of  which  .State  he  was  quite  proniinentl)' 
identified. 

In  1857  Frederick  Tarter  removed  to  Missouri, 
settling  in  Grundy  County,  where  lie  was  living 
when  the  war  broke  out.  He  was  wounded  b}-  a 
bushwhacker,  his  injury  Ijeing  the  real  cause  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  Iowa  in  1871.  He  had 
five  sons  in  the  Union  Army,  one  of  whom  with  a 
squad  of  men  returned  to  his  home  and  soon  after- 
ward the  bushwhacker's  hat  was  hanging  on  his 
neighbor's  fence,  but  the  man  could  not  be  found. 
One  of  the  sons,  John  Tarter,  was  a  Captain  in  the 
Third  Missouri  Cavalry. 

The  first  mill  our  subject  can  remember  was  at 
Vermt>nt,  run  by  horse-power,  and  the  flour  sifted 
through  bolting  cloth  by  the  old  process  of  a 
shaker.  New  corn  was  grated  by  a  grater  and 
baked  in  the  old-fashioned  fireplace,  the  corncake 
being  often    placed  on    a    board.     The    houseliold 


utensils  comprised  skillets,  pots,  frying-pans  and 
an  oven.  Meat  was  abundant  in  the  wuods,  deer 
and  wild  turkeys  being  especially  plentiful.  Mr. 
Tarter  has  counted  as  many  as  one  hundred  and 
twenty  deer  in  one  herd  on  his  father's  place. 

The  following  is  taken  from  the  "Fulton  County 
History:"  '■  It  will  be  interesting  to  all  our  readers 
to  learn  of  the  encounter  Mr.  Enos  Tarter  once 
had  with  a  deer.  November  17,  1851,  while  riding 
home  from  a  day's  threshing  with  his  machine,  he 
discovered  a  ver}'  large  deer  crossing  the  road  a 
short  distance  ahead.  He  thought  that  an  excellent 
opportunity  for  having  some  fun,  and  accordingly 
put  spurs  to  his  old  horse  that  worked  on  the 
threshing  machine,  and  came  up  to  the  deer  in  the 
tall  grass,  and  attempted  to  strike  him  down  with 
his  knife,  but  it  being  blunt,  he  failed  in  that. 
Then  he  took  the  deer  b}'  the  tail,  and  at  this  part 
of  the  drama  the  animal  turned  and  horned  the 
horse,  which  caused  him  to  make  a  sudden  turn 
and  Mr.  Tarter  was  dragged  off. 

"Now,  Mr.  Tarter  and  the  nimble  deer  had  a 
close  encounter,  both  fighting  hard  for  their  lives. 
They  had  it  round  and  round,  Mr.  Tarter  holding 
on  to  his  -tail  hold,'  until  they  both  found  them- 
selves head  to  heels  in  the  ditch,  with  Mr.  Tarter 
on  top.  Ever}-  time  the  deer  tried  to  rise  up  he 
pressed  his  enemy  against  the  overlianging  turf, 
rendering  his  efforts  fruitless.  Finally,  about 
10.30  P.  M.  he  killed  the  deer,  and  reached  home 
at  1 1  o'clock  with  a  pair  of  pants  and  a  peice  of  a 
shirt  on.  He  still  carries  a  sore  on  his  iiead  from  a 
wound  he  received  by  the  hoof  of  the  animal  in 
this  conflict.  The  horns  of  the  animal  are  still  on 
exhibition  in  the  office  of  the  County  Treasurer  in 
Lewistown.  Mr.  Tarter,  on  anc>tl]er  occasion, 
caught  a  deer  by  the  fore-leg  as  i:  was  jumping 
over  the  fence." 

When  near  twenty-one  years  of  age  Enos  Tarter 
was  married  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Iloyle,  Sr., 
one  of  the  old  settlers  of  this  county.  She  is  of 
English  ancestry  and  a  n.ative  of  the  Bucke3'e  State, 
whence  she  came  hither  during  the  early  years  of 
her  girlhood.  Like  her  husband,  she  was  reared 
amid  surroundings  which  developed  the  study  vir- 
tues of  industry,  hosisitality  and  good-will,  and  has 
proved  her  worth  as  a  wife  and   mother  for  many 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


885 


years.     The  family  of  Mr.  and   Mrs.   Tarter  con- 
sists of  nine  fliiUlren.  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 

Of  those  who  u'rew  to  maturity  wc  note  the  fol- 
lowing: Mary  married  Charles  Ranisej',  of  Ion\a, 
in  which  State  she  resided;  wliile  on  a  visit  to  lier 
parents  she  took  a  congestive  chill  and  died,  leav- 
ing an  orphan  son  and  daughter.  The  boy  is  with 
his  father  in  Iowa,  and  tlie  daughter,  Lcora,  makes 
her  home  with  the  grandparents  of  whom  we  write. 
Abhie  is  the  wife  of  Hiram  Harlow,  a  carpenter  of 
Denver, Colo.,  their  family  consisting  of  one  child; 
Ida  is  tiie  wife  of  AVilliam  Harlow,  also  of  Denver, 
a  conductor  on  a  railroad;  their  family  includes 
four  children ;  Sarah  married  Albert  Hamm,  and 
has  four  children,  her  home  being  on  a  farm  on 
section  10,  Farmers  Township;  Lavinia,  wife  of 
Washington  Burgess,  a  teacher  in  this  county,  and 
formerly  Government  Clerk  in  Peoria,  has  borne 
one  child,  now  deceased;  Lydia  and  Harry  E.  still 
reside  under  the  parental  roof.  All  have  been 
well  educated,  have  made  a  good  start  in  life  and 
are  meeting  with  satisfactory  success  in  their  life's 
labors. 

Mr.  Tarter  belongs  to  the  Democratic  party,  and 
has  alwaj's  taken  an  active  part  in  political  affairs. 
He  has  been  elected  to  the  otTices  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  Town  Collector,  Road  Commissioner,  and 
was  also  Supervisor  of  the  Poor,  and  a  delegate  to 
State  Conventions.  His  service  as  Road  Commis- 
sioner extended  over  a  period  of  three  years,  and 
he  has  a(!ted  as  Justice  for  a  long  time.  He  has 
likewise  been  prominenti}'  mentioned  for  Shcriflf. 
He  has  made  law  quite  a  study,  is  entitled  to  prac- 
tice before  a  Justice  and  has  many  cases  to  attend 
to,  his  practice  extending  into  the  surrounding 
townshijis.  His  skill  in  the  treatment  of  cattle  and 
horses  is  well  known,  and  he  is  frequently  sent  for 
by  his  neighbors,  who  have  great  confidence  in  him 
as  a  veterinary  surgeon.  He  is  also  very  hand}' 
with  tools,  having  run  a  sawmill  which  he  started 
without  assistance,  one  of  the  difficult  matters 
which  he  successfully  accomplished  being  that  of 
making  a  head  to  the  piston  rod.  He  is  identified 
with  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  bears  a  promi- 
nent part  in  tiie  work  of  the  society,  often  speaking 
in  public,  delivering  sermons,  offering  eulogies,  etc. 
The  farm  of  Mr.  Tarter   is  covered  with  Indian 


arrowheads  and  other  specimens  of  Aboriginal 
origin.  The  three  mounds  whicti  are  on  the  land 
have  beenlfound  to  contain  many  articles  of  pre- 
historic interest.^  These  elevations  are  now'giving 
wav  to  the  plow. 


-5-*-i'^«^=f-i-^ 


O.SES  M.  JOHNSON  is  a  middle-aged  man 
who  enjoys  the  esteem   of  his  fellow- citi- 
*       lai  zens,  esiiecially  on   account  of   his   strong 
J  advocacy  of  equal  rights  to  the  laborer  and 

tlie  capitalist.  Through  years  of  careful  observa- 
tion, reading  and  study,  he  has  come  to  consider 
the  financial  status  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States  from  a  standpoint  of  impartiality,  and  has 
been  led  to  acknowledge  the  almost  entire  helpless- 
ness of  the  innocent  laborers.  He  is  a  leader  in 
the  farmers'  movement  in  this  county,  and  havino- 
begun  life  under  adverse  circumstances,  and  from 
early  manhood  having  been  brought  in  contact  with 
men  of  all  descriptions,  proclivities  and  tendencies, 
he  is  well  fitted  to  lead  his  fellows  on  to  a  higher 
sphere  of  thought  and  a  broader  outlook. 

Moses  C.  Johnson,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Vermont,  and  came  of  the  old  Green 
Mountain  stock.  He  came  to  Illinois  prior  to  1827, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  to  locate  in  Fulton  County. 
In  1831  he  settled  on  a  farm  in  Fairview  Town- 
ship, being  the  third  permanent  settler  north  of 
Canton.  He  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  as  a 
scout  and  patrolman,  being  an  experienced  hunter, 
and  an  expert  shot.  He  was  married  in  Liverpool 
Township  to  Miss  Zerilda  Willcoxen,  a  daughter  of 
Capt.  Elijah  Willcoxen,  whose  history  appears  else- 
where in  this  Album,  and  a  relative  of  the  renowned 
Daniel  Boone.  To  this  union  there  were  born  nine 
children — Charlotte,  Louisa,  Mary,  Elijah  W., 
Moses  Melville,  Deborah,  Zerilda,  America  and 
Orena  Ellen — all  but  three  still  living.  The  father 
died  when  our  subject  was  but  nine  years  of  age, 
and  his  mother  was  married  again. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Fairview  Township  in 
August,  1840,  and  remained  on  the  farm  until  six- 
teen years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  rented  a  tract 
of  land  on  shares.      He   had    received    a  common- 


886 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


school  education.  Wlieii  eighteen  _yeavs  old,  in 
companj-  with  a  party  of  friends,  lie  started  for 
Pike's  Peak,  leaving  the  Indinn  I^'ord  near  London 
Mills.  April  10.  1859.  Thej-  fell  in  with  other  out- 
fits, and  the  company  was  finally  increased  until  it 
numbered  one  hundred  adults,  and  the  train  con- 
sisted of  twenty-two  \vag(tns.  At  the  Big  Blue  in 
Kansas  some  of  the  company  Ijecanie  discouraged 
and  returned  East,  but  tiic  major  portion,  after 
some  discussion,  decided  to  continue  Westward  to 
tlie  Pacific  Coast. 

Reaching  the  Mormon  trail  at  Ft.  Kearney,  the3' 
followed  it  until  the  ninth  crossing  of  tlie  Sweet- 
Water,  when  the^'  diverged  to  the  northwest,  travel- 
ing over  hundreds  of  miles  without  seeing  a  human 
habitation  until  they  arrived  at  Ft.  Walla  Walla, 
September  10.  Mr.  Johnson  had  but  fifteen  cents 
in  Ins  pocket,  and  was  in  debt  for  the  scanty  half 
rations  on  whicli  he  had  subsisted  for  weeks.  He 
at  once  hired  out  to  work  by  the  month  on  the 
Government  ranch,  and  subsequently  worked  in  the 
lumber  regions  near.  About  this  time  E.  D.  Pierce, 
the  well-known  pioneer  prospector,  conceiving  the 
idea  that  there  were  great  treasures  in  the  upper 
country  formed  a  company  of  twenty-two  men,  of 
whom  Mr.  Johnson  was  one,  and  made  an  expedi- 
tion. The  party  traveled  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  northeast  of  Walla  Walla,  crossing  the  streams 
in  Indian  canoes  and  swimming  their  hoi'ses.  The 
adventures  of  this  company,  together  witli  the  de- 
scription of  the  wonderful  sceiierv  of  the  country 
which  they  traversed,  would  fill  a  volume.  It  is 
sufiicient  for  us  to  refer  to  it  .as  the  first  which 
formed  a  mining  camp  north  of  California  and 
herefore  of  great  historical  importance. 

The  members  of  the  party  naturally  endured 
man}'  privations,  such  .as  are  common  to  long  jour- 
neys through  mountainous  regions  and  far  from  the 
haunts  of  civilization,  but  notwithstanding  this 
the  journey  proved  most  interesting.  Mr.  John- 
son was  on  the  spot  where  Dr.  Spanldiug  established 
his  first  mission  in  18o7  and  printed  the  first  news- 
paper in  the  northern  part  of  the  Pacific  Slope. 
Mr.  Johnson  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  conversing 
with  the  missionary.  The  good  man  planted  an 
orchard  of  a[)ple  trees,  which  j\lr.  Johnson  saw  in 
full   bloom  and  which,  with   the  foundation  of  the 


stone  chimney,   were   the  only  things  left  of  the 
mission  after  the  massacre. 

In  mining  and  prospecting  INIr.  Johnson  spent 
four  seasons,  was  then  engaged  on  a  ranch  three 
seasons,  after  which  he  began  freighting,  carrying 
miner's  supplies  princi[)ally  trom  the  boat  landing 
on  t!ie  Columbia  River  to  different  mining  camps 
in  the  u[)per  country,  using  pack  mules.  He  had 
many  thrilling  exi)eriences  with  the  Indians  and 
narrowly  escaped  with  his  life  at  different  times. 
He  looks  back  upon  his  experiences  in  the  West 
with  a  great  deal  of  interest  and  satisfaction  as  a 
wonderful  school  of  actual  happenings.  After  nine 
years  of  life  in  that  country  he  sailed  from  Port- 
land to  SanFrancisco  where  he  embarked  for  Kcw 
York,  via  Panama,  finally  reaching  his  old  home, 
April  2,  1868. 

The  following  December  Mr.  Johnson  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Eliza  Jane  Downin,  daughter  of  J.  S. 
Downin,  whose  sketch  is  given  elsewhere  in  this 
volume.  She  was  boin  in  Maryland  but  came  with 
her  parents  to  Illinois  when  a  child.  She  is  the  eld- 
est daughter  in  a  family  of  eight  children.  After 
their  marriage  Mr.  an<l  Mrs.  Johnson  settled  on  a 
farm  that  the  husband  had  bought  at  the  Master  of 
Chancery  sale.  It  consisted  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-four  acres  on  section  7,  Fairview  Township, 
and  is  still  in  their  possession,  although  not  occu- 
pier! by  them  but  rented.  In  1887  IMr.  Johnson 
removed  to  a  large  tract  belonging  to  his  father- 
in-law,  where  he  continues  to  reside.  He  has 
practiced  strict  economy  and  worked  hard  and  has 
been  reasonably  sucoessfnl  in  his  life's  labors  in  a 
financial  sense.  He  believes  that  the  labur  of  this 
country  is  not  properly  recognized  and  has  worked 
hard  and  h.ng  and  expended  considerable  money 
in  furthering  the  labor  cause,  and  proposes  to  work 
in  this  direction  as  long  as  he  is  allowed  to  be  on 
earth. 

Mr.  Johnson  has  served  as  School  Trustee  and 
Highway  Commissoner,  having  been  elected  on  the 
People's  ticket.  He  is  a  strict  prohibitionist  but 
considers  the  labor  question  of  the  day  of  such 
paramount  imjiortance  that  he  gives  his  chief  atten- 
tion to  the  support  of  the  Labor  party.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  great  Labor  Convention  which  was 
held  in  St.  Louis,  Mo..  September  3,  1890.     When 


v..' 


^^W^-^^^^x^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


889 


the  Greenback  party  made  the  labor  question  a 
National  issue  he  heartily  endorsed  their  platform 
and  in  1880  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Con- 
vention of  the  Greenback  Labor  party  and  as  such 
helped  to  nominate  James  B.  Weaver  for  the  Presi- 
dency. That  year  he  was  tendered  the  nomination 
for  member  of  the  Legislature  but  declined,  lie 
liad  been  an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  Sheriff  on 
tlie  Greenback  ticket  in  1870  and  again  in  1878. 

Mr.  Johnson  has  given  the  Grange  movement 
his  earnest  support  from  its  inception  and  believes 
that  the  order  is  destined  to  effect  great  improve- 
ment in  the  enligiitenment  of  agriculturists  and  in 
freeing  them  from  the  selfishness  that  mars  human 
efforts.  He  is  Master  of  Round  Top  Grange  No. 
12'J;3,  and  has  been  since  its  revival  in  February, 
1890.  He  was  prominently  connected  with  Fair- 
view  Grange  No.  12,  the  first  organized  in  the 
county  and  was  a  charter  member.  In  his  farming 
operations  he  strives  to  use  intelligence,  and 
scarcclj'  a  year  passes  but  that  lie  introduces  some- 
thing new  and  of  importance  in  tlie  cereal  line.  lie 
has  brought  into  tlie  county  several  varieties  of 
potatoes  and  kee[)s  a  high  grade  of  cattle  strongly 
tinged  with  the  Short-horn  blood.  In  religion,  as 
in  politics,  lie  believes  in  equal  rights  and  the  care- 
ful observance  of  the  Golden  Rule. 


HARLKS  LUKER,  of  the  firm  of  Hornstein, 
Bolton  &  Co.,  brick  manufacturers  and  pro- 
/^^  prietors  of  the  plumbing,  gas  a  nd  steam 
fitting  establishment  in  Canton,  is  a  prominent  cit- 
izen of  this  city  and  well  known  throughout  Ful- 
ton County.  He  was  born  in  Overton,  Hampshire 
County,  England,  April  23,  1840,  and  is  the  son  of 
Charles  and  Maria  (Smith)  Luker.  His  father  was 
a  laborer  in  the  old  country  and,  now  in  his  eighty- 
fourth  year  continues  to  reside  in  his  native  town. 
The  mother  died  in  1886  after  reaching  her  seveutj'- 
sixth  year. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  had  thirteen  children, 
of  whom  the  following  grew  to  maturity:  Anna,  the 
wife  of  Henry  Larkraan,  a  resident  of  Yarmouth, 
England;  David,  an  engineer,  lives  in  Jersey  City 


Charles  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  Eliza  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  Watts,  an  engineer  in  England; 
Lydia  and  Sarah  are  deceased.  Martha,  vvas  the 
wife  of  Ed.  Baxton  of  Canton,  and  died  in  1889. 
Fannie,  the  wife  of  Edward  Tanner,  lives  near 
Overton,  England. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  left  home  when  only 
nine  years  of  age,  going  to  London,  where  he  had 
a  brother  and  an  uncle,  but  where  he  supported 
himself  without  receiving  assistance  from  any- 
one. He  secured  emploj  ment  upon  the  first  day 
he  arrived  in  London,  and  remained  with  his  em- 
ployer about  four  years.  At  a  later  date  he  was 
employed  with  the  Phoenix  Gas  Works,  and  re- 
mained there  for  three  years,  learning  the  gas  fit- 
ting trade.  With  this  company  he  remained  until 
he  emigrated  to  America  in  1868.  He  arrived  in 
this  country  on  July  7,  and  proceeded  directly  to 
Pittsfleld.  Prior  to  coming  to  the  United  States 
he  was  married  on  February  1,  1862,  at  St.  Xavier's 
Church,  Soutlnvark,  England,  to  .Maria  Preston,  a 
native  of  Devonshire,  England,  and  the  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Jlaria  Preston. 

To  our  subject  and  his  wife  were  born  in  Eng- 
land, three  children,  namely:  Charles  Henrv,  Al-  ' 
fred  Ernest,  and  Anna  Elizabeth.  But  in  less  than 
two  wetks  after  their  arrival  in  Pittsburg,  the  two 
boys  died  of  scarlet  fever  and  at  the  time  of  their 
illness,  the  parents  had  only  one  warm  friend  in 
Pittsburg.  Since  their  arrival  in  America  four 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  namely:  Charles 
Ernest  and  John  Henr3',  who  are  both  learning 
the  cigar  business  in  Canton;  William  Horace,  who 
assists  his  father,  and  Ada  Maria.  Onr  subject  re- 
mained in  Pittsburg  but  a  short  time,  and  in  1869 
removed  to  Chicago,  where  he  remained  until  1876, 
being  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Dox,  Luker  &  Bro., 
in  the  plumbing  business.  Mr.  Luker  was  also 
employed  by  the  Babcock  Extinguisher  Company 
for  some  time  and  by  the  American  Metre  Com- 
pany of  Chicago.  He  first  came  to  Canton  in  the 
employ  of  A.  B.  Swift  &  Co.,  who  built  the  gas 
works  here,  and  has  continued  to  make  this  his 
home  up  to  the  present  writitig  (1890). 

Mr.  Luker  remained  in  the  employ  of  the  firm 
above  mentioned  until  1881,  at  which,  time  he  es- 
tablished himself   in  business  and  soon  became  the 


890 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


leading  man  in  his  trade  in  this  city.  In  1886  he 
bought  a  third  interest  in  tlie  firm  of  Hornstein, 
Bolton  &  Co.,  a  concern  noted  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  Qne  goods,  and  which  receives  a  liberal 
patronage  from  the  public.  Socially  he  is  a  Mason 
and  belongs  to  the  Blue  Lodge  Chapter  at  Canton 
having  been  an  active  worker  in  this  order  anil 
holding  many  prominent  offices.  He  deserves  an 
almost  unlimited  amount  of  praise  for  the  success 
he  has  achieved,  having  by  means  of  his  own  in- 
dustry and  perseverance  raised  himself  from  the 
position  of  a  poor  boy  to  that  of  a  wealthy  and  in- 
fluential business  man.  On  another  page  the  reader 
will  find  a  lithographic  portrait  of  Mr.  Luker. 


=4^- 


1^^  AMUEL  TAYLOR.  A  pleasantly  hicated 
^^^  farm  on  section  20,  Lee  Township,  is  the 
li\/jf)  base  of  the  financial  operations  of  this  gen- 
~  tleman,  who,  in  addition  to  general  f.-irm- 
ing  is  doing  quite  an  extensive  dairy  business. 
He  lakes  a  special  pride  in  keeping  up  a  line  of 
very  fine  stock,  and  with  his  customary  good  judg- 
ment has  continued  the  improvements  that  were 
already  begun  on  the  place  when  he  purchased  it. 
Mr.  Taylor  was  born  in  St.  Lawrence  Count}', 
N.  Y.,  November  28,  1842.  His  father,  J.  H.  Tay- 
lor, was  born  in  Massachusetts.  Jauuar}'  4,  1805, 
and  his  mother,  Alvira  Taylor,  in  the  same  State, 
Maicli  G,  1806.  Tlie  wortliy  couple  are  still  living, 
their  home  being  in  Lee  Township.  Our  subject 
accompanied  his  parents  hither  May  12.  1852.  He 
received  his  schooling  in  the  district  schools  of  the 
township,  acquiring  a  good  practical  knowledge  of 
the  subjects  taught,  and  in  the  intervals  of  study 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  after  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  AVar. 

Bred  to  love  his  country,  and  recognizing  her 
need  when  the  attempt  was  made  to  disrupt  the 
Union,  young  Ta34or  enlisted  in  1862  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Second'Illinois  Infantry  and  was  en- 
rolled in  Company  D.  He  took  part  in  the  famous 
battle  of  Resaca,  marched  with  Slierman  to  the 
sea,  and  participated  with   his    regiment   in    man}- 


heavy  engagements  as  well  as  numerous  skirmishes. 
He  was  one  of  the  fortunate  number  wiio  never  had 
a  sick  day  while  in  the  service,  and  he  escaped  any 
serious  wound,  although  at  one  time  he  had  a  very 
close  call  fj'om  a  ball  which  struck  his  leg,  but 
glanced  off.  Mr.  Taylor  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  at  \Yashington  and  received  his  honorable 
discharge  at  Chicago,  June  14,  1865,  his  being  one 
of  the  first  regiments  that  was  discharged  at  the 
close  of  the  war. 

Mr.  Taylor  returned  to  his  father's  home  and  soon 
rented  a  farm  which  he  operated  for  several  years. 
He  finally  bought  the  eighty  acres  which  is  now  his 
home  and  on  which  for  some  years  he  has  been  in- 
dustriously laboring,  reaping  a  due  reward  for  his 
efforts.  He  is  a  stanch  Republican,  taking  a  lively 
interest  in  politics.  He  was  the  first  Republican  to 
hold  the  office  of  Clerk  in  this  township  and  was 
elected  over  a  man  that  had  held  the  office  eighteen 
3-ears.  Mr.  Taylor  was  Supervisor  several  years 
and  is  now  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  has  also 
served  as  School  Director.  He  has  never  been  an 
office-seeker,  but  from  his  long  residence  in  the 
county  and  his  upright  life  has  become  well  known, 
honored  and  respected,  and  is  therefore  called  upon 
to  serve  his  fellow-men.  He  belongs  to  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  and  his  oldest  son  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Sons  of  Yeterans.  Mr.  Ta\lor  is  also 
i<leutified  with  the  Anti  Horse-Thief  Society. 

Mr.  Taylor  established  a  home  of  his  own  Janu- 
arj'  2,  1868,  when  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Helen  Cheyuey.  This  lady,  who  is  the  oldest 
of  five  daughters,  born  to  Thomas  and  Harriet 
(Cunningham)  Cheyney,  is  a  native  of  Peoria 
County.  She  opened  her  ej'es  to  tiic  light  May  3, 
1843,  grew  to  womanhood  in  her  native  county,  ac- 
quired a  good  education  and  built  up  an  estimable 
character.  Her  parents  were  born  in  Ohio,  and  her 
mother,  who  is  still  living,  is  now  a  resident  of  Lee 
Township.  Mr.  Cheyney  died  in  Peoria  in  1653. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  are  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  living  are  Frank  L.,  Mina  A., 
Emma  R.,  Thomas  J.,  Samuel  J.,  Isaac  F.,  Effie 
H.,  and  Russell  H.  Their  second  child,  Augustus, 
who  was  born  October  18,  1870,  was  removed  from 
them  by  death  February  21,  1871. 

Mr.  Taylor  had  five  brothers  in  the  Union  arm}', 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


891 


one  of  them,  Jonathan,  having  served  almost  six 
years.  Isaac  was  killed  at  Gettysburg;  A.  Judson 
died  at  Memphis,  Tenn. ;  and  P.  Henry  and  Dan  ford 
were  spared  to  return  to  their  home. 


Eilnn  ::  fimir 


(if^^ON.  SIMEON  P.  SHOPE,  of  Lewistown, 
Chief  Justice  of  tlie  Supreme  Court  of  Illi- 
nois, is  one  of  tlie  most  distinguished  jurists 
in  the  Slate,  his  legal  attainments,  his 
reputation  as  a  judge,  and  his  high  chnracler  as  a 
man  and  a  citizen,  placing  him  at  the  head  of  his 
profession. 

Judge  Shope  was  born  in  Akron  Summit  County, 
Ohio.  His  father,  bearing  the  same  name  as  him- 
self, was  born  in  CLambersburg,  Pa.,  in  180.5.  He 
was  a  son  of  Jacob  Sliope,  a  native  of  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  wlio  w.as  one  of  tlnee  brothers  who  came 
to  America  in  1804.  One  of  them  settled  in  Vir- 
ginia, anotlier  in  Maryland,  and  tlie  grandfather  of 
our  subject  located  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  reared  a  family  of 
ten  children. 

The  father  of  our  subject  went  to  Mississippi 
when  a  young  man,  and  was  there  married  to  IMiss 
Lucinda  Richmond,  a  native  of  Louisiana,  and  of 
Scotclilrish  ancestry.  After  marriage  he  went  to 
Akron,  Ohio,  and  lived  there  two  years.  In  1837 
he  removed  to  Michigan,  just  prior  to  its  admission 
into  the  Union  as  a  State,  and  was  a  resident  there 
two  years  before  coming  to  Illinois.  After  his 
arrival  in  this  State  he  made  a  short  stay  at  Mav- 
seilles,  and  then  opened  a  hotel  in  Ottawa.  In 
1841  Mr.  Shope  decided  to  emigrate  further  West- 
ward, and  with  his  famil3'  started  with  a  team  and 
made  an  overland  journey  to  Cooper  County,  Mo., 
where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land,  intending  to 
make  a  home  there.  During  that  summer  his  life 
was  saddened  by  the  death  of  his  estimable  wife, 
and  he  no  longer  cared  to  remain  there,  and  in  the 
fall  of  the  year  he  returned  with  his  children  to 
Ottawa.  In  that  city  he  began  the  practice  of  law, 
remaining  there  until  1846,  when  he  went  to 
Bloomington,  where  he  opened  a  hotel.  In  1848 
he   made  another   move,  and  for  a  time  made  his 


home  in  Woodford  County  on  a  tract  of  wild  pra- 
irie land  that  he  purchased  there.  Two  years  later 
he  took  u|)  his  abode  in  Metamora,  where  he  gave 
his  attention  to  legal  pursuits.  A  few  years  later 
he  went  to  El  Paso,  and  there  his  honored  life  was 
brought  to  a  close  in  the  fall  of  1867.  He  had 
been  twice  married.  His  second  marriage,  which 
took  place  in  1844,  was  with  Adeline  Dodge,  a  na- 
tive of  Windsor,  Vt.  He  had  four  children  by  liis 
first  marriage  and  five  b3'  the  second. 

In  his  youth  the  subject  of  this  biography  at- 
tended the  public  schools,  and  advanced  his  edu- 
cation as  a  student  at  Eureka  College.  After 
leaving  that  institution  he  studied  under  private 
tutelage.  When  seventeen  3-ears  old  he  commenced 
leaching,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  began  the  study 
of  hiw  in  the  oflices  of  Judges  Purple  and  Powell, 
of  Peoria.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  fail 
of  1856,  his  certificate  being  signed  bj'  Judge  E.  S. 
Leland  and  others,  and  lie  commenced  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  ^Metamora. 

Our  subject,  remained  in  the  last-mentioned  city 
until  the  spring  of  1857,  when  he  came  to  Lewis- 
town,  and  was  actively  engaged  at  his  calling  until 
his  election  to  the  Circuit  Bench  of  the  Sixth  Judi- 
cial District  in  1877.  He  was  re-elected  the  follow- 
ing year  and  served  until  1885.  In  that  j'ear  he 
was  selected  as  the  man  best  tilted  by  learning,  es- 
l)erience  and  the  possession  of  masterly  judicial 
qualities  for  the  important  office  of  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  this  State,  and  was  elected 
to  that  position.  He  possesses  a  clear,  comprehen- 
sive, analj'tical  mind,  which,  together  witli  his 
thorough  training  and  his  retentive  memory,  he 
being  able  to  cite  case  after  case  bearing  on  any 
point  under  consideration,  renders  him  peculiarly 
fitted  for  the  lionorable  and  useful  office  whose 
duties  he  is  so  ably  discharging.  He  is  keen  in  direct 
and  cross-examination,  takes  great  care  to  ascertain 
all  the  facts  of  a  case  before  presenting  it  to  a  jury, 
which  is  done  in  a  most  convincing  manner,  show- 
ing a  wide  research  and  a  remarkable  knowledge  of 
llie  laws  of  his  native  land  and  oilier  countries. 

Judge  Shope  was  married  in  1857,  to  JMiss  Sarah 
M.  Jones,  a  native  of  Lewistown,  and  a  daughter 
of  W^csley  and  Eliza  Jones.  She  was  a  woman  of 
fine  character  and  man}-  pleasant   personal   attrib- 


892 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


utes,  and  by  her  death,  January  4,  1882,  her  hus- 
band lost  a  devoted  wife  and  true  friend,  and  her 
cliildren  a  tender  and  wise  mother.  The  Judge 
has  two  children — Clarence  AV.  and  Mabel  Ra}-. 

Not  only  has  our  subject  done  good  service  Ic 
tlie  public  in  his  judicial  caijacitles,  but  he  has  held 
various  otlicr  offices  of  trust  in  town  and  county. 
He  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature  in  1862, 
and  his  course  while  a  member  of  that  honorable 
body  showed  that  he  acted  from  the  sincerest  de- 
sire to  promote  tiie  best  interests  of  Illinois.  lie 
was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors here,  and  he  lias  served  as  delegate  to 
numerous  .State  and  County  Conventions,  acting  in 
tliat  capacity  at  the  National  Convention  in  1868, 
when  Horace  Greeley  was  nominated  for  the  Presi- 
dency. Politically,  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat! 
casting  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Steplien  A. 
Douglas.  He  is  prominently  identified  vvith  the 
Masons,  as  a  member  of  Lewistown  Lodge,  No.  104; 
Havana  Chapter,  No.  44,  R.  A.  M.;  Damascus 
Commandery  of  Canton,  K.  T.  He  is  a  member  of 
Springfield  Order  of  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks;  Keneth  Lodge,  No.  146,  K.  of  P.; 
and  of  Levvistown  Camp,  M.  W.  A.  He  is  thor- 
oughly Democratic  and  simple  in  liis  manners,  the 
honors  heaped  upon  him  having  in  no  way  elevated 
his  pride  or  detracted  from  his  frank,  cordial 
friendliness  in  his  intercourse  (vlth  others. 


ON.  JOSEPH  H.  GARDINER  is  the  oldest 
resident  of  Joshua  Township  and  one  of 
^^^^  the  oldest  of  Fulton  Count}'.  His  father 
(^^  was  Beriah  Gardiner,  and  his  mother  Eliza- 
beth (Hammond)  Gardiner,  and  both  branches  of 
the  family  came  originally  from  England,  some  of 
the  ancestors  emigrating  from  that  countrj'  about 
the  time  of  the  landing  of  the  ''Mayflower."  The 
great  grandfather,  Nicholas  Gardiner,  was  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  America,  having  settled 
in  Rhode  Island,  and  living  on  Exeter  flats.  It  was 
here  that  the  father  of  the  subject  of  the  sketch 
was  born  November  16,  1771.  He  was  a  seafaring 
man,  and  commanded  his  own  vessel.     He  died  at 


home  on  February  12,  1853.  He  was  twice  married 
and  was  the  father  of  a  large  family. 

The  children  b}'  his  first  marriage  are:  Beriah, 
wlio  was  born  March  28,  1794  and  died  April  2, 
1794;  Elizabeth,  born  June  27,  1795  and  died  Oc- 
tober 17,  1837;  Nicholas  V.,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber »1 3,  1797;  Mary  H.  who  was  born  March  9, 
1800;  Beriah,  born  March  27,  1802  and  died  Sep- 
tember 19,  1876:  Ezekiel,  born  February  6,  1804, 
and  died  September  19,  1874;  Phoebe,  born  Febru- 
ary 25,  1806;  Deborah,  born  January  25,  1808.  and 
died  September  30,  1863. 

The  marriage  of  Beriah  Gardiner  and  Elizabeth 
Hammond  occurred  October  25,  1808,  and  the  chil- 
dren born  to  this  union  were,  Joseph  H.,  born 
February  22,  1811;  James  A.,  born  Januarj-  23, 
1813  and  died  December  25,  1852;  Harriet  C, 
born  March  11.  1815;  Lucy  A.,  born  February  21, 
1817,  and  died  October  19,  1878;  Benjamin  C, 
born  September  11,  1821  and  died  October  27, 
1863;  Aldrich  B.,  born  May  25,  1826;  and  William 
W.,  born  December  15,  1828  died  August  30, 
1875.  Only  four  children  are  living  at  the  present 
writing.  Aldricli  makes  his  home  in  Providence, 
R.  I.,  where  he  is  a  successful  manufacturer,  and 
his  sisters  also  reside  in  ttie  E.ast.  The  father  and 
four  sons  were  most  successful  vessel- masters,  never 
losing  a  ship. 

Joseph  Gardiner,  whose  histoiy  now  claims  at- 
tention, was  reared  and  educated  in  Rhode  Island 
and  there  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  Moving 
to  New  York  in  the  3'ear  1828,  he  settled  in  Yates 
County,  in  the  central  part  of  the  State,  and  con- 
tinued to  make  that  his  home  until  he  came  West, 
and  while  there  pursued  the  above  mentioned  trade. 
He  was  married  there  in  1836  and  moved  with  his 
famil}'  to  the  West  in  the  same  year.  This  trip 
was  made  bj'  team  and  occupied  a  period  of  five 
weeks  and  three  da}'s  with  steady  traveling  in  order 
to  reach  Canton,  this  State.  Arriving  here  he  pur- 
chased the  farm  upon  which  he  still  lives  and 
which  for  more  than  half  a  century  has  been  his 
home.  Giving  up  his  former  trade  he  devoted  Iiis 
time  to  cultivating  the  soil.  He  is  also  an  active 
business  man,  owning  a  blacksmith  shop,  a  culti- 
vator factory,  a  sawmill  and  gristmill,  and  having 
besides  an  interest  in  a    mercantile  business.     Mr. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


893 


Gardiner  retains  many  interestiug  recollections  of 
the  early  days  of  bis  life  at  this  point.  It  was  fre- 
qiientl3'  necessary  for  him  to  travel  from  this  point 
to  Chicago  by  an  ox-team  witli  a  luad  of  grain,  tlie 
river  being  so  low  that  boats  were  unable  to  make 
the  regular  trips,  and  tlie  necessaries  of  life  were  con- 
sequently denied  thcin  at  home.  He  made  over  §100 
on  one  of  these  long  Iripsby  purchasing  dry-goods, 
groceries,  etc.,  and  .selling  them  at  this  point.  JNIany 
times. he  shipped  his  year's  produce  on  a  flatl)oat 
to  St.  Louis  and  brought  back  a  year's  supply  for 
his  family  and  business.  Fortunately  for  him  the 
Black  Hank  War  was  ended  before  his  arrival  in 
this  section  of  the  country.  Both  hi.s  father  and 
grandfather  served  in  the  Revolutionarj'  War. 
During  the  war  of  1812  the  father's  family  were 
blockaded  in  Narragansett  l)y  a  British  squadron 
and  an  officer  in  command  of  a  British  vessel  was  a 
kinsman  of  this  family  and  bore  the  same  name.  lie 
•sent  a  pass  to  Mr.  Gardiner,  Sr.,  which  the  latter 
refused  to  use.  The  family  being  all  sailors  they 
did  not  engage  in  the  War  of   1812. 

Mr.  Gardiner  was  marrieil  in  Yates  County,  N. 
Y.,  in  the  j^ear  1831,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Margaret  Rawalt,  who  died  July  15,  1884, 
after  a  ha|)p3'  manied  life  which  extended  over  a 
period  of  lifty  years.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  Rawalt,  who  were  early  pioneers  of 
this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gardiner  reared  nine 
children,  viz:  Elizabeth,  born  August  21,  1832; 
Maria  P.,  born  August  18,  1837  ;  Nicholas  B.,  born 
October  21,  1836  and  died  August  27,  1862;  Mary 
Jane  born  December  28.  1839;  Phoebe  Ann,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1871  ;  Joe  B.,  born  March  10, 1844,  and  who 
is  at  present  a  hardware  merchant  at  Canton,  111.; 
John  R.,  born  March  29,  1846,  and  at  present  a 
real  estate  man  at  Canton,  III.;  Margaret,  born 
September  24,  1878;  and  James,  born  September 
11,  1851,  and  who  is  a  druggist  in  Canton,  111. 

Mr.  Gardiner  cast  his  first  vote  for  Gen.  Jackson. 
He  has  held  several  important  offices,  and  has  time 
and  again  represented  his  community  in  the  legisla- 
ture. He  is  a  self-made  man  and  everything  to 
which  he  has  devoted  his  attention  has  proved  a 
success.  He  has  worked  hard  and  achieved  much, 
and  is  at  the  present  date  enjoying  life  to  the  fullest 
extent,  spending  his  time  at  Newport   and    other 


prominent  |)laces  through  the  East.  He  has  pro- 
vided most  liberally  for  all  his  family,  but  has  at 
the  same  time  reserved  a  fortune  for  himself.  lie 
has  at  all  times  and  in  all  ways  ministered  to  the 
public  good,  and  is  one  of  the  most  substantial  and 
highly  respected  men  this  county  has  ever  claimed 
as  a  resident.  Mr.  Gardiner  attends  the  Sweden- 
borgian  Church  and  has  been  a  member  of  farmer's 
societies.  It  vvonid  be  difficult  in  a  brief  space  to 
mention  the  numerous  business  and  social  successes 
that  liave  ever  attended  this  worthy  gentleman,  or 
to  relate  the  high  esteem  and  veneration  in  which 
he  is  held  by  neighbors,  acquaintances  and  friends 
throughout  the  county. 

John  R.  Gardiner,  son  of  our  subject,  was  reared 
on  his  father's  farm  and  educated  in  ihe  common 
schools  of  the  district,  taking  a  finishing  course  of 
study  in  the  school  at  Canton.  He  remained  at 
lionie,  working  on  the  old  homestead  until  his  mar- 
riage, which  was  solemnized  in  the  autumn  of  1867 
in  Putman  Townshii),  his  bride  lieing  Miss  Jennie 
Putman.  Her  parents,  Harrison  and  Melinda  (Fouts) 
Putman,  came  to  this  county  earl}'  in  the  '20s  and 
the  townshii),  when  laid  out,  was  named  in  their 
honor. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Gardiner  settled  on  land 
of  his  own  in  Canton  Township,  continuing  his 
farming  operations  until  1877,  when  he  embarked 
in  the  grocery  business  in  Canton  in  connection 
with  his  brother  James,  wlio  is  now  a  druggist  here. 
The  business  was  continued  about  four  years,  when 
tbe  brothers  sold  out  and  John  began  buying  and 
shipping  stock.  He  continued  this  business  until 
1887,  since  which  time  he  has  been  loaniug  money 
and  attending  to  real-estate  business.  He  has  charge 
of  the  property  of  several  men  'who  have  retired 
from  business  and  is  zealous  in  .advancing  their  in- 
terests. In  1889  he  bought  out  a  cigar  factory  in 
which  he  had  tiecome  interested,  but  not  wishing  to 
continue  the  business  he  is  closing  it  out.  He  re- 
tains possession  of  Ids  farm,  but  rents  it  in  order 
to  give  his  mind  wholly  to  his  pursuits  in  town. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gardiner  are  excellent  representa- 
tives of  their  respective  families,  which  are  among 
the  first  in  the  county.  They  have  two  children — 
Frank  P.,  a  youth  rapidly  advancing  toward  man's 
estate,  and  Bertha  Pearl,  a  bright  little  miss  aged 


894 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


eight  years.  Mr.  Gardiner  bolonss  to  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  in  Canton.  He  is  not  a  politician,  but 
has  served  in  the  Assessor's  oflBue  several  times, 
always  being  noininated  without  solicitation  or  en- 
couragement on  his  part.  He  vvas  recently  asked 
to  stand  for  the  office  but  refused.  His  activitj'  in 
the  business  world  is  recognized  by  his  associates, 
and  the  place  that  he  fills  in  business  and  social 
circles  is  a  creditable  one. 


"ifJOHN  W.  DODDS.  This  worthy  gentleman 
is  now  numbered  among  the  agriculturists 
of  Ellisville  Township.  His  property  occu- 
(^^'  pies  a  fine  location,  is  su))plied  with  good 
buildings,  and  is  being  otherwise  improved  as  rap- 
idly as  possible.  It  ha's  been  the  home  of  our  sub- 
ject only  since  1887,  when  lie  abandoned  mercan- 
tile pursuits  on  account  of  failing  liealth,  believing 
tiiat  an  employment  which  would  require  more 
time  in  the  open  air  would  be  beneficial.  Tlie  es- 
tate which  he  operates  consists  of  two  hundred  and 
thirty-five  acres  on  sections  5  and  32.  Sir.  Dodds 
also  owns  town  propert}'  in  Ellisville,  where  he 
carried  on  a  thriving  trade  as  a  merchant  for  a 
number  of  years. 

The  subject  of  this  biograpjiy  is  a  grandson 
of  James  Dodds.  wlio  was  born  in  Scotland,  and 
some  time  after  his  marriage  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica. He  located  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  fol- 
lowing farming.  He  Qnall3'  removed  to  Pittsburg, 
and  after  spending  some  time  with  a  daughter, 
went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  with  a  son.  and  quite 
early  in  the  history  of  this  section  of  the  country 
came  to  Ellisville.  Here  he  made  his  home  with 
a  daughter,  Mrs.  Shearer,  until  his  death,  which 
took  place  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eightv-scven 
years. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  John  B.  Dodds, 
who  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  in 
1  798.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  county  and  in 
Pittsburg    adopted    the   occupation    of    a   school 


teacher.  After  some  professional  work  in  his  na- 
tive State  he  went  to  Scioto  County-,  Ohio,  follow- 
ing the  same  occupation  there.  He  also  bought 
land  on  the  Ohio  River,  improved  two  farms  and 
engaged  to  some  extent  in  lumbering.  In  1857  he 
sold  his  Ohio  property,  and  taking  up  his  residence 
in  Ellisville,  111.,  engaged  with  his  son,  David,  in 
the  sale  of  general  merchandise.  For  five  years  he 
was  thus  occupied.  He  owned  farm  land  which 
he  rented,  remaining  in  the  town  until  his  death 
in  1882,  His  first  connection  with  a  relig.'ous 
body  was  with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  but  he 
afterward  belonged  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal. 
He  was  an  active  worker  in  the  Sunda}- -school  as 
Superintendent,  etc.  Politically,  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  Anna  Tucker, 
who  was  born  in  Scioto  Countj%  Ohio,  June  2, 
1797,  Her  father,  John  Tucker,  was  a  native  of 
Maryland,  and  her  mother,  Sarah  (Mitchell)  Tucker, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Tucker  was  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  but  having  settled  in  Ohio  in  au 
undeveloped  country  overrun  bj'  Indians,  he  fol- 
lowed farming.  Mrs.  Anna  (Tucker)  Dodds  died 
in  1852.  She  was  the  mother  of  six  childi-en,  five 
of  whom  giew^  to  maturity.  Of  these  our  subject 
is  the  youngest.  The  others  are:  David  T,.  a 
.^peculator  at  Ridgedale,  near  Chattanooga,  Tenn.; 
William  T.,  a  hardware  dealer  in  Byron,  Ogle 
County,  this  State;  Martha  A.,  Mrs,  Moore,  who 
died  in  Ohio  when  twenty -seven  j-ears  old,  and 
Sarah  J,,  Mrs,  Edwards,  who  died  in  Ellisville, 
The  other  child,  James  H.,  was  drowned  in  Brush 
Creek,  in  Ohio,  when  eleven  years  old  by  getting 
into  deep  water  when  crossing  on  horseback. 

The  father  of  our  subject  married  a  second  time 
and  had  three  children — Belle,  who  died  when 
twenty-four  years  old;  James,  who  died  when 
twenty-two:  and  Maggie,  now  Mrs,  Weaver,  of 
California.  Willi.am  T.  Dodds  enlisted  in  1861 
in  the  Seventeenth  Illinois  Infantry  and  was  chosen 
Captain  of  Company  C.  He  served  until  ph3'sical 
disabilitj'  compelled  his   resignation  and  discharge. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  near  Ports- 
mouth. Scioto  County,  Ohio,  June  7,  1836.  He  en- 
joyed but  limited  school  privileges,  attending  the 
free  schools  during   the  winter.     In  his  youth  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


895 


rafted  down  tlie  Ohio  River  to  Cincinnati,  carrying 

tanliark.  coidn'ood,  and  other  articles  to  the  Buck- 
eye metropolis,  where  they  would  he  sold.  In 
18,55,  when  nineteen  yeai'S  old,  he  came  by  boat 
to  Livcr|)CM>l.  III.,  and  thence  made  his  w.a^-  to 
EUisville.  In  connection  with  Samuel  P>hYards, 
he  carried  on  a  farm  until  the  fall,  when  he  re- 
turned to  his  own  home.  lie  took  charge  of  the 
home  farm,  oiierating  it  until  November,  1856. 
In  the  meantime  his  father  and  brother  had 
bought  their  store  at  P^llisville,  and  he  returned 
thither  to  clerk  for  them. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War,  young 
Dodds  was  not  content  to  pursue  his  peacefvd  call- 
ing .vhilc  strong  right  arnis  were  needed  in  his 
country's  defense.  In  August,  1861,  therefore,  he 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Forty-seventh  Illinois 
Infantr3-,  and  was  mustered  in  at  Peoria.  When 
Company  A  was  organized  he  was  elected  Second 
Lieutenant,  receiving  his  commission  August  26. 
The  command  was  sent  South  to  Benton  Barracks, 
St.  Louis,  and  then  to  Jefferson  Citj-,  iMo.  Thence 
thev  went  to  Booneville,  subsequently  taking  part 
in  the  engagements  at  New  Madrid,  Tiptonville, 
Point  Pleasant  and  Farniington,  Tenn.  After  the 
latter  engagement  Mr.  Dodds  was  commissioned 
First  Lieutenant  by  reason  of  a  vacancy.  In  the 
well-known  contests  at  Corinth  and  luka  he  bore  a 
gallant  part,  as  he  did  in  the  various  campaign 
duties  which  intervened  between  the  engagements 
noted.  His  health  became  so  impaired  that  he  was 
obligetl  to  stay  in  his  quarters,  and  at  last  to  re- 
sign, receiving  an  honorable  discharge  in  July, 
1862. 

When  he  could  no  longer  serve  his  country  on 
the  tented  field,  Mr.  Dodds  bought  the  stock  of 
goods  of  his  father  and  became  a  merchant.  He 
carried  on  a  general  store  in  Kllisville  until  1865, 
then  removed  to  Prairie  City,  McDonough  County, 
and  was  similarly  occupied  there  some  five  years. 
Returning  to  F.Uisville.  he  tlien  built  a  store  build- 
ing and  dealt  in  general  merchandise  and  drugs 
until  1887.  His  failing  health  warning  him  to 
abandon  his  indoor  life,  he  then  disposed  of  his 
stock  to  Norris  &  Weaver  and  located  on  the 
farm  wliich  he  had  purchased  in  1883.  The  farm- 
house   is   a  large,    comfortable    dwelling  and   the 


other  buildings  quite  in  keeping  with  it,  the  barns 
being  50x50  feet  and  well  built.  Jlr.  Dodds  raises 
iiigli  grades  of  Short-horn  and  Hereford  cattle, 
full-blooded  hogs  of  good  breed  and  graded  horses 
of  good  quality. 

In  Knoxville,  iu  1863,  Mr.  Dodds  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Susan  B.  Hollister,  with 
whom  he  lived  happily  until  I<s75,  when  she  en- 
tered into  rest.  Mrs.  Dodds  was  born  in  Fnion 
Township,  this  countj',  wheie  her  father,  Chandler 
Hollister,  made  an  early  settlement.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  also  kept  an  hotel.  His 
<laughter  was  a  school  teacher  of  excellent  reputa- 
tion. She  liore  our  subject  four  cliildren,  two  of 
whom  still  reside  under  the  parental  roof.  All 
have  received  excellent  educational  privileges,  two 
of  the  sons  liaving  attended  the  University  at  ^'al- 
paraiso,  Ind,,  the  third  son  being  a  student  at 
Lombard  University,  Galesburg,  and  the  daugliter 
in  Byron  Seminary.  Frank  P.,  the  first-born,  is 
teaching  in  Oakey,  Logan  County,  Kan.;  Ralph 
H.  is  in  the  employ  of  the  United  States  Express 
Company  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.;  Edwin  M.  and 
Susan  B.  have  not  yet  begun  their  personal  careers. 

The  second  marriage  of  our  subject  took  place 
in  EUisville  in  187G.  His  companion  on  this  oc- 
casion was  Miss  Catherine  Garrison,  a  native  of  this 
county,  daughter  of  William  P.  Garrison,  a  farmer 
here.  The  i)resent  wife  of  Mr.  Dodds  is  also  a 
native  of  this  county,  and  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Carrie  Garrison, 

Mr,  Dodds  has  filled  the  office  of  Supervisor  two 
terms,  has  been  Commissioner  of  Highways  and 
was  Township  Clerk  four  years.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Village  Board  of  Trustees  and 
President  of  that  body.  He  belongs  to  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  to  the  Golden 
Gate  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Prairie  City.  In  the 
former  order  he  is  Past  Noble  of  the  lodge  at 
EUisville,  and  has  been  Deputy.  He  also  belongs 
to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Rei)ublic,  being  Com- 
mander of  Casper  .Sehleich  I'ost,  and  during  the 
recent  reunion  in  Milwaukee  visited  that  city  as  a 
delegate.  He  is  a  true-blue  Republican,  has  fre- 
quently been  a  delegate  to  count}'  and  State  con- 
ventions and  represented  his  party  in  the  last  two 
State  conventions. 


896 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


^I^/RANCIS  M.    HARRISON.      Among  those 

Jb^  men  who  by   dint  of  natural    ability   and 
i)  perseverance  have  commenced  at  the  bottom 

round  of  the  ladder  of  fortune  and  worked  their 
way  to  the  top,  we  find  Francis  M.  Harrison.  To 
such  men  the  country-  is  indebted  for  the  excellent 
example  set  the  youths  of  tlie  land  as  well  as  for 
the  good  results  they  have  accomplished  in  the 
communities  where  they  have  resided. 

Mr.  Harrison's  birth  occurred  in  Lewis  County, 
Kentucky,  August  9,  1828,  he  being  the  son  of 
James  and  Saiah  (Lee)  Harrison,  both  natives  of 
the  beautiful  Blue  Grass  State.  He  parsed  his 
j'outh  on  one  of  the  farms  in  his  native  State, 
noted  for  the  beauty  of  the  country,  and  attended 
the  old  log  sclioolliousps  common  to  those  times. 
While  these  buildings  were  of  the  rudest  possible 
order,  yet  there  was  something  picturesque  about 
them  that  lingers  long  in  the  memory-,  aud  the 
knowledge  imparted  in  them  while  possessing  none 
of  the  advantages  of  the  present  time,  was  often- 
times the  foundation  for  a  record  of  brilliancy  in 
after  life. 

Our  subject  at  an  early  age  commenced  farming 
through  the  summer  months,  and  when  twenty  years 
old  came  to  this  place,  making  the  trip  b}'  way  of 
the  Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers,  on  steam- 
boats. His  father  came  with  him  for  a  short  visit. 
He  worked  out  for  five  or  sis  3eais,  receiving  in 
compensation  for  his  services  thirteen  <lcllars  per 
month.  He  bought  a  tax-title  on  the  eighty  .acres 
of  land  that  he  now  owns,  and  got  a  deed  later  on. 
The  place  was  covered  with  heavy  limber,  and  the 
country  all  around  was  as  wild  as  wild  could  be 
Deer,  wild  turkeys,  and  red  men  abounded  on 
every  side.  In  1875  Mr.  Harrison  purchased  eighty 
acres  across  from  his  farm,  and  thus  is  now  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  all  of  vvhich 
he  has  improved  highly.  In  1885  he  built  his 
handsome  dwelling  house,  and  has  very  nice  barns 
and  outbuildings. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  married  March  4, 
1852,  to  Miss  Margaret  Walker,  who  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  but  came  with  her  parents  to  this  place 
at  an  earl}-  ,age.  This  union  was  Messed  with  six 
children,  three  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  viz. : 
John  W.;  Belle  D.,  Mrs,  Kelso,  and  Sidney  W. 


Mr.  Harrison  is  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  all  who 
are  brought  into  contact  with  him.  especially  is  he 
respected  for  having  so  nobly  fought  the  battle  of 
life,  gaining  for  himself  prominence  without  other 
assistance  than  his  ability  and  willingness  to  work 
well,  and  his  excellent  judgment.  He  h.as  held  the 
oflliees  of  Road  Commissioner  and  Tax  Collector, 
and  enjoys  all  the  esteem  commanded  by  men  of 
strict  integr\ty  and  superior  strength  of  character. 


4^ 


RSON  BEARCE,  the  owner  and  occupant  of 
a  well-improved  farm  in  Lewistown  Town- 
ship, is  numbered  among  the  intelligent,  in- 
dustrious and  prosperous  agriculturists  of  this 
productive  county.  His  home  farm  comprises  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  upon  which  a  fine  brick 
house  has  been  erected,  together  with  a  full  line  of 
frame  barns,  granaries,  sheds,  etc.  Mr.  Bearce 
owns  another  tract  of  improved  land,  consisting  of 
eight}-  acres  on  section  10,  and  a  forty-acre  tract 
on  section  4. 

Eli  A.  Bearce,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  horn 
in  Connecticut,  his  father,  Josiah  Bearce,  l)eing 
presumably  a  native  of  the  same  State.  The  latter 
spent  his  last  years  in  New  York,  of  which  his  son 
had  become  a  resident.  Eli  Bearce  remaine'l  in  his 
native  State  until  s  xteen  years  old.  when  he  accom- 
panied Dr.  Beecher  to  New  York,  intending  to 
stud}'  medicine  with  that  gentleman.  On  the  death 
of  the  Doctor,  which  occurred  soon  after,  the  young 
man  abandoned  his  intention  nd  turned  his  talents 
to  account  in  teaching  school  during  the  winter 
and  farming  during  the  remaindei-  of  the  year.  He 
was  married  in  the  Empire  State  in  181 G,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  there  until  1821,  when  he  deter- 
mined to  emigrate  to  the  West.  He  built  a  flatboat 
at  Olean  Point,  loaded  his  goods,  and  with  his  wife 
and  two  children  floated  down  the  Alleghany  and 
Ohio  Rivers  to  Shawneetowu.  111. 

A  forty -acre  tract  of  land  in  New  York  had  been 
traded  by  Mr.  Bearce  for  a  quarter-section  now  in- 
cluded in  Fulton  County.  His  means  were  very 
limited,  however,  and  he  did  not  think  best  to  un- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


897 


dertake  life  in  the  wilderness,  therefore  renting  a 
tract  near  Shawneetovvn.  lie  remained  there  three 
years.  In  April,  1824,  he  made  his  vv.aj'  to  Fnlton 
County  Willi  a  team,  but  even  then  did  not  locate 
on  the  land  for  which  he  had  traded.  He  rented  a 
farm  near  Lewistowii,  which  at  that  time  contained 
one  store,  a  log  jail,  log  courthouse,  its  few  inhabi- 
tants living  in  log  houses. 

At  the  close  of  tlie  season  Mr.  Bearce  traded  a 
j'oke  of  o.xen  and  a  wagon,  for  one  hundred  acres 
of  land  two  and  one-half  miles  north  of  the  village 
and  in  1825  built  a  log  1  ouse  thereon,  to  which  he 
removed  his  family.  Indians  were  still  more  num- 
erous than  whites  throughout  this  section,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  deer,  wild  turkeys  and  other  game 
was  abundant.  There  were  no  railroads  for  many 
years,  the  river  towns  being  the  nearest  markets. 
The  pioneer  labors  of  Mr.  Hearce  were  brought  to 
a  close  b}'  his  death,  February  18,  18.57.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812. 

The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  our  subject 
was  Sarah  Austin.  She  was  a  native  of  the  Empire 
State  and  spent  her  last  years  with  her  children.  .She 
reared  seven  children,  the  second  of  whom  is  the 
subject  of  this  biographical  notice.  Hannah  mar- 
ried Jacob  Shawver  and  now  lives  In  Lewistown;  Lu- 
cinda  is  the  wife  of  Jonathan  Borduer,  of  Lewistown 
Township;  Maria, who  is  now  deceased,  was  the  wife 
of  Moses  Bordner,  who  died  in  Lee  Townshi[)  in 
1889;  Franklin  is  now  living  near  Clarinda,  Iowa; 
Maiy  is  the  wife  of  James  Winterbottom,  their 
home  being  in  Kansas. 

Orson  Bearce  was  born  in  Monroe  Couiitj',  N.  Y. 
April  1,  1819,  and  was  therefore  two  years  old 
when  he  became  a  resident  of  Illinois.  He  was 
reared  on  the  farm  in  the  development  of  which  he 
earl3'  began  to  hear  such  a  [lart  as  his  strength 
would  permit.  His  studies  were  carried  on  in  the 
pioneer  schools  first  taught  in  the  log  house  with 
its  homemade  furniture,  the  only  desk  beluga  board 
around  the  side  of  the  building,  at  wliich  the  larger 
scholars  did  their  writing.  The  facts  noted  in  re- 
gard to  his  parents'  home  and  snrroundings  are 
sufficient  to  indicate  the  manner  of  life  under  which 
he  became  persevering,  industrious  and  vigorous. 
lie  remained  with  his  parents  iiiitil  he  was  twenty- 
three  years  old,  although  he  had  previously  begun 


the  improvement  of  a  portion  of  the  farm  which 
he  now  occupies.  His  first  purchase  was  of  eighty 
acres,  to  which  he  soon  added  forty  acres,  the  whole 
being  heavily  timbered  when  bought  by  him.  Its 
present  beautiful  appearance  and  good  value  is  a 
standing  monument  to  the  qualities  which  he  has 
exhibited  since  lio^'hood. 

March  23,  1842,  Mr.  Bearce  was  united  in  mar- 
ri.age  with  Betsy  Brown,  a  native  of  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  who  passed  awaj'  September  9,  18.52,  after  a 
comparatively  brief  wedded  life.  She  was  the 
mother  of  five  children  whose  record  is  as  follows: 
Ic3'  Ann  married  Jonas  Evans  and  now  Hves  in  Ne- 
braska; Catherine,  who  is  now  dead,  was  the  wife  of 
John  Hunter;  Sarah  L.  married  Aaron  Orrindale, 
their  home  being  near  Bradford,  Stark  County; 
Frances  married  Henry  Ryan  and  lives  in  Lewis- 
town  Township;  Leonard  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Bearce  was  again  married,  A|>rll  ;?,  1853,  his  com- 
panion on  this  occasion  being  Miss  Jane  McNeil, 
a  native  of  Lewistown  and  a  daughter  of  one 
of  the  hardy  pioneers  of  this  county.  Her  father 
was  John  McNeil,  a  native  of  Hillsboro,N.  H.,  who 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Indiana,  where  he  was 
married  when  about  twenty-one  years  old  to  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Smith)  Young- 
man,  pioneers  of  the  Hoosier  vState.  Mr.  McNeil 
after  locating  in  this  eountj'  followed  his  trade  of 
a  carpenter  in  Lewistown,  finall)'  oiiening  a  eabiiitt 
shop  which  he  operated  some  3'ears,  but  eventually 
buying  a  farm  north  of  town  and  turning  his  at- 
tention to  agriculture.  He  died  on  his  estate  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1867.  He  wa.;  originally  a  Whig  and  later  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  belonged 
to  the  Methodist  E|)iseopal  Church. 

The  parents  of  John  McNeil  were  Daniel  and 
Martha  (Parker)  McNeil,  the  father  being  a  farmer 
in  his  native  New  England  many  years.  After 
spending  some  time  in  Indiana  he  finally  became  a 
pioneer  of  this  county,  locating  near  Astoria  where 
he  continued  his  agricultural  labors  for  a  long 
period.  His  death  took  place  at  the  home  of  his 
son  in  Lewistovvn.  His  wife  was  born  in  London- 
deny,  N.  H.,  being  a  daughter  of  Alexander  and 
Nancy  (Dickey)  Parker,  the  latter  of  whom  was  the 
daughter  of  Willliim  and  Elizabeth  Dickey,  who 
settled    in    Londonderry    Inimcdiatcly   after    tlieir 


898 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  ALBUM. 


emigration  in  1725.     Mrs.  Daniel  McNeil  died   on 
tlie  farm  near  Astoria  wiien  full  of  j-ears. 

Our  subject  and  his  present  wife  have  ten  chil- 
dren: Reuben  now  lives  in  Lewistown  Townsliip, 
established  in  a  home  of  his  own;  Eliza  is  the  wife 
of  Frank  Lee,  her  lioine  beiiii^  in  the  same    town- 


ship; Annie,  John,  Charlie,  Jacob,  Nellie,  Frank 
and  two  who  died  in  infancy  complete  the  family 
circle.  iSIr.  Bearce  was  formerly'  a  Whig  but  has 
been  a  Republican  since  the  formation  of  the  part\'. 
He  is  a  member  of  Lewistown  Lodge,  No.  104,  F. 
&  A.  M.  Ho  is  a  believer  in  the  doctrine  of  univer- 
sal salvation. 


BIOGFJfl^rjKgflli. 


o  ■  :=^-m-<i!gi>^^=:  -o- 


Abbott,  Daniel fil9 

Abbott,  John  7(i7 

Abernathy.  A 42)» 

Ackerson,  J.  G 2nA 

Adams,  John 23 

Adams,  John  Q 39 

Addis,  S.  P 877 

Alcott.C.  1 81« 

Alden,C.S 6iM 

Alden,  John  H ,'jli) 

Ahvard,  Benjamin 1G7 

Arthur,  Chester  A 99 

Ashby ,  J.  W 558 

Aten,  William 276 

Athearn.J.  T 603 

Ault.L.  B 417 

Azbell,  Harrison 336 


B 


Babcock,  William  H Il.'i9 

Barker,  W.  F 416 

Barnard,  T.  F.,  M.  U 450 

Barrick,  J.  L 445 

Baxter,  A.  J.,  M.  D 466 

Baylor,  J.  B.... 390 

Beadles,  Nathan 621 

Bearce,  Orson S96 

Beaty ,  Alonzo  G 756 

Beebe,  Martin  265 

Beeson,  D , 241 

Bennett,  Robert 749 

Berry,  John 433 

Berry,  Thomas 285 

Beveridfre,  John 171 

Bishop,  Cyrus  H 802 

Bissell,  William  H 151 

Bogue,  Robert 592 

Bogue,  Stephen 643 

Bohannon,R.  K 373 

Boltou,  H.  C 600 


Bond.  Shadrach Ill 

Booe,  Dr.  J.  E 683 

Bordner,  Mrs.  Lneinda 637 

Bordner,  Moses 853 

Boswell,  David ,3!I4 

Bottenberg  Josephus 638 

Bowen,  John  W 687 

Bowers,  King  D 509 

Bowton,  ( >live  A 475 

Boyd,  William 199 

Boyer,  O.  J 2.50 

Brebner,  William 306 

Breeden,  J.  H.,  M.  D 448 

Breeden,  L.  C 337 

Brimmer,  Jacob 251 

Brock,  Henry  C 801 

Brock,  Phillip 865 

Brown,  CD 469 

Brown,  Francis  R 270 

Brown,  Jacob 275 

Brown,  J.  H.  C 794 

Brown,  W.  W :^i 

Buchanan,  James 75 

Bull,  Peter 823 

Burgess,  Rev.  William 301 

Burnett,  George 222 

Burnett,  James 665 

Burrows,  Moses 697 

Butler,  F.  A 400 

Butler,  C.  B 727 


Caldwell,  William 804 

CaniDbell,  Sanmel 815 

Camron,  Thomas  O  485 

Cannon,  John 004 

Carlin,  Thomas 135 

Carper,  yamuel .594 

Carver,  Oscar  M 792 

Catherman,  D 540 

Cattron,  Hezekiah 260 

Chapin,  John  L 419 

Christian,  Peter 565 

Churchill,  C.  B 228 

Churchill,  Charles  B 619 


Churchill, L.H 015 

Clark,  Emerson 289 

Clark,  William  R. 479 

Clary,  Franklin 4.59 

Clayton,  C.  L .591 

Cleveland,  Grover  S 103 

ClifTord,  M.  L 766 

Cline,  Hon.  W.  N.,  M.  D 213 

C'oe,  H.  F.,  M.  D .595 

Coles,  Edward 115 

Cone,  George  W 508 

Cone,  Henr.v 313 

Cone,  Spencer .555 

Conway,  George  W 679 

Cook,  James  !\I 603 

Cook,  Thomas .310 

Cooper,  George  C 753 

Cooper,  Rev.  M.  T 493 

Cooper,  Thomas 424 

Cooper,  William  S 329 

Cosier.  Jacob 575 

Cozine,  Geortre 660 

Cozine,  W.  H 366 

Crick,  Peter 489 

Cullom,  Shelby  M 175 

Cummiugs,  Hon.  S.  P 714 

Curfman,  G.  W 3U 

Custer,  P.  Y 483 


D 


Daily,  Peter 524 

Danner.  Jacob 760 

Darland,J.  H 674 

Darland.  Morrison 271 

Darling,  Jacob 368 

Davidson,  W.  T 245 

Davis,  C.  C 776 

Davis,  Noah .631 

Deems.  Thomas 308 

DeFord,  Joseph 463 

DeMorris,  H.  C,  M.  D 793 

Dickson,  William 85t 

Diehl,L.  H 612 

Dikeman,  S.  E 754 

Dobson,  George  W 486 


Dobbs.  John  \y jj.n 

Donnelly,  L.  M..... uj^ 

Douglass,  John 1541) 

Downin,  J.  S 747 

Drake,  S.  A [^ 

Duncan,  Joseph 131 

Durell,  George  L 389 

Dyckes,  W.  J 'j<27 


E 


Edmonson,  Charles  B U)4 

Edwards,  Allen 430 

Edwards,  Ninian uy 

Edwards,  Samuel 878 

Etlland,  John 440 

EIHand,  Justus 572 

Ehrenhart,  C.  C 226 

Elder,  John  J 4,53 

Ellis.  James 721 

Ellis,  Newton 59() 

Ellis,  William  W 044 

Elrod,  Ira  F J44 

Emory,  Augustus 867 

Engle,  T.  C 297 

Erb,  John  W 702 

Eveland,  G.  H 613 

Ewing,  William  L.  D 127 


F 


Fackler,  Samuel 31.5 

Failing,  David  s.50 

Farnsworth,  Tj.  B 410 

Filer,  Joseph  W 183 

Filhngham,  J.  F .557 

Fillmore,  Millard 67 

Fisher,  Frank  M 548 

Fisher,  John 3!M 

Fisher,  J.  W ....784 

Fisher,  W.  T 828 

Fleming,  T.H.,M.D 437 

Fluke,  Calvin  R 646 

Ford,  Thomas 139 


INDKX. 


Foshay ,  Daniel 545 

Foutch ,  John 295 

Fonts,  George :{4(i 

Frederick,  James  W 3!)8 

Freeman,  William  A 609 

French.  Angiistus  C 143 

Fuhrman.  C.  H 628 

Fulton.  Thonius  K  520 


G 


Gaddis,  John  W 7C-1 

Gallagher,  P.  W. 542 

Gamble,  JI.  T.,  M.  D 377 

Gardiner,  Hon.  J.  H 8ii2 

Gardner.  James .^Hi 

Garfield,  James  A 9.^ 

Gearhart ,  W.  A 395 

Gearhart,  W.  1 743 

Geigley,  J.  S.,  M.  D .Ml 

Gentle,  T.  S 701 

Gentle.  W.  T •220 

Giberson.  John  W fiSl 

Gilmore,  C.  V j>17 

Goshen,  Lsaac  J 393 

Gould,  R.  E 507- 

Graham,  I.  J 335 

Graham,  Jotin  W 232 

Grant ,  Ul.vsses  S 87 

Green,  George 518 

Green,  John  S 361 

Green.  Porter  J :562 

Griffith,  R.  E 52G 

Griggs,  Franklin 639 

Griggs,  James 227 

Gustine,  H.  B 758 


H 


Haftner,  W.  F 6,57 

Hall.  Riindolph 307 

Hamblin, T.  F 748 

Hamer,  Col.  Thomas 235 

Hamilton,  John  M 179 

Hand,  Mrs.  Jane  Campbell .. 6.55 

Harben.Eev.T.  B 596 

Harden,  Jerome 606 

Harden,  William,  Sr 546 

Hardin,  John  S 435 

Harlan,  A.J 398 

Harlan,  Milo 358 

Harris,  Isaac 255 

Harris,  John  L 406 

Harris,  J.  v.,  M.  D 225 

Harrison ,  Benjamin 107 

Harrison,  F.  M 834 

Harrison,  William  Henry 51 

Harrod,  A.  H 871 

Hathaway,  Gilbert 238 

Havermale.Rev.  M.  F. 746 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B 91 

Head,  Madison 7.39 

Heller,  Daniel 821 

Heller,  John  H 838 


Hemenover  George 737 

Henienover,  W.  H 8.57 

Hensley,  J.  P 504 

Herbert,  J.  M 795 

Herring,  Maj.  J.  R 724 

Hetrick,  George  B 249 

He.vlin,  Jesse 227 

lliggins,  Daniel  M 493 

Higbie,  Morrell 503 

Hill.  W.  A 811 

Hillpot,  Hugh  F ill 

Hintlerliter,  William 708 

Hinkle.S.  R... 710 

Hobbs.G.^V 265 

Hollister,  Munson <>25 

Hornstein,  John  G 707 

Horton,  Andrew  J  299 

Horton,  George  W T.^ 

Howard,  A.  R..  51.  D 520 

Howard,  Charles 337 

Howat.  W.  W ,S22 

Hoxworth,  Charles  F 609 

Hnllord,  M.  F 334 

Hnghbanks,  Alfred 534 

Hughes,  Rev.  D.  E 666 

Hulick,  Blathias '. 414 

Hull,  Alexander 191 

Hunt,  Hiram 127 


Irons,  Rev.  E.  W. 


..&I8 


Jackson,  Andrew S3 

Jacobs,  B 217 

Jedersou,  Thomas 27 

Johnson ,  Andrew 83 

Johnson,  Charles  E .505 

Johnson,  John  H 473 

Johnson ,  Jloses  M 885 

Johnson ,  Rev.  John  W 527 

Johnson,  W.  D 193 

Jones,  Fauntleroy 6;13 

Jones,  Lewis  L 288 

Jones,  Simeon . . .' 419 


K 


Keefauver,  George 4!H) 

Keelmg,  A 365 

Keeii  ng,  Haden 798 

Kelly,  S.  A .*...... ..484 

Kessler,  W.  E 671 

Ketcham,  Josiah 562 

Ketcham,  W.  H .526 

Kidder,  Alvan 783 

Kinger.v,  John 715 

Kline,  G,  H )40 


Knowles,  Jfoah  R .202 

Krischke,  Joseph 296 

Kuykendall.  Ira  A 476 


Lacej',  John 763 

Lalicker,  George 446 

Langstou,  J.  M ,528 

Lathbury ,  John 561 

Leaman,  A.  B ■'26 

Lee,  John  S :J.53 

Leeper,  Henry -158 

Leeper,  Isaac  N 765 

Leeper,  J.  A 872 

Libby,  Cyrus 858 

Lincoln,  Abraham 79 

Lindze.v,  G.  E 551 

Linebaugh,  J.  W 847 

Lingenfelter.  Aaron 318 

Lingenfelter,  Matthias 443 

Little.  George  W 399 

Littlejohn,  David  S 693 

Loirk  Henry 740 

Logan,  Jolui  A.  M.  D 667 

Lowe,  W,  H 728 

Lukor.  Charles a89 

Lunian,  William  S 626 

Luper,  David 589 


M 


Madison,  James 31 

Manning.  Elijah -(68 

Ma  n  rose,  Sarah  A 439 

MaranviUe,  Alexander 576 

Mariner,  Floj-d  E 401 

Markley ,  Conrad 320 

Martin,  Charles  H 699 ' 

Martin,  William  B.,  M.  D. . .  .791 

Marvel,  S.  C 716 

Mason ,  M.  B 363 

Mathes,  Rev.  A.  R 423 

Matteson,  Joel  A 147 

Maus,  J.  P 231 

McCall,  James  H 207 

McCombs,  A.  J 546 

McCracken,  William 388 

McCreary,  Nicholas 331 

McElroy ,  T.  J 582 

McKinney ,  NewTnan 787 

McLaren,  R.  F 408 

McLaren,  William 499 

McMahon,  J.  T 440 

McMillan,  G.  M 770 

Meehan,  Patrick 572 

Meek,  W.  W 668 

Mellor,  William 267 

Merrill,  Heiirj- 755 

Merrill,  H.S... (Hl 

Mcrshon,  Henrv 110 

Merritt,  H.  F 807 

Messier,  George ■92 


Miles,  William  P 785 

Millard,  R.J 880 

Miller,  Daniel  L 803 

Mitchell,  Joseph 614 

Mitchell,  Matthew .3.57 

Mitchell,  Sarah IMI 

Monroe,  James :i,5 

Montgomery,  George  K  722 

Moore,  John  W' 7jio 

Moore.  A.  C 868 

Moore,  J.  C 282 

Moran,  M.  R 534 

Morgan,  Jonas 571 

Morgan,  J.  C 709 

Morton.  F.  A 407 

Motsinger,  Henry 649 

Mowei-y,  M.  T 525 

Mummert,  C 4ss 

Mummey ,  Charles  W .535 

Myers,  David CjoB 

Myers,  Henry :y.i 

Myers,  J.  C :J47 


> 


Nay  lor.  David 5:10 

Negly,  Joseph  B .581 

Nelson,  James 3(57 

Nelson ,  Thomas 620 

Neville,  Dennis rai 

Newell,  J.  W 73:j 


0 


Oglesby,  Richard  J I(i3 

Olds, J.N 741 

Onion ,  James  M 805 

Orwig,  James (iol 

Overton,  C.  E 487 


Palmer,  John  M 167 

Parlin,  William 219 

Parry,  E.  J 529 

l^arry,  L 837 

Parry,  William 465 

Patterson,  Joel  B 842 

Payne, Thomas 403 

Pettyjohn,  O.  J .109 

Phelps,  Charles  S 293 

Phillips,  D.  A 338 

Pierce,  Franklin 7! 

Piper,  Abner 832 

Pitt,  Fred  G 201 

Polhemus,  John 256 

Polk,  James  K 59 

Pollock,  Jesse 372 

Porter,  John  G 298 

Porter.  Samuel 806 

Potts,  L.  W 833 

Prall,  George 539 


INDEX. 


Preston,  Hiram  566 

Prichartl ,  Kobert 74-1 

Prickett.  Isaiah "Jll 

Prickett,  Jacob 677 

Pumyea ,  Peter 807 

Pumyea,  Theodore S43 

Putman,  M.  V :(71 


R 


Ralferty .  M.  W 812 

Kaiulolph,  Isaac  F. 3iS 

Raiulolph,  J.  F ;i26 

Ramlolph ,  Lewis  F S17 

Kaiidolpli,  W.V im 

Ranch.  Lewis 568 

Rawalt .  Knoch 330 

Rawalt,  Milton 550 

Ray,  D.S.,Jr 768 

Ray,G.  W 663 

Reihin, Philip  780 

Reynolds,  John 123 

Rice,  Amory 415 

Rice,  G.  F 602 

Robhins,  J.  F 104 

Robertson,  William  T .584 

Robison,  Dr.  L.  A 713 

Rock,  Andrew 332 

Rohrer,  Benjamin 777 

Rohrer ,  H.  D 731 

Rohrer,  John  H 728 

Roller.  George  B 470 

Rose,  J.  L .503 

Rose,  William 533 

Rosin ,  James  W .570 

Ro.ss,  Hon.  Lewis  W 770 

Rowlandson ,  Mi's.  Mary 7.58 

Ruble,  Jesse  L 871 

Russell,  Martin 261 


SaH,sbury,  O.  T 778 

Sanders,  Rev.  C.  W  726 

Saunders,  E.  E 327 

Saunders,  R.  A.,  M.  D 477 

Schafer,  Lewis , 291 


Schleich,  Peter 599 

Schrodt,  J.  W 732 

Schrodt,  Philip 6,93 

Scudder,  I.  T 221 

Seaton,  George  W 230 

Sebree.H.  W +70 

Shaw.W.  H 62S 

Shawver.  Jacob 354 

Shelly,  Samuel  H ;!84 

Shepley,  A.J 615 

Sherman.  Enoch 616 

Shipp.D.  M 323 

Shipton,  J.  R 6fl0 

Shope,S.  P 801 

Shumaker,  George  C 364 

Simpson,  J.  F 611 

Slack,  Alexander 342 

Slocum,  L.  i) 530 

Small,  P.  B 776 

Smith,  Col.  A.  B. , 105 

Smith,  Capt.  C.  A 60S 

Smith,  Capt.  John  S 215 

Sm  ith ,  Charles 605 

Smith.  Charles  M 500 

Smith.  F.  G 218 

Smith,  P.  H 461 

Smith,  M.  W 583 

Smith,  William 757 

Smith,  William  C.  .■ 703 

Smith,  William  H 513 

Smith.  William  H 701 

Sparks,  J.  C  loi; 

Spencer,  E.  V 8U 

Spry,  John 632 

Stafford,  Charles  Ci 460 

Stanley ,  Charles  H 702 

Stephens ,  Wi  lliam 687 

Stetson.  J.  S 105 

Stevenson,  E.  B 8.50 

Stewart,  J.  M .567 

Stockdale,  James 252 

Strode,  W.  S.,  M.  D 658 

Strong,  Jesse  W 237 

Strong,  O.  G.,  M.  D .303 

Strouse,  Solomon 461 

Swartz,  W.  G 343 

Swegle,  C.  R 768 

Swegle,  I.  L 768 

Swegle,  M.  B .87-1 

Sweney ,  M.  K 407 

Swigart,  John 405 

Switzer,  C.  W 438 

Switzer,  G,  H 491 

Switzer,  J.  T 424 


T 


Talbott.  D.  D.,  M.  T) 497 

Tankcsley,  M.  L ..375 

Tarter,  Enos 883 

Tate,  A.  K 316 

Taylor,  Benjamin,  M.  1) 3.^3 

Taylor,  Joseph 547 

Taylor,  Samuel 890 

Taylor,  Zachary 63 

Thomas,  A.  B .8.55 

Thompson,  Alledge 643 

Thompson,  D.  B 281 

Thompson,  Enoch 317 

Thornton,  S.  Y 725 

Timmons,  A 107 

Toller,  B.  C,  M.  D 455 

Toler,  William  T..  M.  D 32-t 

Torrance,  W.  C .825 

Travers,  T.  H 796 

Tucker,  J.  M 750 

Tucker,  W.  H 860 

Tuite,  Rev.  John 678 

Turl,  William 750 

Turner,  B.  F 584 

Turner.  L.  M 831 

Turner,  T.  W ....610 

Tyler,  John 55 

Tyler,  John  W 682 


Van  Biiren,  JMartiii 47 

Vandevandcr,  William 684 

Vandcventer,  L.  R 769 

Van  Sickle,  Moses 374 

Vittum,  Natliaiiiel 250 


w 


Walker.J.  G 569 

Walters,  Hiram 457 

Walters,  John  A 428 

Warner,  Samuel 550 


Washington,  Geurf^'e 19 

Watson,  A.  S 86(i 

Watson,  J.M .500 

Waughtel,  M.  M 200 

Weaver,  H.I 206 

Weaver,  Joshua 386 

Weaver,  W.  R ,577 

Weese,  Thomas 363 

Welch,  J.  K.,  M.  U 229 

White,  J.ames  M :W1 

Whitehead,  E.  E 2,57 

Whitenack,  T.  0 240 

Whitmore,  Jacob  R 868 

Widney ,  Re  v.  A.  H 500 

Weirather,  F 489 

Wiesner,  Edward  F 480 

WilUroxen,  Samuel 198 

Willco.xen,  J.  F 8:i5 

Willcoxen,  M.  N 418 

Willcoxen,  R.  P .389 

Williams,  F.  M 279 

WilHams,  I.  N 355 

Wilson,  Edward 622 

Wilson,H.  L.,  M.  D. 601 

Wilson,  H.  M.  B 770 

Wilson,  J.M 431 

Wilson,  Thomas  W 3.52 

Wilson,  William,  M.  D 3.56 

Witchell,  I.B 287 

Wolf,  J.N 437 

Wolf.J.P :i-9 

Wood.  John 155 

j    Wood.S.P 523 

Woodru  ff,  George 672 

I     Worley.  I.  C :f-55 

Wortnuiii,  A.  M.,  M.  D 813 


Y 


Yates,  Richard 1.50 

Yerion,  J.  R .501 

Y'oung,  Thomas  L 463, 


Zwisler,  Joseph 425 


-»>«•<* 


Adams,  John 22 

Ackuiis,  John  Q 38 

Arthur,  Cliester  A 98 

Beebe,  Martin 2fi4 

Berry ,  Thomas ■ 284 

Beveridge,  John  L 170 

Bissell,  William  H 150 

Boiui,  yhadrach 110 

Bordner,  Jonathan 636 

tJordner,  Moses 852 

Bowen,  John  W BSG 

Brock,  Henry  C 800 

Brock,  Phillip 8(i2 

Brock,  Mrs.  Phillip S63 

Brown,  Jacob 274 

Brown,  W.  W  350 

Buchanan,  James 7-t 

Burrows,  Moses 0!)6 

Oarlin,  Thomas 134 

Churchill,  Charles  B 618 

Cleveland,  Grover  S. : 102 

Coles,  Edward lU 

Cone,  Henry 312 

Cone,  Spencer .554 

Cooper,  (ieor^e  C 752 

Cosier,  Jacob  571 

Cullom,  Shelby  M 171 


Custer,  P.  Y 482 

Davidson,  W.  T 244 

Davis,  Noah 630 

Duncan,_ Joseph 130 

Edwards,  Ninian 1 18 

Elder.  John  J 452 

Ellis,  James 718 

Ellis.  Mrs.  Armon 718 

Ewing-,  William  L.  D 126 

Filer,  Joseph  W 182 

Fillmore,  Millard W, 

Ford,  Thomas 138 

Foshay ,  Daniel 544 

French,  Augustus  C 142 

Garfleld,J.  A 94 

Gearhart,  W.  1 742 

Goshen,  I.  J 392 

Grant,  U.  S 86 

Green ,  John  S 360 

Hamer,  Col.  Thomas 234 

Hamilton,  John  M 178 

Hand,  Jacob  ....653 

Hand,  Jane  C 652 

Harris,  Isaac 254 

Harris,  Dr.  J.  V  224 

Harrison,  Benjamin 106 

Harrison,  W.  H 50 


Harrod,  Allen  H 870 

Ha.\es,  R.  B 90 

Helier,  Daniel 820 

Hemenover,  George 736 

Higbie,  Morrell ,502 

Hill,  William  A 810 

Hollister,  Munson 624 

Hornstein,  John  G 706 

Hull,  Dr.  Alex 190 

J,aekson,  Andrew 42 

Jetlerson,  Thomas 26 

Johnson,  Andrew 82 

Johnson,  J.  H 472 

Kessler,  William  E 670 

Kidder,  Alvan 782 

Lacey,  John 762 

Lincoln,  Abraham 78 

Liuebaugh,  J.  W 846 

Lingenfelter,  Matthias. ; 442 

Luker.  Charles 888 

Luper,  Lois 586 

Luper,  Mrs.  David 587 

Madison,  James 30 

Mathes,  Rev.  A.  E 422 

Matteson ,  Joel  A 146 

McCall,  James  H 205 

McCall,  Mrs.  Louisa 204 


Myers,  Henry 380 

Myers,  Mrs.  Maria 381 

Monroe,  James M 

Negly,  Joseph  B 580 

Oglesby ,  Richard  J 162 

Palmer,  John  M 167 

Payne,  Thomas 402 

Pierce,  Franklin 70 

Polk,  J.  K 58 

Prall,  George 538 

Pri  ckett ,  Jacob 676 

Putman,  Harrison 370 

Reynolds,  John 122 

Rose,  William 532 

Schleich,  Peter 598 

Shipp,  D.  M m2 

Smith,  William  H 512 

Spencer,  E.  V 840 

Strong,  Dr.  O.  G 302 

Tarter,  Enos 882 

Taylor,  Zachary 62 

Thompson,  Alledge 042 

Tyler,  John 54 

Van  Buren,  Martin 46 

"Washington,  George IS 

White,  James  M 340 

Wood ,  John 1.54 

Yates,  Richard 1,58 


Addis,  S.T 875 

Berry,  John 431 

Brock,  Bros 771 

Burnett,  James 663 

Edwards,  Allen 431 


Farnswortli,  L.  B.  411 

Fisher,  Bros 829 

Fulton,  Thomas  K 521 

Hartlen,  .Tames 607 

Higgins,D.  M 491 


Howard,  Dr.  A.  R 521 

Hoxwortli  &  Son 007 

Keef auver,  George 491 

Ketcham ,  .Josiah 563 

Lowe,  W.  H 729 


McMillan,  O.  M 771 

Ray,G.  W Ri8 

Rohrer,  John  H 729 

Stafford.  Charles  G 461 

Swegle,  M.  B 875 

Turner,  L,  M 829 


